Which safety measure ensures the magazine is removed from the handgun before handling?

Which safety measure ensures the magazine is removed from the handgun before handling?

• A. Slide is locked to the rear.
• B. Check it, check it twice, for ammunition.
• C. Hold muzzle end of empty handgun toward you.
• D. Magazine is removed from the handgun.

Answer: (D)

Removing the magazine is the essential step because it directly takes the ammunition source out of the handgun. When the magazine is out, there’s no magazine that can feed rounds into the chamber, which greatly reduces the risk of an accidental discharge while you’re handling the firearm. After removing the magazine, the common safe practice is to lock the slide to the rear and visually and physically check the chamber to confirm it’s empty, then proceed with the rest of the unloading process. While locking the slide is helpful for inspecting the chamber, it doesn’t guarantee that the magazine has been removed. Holding the muzzle toward yourself is unsafe, and simply “checking for ammunition” addresses presence in the chamber but not the removal of the magazine itself. The key safety step is removing the magazine first, so you’re certain the firearm cannot feed rounds during handling.

Removing the magazine is the essential step because it directly takes the ammunition source out of the handgun. When the magazine is out, there’s no magazine that can feed rounds into the chamber, which greatly reduces the risk of an accidental discharge while you’re handling the firearm. After removing the magazine, the common safe practice is to lock the slide to the rear and visually and physically check the chamber to confirm it’s empty, then proceed with the rest of the unloading process. While locking the slide is helpful for inspecting the chamber, it doesn’t guarantee that the magazine has been removed. Holding the muzzle toward yourself is unsafe, and simply “checking for ammunition” addresses presence in the chamber but not the removal of the magazine itself. The key safety step is removing the magazine first, so you’re certain the firearm cannot feed rounds during handling.