Pre-Match Briefing & Safety Speech

Before each and every Match conducted at The MMM Range, a ritual is observed.  The Pledge of Allegiance is always recited.

I pledge Allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the Republic for which it stands,

one nation under God, indivisible,

with Liberty and Justice for all.

Afterwards a Pre-Match Briefing and Safety Speech are delivered.

It is prudent to review here the fundamentals of the Pre-Match Briefing and Safety Speech.

First and foremost--SAFETY is our #1 Priority.  Safety takes precedence over everything else.  Period.  We Preach Safety and We Practice Safety.  Firearms Safety is the very foundation of our Sport.

Second and without exception, we invoke always the Four Rules of Firearm Safety:

1. The gun is ALWAYS Loaded.  The gun is ALWAYS Loaded
2. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and ready to fire.
3. Never point your muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.
4. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

The MMM Range is a COLD RANGE.  That means simply that ALL firearms are ALWAYS unloaded at ALL times ANYWHERE on the Range unless under the direct Supervision of a Safety Officer on the Firing Line.  Unloaded firearms may only be handled in a designated SAFE AREA.

The following actions will result in an immediate Disqualification and may also result in an immediate ejection from The Range:

• Dropping a firearm on the ground.
• Sweeping yourself with your muzzle in any phase of any stage activity
• Handling a firearm anywhere except in a Safe Area or on The Firing Line
• Shooting over the berm
• Accidentally discharging a firearm in an unsafe manner
• Breaking the 180 Plane (or a designated muzzle point).
• Acting in a reckless manner deemed unsafe by a Safety Officer and/or Match Director
• Failure to heed the STOP Command

In an IDPA Match at the MMM range STOP MEANS STOP.  If you hear someone yell STOP, that means to immediately STOP firing and to work with the Safety Officer to put your firearm in a safe, holstered condition.

Participants in any MMM Match must always scan the horizon in case an errant mountain biker, bovine or hiker might appear.  If you see anything moving on the horizon, yell STOP!

Shooters must reholster their firearm BEFORE attempting to pick up magazines, live round(s) and brass.

In all cases, the Safety Officers and Match Director and in Command of a Match.  Consider any Command they give as a Direct Order.

The above narrative covers the salient points of a typical Pre-Match Briefing and Safety Speech.  Each Match Director has his or her own unique way of delivering and emphasizing the points above.  Regardless of how the Pre-Match Briefing is presented, you must remember that your personal safety is your personal responsibility.  We always aware of your own personal conduct and hold yourself to the higest possible standards of Safety.  Maintain Situational Awareness around yourself.  if you see an unsafe behavior taking place, immediately call out the perpetrator and bring it to the attention of the nearest Safety Office and The Match Director.

Safety is not only our own responsibility, it is a Shared Responsibility.  We are all in this together and it is up to ourselves to keep ourselves and our associates safe at all times.

Thanks for respecting The WAY of SAFETY!  HAPPY SHOOTING!