New York Firearms Safety Course Practice Exam

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Prepare for the New York Firearms Safety Course Exam. Test your understanding with detailed multiple-choice questions, complete with explanations. Earn your certification with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What should you do if your firearm fails to fire when the trigger is pulled?

Shake the firearm
Point the firearm in a safe direction, keep it pointed there for several seconds, then safely clear the firearm.
Try firing again immediately
Open the action immediately to check

The correct answer is: Point the firearm in a safe direction, keep it pointed there for several seconds, then safely clear the firearm.

The correct approach when a firearm fails to fire is to point it in a safe direction, maintain that position for several seconds, and then safely clear the firearm. This procedure is critical because a failure to fire could result from a hangfire, where the primer ignites slowly and the cartridge may fire after a delay. By keeping the firearm pointed in a safe direction for a moment, you are ensuring that if the firearm discharges unexpectedly, it does so in a controlled and safe manner. After the waiting period, safely clearing the firearm allows you to inspect and address the situation appropriately, ensuring both the safety of yourself and those around you. In contrast, shaking the firearm or immediately trying to fire again might lead to a dangerous situation. Opening the action right away could also put you at risk if there's a possibility of an unintended discharge.