See also the Parents Guide to Firearms Safety on this site. Three Fundamental Rules For Safe Firearms Handling 1. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times.
Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, people have a natural tendency to place their finger on the trigger. Rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.