BY ENROLLING IN OR ATTENDING TRAINING, OR BY ENTERING THE RANGE OR TRAINING AREAS, EACH PERSON ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THIS SAFETY & RANGE POLICY AND WITH ALL INSTRUCTOR AND RANGE STAFF DIRECTIONS.

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​1. Purpose and Safety Priority

• Safety is the highest priority at Lykos Training Center.

• Every person on the property (participants, observers, guests, and drivers) must follow this Safety & Range Policy at all times.

• Instructors and range staff have full authority to control all training and range activity for safety purposes. Their directions and decisions are final.

• Lykos Training Center may remove any person from training or from the premises at any time, in its sole discretion, for any safety concern or rule violation. Removal may occur with or without prior warning.

• No refunds, credits, or rescheduling will be provided to any person removed from training or from the premises for safety concerns or rule violations.

 

2. Mandatory Safety Briefing and Acknowledgment

• All participants must attend a pre-class safety briefing before any live-fire or practical training.

• During the briefing, instructors will review:

  • Universal firearms safety rules,

  • Range commands and their meanings,

  • Emergency and CEASEFIRE procedures, and

  • Any course-specific safety rules.

• Instructors will allow time for questions and clarification at the conclusion of the briefing to ensure all participants have a clear understanding of the material before training begins.

• Each participant must verbally confirm understanding of the safety briefing, including the rules, commands, and expectations for safe conduct. 

• Any participant who refuses or fails to complete and confirm understanding of the safety briefing will not be permitted to participate in training and will not receive a refund.

 

3. Universal Firearms Safety Rules

THESE RULES APPLY AT ALL TIMES, WITHOUT EXCEPTION:

1. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

2. Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are on target and have been instructed to fire.

4. Be certain of your target, what is beyond it, and what may be in front of it.

 

4. Conduct, Compliance, and Legal Requirements

• Participants must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws at all times.

• Participants are responsible for holding any Massachusetts Firearms Identification Card (FID) or License to Carry (LTC) required for the course.

• NO PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 15 IS PERMITTED ON THE RANGE OR IN ANY TRAINING AREA, WHETHER AS A PARTICIPANT, OBSERVER, OR GUEST.  Participants are responsible for ensuring that any guests who enter Lykos' property comply with this age restriction.

• No person may handle, carry, or use firearms while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any impairing substance.

• Eye and ear protection are mandatory for all persons present during any live-fire activity.

• Only ammunition approved by Lykos Training Center is permitted. Prohibited ammunition includes, but is not limited to, armor-piercing, incendiary, and tracer rounds.

• Participants must conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and non-disruptive manner at all times. Any behavior that creates or may create a safety risk is prohibited.

• Harassment, abusive language, threats, discriminatory remarks, or any behavior that creates a hostile environment are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal from the premises without refund.

 

5. Instructor and Range Staff Authority

• Instructors and range staff have full and final authority over all training and range activities for safety purposes.

• They may at any time, in their sole discretion:

  • Issue additional safety rules or instructions,

  • Modify or stop any drill or activity,

  • Limit or change a participant’s role in an exercise,

  • Require a participant to sit out a drill,

  • Require a participant to leave the firing line, range, or training area, or

  • Remove any person from training or from the premises.

• Safety violations, unsafe behavior, or failure to immediately follow directions may result in dismissal from training and/or removal from the premises without warning.

• No refunds, credits, or rescheduling will be provided for any person whose participation is restricted or terminated, or who is removed from the premises, due to safety concerns, unsafe behavior, or violations of this policy.

 

6. Discretionary Enforcement of Safety Rules

• Instructors and range staff may use coaching, corrective feedback, and formal warnings to address minor safety issues. However, they are not required to give any warnings before removing a participant from a drill, from the firing line, from training, or from the premises.

• Any serious safety violation, including but not limited to:

  • Pointing a firearm at any person,

  • Placing a finger on the trigger at an unsafe time,

  • Moving with a firearm or drawing from a holster without authorization, or

  • Ignoring or arguing with safety commands,

       may result in immediate dismissal from training and removal from the premises without refund, credit, or rescheduling.

• Decisions related to safety, participation, and removal are final and not subject to on‑site dispute.

 

7. Safe Handling, Muzzle Discipline, and Trigger Discipline

• Firearms must remain pointed in a safe direction (downrange) at all times, unless otherwise directed by an instructor.

• The muzzle must never cover any person, including yourself, other participants, instructors, or staff.

• Never permit the muzzle of a firearm to touch the ground.  If a firearm is dropped, participants must not pick it up; they must notify an instructor immediately.

• Fingers must remain off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until:

  • You are at the firing line,

  • You are on target, and

  • You have received a command to fire.

• “Sweeping” or covering any person with the muzzle, intentional or unintentional, is a serious safety violation and may result in immediate dismissal from training without warning.

• Participants must demonstrate safe handling and basic competency at all times. Failure to do so is grounds for immediate removal from the range or from training.

 

8. Range Commands and Compliance

• ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST FOLLOW INSTRUCTOR AND RANGE OFFICER COMMANDS IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT ARGUMENT, DELAY, OR DEVIATION.

• Talking over, arguing with, or ignoring commands is prohibited.

• If you do not understand a command, keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, and ask for clarification.

• Failure to respond correctly and immediately to any range command is a safety violation and may result in restriction of participation or dismissal without warning.

 

9. Firearm Handling Procedures

• UPON ARRIVAL, ALL FIREARMS MUST BE UNLOADED AND ALL MAGAZINES EMPTY.  Any participant bringing a firearm must notify the instructor immediately.

• NO PERSON MAY FIRE ON THE RANGE UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY AN INSTRUCTOR OR RANGE OFFICER.

• Never anticipate a command. Do not load, draw, fire, move, or re-holster until specifically instructed.

• Before participating in firearms training, participants must:

  • Unload their firearm,

  • Lock the slide to the rear or open the cylinder,

  • Show the open chamber/cylinder as directed, and

  • Secure all ammunition away from participants unless and until instructed otherwise.

• Firearms must remain unloaded with the action open when not actively in use, unless otherwise directed by an instructor.

• Each time a firearm is handled, the participant must immediately:

  • Open the cylinder or lock the slide to the rear,

  • Visually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine well, and

  • Confirm the firearm is unloaded (check twice).

• Firearms may only be transferred between persons when:

  • The cylinder is open, or the slide is locked to the rear, and

  • The firearm is passed butt-end first.

• Dry firing is prohibited unless specifically instructed by an instructor.

• Any unsafe handling observed by an instructor or staff member is grounds for immediate correction, restriction of activity, or dismissal from training.

 

10. Firing Line & Movement Rules

• Firearms must remain pointed downrange at all times while at the firing line, unless otherwise directed by an instructor.

• There is no movement forward of the firing line unless specifically instructed and supervised.

• Participants must not bend, twist, or turn while holding a firearm to pick up dropped items or equipment. If an item is dropped, keep the firearm pointed downrange and notify an instructor.

• Load, reload, and unload firearms only:

  • At the firing line,

  • In the designated position, and

  • On command from an instructor or range officer.

• Movement with loaded firearms, or movement with firearms drawn, will occur only when and how the instructor directs. Any unauthorized movement with a firearm may result in immediate dismissal.

 

11. Holstering Rules

• Participants must never draw a handgun from a holster unless specifically instructed to do so as part of the training exercise.

• Participants must never draw or re-holster with a finger on the trigger or inside the trigger guard.

• Re-holstering must be slow, deliberate, and as instructed. “Speed re-holstering” is prohibited unless specifically directed by an instructor for a particular drill.

• Any unsafe or uncontrolled draw or re-holster is a serious safety violation and may result in dismissal without warning.

 

12. Malfunctions & Emergency Procedures

• In the event of a malfunction, the participant must:

  • Keep the firearm pointed downrange,

  • Keep their finger off the trigger, and

  • Notify an instructor immediately.

• Participants must not attempt to force the action of any malfunctioning firearm.

• Participants must immediately stop shooting and make the firearm safe (as instructed) if:

  • They feel unwell or injured,

  • Their firearm malfunctions,

  • An unsafe condition develops, or

  • They hear the command “CEASEFIRE” or the range officer’s whistle.

• When the command “CEASEFIRE” is given:

  • ALL SHOOTING MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY,

  • Keep the firearm pointed downrange,

  • Keep your finger off the trigger, and

  • Follow the instructor’s commands to unload, open the action, engage the safety if available, and step away from the firing line.

• Firearms must not be handled during a ceasefire unless explicitly instructed by an instructor or range officer.

 

13. Ammunition Restrictions

• Armor-piercing, incendiary, and tracer ammunition are strictly prohibited.

• Ammunition must remain secured and separate from firearms unless and until the instructor authorizes loading.

• Lykos Training Center may inspect any ammunition at any time and may prohibit any ammunition it deems unsafe or inappropriate.

• Any student found in possession of prohibited or unsafe ammunition may be required to remove it from the property or may be removed from training or the premises. No refunds, credits, or rescheduling will be provided in such cases.

 

14. Equipment Standards and Inspection

• All firearms, holsters, magazines, and related gear used in training must be in safe working condition and appropriate for the course.

• Instructors and staff may inspect any firearm, holster, or equipment at any time.

• Lykos Training Center may prohibit the use of any firearm or equipment it deems unsafe, unsuitable, or inconsistent with course objectives.

• If a participant’s firearm or equipment is prohibited from use for safety reasons, it is the participant’s responsibility to provide safe, acceptable equipment.

• If a participant cannot continue training because their equipment is unsafe, prohibited, or fails, no refund, credit, or rescheduling will be provided.

 

15. Health, Fitness, and Environmental Safety

• Participants must notify instructors before training begins of any injury, illness, medication use, or medical, psychological, or physical condition that may impair performance or create a safety risk.

• Lykos Training Center may restrict, modify, or terminate participation if, in its reasonable judgment, a medical, physical, or mental condition presents a safety risk to the participant or to others.

• Participants must wash their hands after handling firearms, ammunition, or spent materials, and before eating, drinking, or touching their faces.

• Participants should take reasonable precautions to minimize exposure to lead and firearm residue, including washing exposed skin and, when appropriate, changing clothing after training.

• Any injury, near-miss, or unsafe condition must be reported to an instructor immediately.

 

16. Observers, Guests, and Non‑Participants

• Observers, guests, and drivers on Lykos property must follow all posted rules and all instructions from instructors and staff.

• Observers and guests must remain in designated areas and may not enter the firing line or training areas unless specifically authorized.

• Eye and ear protection are mandatory for all observers or guests present during live-fire training.

• Any observer or guest who behaves in an unsafe, disruptive, or non-compliant manner may be removed from the range or premises immediately.

• If a participant’s guest or observer causes a safety or conduct issue, the participant and the guest may both be required to leave. No refunds, credits, or rescheduling will be provided to the participant in such cases.