[Information] Guide to Owning a Firearm

[Police Department]

INTRODUCTION

• The Firearms License Division wants to encourage all our citizens who are interested in owning a firearm to be able to do so safely and correctly. This guide is to help assist you with the basics for firearm usage as well as addressing the safety aspect.

GUN SAFETY

• In order to use your firearm, as intended, you should look to do everything that you can to ensure that you are using it in the safest way possible.
  
  • Treat every firearm that you possess as if it is loaded and ready to fire.
  • Firearms not in use should ideally be unloaded to avoid any accidents.
  • You should only aim a firearm at something that you intend to shoot at. Otherwise, keep the firearm pointing towards the floor when not in immediate use.
  • You should be sure of your target and additionally, mindful of the surrounding area around the target and beyond it.
  • Your finger should not be on the trigger or inside the trigger guard unless you are safely ready to fire.
  • Should your gun fail to fire when the trigger is pulled, ensure you handle the weapon with care when attempting to open it up and investigate further.
  • Ensure you uses the correction ammunition for the firearm are using. If you are not knowledgeable about this, the Ammunation gun clerks will assist you with this.
  • Ensure the barrel of the Firearm is clear of obstructions before pulling the trigger. Firearms should be well maintained to avoid any build up of debris effecting the performance of the firearm.
  • Do not alter or modify your weapon illegally. If you are buying attachments for your firearm, ensure that you are only doing so from legal vendors. Black market attachments may compromise the safety or performance of the weapon.
  • When you are not personally using your firearm, ensure that it is kept in a gun safe and secure from other people who are not licensed to or incapable of handling the firearm safely.
  Human error is the cause of 99% of all gun-related incidents, as modern firearms do not fire on their own. Ensuring that you use your firearm safely is not just for your own benefit but also, those around you.

FIREARM LANGUAGE AND ANATOMY OF A FIREARM

• Barrel: The long tube the bullets fly down.
• Trigger. Essentially the small lever on the firearm that is pulled to initiate the firing sequence on the firearm.
• Magazine: The detachable container that holds the ammunition, which slots into the base of the firearm.
• Grip or Pistol-Grip: The part of a pistol you hold in your primary hand’s palm.
• Safety: A mechanical lever that blocks the gun from firing.