Dangerous customers in gun shops

[Greg_TX]

I was in one of my local shops yesterday for my payday browsing and saw a customer waving a pistol around while he was checking it out. It was crowded, so he managed to point it at just about everyone in the shop - cluelessly, not deliberately. As people saw him and started moving out of the aisle, he turned and said something like this to his wife - "People see one of these babies and they go away in a hurry!"

Of course, gun shops would make sure weapons are unloaded before letting a customer handle it, but this guy obviously hasn't been introduced to the fundamental firearm rules. I didn't notice, but he probably had his finger on the trigger the whole time.

 

[larry starling]

Ain't no worse than gangbangers coming in and pointing 40 Glocks at people then asking for xtra clips......

 

[Zoogster]

That is what happens when they remove firearm safety from highschools.

If the voters choose not to educate the population when they are subject to a mandated curriculum then that is the problem.
There is few specificly cited rights in the Bill of Rights, and one clearly says everyone has a right to arms. You would think it prudent to insure the population was educated before they became adults.

Not everyone is going to have family firearm experience.
Most citizens are subject to 12+ years of government mandated curriculum.
If they cannot be shown basic safety in using one of the only material possessions guaranteed in the founding document of our nation in 12 years, then there has been an intentional choice to have such ignorant people.

With that in mind I see no reason to require anything of adults. If you want people to know how to be safe then teach them in highschool when they are subject to a mandated curriculum.

 

[rcmodel]

Twice in my life, I have ask to look at a 1911 on a gunshow table, and found it fully loaded when I picked it up.

Once late on a Sunday afternoon, after countless people had already handled it.

Both dealers about sxxx thier pants.
One dealer admitted he had been using it as his bedroom gun, and he forgot to unload it before he brought it to the show.

The other one didn't have anything to say at all.

Three years ago, I bought a LNIB 1970'ish Winchester 9422 at a small show.
I found one .22 LR stuck in the magazine tube when I got it home.

Somebody points a gun at me, I tell them about it in no uncertain terms, right there in front of God and everybody!

rc

 

[JohnBT]

I've yelled at folks from as much as 30 feet away. I'll dodge the first sweep and say something quietly, but the second one gets them YELLED at. Usually it takes the form of "Hey, would you point that thing at somebody else for awhile."

John

 

[CountGlockula]

but this guy obviously hasn't been introduced to the fundamental firearm rules.

Sadly, too many casual gun owners never heard of gun safety.

 

[MikeKeyW]

100% Zoogster, I work for the 4th largest school district in the US and see first hand the effect of removing firearms safety and shooting teams has had. It's gotten to the point where you can't utter the "G" word in any positive context. A student was found carrying a handgun at the High School my children attend this week and it made headline news and every students parents received a recorded message from the Principal explaining how the incident had been taken care of and it was safe to send their children to school. The reason why the student had the gun in school has never been mentioned publicly. I'm not defending him in any way, it was a stupid thing to do and get caught. However I can understand it more after my daughter explained why he had a gun to me today at lunch. Two of his friends had been killed in gang related activity and he felt he was next on the hit list. Not someone you'd invite over for dinner but while the kids knew why he had the gun the same day he was caught with it that fact was never released as it might indicate a legitimacy for firearms ownership for self defense.
I just got back Monday from 20 days in Israel for a family event. One of the days was at a range were we got to give a few Uzi's a work out, kids included. Private open carry is prevalent and actually felt safer there when out at night than I do here even with my ccw. The children are taught respect for firearms and firearms safety. It's a whole different atmosphere from our liberal media's view of "any gun is a bad gun". It's even rubbed off on my in-laws. I had worked for the first US importer of what people then called the "Tupperware" gun, the Glock. Back then I was viewed as a "Merchant of death". Now every family member knows how to handle a variety of firearms safely and how to handle themselves should the need arise.

 

[SHusky57]

Mikey, Do you know where we could find crime statistics in Israel? I am curious if they have a lower per capita rate of homicide/violent crime if one could seperate the suicide bombings out from the statistics....

 

[Working Man]

Of course, gun shops would make sure weapons are unloaded before letting a customer handle it

I would not rely on that. Even if they did "make sure weapons are unloaded" it
does not mean it remained that way. When I worked at Acad a man brought a
rifle round with him and loaded into a rifle he was looking at. Unfortunately for him
it was about a week or so after we were robed and he was promptly tackled the
moment he did so.

 

[Greg_TX]

I would not rely on that. Even if they did "make sure weapons are unloaded" it does not mean it remained that way.

Which is why we have Rule #1.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

That is what happens when they remove firearm safety from highschools.

Personally, I think you are wrong. Firearms education should be taught by parents to children, and the lack of knowledge most people have is what happens when families break down, fathers are not in the home, and America moves from a nation based on personal self reliance to one based upon a cradle to grave nanny state.

Your comment seems to imply that you feel the nanny state should provide us with all aspects of education, including those traditionally taught by parents to children.

Thank you very much, but I will decline to have my child educated in the use of firearms by a PE coach who is barely smart enough to tie his own shoes.

 

[Working Man]

Which is why we have Rule #1.

Very True.

One of the rules that I have added when teaching new users is that after
they have checked a firearm if it leaves their possession or their view it must
be assumed loaded and rechecked. Even at that point, the 4 rules still apply.

 

[Carl]

Gun safety taught in schools can go hand in hand with sex education. I'd rather have it taught by the parents since you don't know what the teacher is leaving out or if they have some kind of agenda.

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

^^ i agree with carl. parenting is the problem, and schools teaching sex ed and gun safety are not the solution.

too many people are ignorant of gun safety...its kind of sad, what needs to change?

 

[Gunnerpalace]

All I do is just pray they are unloaded, I have been swept like a floor in gunstores so it is that and hope that it is isn't a .50 cal.

 

[Eric F]

you almost have to expect this behavior any more, folks learn gun safety from the likes of MTV and cartoons these days. The only way to correct it is with proper confrontation and education techniques. Sales men wont do it as they are driven by money and therefor dont want to risk making the customer uncomfortable and loosing a sale. So it is up to us to correct reckless behavior

 

[W L Johnson]

Twice in my life, I have ask to look at a 1911 on a gunshow table, and found it fully loaded when I picked it up.

Had a used Saiga shipped US postal to my FLL fully loaded. He didn't know it had shipped loaded until I took it out of the box in his office (he hadn't taken it out yet) and the first thing I do when picking up a firearm is check to make sure the weapon is clear, well out falls an 7.62x39 rd and the mag is full. The FFL had a cow over that. Now what would the US postal service think about that? And this was sold to me by a gun shop that will not be mentioned.

 

[Walkalong]

Of course, gun shops would make sure weapons are unloaded before letting a customer handle it

They should, but it is YOUR responsibility to check every one you pick up.

 

[MikeKeyW]

My children learned early on starting with a chipmunk .22. Both can handle and safe a varity of 1911's, a Ruger Mk II, a Beretta 92F compact, a Colt Python and a Ruger Super Blackhawk. Mas taught me to gunproof the child and I did to the best of my ability. I gave my 18 year old the combination to the safe and he can't quite remember to spin the dial and seems to enjoy doing pushups... My High School shooting team coach used to love see us doing them for not safeing the rifle quick enough for him.
I don't know where one would find data like that on Israel but I can say that everyone was much more polite than they are here save a few Arab-Jew issues. My cousin was taunted by an Arab if the Glock he was carrying was a toy to which he smiled and just said "I don't think either of us would like to find out". A falling stone block just missed my brother in law when the bodyguard shoved him out of the way and a Arab street vendors cart was put back on track by the slightly raised muzzle of a Mini Uzi the other body guard was carrying noticed the cart coming in fast straight at the group of us. We were touring houses reacquired by Jews in the Arab neighborhood. An Arab selling to a Jew is a death sentence, there is a system in place akin to the witness relocation plan to encorage more sales.

 

[SpecialKalltheway]

I have only once been swept with a gun in a gun shop by some idiot. I walked up and calmly told him that it was unsafe for him to sweep someone with the barrel of a gun. He responded that it was unloaded so there was nothing unsafe about it. I replied "not unsafe for me, unsafe for you. you are in a gun shop where I would assume at least half if not 3/4 of the people in here with you have loaded guns on them. They aren't just going to assume yours is unloaded when you point it at them." The guy behind the counter laughed and gave me my range time for free that day.

 

[Titan6]

I've yelled at folks from as much as 30 feet away. I'll dodge the first sweep and say something quietly, but the second one gets them YELLED at. Usually it takes the form of "Hey, would you point that thing at somebody else for awhile."

I signal the sales guy then if he doesn't do anything yell at him. He is the one that is supposed to know better.

 

[dersequim]

Teaching Gun Safety

The local High School has a Navy HS ROTC program. They were at a Gun Show and were explaining their program and the PROPER way to handle Weapons!

They told me about a Regional Firearms Competion they were going to be competing at. Ofcourse they shoot Air Rifles. They also put on a Drill and Flag Salute at the beginnig and closing of the days activity. They also perform at MANY Civic events. I SWEAR from watching the young lady, her father must of been a Marine Corps Gunny!

One of their Male Cadets won the Marksmenship Competion and a Female Cadet won the Rifle Drill Award (handling and presenting). Their Drill Team Placed in the Top Five for the Region. They competed against teams from all different sponsoring organizations.

When the article appeared in the local Paper, "YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE"

The NASTY, NEGITIVE and DEROGERATORY letters to the Editor!

Some even came to the next Schoolboard meeting to RANT and RAVE about
training the NEXT Generation of Columbine Killers!

It wouldn't of been so bad if it had been a few people but almost 50 HS
PARENTS!

:banghead: It's a SICK WORLD!:

 

[AKElroy]

Sales men wont do it as they are driven by money and therefor dont want to risk making the customer uncomfortable and loosing a sale.

The majority of gun retailers I frequent are very safety conscious. I rarely see a weapon removed for display without the action opened & chamber checked. I have not found that just because someone wants to make a buck that they are not concerned with gun safety.

 

[mgregg85]

This pretty much explains why I hate to go into gun stores these days. It gets rather tiring to watch some punk ask to handle the desert eagle in the case while telling his girlfriend "thats what the soldiers in Israel and navy SEALS carry". Not to mention then having that same punk point it at you and say "bang, bang" while pretending to shoot it.

 

[ChCx2744]

That just shows that person's awareness and knowledge of firearm saftey. Some people just do not understand the fact that if you would not go around waving a gun around in the air in a restraunt/park/grocery store, then you should not do it inside of a gun store either.

If I saw something like that, I'd just advise the store manager (loud enough so the knuckle head can hear) why he just lost a paying customer for the day and leave.