Social responsibilities of the firearm owner and user

A responsibility that never switches off

There is no time when a firearm owner stops being morally and legally responsible for a firearm - not while it is stored, lent, transported or being cleaned. The course stresses that owners are responsible for preventing misuse by themselves and by others who could get access to their firearms.

Key fact: The most positive influence in preventing firearm incidents is the owner's own safe attitude and behaviour - following ACTS and PROVE every time and storing firearms securely.

Main causes of firearm deaths and injuries

The course groups hazards into two broad threats:

1. Intentional misuse - suicide, violence, crime with stolen firearms. Secure storage and keeping ammunition separate reduce impulsive access and theft.
2. Unintentional misuse - careless handling, failure to unload, horseplay, pointing a firearm at someone, poor target identification, wrong ammunition, obstructed barrels, alcohol or drugs, fatigue, and children finding unsecured firearms.

Hazards and precautions (summary)

Hazard	Precaution
Firearm assumed to be unloaded	ACTS: assume loaded; PROVE it safe
Children or visitors at home	Store unloaded and locked; ammunition locked separately; teach children not to touch
Theft	Locked storage, do not advertise collections, record serial numbers
Alcohol, cannabis, drugs, medication	Do not handle firearms or go hunting while impaired
Fatigue, cold, poor visibility	Stop shooting; identify targets positively
Ricochet and over-penetration	Know the backstop and what lies beyond
Emotional crisis in the household	Remove access (temporary storage with a licensed person or business, or contact the CFO)