chamber flag procedures: child safetyand chamber to assure no live ammunition. • place the chamber...

child

Tennessee Department ofSafety & Homeland Security

Promoting safe firearmhandling and storage

practices among all firearmowners, especially those

with children.

www.tn.gov/safety/handgunmain.shtml

Tennessee Department ofSafety & Homeland Security

PO BOX 945Nashville, TN 37202Email.Safety@tn.gov

CHAMBER FLAGPROCEDURES:

• Remove magazine fromthe firearm.

• Completely clear thehandgun and lock theslide to the rear.

• Examine the magazineand chamber to assureno live ammunition.

• Place the chamber flagin the empty chamberand release the slide.

• Insert a loadedmagazine in theweapon.

• If the firearm is neededin an emergency, itmerely requirescharging the weapon(pulling the slide backand releasing).

childsafety

Tennessee Department of Safety, Authorization No. 349522,50,000 copies, January 2013. This public document waspromulgated at a cost of $.04 per copy.

Chamber flags are small, inexpensiveitems used as an added safety measure

while transporting and storingsemiautomatic handguns. Place a flag

in an empty chamber as a visualconfirmation that the chamber is clear.

THE DEPARTMENT STRESSES THEMINIMUM SECURITY OF CHAMBERFLAGS. WHILE NOT A REPLACEMENT

FOR SAFES, CASES, OR OTHERSECURITY DEVICES, THESE “PLUGS”ARE MERELY A DETERRENT AND THEFIRST LEVEL OF LIMITING EXPOSURE

TO SMALL CHILDREN.

If the firearm is not in direct control, theowner must absolutely ensure that it isinaccessible to a child. The departmenthas begun distributing these items togun owners at gun shows across the

state. We demonstrate a wide variety ofsecurity devices (suggested below)

GUN SAFES, TRIGGER LOCKS,HAND GUN SAFES, CABLE LOCKS

SAFE HOMECHECKLISTLOCK IT!* Your firearm is YOURresponsibility at all times.

* Firearms are unloadedand securely stored in a locationinaccessible to children andother unauthorized persons.

* Sporting firearms areunloaded before being broughtinto the home and never loaded

while in the home.

* When firearms are removedfrom storage, always carefullycheck to confirm that they

are unloaded.

* Ammunition is storedunder lock and key,separately from firearms.

* The firearm owner’s manualmust be read and understood.

stop!CHAMBER FLAGS

ARE NOT LOCKS ORSECURITY DEVICES.

LEVELS OF HANDGUN SECURITY

1. Unloaded weapon,locked in a gun safe

2. Unloaded weaponwith cable and/or

trigger lock

3. Unloaded weapon,chamber flagged andmade inaccessible

4. Loaded weapon,cleared, chamberflagged, and made

inaccessible