New York Firearms Safety Course Practice Exam

Before crossing a fence with a firearm, what should you do?

1. Unload the firearm

2. Place the safety on

3. Cross with the firearm in your hand

4. Pass the firearm to your hunting partner

The correct answer is: Unload the firearm

When preparing to cross a fence with a firearm, the safest and most responsible action is to unload the firearm. This ensures that you minimize the risk of an accidental discharge while navigating potentially hazardous situations, such as crossing obstacles. Unloading the firearm provides a crucial layer of safety, as it eliminates the possibility of the firearm going off if it were to snag on the fence or if you lost your grip during the crossing. While placing the safety on is also a good practice, it does not substitute for unloading the firearm, as the firearm could still be loaded and capable of firing. Crossing with the firearm in hand keeps it in a position to potentially discharge, and passing the firearm to a partner could create an unnecessary risk during the crossing. Therefore, unloading the firearm is the most appropriate and safest action to take in this scenario.