The Firearm Safety Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Firearm Safety Quiz
Image: refer to hsw

About This Quiz

Getting flippant with guns can cost you dearly. How much do you know about firearm safety? Take this quiz to find out.
What is a key trait of a fully automatic weapon?
It has a self-cleaning mechanism.
It fires bullets continually until you release the trigger.
It is much easier to aim.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fully automatic weapons fire many bullets with one trigger pull.

If you use incorrect ammunition for your gun, what can happen?
The gun becomes a little more powerful.
The gun may become obstructed.
The gun will fire two bullets unpredictably.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The gun may become obstructed. It's one of the most dangerous mistakes you can make.

What should you always be leery of?
reloaded ammo
safety glasses
ear plugs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Depending on who loaded the ammo, the quality could veer from excellent to dangerous.

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True or false: A gun's safety is guaranteed to never fail.
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Safeties can fail, as can any man-made mechanism.

How should you cross a fence when you're carrying a weapon?
Throw the weapon over first.
Keep both hands on the gun as you climb over.
Unload the gun, and place it carefully on the other side.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The simple act of unloading the gun and placing it on the other side protects you and everyone around you.

Where should you store the key for a locked firearm?
in a secure location
with the gun
under the baby's bed
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To avoid careless accidents, you should store the key in a safe location.

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How should you treat every gun, even if you suspect it has never once been loaded with ammunition?
as if it were inaccurate
as if it were loaded
as if it were broken
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Treating all guns as if they were loaded can save many lives and limbs.

Where should you store your firearm's ammunition?
securely and separately from the gun
in the same safe place as the gun
close to the ground
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many owners keep ammo in the same location as the gun and inadvertently make unauthorized access easier.

Because accidents happen, you should never do what?
shoot large caliber weapons
shoot at animals
shoot alone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You're always safer if you have a friend around to help in case of emergency.

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You should unload your gun before ...
leaving it unattended
taking it out of a pickup truck
stalking a deer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It takes only seconds for an unauthorized person to grab an unattended gun.

Where should your finger NOT be placed until you are ready to fire a weapon?
the trigger
the safety
the trigger guard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You should have already gone through every other safety procedure before touching the trigger.

What happens if you shoot at a lake's surface?
The bullet bounces right back at you.
The bullet sinks.
The bullet careens off into an unknown direction.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Water does weird things to the path of a bullet, including causing it to careen elsewhere.

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You should never point the muzzle of your gun at anything unless you intend to ...
save it from harm
eat it
shoot it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Assume that you will destroy anything that winds up on the wrong side of the sights.

When should you perform maintenance on your firearm?
before you shoot it
before you store it
both
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Proper care before you shoot and store your firearm will ensure its longevity and safety.

How does a locationized gun restrict its usage?
It can only use specific brands of ammunition.
It can only be fired in approved areas.
It can only be aimed at certain targets.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Advanced technologies shut down the gun if it is removed from approved firing areas, such as a shooting range.

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What can happen if you fire weapons in a poorly ventilated area?
You might start a fire.
You might inhale lead dust.
You might get dizzy and fall over.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lead dust is poison to people, so it's best to minimize the possibility of inhaling it.

What is a safe target?
a target hung on your barn
a target hung on hard and flat surface
neither
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Approved firing ranges are the safest places to shoot.

What can cause the barrel of a gun to split like a banana peel?
a barrel obstruction
a manufacturing defect
overpowered ammunition
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That's why you should always check for obstructions before you load the gun.

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What is a "hair trigger"?
a very sensitive trigger
a malfunctioning trigger
both
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A hair trigger releases at the slightest amount of pressure.

In decibels, how loud are many handguns?
160 decibels
100 decibels
85 decibels
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many handguns are as loud as 160 decibels. It's why you should wear ear protection when you're shooting.

What is the legal maximum blood alcohol content for safe gun operation in the U.S.?
0.4 percent
0.2 percent
It depends on the state.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It depends on the state, but generally substance use and firearms don't really mix.

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What does the trigger guard do?
makes the trigger easier to squeeze
helps prevent accidental firing
makes the gun more comfortable to hold
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The trigger guard encloses the trigger and makes it harder for the trigger to be accidentally bumped.

Smart guns can't be fired by anyone other than their owners thanks to ...
biometric security
keyed locks
an ID tag implanted beneath the owner's skin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Some advanced versions scan fingerprints before you can fire.

What is "overpenetration"?
when a bullet has a hollow point
when a bullet has too much power for a particular gun
when a bullet passes through a target
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's why you should never shoot if there are vulnerable objects or people behind a given target.

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What should you do with the gun's action before entering a vehicle or home?
Open it.
Close it.
Close it after making sure the safety is on.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You should open it and make sure the gun is unloaded, too.

What percentage of accidental child shooting victims are boys?
50 percent
60 percent
80 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eighty percent are boys.

Before you pull the trigger, you should verify your target as well as ...
what is nearby
what is behind and in front of it
both
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You need awareness of the entire scene before you shoot.

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About how many states hold adults criminally liable if they fail to store guns safely and someone gets hurt?
40
30
20
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Less than twenty states hold them criminally liable for improper storage.

What's the primary reason to wear safety glasses while shooting?
Bullets ricochet.
Guns may explode.
Other people might shoot you.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

All of these scenarios are possible, but ricocheting bullets are extremely common.

In 2013 about how many unintentional firearms deaths were there worldwide?
47,000
58,000
82,000
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Forty-seven thousand deaths is a lot of accidental bloodshed.

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You Got:
/30
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