California Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) Practice Exam

To ensure a handgun is safe to handle, what should you check first?

1. The safety switch

2. If the gun is loaded

3. The manufacturer's logo

4. The gun's sights

The correct answer is: If the gun is loaded

Checking if the gun is loaded is indeed the first step to ensure that a handgun is safe to handle. This action establishes a fundamental safety precaution, as handling a loaded firearm poses a risk of unintentional discharge, which can lead to serious injury or fatality. By verifying that the firearm is not loaded, you significantly reduce the hazards associated with handling firearms. The other options, while being important aspects of firearm safety and operation, do not address the immediate priority of ensuring the firearm is safe to handle. The safety switch is crucial but is only effective if the gun is not loaded; checking the manufacturer's logo and the gun's sights are relevant for other purposes, such as identification and aiming, but do not contribute to immediate safety concerns when handling a firearm.