Club Safety Rules
- Treat all guns as if they are loaded. Always check the chamber before handling.
- Never point a gun at anything you are not preparted to shoot and destroy.
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.
- A gun may be loaded only when shooter is "on station" and ready to call for target.
- A gun must be unloaded when moving between shooting stations.
- No shooter may leave a station until the action of the gun is open and the shells removed.
- Gun action may be closed only when:
- Gun is cased or gun on rack. (i.e. Automatic bolt open)
- Shooter is "on station" ready to call for target
- No gun with action closed is allowed in clubhouse.
- No gun may be shouldered and pointed in the clubhouse.
- No gauge larger than 12 or shot size larger than 7 1/2 is allowed at NSC.
- A gun may not be loaded with more shells than the game to be shot requires.
- In case of a misfire, keep the gun action closed for 30 seconds before ejecting the shell in a safe direction.
- Whenever there is a delay in shooting, all guns must be unloaded and actions kept open.
- No event, games or practice, may be shot from behind a posted safety line.
- Eye and Ear protection is mandatory for everyone (shooter, staff, observer,) while on a shooting field.
- Snap Caps are strictly prohibited on NSC grounds.
- Dry firing is not permitted in the NSC clubhouse.
- When shooting from a cage with a cross bar, the gun barrel must be safely over the bar during loading, shooting, and unloading.
- Shooting under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not allowed.
- Every NSC member is responsible for safe gun handling.
- The manager on duty may suspend shooting when weather conditions are such that shooters or staff are at risk.
- No hunting shall be permitted on the grounds of NSC.
- During Trap and Skeet shooting, retrieving spent hulls is not permitted until the round has been completed. During Sporting Clays hulls shall not be retrieved until the entire squad has finished that station.
- Backup shooting is not permitted. An exception will be made for trap and 5-stand squads specifically formed for the purpose of incorporating backup shooting into the game.
- No firearms other than shotguns may be discharged on NSC property.
- Guns carried on a pull cart must be racked muzzle down. On a motorized cart, they may be racked muzzle up or down. Horizontal racks are not permitted.
- Shooters may not enter Trap or Skeet houses for any reason.
- In the Great Room, hand warmers may only be lit and extinguished at the fire place hearth.
General Shotgun Safety Advice
Nothing is more important than safety when it comes to shotguns.
The
doctrine of shotgun safety prevents you from accidentally firing your
gun -- either through human or mechanical error. There are no shortcuts
to safety and the rules are never relaxed.
Ignore the rules of shotgun safety and a negligent moment can turn an enjoyable outing into a nightmare.
Always
remember that shotguns are inherently dangerous and command respect.
Your goal is to make safe shooting instinctual -- that you practice it
constantly. It starts with common-sense shooting, vigilance and over
time becomes ingrained in the shooting experience so that you are
constantly aware of it in yourself and others.
Please take the next few moments to read the rules of shotgun safety.
You’ll see three sections: Keep, Never and Children.
Thanks for taking the time.
Always Keep…
- The muzzle pointed in a safe direction (upward or downrange).
- Your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot..
- Wearing ear and eye protection.
- Thinking that your shotgun is loaded even when it isn’t.
- Your action open or the breech cracked to show the gun is unloaded, until you’re ready to use it.
- The proper gauge ammunition in your gun. Don’t improvise or carry shells of different gauges in the same pouch. Ammo specs are usually stamped on the barrel of your shotgun near the receiver.
- Your barrel clear of obstructions. If you have a misfire, check the barrel for a stuck wad or hull. Don’t clear the barrel by firing a fresh load through it. The results will be disastrous.
- Aware of what’s beyond the target. If there’s any doubt, don’t shoot.
- Familiar with your gun and its workings, especially the safety and barrel selector.
- Aware of ejected hulls. They are hot, fast and dangerous.
- Your shotgun unloaded when cleaning it.
- Your shotgun properly maintained. Fouling, rust and improper oiling can make your shotgun unsafe.
- Your shotgun unloaded and open when passing it to someone else. Pass it stock first.
- Aware of where your hunting partners are at all times.
- Aware of where your hunting dogs are at all times.
- Maintaining a straight line when hunting with others.
- Your safety orange on at all times when hunting.
- Your gun safety back on after the game has flushed.
- Your muzzle pointed downrange of other hunters -- even when a quarry flushes in their direction.
- Your emotions in check. Remember, you and your companions have shotguns and ammo at hand.
- Aware of circumstances that could jeopardize your safety and the safety of others. If someone you know is doing something dangerous, it’s best to tell them. If you see a stranger doing something dangerous, notify the range safety officer immediately.
Never…
- Point your shotgun at another person (even if you think it’s unloaded).
- Shoot into water. Something hard under the surface could deflect the shot in a dangerous direction.
- Climb or jump over anything with a loaded shotgun.
- Shoot under the influence of alcohol or of drugs that impair your motor skills.
- Transport a loaded shotgun. Even if the law says it’s OK, the shotgun could accidentally discharge.
- Lean a loaded shotgun against anything other than a gun rack. If the gun falls, it could accidentally discharge.
- Fire your shotgun unless you feel your stance is well-balanced.
- Push or pull your shotgun against another person (even if you think it’s unloaded).
- Leave your shotgun unattended.
- Handle a shotgun without the owner’s permission.
- Dry fire a shotgun unless you are absolutely convinced it’s empty. And when you dry fire the shotgun, do so a safe direction.
- Store a loaded shotgun in a safe or cabinet.
Children…
- Set the best possible example for your child when it comes to safety.
- Make sure your child wears ear and eye protection at all times.
- In the field, make sure your child wears safety orange at all times.
- Always pay attention to your children when they are handling shotguns or are in the vicinity of shotguns.
- Make sure the shotgun fits your child reasonably well to avoid misfires and other dangerious mistakes.
- Store your shotguns so that children can’t gain access to them: locked safes, closets or cabinets.
- Store shotguns and ammo separately in locked places.
- Don’t leave your shotgun lying around.
- If a child handles a shotgun it must be in the presence of an adult familiar with the gun and the rules of safe handling.
- Instill in your children that shotguns are not toys. They are extremely dangerous. When it comes to shotguns, children must distinguish between reality and fantasy.
- Replace the mystique of the shotgun with knowledge and discipline.
- Teach your children to respect shotguns rather than fear them.
- Teach your child that if they find a shotgun readily accessible they should leave the area immediately and alert an adult. If there are no adults available, the child should call 9-1-1 immediately.
- If your child has questions about shotguns, keep your answers short and to the point in order to avoid confusion. Demonstrate often.
- Don’t lose your patience with your children when it comes to teaching them about shotguns.
- “No” means “no.”