Ruger MINI-14 - Manual (Page 41)

42
THE BASIC RULES OF SAFE FIREARMS HANDLING
We believe that Americans have a right to purchase and use fire a rms for lawful
purposes. The private ownership of fire a rms in America is traditional, but that
ownership imposes the responsibility on the gun owner to use his fire a rms in a
way which will ensure his own safety and that of others. When fire a rms are used in
a safe and responsible manner, they are a great source of pleasure and satisfaction,
and re p resent a fundamental part of our personal libert y.
F i re a rms do not cause accidents! Fire a rms accidents are almost always found to
have been the result of carelessness, or ignorance on the part of the shooter of the
basic rules of safe gun handling.
The following rules must be observed by gun users at all times. Safe gun handling
is not just desirable, it is absolutely essential to your safety, the safety of others, and
the continuation of gun ownership and sport shooting as we know it today.
1. LEARN THE MECHANICAL AND HANDLING
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIREARM YOU ARE USING.
Not all fire a rms are the same. The
method of carrying and handling
f i re a rms varies in accordance with
the mechanical provisions for
avoiding accidental discharge and the
various proper pro c e d u res for loading
and unloading. No person should
handle any fire a rm without first
having thoroughly familiarized
himself with the particular type of
f i re a rm he is using, and with safe gun
handling in general.
2. ALWAYS KEEP THE
MUZZLE POINTED IN A
SAFE DIRECTION.
Be sure of the bullet stop behind
your target, even when dry - f i r i n g .
Never let the muzzle of a fire a rm
point at any part of your body or at
another person. This is part i c u l a r l y
i m p o rtant when loading or
unloading a fire a rm. In the event of
an accidental discharge, no injury
can occur as long as the muzzle is
pointing in a safe direction. A safe
d i rection means a direction which
will not permit a discharged bullet to
strike a person, or to strike an object
f rom which the bullet may ricochet.