What is a safe direction to point your firearm when handling it?

Pointing your firearm in a direction where it won't harm others is a fundamental principle of firearm safety. This means ensuring that the firearm is directed away from where people, pets, and property are located. The emphasis is on the importance of maintaining a safe environment while handling firearms, as unexpected discharges can occur, and they should never result in injuries or damage to bystanders.

While pointing a firearm towards the ground might seem instinctively safe, it’s essential to consider what is beneath the ground level. There may be hidden objects, people, or wildlife that could inadvertently be harmed. Similarly, restricting the safe direction to a shooting range or at targets downrange limits situational awareness and may not always be practical in varied environments outside those contexts. Therefore, the best practice is consistently ensuring that the firearm is pointed in a direction where it poses no risk to anyone around, regardless of the specific surroundings.