Safety and Responsibility

Req 1c — A Friend Asks to See the Gun

1c.
Describe how you would react if a friend visiting your home asked to see your or your family’s firearm.

This requirement tests whether you can make the right decision under social pressure. A friend asks to see a gun—maybe out of curiosity, maybe to impress someone. What you do next either reinforces safe habits or opens the door to a serious accident.

The Right Response, Step by Step

  1. Say no clearly and without apology. Something like: “I can’t show it to you without my parent (or guardian) here.” You are not being rude; you are being responsible.

  2. Do not touch the firearm yourself. Even if you know where it is stored, even if you know the combination or key, even if you think it is unloaded—do not retrieve it to show a friend without a parent or guardian present and supervising.

  3. Get an adult involved. If the friend is genuinely interested, offer to ask your parent or guardian later. With adult supervision, a properly cleared firearm can be shown safely—but never casually and never without an adult present.

  4. If a friend finds an unsecured firearm, the same NRA Eddie Eagle message applies: Stop. Don’t touch. Run away. Tell an adult. This applies to you and to anyone in your home.

Why This Matters

Most firearms accidents involving young people happen in homes, not on ranges. Curiosity is natural, but curiosity combined with an unsecured firearm and no adult supervision is the most dangerous combination in firearms safety. Your response to this situation is not theoretical—it may happen to you.

Proper Storage Prevents the Situation

Firearms should always be stored unloaded, with the action open, in a locked safe, cabinet, or case. Ammunition should be stored separately. If firearms in your home are stored this way, a friend cannot easily access them even if tempted. Part of this requirement is understanding that proper storage is the first line of defense.

The Counselor Conversation

Your counselor wants to hear your specific response—the words you would actually say and the actions you would actually take. Practice saying it aloud. A vague “I’d be careful” is not enough. Show that you would refuse, explain why, and involve an adult.