Firearms licensing: Firearms safety
Land use
Shooters who use their firearms for hunting, deer stalking and vermin control, will find general guidance for safety in these pursuits in our Shotgun Safety and Air Weapon Safety pages.
In addition to that advice, firearm certificate holders in the above pursuits, must ensure that they are using their firearms within the authorisation limits of their firearm certificates.
Importantly, this includes where you are permitted to shoot. It is your responsibility to ensure that the land you are shooting on is authorised on your firearm certificate, or deemed suitable by the Chief Officer of Police for that area.
Remember, unlike a shotgun, you cannot just lend or borrow firearms. Normally you need to hold the authority for a particular weapon, on your firearm certificate, in order to have it in your possession.
Target shooting
Members of approved target shooting clubs are subject to the discipline codes, rules and regulations as laid down in their constitution.
Every responsible club will have safety as a top priority. Range marshals should always be present to see that all members adhere to the rules and regulations and ensure that safety is not jeopardised.
Such rules and regulations are mostly common sense, or have come about because of a previous mishap. Life in general is a learning curve, the only trouble in making a mistake involving firearms, is that it can
be fatal.
Always
- Abide by your club's rules and regulations.They are there for your safety.
- Prove every weapon before accepting or handing it to someone else.
- Follow the directions of your instructor or range marshal.
- Ensure it is safe to shoot, before pulling the trigger.
Never
- Point a gun, even unloaded at anyone.
- Hand a gun to someone else without proving it.
- Put down a loaded gun.
- Above all - enjoy your sport and be safe.