In the event of a malfunction during operation of a firearm, who is responsible for addressing the issue?

• A. The officer using the firearm
• B. The instructor
• C. The range safety officer
• D. The bystander

Answer: (A)

When a firearm malfunctions, the person in control of the weapon is responsible for handling it. This is because the shooter is closest to the action, knows what happened, and must take immediate, safe steps to manage the stoppage. The operator should stop firing, maintain the muzzle in a safe direction, assess the malfunction, and clear it if it’s safe to do so or seek the proper help as trained. The instructor’s role is to teach and supervise safety and technique, and the range safety officer enforces range rules and can assist if a safety issue arises, but the primary duty to address the malfunction lies with the person handling the firearm. Bystanders should not intervene with the weapon.