Thread: Downwards or Safest Direction

So did your Nephew actually fail and have to attend another course OP?

I bet there is more to it.

I've learnt that if it sounds unlikely then there is normally more to it.

There's like 3 questions or something you can get wrong. He most likely got a few too many wrong

You can get a couple wrong, however there are several safety related questions which constitute an automatic fail.

Originally Posted by Tommy

You can get a couple wrong, however there are several safety related questions which constitute an automatic fail.

That's correct, the safety questions which you must not get wrong are the ones that relate to the seven basic rules of firearms safety. Also, there are two test papers, X and Y, which are used alternatively each month.

I failed on one of the 7 you cannot fail, due to me not reading the question properly, instructor just told me to read it again and come back.

Concrete floors are a concern in say small bore ranges, so there it is up, outside range in paddock is down. So in a direction that is safe makes sense to me. I didn't sit any test when I got my licence, nice arms officer just wrote it out and I said thanks. I was meant to have it for a life time, but they changed the rules and now I have to pay.
I guess we just grew up with firearms, I remember talking with my hunting mates and deciding rules when hunting together. New shooters we took out were told the rules.
Old hammer shotguns were the real danger, sweaty fingers on hammers were banned after my mate nearly shot my foot off, hammers were palmed after that.

+1

Just pointing down is incredibly dangerous. A projectile ricocheting off the floor/ground will do more damage than a projectile falling from the sky at just terminal velocity.

Point in a safe direction, and that direction changes constantly. Be aware, think safe and keep looking to where your firearm is pointed.

If safety can be ingrained into the mindset of those starting off shooting that's certainly a good thing.

I find it pretty hard to believe that they just outright failed them on that one question when you could argue it either way. In my one some people got answers wrong and it was resolved by a discussion with the people taking it.

I'd be very wary of only having 1 side of the story if I was you.

If the question relates to one of the seven deadly sins, then no help or suggestions by the instructors is allowed. You must mark all of those questions correctly or you fail.

Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction.
You can't argue it either way as there is only one correct answer and it's covered in the Arms Code.

Like I said, I did screw one of the 7 up and the instructor told me to go back and read it again.
So there's discretion.

Originally Posted by Jexla

Like I said, I did screw one of the 7 up and the instructor told me to go back and read it again.
So there's discretion.

The instructor is not supposed to show discretion if it relates to one of the 7. You were lucky to get away with it.

You can't say that, because you don't know that, you haven't read their rules, I'm fairly certain if you can tell someone just misread a question because they got every single other question right, sure you can give them the benefit of the doubt.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

If the question relates to one of the seven deadly sins, then no help or suggestions by the instructors is allowed. You must mark all of those questions correctly or you fail.

Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction.
You can't argue it either way as there is only one correct answer and it's covered in the Arms Code.

Arms code is out of date it states

Rule 2: Always point firearms in a safe direction
Loaded or unloaded, always point the muzzle in a safe
direction.
• A safe direction will depend on where you are.
Remember that bullets can go through walls and
ceilings.
• Never point a firearm at anyone else or at yourself.
• Keep focused when handling firearms – no
daydreaming
.• To avoid unintentional firing or damage, firearms
should never be lean't against vehicles or in any place
where they could slide or fall.
• Always be particularly careful when placing firearms in,
or removing them from, vehicles, boats and storage.
Be aware that firearms can go off unintentionally when:
• Closing the action
• Releasing the safety catch
• Uncocking
• Or opening a loaded firearm

with multilevel living such as appartments becoming common today "down" could also be unsafe

Pretty much all apartments would have floors and ceilings of at least 200mm concrete