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A Note from Nancy - Hunting Safety Tips

 Hunting Safety Tips

 

As your representative in Washington, I am working to protect the right of Kansans to own guns for shooting, hunting, and self-protection. Hunting is an important part of Kansas’ heritage, and the Second District of Kansas includes some of the best deer and turkey hunting lands in the state. Whether you are gearing up for the next hunting season or passing the tradition on to the next generation, it is also important to remember the enormous responsibility attached to guns.

 

Below are tips from the National Rifle Association and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks regarding the use of firearms. These tips can give you a basic overview of how to handle a gun; however, specific training is needed in order to truly understand appropriate usage. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks offers classes and other resources for learning the sport. In order to safely enjoy this rich tradition, be sure to receive proper training.

 

 

From the National Rifle Association:

The fundamental rules for safe gun handling:

  1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Point so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. Control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. 

  2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

  3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

 

When using or storing a gun, always follow these rules:

  • Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Be aware of the area beyond your target. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.

  • Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. 

  • Be sure the gun is safe to operate. Guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.

  • Use only the correct ammunition for your gun. Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.

  • Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. Shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.

  • Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.

  • Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun are available. Mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling.

  • Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

  • Cleaning Taking proper care of it will maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded and no ammunition is present in the cleaning area. The gun's action should be open during the cleaning process.

 

From the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks:

The Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety

  1. Treat every gun as if it is loaded.
  2. Control the gun muzzle at all times.
  3. Guns not in use are to be unloaded and stored with actions open.
  4. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions and that only the proper ammunition is carried with every gun in use.
  5. Be sure of your target identification before you pull the trigger, and always know what lies beyond the target.
  6. Never point a gun at anything you don’t want to shoot.
  7. Never climb a fence or tree or cross a ditch or other obstacle with a loaded gun; and never pull a gun toward you by the muzzle.
  8. Never shoot at water or a flat, hard surface; and always be sure your backstop is adequate.
  9. Store guns and ammunition separately, out of reach of people who are unfamiliar with safe gun handling.
  10. Never handle a firearm or operate a vehicle while you are affected by alcohol or drugs.

 

Thanks to the National Rifle Association and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for their contribution of these tips.