Gun store handling.

Axis II said:

I was in a large chain mom and pop store today looking at a few guns and the worker kept pointing the gun at me when he would pull it out of the case. I counted 9x he did it. 2 other workers came over and didn’t even notice. I’m all for people having a job but dang, get someone who knows something in there. I kept opening the slide handing them back and he had a heck of a time figuring out how to hit the slide release on one of them. Part of me wanted to say something but he was an older gentleman and I just chose to chalk it up.

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A friend of mine was shot in the back at sport co. By an employee. Kneeling down while shopping for boots a bullet ricocheted off the floor and drilled him.

The ones that drive me nuts are the bubbas that come in and want to show the counter guy their carry gun that's fully loaded then proceed to wave it around like its a flag.

South Prairie Jim said:

A friend of mine was shot in the back at sport co. By an employee. Kneeling down while shopping for boots a bullet ricocheted off the floor and drilled him.

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Probably one of those tactical cowboy type ready for quick draw any time. We had a similar incident around my area fortunately nobody got hit.

Safe gun handling , following the rules of gun safety is something that has no exceptions to the rule, it is done 100% of the time.

Lots of bash the clerk here.....I'd like to give a positive for a clerk in a USAF BX gun counter. I've never been interested in plastics, never handled one. Clerk asks to help, told him the above and asked to handle a Glock full size. He took a G17, pointed at the floor, opened the slide, turned it to me and said "Confirm the gun is clear...." while maintaining full control. After I said "Clear" he released it to my control.

Maybe he Is/was active duty, working part time off duty, given the venue, or maybe not. Anyway, he did excellently.

BTW, the G17 really felt good, I see why the Glock fit is so well liked, but it wasn't enough to overcome my dislike for plastic.

Likely some poor older salesman who had to go to work to try and beat inflation.

I've witnessed very little of what others describe here. Most of the guys handle the firearms properly. Guns shows are not as good, but there too, guns are mostly handled properly.

Axis II said:

It’s a mom and pop place that owns multiple stores through the area.

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Well in my mind, a mom and pop store is a single store. I would guess that the only way a large chain store can be a mom and pop is if it is a franchise and mom and pop own that particular location.

I don’t worry too much about an inadvertent muzzle sweep. In a crowded room it’s going to happen. But if it seems clear that the clerk or customer has no idea how to handle guns safely, I’d find another store to be in.

I’m not too much of a worry police in a gun store, not hyper critical. If clerk drop the mag and clear the gun in front of me, we good.. within common sense reason. I pocket carry alot in the warm - fall weather. My pocket flags people all the time in my pocket. I’m Complete aware of it too, were I will angle my legs in a different direction.

It would only happen once and I would be polite about it and not be yelling. My LGSs always rack the slide to hold open, open the bolt or cylinder in a safe manner before handling. I don't much worry about it after that. In a shop full of people it's bound to happen...

Speak up.

Every single incident requires some series of events which ultimately lead to the incident itself and its consequences.

Every. Single. Incident.

I liken this series of events as a "combination" which unlocked and opened Pandora's Box. Eliminate ONE event from that series and the box will not open for a given incident.

The four rules are a set of factors that, when routinely applied, effectively screws up the combination to Pandora's box. No single rule "does it all"...they come as a set and applying them as a set overlaps the inherent limitations any single rule may have.

Another person here pointed out that it's not possible to avoid sweeping 100% of the people 100% of the time. This is true, as he pointed out in his post. However, treating all guns as loaded and keeping yoru finger off the trigger dovetails with this to also mess up the combination to Pandora's Box.

Sweeping others with the barrel of a gun IS a problem, to be sure. However, not applying the four rules as a set is a bigger problem.

It is encumbant upon each individual to scrupulously adhere to the four rules, if only because an inadvertent oversight of one rule by one person can be covered by a second person who did not miss it.

THIS is why it's important to speak up. Reenforcing good habits and pointing out mistakes serves to improve the safety posture of everybody.

Mark_Mark said:

I’m not too much of a worry police in a gun store, not hyper critical. If clerk drop the mag and clear the gun in front of me, we good.. within common sense reason. I pocket carry alot in the warm - fall weather. My pocket flags people all the time in my pocket. I’m Complete aware of it too, were I will angle my legs in a different direction.

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Sport co in Fife should be safe by NOW’

Always Keep Firearm Pointed in a Safe direction

Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded

Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot

Always Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Beyond It

South Prairie Jim said:

A friend of mine was shot in the back at sport co. By an employee. Kneeling down while shopping for boots a bullet ricocheted off the floor and drilled him.

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Wow. I hope he came out OK!

jak67429 said:

The ones that drive me nuts are the bubbas that come in and want to show the counter guy their carry gun that's fully loaded then proceed to wave it around like its a flag.

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guys that carry have shot themselves and had ND 1000 times more then any kid showing a gun in a chain store

what I get out threads like this is gun owners are the most perfect people in world history. even at 80 years old they have NEVER done anything wrong or EVER made a mistake. we all know that is a giant pile of crap

Smaug said:

Wow. I hope he came out OK!

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Yeah he’s still walking and the bullet didn’t penetrant that far but how strange is it to come home and have the little woman ask - how was your day ?

South Prairie Jim said:

Sport co in Fife should be safe by NOW’

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They had a FN 249 Saw, they would not let me take photos of it. Was like… why? it’s 2022 not 1997

robin banks said:

what I get out threads like this is gun owners are the most perfect people in world history. even at 80 years old they have NEVER done anything wrong or EVER made a mistake. we all know that is a giant pile of crap

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How many of these same people look at their cell phones when driving cars? Hmmmmmm. How many consume food that causes health problems? How many dump roundup and pesticides in their yard that are banned in other countries for causing severe health problems...

We can do this all day. Hypocricy has no bounds. Bottom line is you cant control everything. If someone is in a Firearms environment and they fear for their safety its best to just leave and get away from it. Barking at people very rarely works outside of LE and Parenting. As edgy, paranoid, and pissed off as people are these days... its best to pick your battles wisely.

Or just find a small shop with good people who remember your name. Its a whole different world when you walk into a gunshop and know the owner. Many of which are extremly knowledgable and have a true passion for firearms. Much more enjoyable experience than walking into Academy or some franchise type environment. Might cost a little more but it all equals out in the end. Small shops typically appreciate customer loyalty and treat people better.