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 [email protected]
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