New York Firearms Safety Course Practice Exam

What type of firearm safety mechanism prevents the firearm from firing when dropped?

1. Manual safety

2. Magazine disconnect

3. Drop safety

4. Trigger lock

The correct answer is: Drop safety

A manual safety is a physical switch or lever on the firearm that must be manually activated by the user to prevent the firearm from firing. However, this mechanism would not prevent the firearm from firing when dropped. A magazine disconnect is a feature that prevents the firearm from firing when the magazine is removed. This will not prevent a firearm from firing when dropped. A trigger lock is a physical device that is placed on a firearm to prevent the trigger from being pulled. However, this would not prevent the firearm from firing when dropped. The correct answer, a drop safety, is a mechanism built into the firearm that prevents the firing pin from striking the primer when the firearm is dropped. This is an important safety feature to prevent accidental discharges and is commonly found in firearms.