What should you do before handling a firearm?

The correct choice emphasizes the critical first step in firearm safety—confirming that the firearm is unloaded and checking the chamber. This is an essential practice to prevent accidental discharges and ensure safety for yourself and those around you.

By ensuring a firearm is unloaded, you reduce the risk of an unintended discharge, which can lead to serious injury or death. Checking the chamber specifically allows the handler to see if there are any rounds present that could fire if the trigger is pulled. This proactive approach sets a responsible tone for any further handling or use of the firearm, reinforcing the principle that all firearms should always be treated as if they are loaded.

The other choices represent practices that are not appropriate as initial actions. Loading a firearm or ensuring it has a full magazine before confirming it is unloaded increases the risk of an accident. Cleaning the firearm is important but should also occur after ensuring safe handling practices are established. Handling a loaded firearm without confirming it is unloaded contradicts the foundational safety rules of firearm handling. Thus, the first step must always be to verify the firearm's condition as unloaded.