Firearm safety

feature on firearms used to prevent accidental discharge

firearm part surrounding the trigger to hinder accidental discharge

organization

study and practice of safe operation of firearms

event of a firearm discharging at a time not intended by the user

different types of failures of a firearm to operate as intended

secure storage container for firearms

organization

a fixture, pile of sand or similar on a shooting range to stop projectiles after they have penetrated the target

thumb|Colt Single Action Army hammer at half cock Half-cock is when the position of the hammer of a firearm is partially—but not completely—cocked. Many firearms, particularly older firearms, had a notch cut into the hammer allowing half-cock, as this position would neither allow the gun to fire nor permit the hammer-mounted firing pin to rest on a live percussion cap or cartridge. The purpose of the half-cock position has variously been used either for loading a firearm, as a quasi-safety mechanism, or for both reasons. The still commonly used English expression of "going off half-cocked" der