Chapter 3: Know Your Rifles and Shotguns

ACTS and PROVE: Firearm Safety

The ACTS and PROVE of firearm safety is a nationally accepted approach to handling firearms safely. It was developed by the Canadian Firearms Program and should be used each and every time you handle a firearm in any situation.

 

ACTS:

Assume every firearm is loaded.

• Regard any firearm as potential danger.

Control the muzzle direction at all times.

• Identify the safest available muzzle direction.
• Keep the firearm pointed in the safest available direction.
• The muzzle of a firearm should not be pointed towards yourself or any other person.

Trigger finger must be kept off the trigger and out of the trigger guard.

• Resist the temptation to put your finger on the trigger or inside the trigger guard when you pick up a firearm.
• Accidental discharge is far more likely to occur if your finger is on the trigger or inside   the trigger guard.

See that the firearm is unloaded - PROVE it safe.

• Do not handle the firearm unless you can PROVE it safely.
• Check to see that both chamber and magazine are empty. Do this everytime you handle a firearm,  for any reason.
• Pass or accept only open and unloaded firearms. This is an important habit to develop.

 

PROVE it safe:

Point the firearm in the safest available direction.

Remove all cartridges.

Observe the chamber.

Verify the feeding path

Examine the bore for obstructions

 

Copyright Royal Canadian Mounted Police