Practical Shooters instinctively practice safe gun handling under pressure, and they demand the same of others: USPSA-affiliated clubs always check new shooters to insure that they have the skills needed for safe participation. Consequently, before you are allowed to compete in any USPSA practical shooting match or organized practice, a Practical Shooting Safety Check is always required - always.

At your Safety Check, you will need to have:

- A serviceable and safe handgun, minimum caliber 38 spl./9mm. All of the critical safeties (slide safety, safety catches, half cock notch, disconnector, hammer block, etc.) on your handgun must be functional. If your gun is fitted with a trigger shoe or extension, it may not protrude beyond the outer dimensions of the trigger guard
- A safe holster on a belt; the muzzle of the handgun must point downwards to the ground within three feet of you when standing naturally relaxed, the trigger must be covered, and the belt upon which the holster and allied equipment are carried must be secured at waist level (please leave your shoulder holsters, S.O.B. holsters, manly "Tactical" thigh holsters, fanny packs, etc., at home!)
- Magazines or speed loaders (2 or 3 is plenty to start with), and carriers for same. Bring at least 50 rounds of ammunition - 100 is better. We suggest factory ammo for your safety check (unless you already know what's considered "safe handloads" under USPSA rules)
- Ear and eye protection. Shooting glasses must be industrial safety glasses or genuine shooting glasses; most sunglasses lack the strength needed to afford adequate protection. Foam ear plugs provide excellent ear protection, and they're cheap

At your Safety Check, you will need to demonstrate these safe gun-handling skills:

- Clearing and checking your gun
- Loading and making ready
- Draw and fire from various starting positions
- Safely reloading your gun while stationary, and while moving
- Safe down- and cross-range movement
- Safely engaging multiple targets from multiple shooting positions
- Safely clearing a jam
- Unloading and clearing

Upon successful completion of your Safety Check, you will be issued a USPSA “Safety Check Card,” and will be allowed to shoot as a “Coach-Through” for your first three matches. Upon successful completion (i.e., no unsafe gun handling) of your first three matches as a Coach-Through, a Range Officer (RO) or the Match Director (MD) will sign your card (make sure you ask!), allowing you to compete (as “unclassified”) in Section/USPSA matches. You must join the USPSA to obtain a national classification. You must join the Northwest Section to be eligible for Section awards. You must join a Northwest Section club to be eligible for nationals slots.

I will normally conduct Safety checks the day before the match as during the match there is too much going on to conduct a safety check. Which is usually a Saturday, and after we have finish setting up for the match. The safety check takes 1 hour, and you will need 100 rounds of ammo, along with the above mentioned items. Please make sure to give me a heads up if you are interested in a Safety Check.