NZGAC Hunter Education. Enabling better education and safer hunting practices.
NZ Hunter Education: Module 5:
Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction.
Safety rule number 2 means that if your firearm is accidentally discharged then the bullet or shot will go in a safe or harmless direction.
Firearms can be accidentally discharged for a number of reasons:
-
Due to a faulty safety mechanism.
For example, some Remington 600 and Model 700 bolt action rifles would occasionally fire when the safety was released, causing accidental fatalities in the USA and necessitating remedial action on individual rifles that Remington paid for. A very good illustration of the need to have your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times. Never trust safeties!
-
On closing the action – it may have a faulty mechanism.
-
The firearm user has a loaded rifle and has left the safety off and something accidentally moves the trigger.
-
The firearm may discharge on opening the action.
A safe direction is always dependent on where you are.
For example, if you are upstairs in a two storied house, it would not be a safe direction to point the firearm downstairs.
Likewise, if you are in a suburban area it is not a great idea to point a firearm toward houses, or if in a garage it’s not safe to point a firearm toward your house.
If you are checking a firearm, point the muzzle up at the roof or down at the floor, providing you don’t have a concrete floor.
On a range, for example, you would point the rifle up as most ranges have concrete floors around the shooting area.
NEVER point a firearm at yourself. DO NOT remove a firearm from a vehicle or anywhere else by holding the barrel by the muzzle!
Use your common sense. Think!
As well, never lean a firearm against a vehicle or where they can slide or fall. If it falls over your firearm may be damaged or if the firearm is loaded for any reason it may accidentally discharge.
X
The 15 year old hunter had been duck hunting with some friends and was putting his loaded firearm into the mai-mai rack. As he placed the loaded firearm into the rack it discharged, killing him instantly.
(10th May 2015)
Hunting with others:
You need to take special care when hunting with others.
When travelling in a group or if there are two of you stalking up a river flat, for example, it is always safer if only the person in front has his firearm loaded, with the safety on and the bolt handle up. The other person may have his magazine loaded, but with the bolt down on an empty chamber. Carry the rifle on your shoulder or with the muzzle pointed away from the person in front.
A good rule is to always keep behind the person with the loaded gun.
