New York Firearms Safety Course Practice Exam

What should you do before crossing a fence, climbing a tree, or jumping a ditch with a firearm?

1. Unload the firearm

2. Check if the safety is on

3. Yell out to alert anyone nearby

4. Cross carefully with the firearm in your hand

The correct answer is: Unload the firearm

Unloading the firearm before crossing a fence, climbing a tree, or jumping a ditch is a critical safety measure. This action ensures that there is no chance of an accidental discharge while maneuvering over or around potential obstacles. Firearms should always be treated as if they are loaded, and by unloading, you significantly reduce the risk of an unintended incident that could result in injury or death. Checking if the safety is on is important, but it does not eliminate the risk of an accidental discharge if the firearm were to fall or be mishandled during your movement. Alerting anyone nearby is a good practice but does not address the primary safety concern of handling the loaded firearm itself when navigating difficult terrain. Crossing carefully with the firearm in hand does not sufficiently mitigate the risk of an accident when obstacles are encountered. Thus, properly unloading the firearm is the safest and most responsible action in this scenario.