Bluffton, South Carolina, resident Jacob (Jake) Higgins serves as a detective sergeant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Jacob Higgins also worked for the Bluffton Police Department, and has been honored as a superior marksman during his career. Here are some important rules for firearm safety.

Any firearm should be treated as if it is loaded when it is first picked up, regardless of if it really is. The gun must be inspected to verify it is unloaded; then the user can proceed.

A gun user must always be aware of where the muzzle of the gun is pointed, and keep it pointed in a safe direction. They should only purposely point the gun at something with the intent to shoot. The shooter must keep their finger off the trigger until they are ready to fire, and verify their target before shooting.

All guns have differences. The user must educate themselves on handling, ammunition, and other characteristics of their particular gun to ensure safety.