Benelli ETHOS Shotgun - Manual (Page 35)

34
BASIC SAFETY RULES
WARNING: PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL
BEFORE HANDLING YOUR FIREARM.
WARNING: FIREARMS CAN BE DANGEROUS
AND CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR DEATH,
IF HANDLED IMPROPERLY. THE FOLLOWING
SAFETY RULES ARE AN IMPORTANT RE-
MINDER THAT FIREARM SAFETY IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY.
1. NEVER POINT A FIREARM AT SOMETHING
THAT IS NOT SAFE TO SHOOT.
Never let the muzzle of a firearm
point at any part of your body or at
another person. This is especially
important when loading or un-
loading the firearm. When you are
shooting at a target, know what is
behind it. Some bullets can travel
over a mile. If you miss your target
or if the bullet penetrates the target,
it is your responsibility to ensure that
the shot does not cause unintended injury or
damage.
2. ALWAYS TREAT A FIREARM AS IF IT WERE
LOADED.
Never assume that a firearm is unloaded. The
only certain way to ensure that a firearm has the
chamber empty is to open the chamber and
visually and physically examine the inside to see
if a round is present.
Removing or unloading the magazine will not
guarantee that a firearm is unloaded or cannot
fire. Shotguns and rifles can be checked by
removing all rounds and by then opening and
inspecting the chamber so that a visual inspec-
tion of the chamber for any remaining rounds
can be made.
3. STORE YOUR FIREARM SO THAT CHILDREN
CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO IT.
It is your responsibility to ensure that children
under the age of 18 or other unauthorized per-
sons do not gain access to your firearm. To re-
duce the risk of accidents involving
children, unload your firearm, lock
it and store the ammunition in a
separate locked location. Please
note that devices intended to pre-
vent accidents - for example, cable
locks, chamber plugs, etc, - may not
prevent use or misuse of your
firearm by a determined person.
Firearm storage in a steel gun safe may be more
appropriate to reduce the likelihood of intentio-
nal misuse of a firearm by an unauthorized child
or person.
4. NEVER SHOOT AT WATER OR AT A HARD
SURFACE.
Shooting at the surface of water or at
a rock or other hard surface in-
creases the chance of ricochets or
fragmentation of the bullet or shot,
which can result in the projectile
striking an unintended or peripheral target.
5. KNOW THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE
FIREARM YOU ARE USING, BUT REMEMBER:
SAFETY DEVICES ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE
FOR SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES.
Never rely solely on a safety device to prevent an
accident. It is imperative that you know and use
the safety features of the particular firearm you
are handling, but accidents can best be prevent-
ed by following the safe handling procedures
described in these safety rules and elsewhere in
the product manual.
To further familiarize yourself with the proper use
of this or other firearms, take a Firearms Safety
Course taught by an expert in firearms use and
safety procedures.
6. PROPERLY MAINTAIN YOUR FIREARM.
Store and carry your firearm so that
dirt or lint does not accumulate in
the working parts. Clean and oil
your firearm, following the instruc-
tions provided in this manual, after
each use to prevent corrosion, damage to the
barrel or accumulation of impurities which can
prevent use of the gun in an emergency. Before
loading your firearm, always check the barrel
internal part and the chamber to ensure that they
are clean and free from obstructions.
Firing with an obstruction in the barrel or cham-
ber can rupture the barrel and injure you or
others nearby. In the event you hear an unusual
noise when shooting, stop firing immediately,
engage the manual safety and unload the
firearm.
S to e g e r