What is the first safety step to take when removing obstructions from your firearm?

The first safety step when removing obstructions from your firearm is to point the muzzle in a safe direction. This is crucial because it minimizes the risk of an accidental discharge, which could lead to serious injury or death. Regardless of the situation, having the muzzle pointed in a safe direction ensures that if a round were to accidentally fire, it would not endanger anyone in the vicinity.

After ensuring the firearm is pointed safely, the next logical steps would typically include unloading the firearm to ensure no rounds are in the chamber, and checking the safety mechanism. However, these actions should be taken after determining the muzzle’s direction is safe, as the priority in firearm safety is preventing any possibility of unintended harm.