Rules of Safe Gun Handling (Code of the Daisy Rifleman)

Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

Before you check to see if the gun is loaded, point that muzzle in a safe direction.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

Always check to see if the gun is loaded. Take no one's word. Always check the gun yourself.

'I didn't know the gun was loaded' is no excuse for an accident.

Only load or cock a gun when you are shooting.

Never carry a loaded or cocked gun into your car, home, camp, or public place.

When you are finished hunting or shooting, unload your gun.

If possible, put your gun in a gun case. Store it in a gun cabinet. Never carry a gun into a public place.

When storing your gun, even for a few minutes, make sure your ammunition is locked in a separate strong box or cabinet.

Check your target and beyond your target.

Be sure you know your companions are well clear of the target before you shoot.

Check behind and beyond your target to be certain you have a safe backstop and that no person or property could be endangered.

If you are hunting, you must know what the legal game animals look like.

Anyone shooting should wear shooting glasses.

Anyone near a shooter should wear shooting glasses and should be standing behind the shooter.

While shooting glasses may not prevent all possible injuries, they do provide an added measure of safety.

Wearing shooting glasses and ear protection is an excellent lifelong habit.

Never climb a tree or fence or jump a ditch with a loaded gun.

You can't control the direction of the muzzle if you stumble or fall.

You should safely lay the gun down or hand it to a companion while you climb or jump over anything.

This rule is one of the most neglected rules in proper gun handling. Make sure you do not break this rule!

Avoid ricochet.

Never shoot at a flat, hard surface or the surface of water.

Ammunition can ricochet off of the surface of water just like a skipped rock does.

Keep your muzzle, barrel and action free of obstructions.

You must be sure your gun is in good working condition.

If something breaks on your gun, do not try to fix it yourself, take it to a gunsmith.

After each use of your gun, clean the gun and oil it. Do not over oil. A few drops of oil will do.

Don't allow the muzzle to come in contact with the ground. Make sure your barrel is free of mud, snow, and dirt while in use.

Check all new guns for excess grease. Be sure to clean a new gun before using it for the first time.

Guns not in use should always be unloaded.

Keeping guns unloaded when not in use is important to your safety and the safety of others.

When you are finished shooting, put the trigger safety in the ON position and unload the gun.

Store guns so that they are inaccessible to untrained shooters and store ammunition separately from the gun.

Respect people's property.

Remember, often you are shooting or hunting on someone else's land.

Leave all gates as you found them. If they were closed, close them. If they were open, leave them open.

Ask permission to use others' land.

Thank farmers and others when you finish hunting. Offer to share your game animals with the land owner.

Do not be upset if you are refused use of someone's land. There is a good reason why they said 'NO'.

These are the basic rules for safe gun handling and gunmanship.

Use good manners in the field and on the range.

Know your gun and ammunition and know how a gun works before you shoot it.