When cleaning a firearm, what is the first thing you should do?

When cleaning a firearm, the first and most important step is to unload the firearm. This should always be the first thing to do before beginning the cleaning process to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. Pointing the firearm in a safe direction, while also important, should not be the first step as the firearm may still be loaded and could accidentally discharge. Disassembling the firearm fully and applying cleaning solvent to the barrel can only be done safely after the firearm has been unloaded. Therefore, the correct answer is to unload the firearm before anything else.