What should you do when accepting a firearm from another person?

When accepting a firearm from another person, it's vital to prioritize safety. Pointing the gun in a safe direction is essential to prevent accidents or injuries in case the firearm discharges. Opening the action and checking if the firearm is loaded helps ensure that it is safe to handle. This process is a fundamental safety protocol accepted in firearm handling and reinforces responsible ownership and usage.

While checking the safety mechanism is important in general firearm handling, it does not substitute for verifying whether the gun is loaded, which is a more critical step in ensuring safety when first accepting the firearm. Loading a firearm immediately is unsafe and can lead to accidents, and simply storing it in a case does not address the immediate safety checks required during the transfer.