Let’s be clear – firearms are designed to be lethal and handling them in an unsafe manner is never a wise choice. Whether you use a privately owned weapon (POW) for hunting, target shooting or personal defense, your experiences will be far more enjoyable if you protect yourself, your family members, your friends and fellow Soldiers by handling your weapon in a responsible manner.

All too often, we lose Soldiers who deliberately point a weapon at themselves or someone else believing it to be unloaded, which results in tragedy. It is imperative that you always follow the basic standards of safe weapons handling.

Remember, not all weapons operate in the same manner. Proficiency with your assigned military weapon does not make you an expert on all weapons. If you are handling a new weapon, read the owner’s manual carefully and take a class to get the proper training.

It should go without saying, but weapons and alcohol are never a good combination. Alcohol is an all-too-common factor in POW mishaps and many of them occur in social settings. If you see someone handling a weapon in any unsafe manner – especially while under the influence of alcohol – take action! You could save the life of a family member, a friend or even your own.

You can manage your risk with POWs if you always THINK weapons safety!

• Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.
• Handle every weapon with care.
• Identify the target before you fire.
• Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
• Keep the weapon on safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.

As you map your future, you always want to live to ride another day. Applying the principles of risk management to your off-duty activities will allow you, your fellow Soldiers and your families to enjoy a safe and happy future with many great adventures ahead!

Choose WISELY, Arrive SAFELY!

For more information, please visit https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Privately-Owned-Weapons