Shooting / Gun safety

Gun safety - start here.

A firearm doesn't give second chances. These rules are universal, and they don't bend - memorize them, and they keep everyone alive. Read this before anything else.

The four cardinal rules

Keep the muzzle in a safe direction

Always - at the range, in the field, at home. A 'safe direction' is one where a round would hurt no one and nothing if the gun went off.

Treat every gun as if it's loaded

Always, no exceptions - even one you 'know' is empty. Check it yourself every time you pick one up.

Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire

Rest your finger along the frame, outside the trigger guard, until your sights are on the target and you've decided to shoot.

Be sure of your target - and what's in front of and beyond it

A bullet can travel a mile or more and pass right through a target, so know what's behind it before you fire.

Every time you shoot

Use a safe backstop. A solid earthen berm or hillside is best. Never shoot at flat, hard surfaces - water, rocks, or steel can throw a ricochet - and a live tree, or 'just the open field,' is no real backstop at all. No backstop, no shooting.
Wear eye and ear protection - hearing damage is permanent and instant.
Never mix alcohol or drugs with shooting.
Know your firearm - how it loads, fires, and unloads - and keep the muzzle down-range.
Store guns safely at home: locked, separate from ammo, and away from kids.
Watch for fire in dry conditions (steel and some ammo throw sparks), and clean up your lead and brass.

Keep going

Where you can shoot

The law, in plain English.

Know the law ->

Public land

National forests and limits.

Public-land rules ->

Shooting hub

Back to the main guide.

Open the hub ->

Official sources

The four cardinal rules and the safety checklist come from TPWD Hunter Education (and match the NRA and NSSF); safe-storage guidance comes from Project ChildSafe.

Data vintage:: Firearm safety as reviewed June 2026
Last reviewed:: June 15, 2026

TPWD Shooting Safety Rules - The official safety rules
TPWD Hunter Education
Project ChildSafe (safe storage)

Caution: This is general safety guidance, not a substitute for hands-on training. If you're new to firearms, take a certified course before you shoot.

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