If an accidental discharge occurs at a range, what steps should you take?

• A. Run away while firing to alert others.
• B. Ignore it; continue shooting.
• C. Stop, keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction, follow range safety procedures, and notify the range safety officer.
• D. Only reload and continue.

Answer: (C)

When something like an accidental discharge happens on the range, the priority is to control the situation and protect everyone present. Stop firing and treat the incident as a cease-fire. Keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times, with the trigger finger outside the trigger guard and the muzzle directed away from people. Follow the range safety procedures that are in place for emergencies, and immediately notify the range safety officer so they can take charge, assess the situation, and coordinate any medical help or further checks. This approach minimizes risk, preserves control of the firearm, and ensures the incident is handled by the proper authorities.

The other options ignore safety rules or create additional danger—running away while firing compounds the risk, ignoring the discharge allows possible further harm, and continuing to shoot after an accident shows a disregard for established safety procedures.