Yet another reason the anti gun group load up against gun owners

It wasn't that long ago that Mayor Daley held up a SKS and threatened to stick the bayonet up a reporter's butt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfW0DDC1LGs). There's video all over youtube so there's no ambiguity in his case.

Maybe politicians shouldn't be allowed to touch guns ...

Politicians and guns just don't seem to mix unless they are "real" hunters and shooters. It is easy to spot anyone that isn't or needs basic training. Our new Senator, like him or not his family are sportsmen and hunters. As of now we are very gun friendly as our neighbors in KY. An anti-gun politician would have a tough time getting elected in Southern WV or Eastern KY.

True...

Hrm. I was reading up on this a bit in the news and there's an awful lot of talk about "brandishing" being thrown around. And while I agree that it is incredibly poor gun handling I am not entirely sure we should go along the brandishing route here, as a community. Let me explain.

She was sitting in a room with a reporter and a camera crew, from what I gather. Talk came to 2A issues and the reporter asked whether she was carrying. Or so it seems. She said something to the effect of yes, produced her pistol (did she clear it? I don't know, news sources are conflicted on this) and pointed the gun at something she wasn't about to destroy.

But to me the spirit of the law (I know, I know, not the letter) of "brandishing" is a threatening gesture or at least an intimidating gesture. Calling her out on brandishing would be similar to calling someone out on brandishing because they pulled a pistol from the holster and handed it to a gunsmith at his or her own store. Or you showing your gun to a friend, on public land.

So while I agree that this is really, really bad PR, I am not sure whether "brandishing" should enter the discussion.

*le nod*

Maybe not brandishing but certainly wreckless endangerment.

How could it be wreckless if no motor vehicle accident was involved?

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

They do things . . . differently out there in God's Waiting Room. Better pack that senator off to Gunsite for re-education.

I think brandishment has to contain an intentional threat.

This would be reckless endangerment more like drunk driving. A drunk driver might not intend to cause an accident but he is doing something so reckless that a reasonable person would know is dangerous and could likely cause an accident.

Certainly was bad PR and even if it was unloaded, safety on, and her finger off the trigger she should not have pointed it at another person.

There are many many irresponsible people out there that do worse things but this is such a hot topic than you can bet that the Dems will be all over this saying things like... if a responsible person like Lori Klein would act like this imagine would the serfs out on the streets must act like.

I don't think that you should remove your gun from it's holster (or purse) in order to display it to a room full of people (especially reporters).
There are places in which you may be safe when drawing your gun to show to another hobbyist or interested individual but you're going to be hard pressed to find a safe direction to point it when standing in a room full of people. There are places, like gun shows, where it's sometimes impossible to find a safe direction to point it but this politician should have simply said that her weapon was for CCW and would remain concealed. She should have offered to show it in private if a reporter really wanted to see it.
We've seen the picture of Mayor Nagin pointing the AR at his police chief. It's not hard to make a gun owner look bad in a pic.

reck  
1. to have care, concern, or regard (often followed by of, with, or a clause).
2. to take heed.

wreck  

1. any building, structure, or thing reduced to a state of ruin.
2. wreckage, goods, etc.,
3. the ruin or destruction of a vessel in the course of navigation; shipwreck.

7. to cause the wreck of (a vessel); shipwreck.
8. to involve in a wreck.
9. to cause the ruin or destruction of: to wreck a car.

We can call it whatever but if we as the gun community do not condemn this fast and hard it will only fuel the anti movement.

The antis don't seem to understand "gun safety."

I sent her the following email. haven't heard anything "yet."

Dear Senator Klein
I just read the story of your pointing weapon at and lighting up a reporter with your laser. And I must express my shock and dismay at such actions. Your ignorance of proper firearms handling is disturbing and I request you seek formal training from a recognized training site. You are in serious need of formal and extensive training to correct what around here would have gotten you, at a minimum, put on the ground
What you did was damm serious

May I also suggest your write a formal letter of apology to the reporter and ask him to join you as your guest, at your expense, for a good firearms training. Just call it bridge building.

I don't know how the room was set up or how many people were there, so I can't comment on whether it was pointed in a safe direction. IMO, she should have kept it holstered considering she was in a room with reporters who I would suspect to be more anti than pro-gun.

I can see how a person who has no experience with guns might be ignorant or not paying close enough attention and walk in front of the muzzle so she may not have pointed it at the person. If she did, then she is a total idiot and should stop publicly talking about guns because she is not doing the gun rights movement any favors with this negative PR.

^ Agreed!

Unless you're going to make us look like a group of good ordinary (or extraordinary) people, don't bring up guns or have them with you. It's bad enough when they claim to represent all 2'nd amendment types and then turn into abrasive jerks. It's worse when they make us look kill happy.

I agree with MarkDozier. It would be highly beneficial for her to recieve accredited (sp?) training and make it public. Bringing the reporter would be great too although if it was me I might not feel like going with her.

This is one of the reasons that I'm adamantly against unholstering a loaded, concealed weapon in a public venue...gun store or anywhere else. There's just no good reason to do it. If you simply must show it off to your new friend...invite him home with you and make coffee.

A holstered pistol or revolver won't fire. The instant you remove it from its nest and start fiddling with it, your chances of an unintentional discharge increase exponentially. The gun should stay holstered until such time as it's needed.

"Have you already checked it?

"Yes."

"Then leave it alone."

Bonus points for the first person to name the movie that line came from.

Amazing.

Arrghh.. Here We Go Again!!

Nushif said in part..

Nushif said:

I don't know, news sources are conflicted on this) and pointed the gun at something she wasn't about to destroy.

Click to expand...

Here we go again..

Single Action Six

I know we all don't want to accept that someone on our side of the gun issue would be so irresponsible and foolish but from the accounts i've read the fault is solely on Lori Klein. Looking for a way to shift responsibility by saying the reporter walked into the gun's point of aim is disingenous at best. All accounts i know of clearly state that she purposefully pointed the gun at him. Even if he had begun walking in front of the muzzle it would still be her responsibility to keep it pointed away from a person. They were not at a gun range.

^If that is true then she needs more training in gun safety and PR!

I read that she said her dad who had been in the military taught her gun safety. If that is true then she wasn't listening or he sucks.

Check up on this story. The reporter seems to have been significantly biased in his account. The senator has given her side, taken full responsibility for her actions, and has signed up for a firearms safety course for a refresher.

Be careful jumping too quick without hearing both sides.

I'd post a link to her account that was sent by email to a firearm blog, but I'm not sure I should. But send me a PM if you can't find her side and I'll PM back the link.

I wonder how things would be different (attitudes towards guns) if this country had requirements that every male serves in the military when they come of age for a certain amount of time.

"Have you already checked it?

"Yes."

"Then leave it alone."

Bonus points for the first person to name the movie that line came from.

Click to expand...

The Untouchables, of course! One of my favorites. Sean Connery's first line in that exchange with Andy Garcia is "Did you check it already?", though.