Which of the following is a correct range safety control for firearm mishandling?

• A. Treat the firearm as loaded and keep the muzzle in a safe direction.
• B. Assume unloaded and point at targets only.
• C. Disassemble to check ammunition.
• D. Disable the safety and keep finger on the trigger.

Answer: (A)

Treating every firearm as loaded and keeping the muzzle in a safe direction is the fundamental guardrail of range safety. This mindset prevents complacency—no matter what you think about the gun’s status, you assume it could discharge. By always pointing the muzzle in a safe direction, you eliminate the risk of accidental discharge harming people or property, even if a mechanical failure occurs or someone misreads the situation. Coupled with not touching the trigger until you intend to fire, this establishes a reliable, conservative habit that covers mishandling scenarios.

Disassembling to check ammunition on the range, assuming unloaded status, or disabling safety while keeping a finger on the trigger all violate this safety baseline. They introduce opportunities for an unintended discharge or mishandling to escalate, which is why they are not acceptable practices in range safety.