anyone had this happen?

[chipp]

so I'm at a local gun shop in my own little world looking at handguns.
I'm bent over looking in the case and as I'm sraitening up. I have this 5 ft long snouser rifle aimed right at my face. From 3ft away. My heart about jumps out of my chest. Then i relize hes just looking at it. I almost flipped out on him. It was this little old guy so I bit my tongue and got out of his way.
Is it me? I don'y like a gun aimed at me at any time especially some 6ft wooden wooden hauser.

 

[JohnKSa]

I've never had either a 5 ft snouser or a 6ft wooden hauser rifle pointed at me under any circumstances.

I'm sure it would unsettle me--possibly to the point of uncontrollable laughter.

 

[RM]

I think you should have spoken to the man directly, but in a respectful way.

 

[Gbro]

You cann't have to many eyes when in the persence of unknown company, Its almost like the rules don't apply in a gun shop. Ya its happened. The thing is if you are obsevent, you will see it at the trap range and even in your hunting party. I usually make it a practice to be very polite the 1st time. Then other methods must be employed. Case in point, I had to quit taking my Grandchildren to the shooting center, as activitys were going on that i was unable to control. The situation was discused but wasn't resolved to my satisfaction. so By By
Talk to the shopkeeper dose the shop have handling rules posted? Maybe they need them etc.
Gbro

 

[springmom]

I've heard a number of pretty scary stories from the folks over at Carter's Country (where I usually shoot) about "unloaded" guns going off in there for me not to take it REAL seriously when some nitwit comes be-bopping in with his rifle pointed right at me. My guardian angel already gets overtime hazard pay just for having to be stuck with me ; no sense in making things worse....

We were in there last weekend, and Archerandshooter had a question for the store owner. I was standing around waiting for him, when in comes some guy with his rifle cradled in his arm, the barrel pointed to his right. I was standing on his right side, ahead of him. As he walked past me, did he pick up his muzzle? Noooooo, of course not. I ducked out of the way and said, "Pick up your muzzle!" He mumbled something and made his way on over to the counter.

In your situation, the clerk should have been watching where the guy was pointing the gun. A "please don't point that at me" wouldn't be out of line, old guy or not. His age doesn't keep him from putting a hole where you don't want one.

Springmom

 

[51Cards]

Never been to a shop where that didn't happen, on some level. Is that "right?" No. But there's a little more faith "in there" than "out here," for better or worse. I usually just adjust my location. If I find myself being "tracked," I try to say something funny, like "how're the sights working out on that thing?" Sometimes it's funny. Almost.

 

[SomeKid]

If I find myself being "tracked,"

I can't say I would be funny about that. A cold stare would be my polite response.

 

[EllisWyatt]

In your situation, the clerk should have been watching where the guy was pointing the gun.

I took a friend shooting for the first time a while back. She memorized the four rules before we got to the range (not necessarily in order, but whatever), and when she made a mistake on the range all I had to do was remind her. Very conscientious.

Anyway, we're settling the bill afterwards and she asks to handle a PPK that's in the glass case. The sales guy hands it to her without dropping the magazine or pulling the slide back. (!!) She immediately drops the magazine and checks the chamber. Yay! Then, uh...points it right at the sales clerk's belly as she lets the slide run forward. DOH!

I gently push her hands so the pistol is pointing at the concrete wall, compliment her for remembering to check the chamber, and tell her "but this guy probably doesn't appreciate you pointing it at him."

Sayeth the sales clerk: "Naw, no big deal, it ain't loaded."

*sigh*

Sadly, you just can't count on clerks knowing or caring about this stuff.

 

[10-Ring]

I've had it happen a couple of time in two diff't shops...1st time it happened, I pretty much tore the manager's head off and made a point that the customer guilty of the offense heard me. It was resolved w/ a sorry & more training for the employees on gun safety. The 2nd time, I was a bit more calm but still had a heated discussion w/ the manager making sure the customer heard & understood the error in his ways.

 

[Sam Spade]

Collector's Firearms in Houston is the worst. It's a big store with lots of cases full of guns. Everytime you turn around, someone's got a gun pointed your way. Unsettling it is.

 

[old4x4]

Every time I go to the gunshop. Every friggin' time. It gives me the willies. Lots of stupid people out there...

 

[Tommygunn]

I have gone in gunshops and examined numerous firearms, and whether or not there are people there or not I always am very careful; if I sight a firearm I will NEVER aim it at where people are -- or where they could be! I will often be aiming it upwards where no one is going to be unless they've got wings.
I wish everyone would be as careful . ... but people do get more interested in the gun than in safety.
The only time, howver, anyone aimed a gun at me was when I was in Ct working in a print shop. We had one guy who worked in the offset section, who...how can I say -- his elevator got stuck in his neck. For some reason, he brought in a double barrel shotgun one day. I guess he just wanted to show it around. Well, I'm behind a massive high output Xerox machine, and I hear him call my name; when I look up, there he is, across the shop, aiming that ^&&&*&#$@ doublebarrel right at me!
My first response was to duck behind that Xerox machine, which -- trust me, would have stopped anything a 12 gauge could deliver.
My second response cannot be related here on a polite forum.
Well ... THAT was that guy's last day of work at that job!!!

 

[.38 Special]

I always say or do something. My standard line is "Point that thing somewhere else", though I often just use the cold hard stare as suggested above. I don't get excited and yell, but neither do I ignore it because "It's just a gun shop". IMO, pointing a gun at someone, unloaded or not, is about the rudest thing you can do. It's essentially a non-verbal way of expressing the sentiment that you just don't care whether the guy you're pointing it at lives or dies. I don't see how that's the least bit tolerable.

The only time I get a bit hot under the collar about it, though, is when the response to the stare or the line is "Jeez, chill out buddy, it's not like it's loaded or anything." That's only happened twice in gunshops, and both times the salesman intervened before I could even open my mouth.

 

[Hoppy590]

iv made dives to safety in gunshops. look up to see a rifle pointed in my direction and some dult working the action next things everyone in the store is watching me make a "Tactical Roll" ( aka going @$$ over tea kettle to take cover behind a rack of milsurps)

who knows how many times iv had to grab a muzzle.

 

[Avenger]

My local has developed the habit of training their sales staff to drop the mag, rack and lock the slide, and only then hand the pistol to the customer, while the staffer retains the magazine. Ironically, they said it was in response to somebody actually stealing a pistol by running out the door. In a CCL state, somebody does a dasher in a gun shop!
It really gives me the heebies when somebody does that with a shotgun.

 

[Medusa]

We had a junior gun club, if to call it so - bunch of enthusiasts wanting to shoot and knowing firearms better. I was an aux. instructor there. Our main instructor shows how to handle a rifle (it was an airgun, but a weapon nonetheless), puts it down, muzzle pointing at me. So I duck and make a comment. I did saw some giggling, but even pros can make mistakes and usually all that's needed is to remind the safety rules.

 

[51Cards]

"I'm the only one here pofessional enough to carry the Glock-Fotay ..."

Yup.

 

[Avenger]

Ah darnit, 51Cards, you beat me to it!

 

[Handyman]

The range where I shoot is a public range . You can rent many types of firearms including Ar's . A lot of the people who shoot there are inexperienced and trying out weapons for the first time . I've also noticed they get very little instruction from the guys behind the counter . It's a place where you have to be very aware of what the people around you are doing . Luckily [ I think it's only a matter of time where there will be an incident ] nothing really bad has happened yet [ that I know of ].
The only problem I've had so far was with one of the guys who works there . One day , after shooting , I was walking back to the counter area and noticed one of the employees behind the counter with a revolver in his hand . I don't know exactley what he was doing with it but I was keeping an eye on him . He noticed that I was watching him . As I walked in front of his counter he started quikly pulling the trigger , not aiming at me but the gun was pointed in my direction . I quikly moved out of the way and was about to say something but then noticed the look on his face . He looked at me like he was totally disgusted that I had gotten out of his " line of fire" . I'm sure he was thinking that I was a jerk for moving because he's a "gun expert " and I should have known he cleared the gun and HE knew it wasn't loaded . I decided not to say anything because jerks like that will never learn and just aren't worth the effort . He was a new guy there I'd never seen before and didn't see him the last time I was there . I hope he got fired . If I ever do see him again and he repeats his stupidity , then the s is going to htf .

 

[romma]

I'd tell them to point it somewhere else right away. Cuz' getting shot, flat out sucks!

 

[Roadwild17]

There is always the polite way to laugh it off the first time

" Whooa, hey buddy, watch that thing, you wouldn't wanta poke an eye out, haha"

Thats the first and only polite warning. After that its something like "I dont like guns being pointed at me pal."

 

[NailGun]

I guess I would be more concerned it the bayonet was attached. Deep punctures from a cosmoline coated bayonet can be a real bugger.

 

[NORTEXED]

I know I've told the story before, but it bears repeating. Several years ago in a gunshop in Ft. Worth (not known for the brightest counter folks anyway), standing at the counter when 2 Vietnamese gentlemen walk in with a pistol rug. They are waiting in line for help from one of the dips that work there, open the pistol rug, and take out a S&W 45 auto. While pideling around, one of them (not the one carying the gun to start with), picks it out of the rug and is racking the slide. Then he reaches over and picks up a loose round of 5.56 from a bucket on the case (sign says "M16 rounds .20 ea"), drops it down the muzzle of the .45, and drops the hammer. The round pops out the end of the barrel and lands on the counter. Firing pin apparently struck just enough off center to not fire. I bout had a heart attack, explained to the counter guy and left.

 

[eidsvolling]

1. This past October: ROCHESTER (NH)— An employee at (outdoor store) escaped serious injury after a muzzleloader rifle he was cleaning accidentally discharged Monday morning.

The incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at the ----- hunting and outdoor sports store when 38-year-old ------ of Rochester was cleaning a black-powder rifle a customer brought in, according to Lt. -----.

(The lieutenant) said the gun appeared to have been doubled loaded and while ---- was using a rod to remove the bullets something ignited the black powder and two bullets came out of the muzzle.

One bullet hit the cement floor while one hit ----- in the hand but didn't wound him. (The lieutenant) was unsure of -----'s injuries but said they were non life-threatening and may have been some cuts and powder burns. He was taken to ----- Hospital.

2. Our hunting safety instructor told us that another instructor, "B", once loaned a shotgun to a friend. Friend brought shotgun back after a few days. B brought shotgun to hunter safety class. B picked up gun during a class to demonstrate its action, racked the slide, and a live round fell out on the floor. B's fate as an instructor thereafter wasn't made explicit, but you could read between the lines.

 

[JCF]

Not in a gunshop, but...

once at an indoor range.

I was firing from the bench in a two station, cinder block, 50 yard rifle bay. Each station was positioned directly against a wall, and seperated by approximately 15 feet. The fellow opposite me (a complete stranger) had a bolt-action 30-06. We signalled all-clear and removed our hearing protection. He proceeded to turn his rifle sideways, with the muzzle pointed in my general direction, and began messing with the scope (I was unaware of this at the time, as I was occupied re-arranging my reloads). Apparently he had not cleared the rifle, and at some point he touched off a round.

The bullet hit the cinder block wall approximately a foot in front of my face. I recall being in pain, completely blinded and disoriented, unable to hear much, and having difficulty breathing. I didn't realize it at the time, but the source of much of the problem was the fact that the cinder block the bullet had impacted had disintegrated and covered the firing line with a cloud of concrete dust. A great deal of comotion ensued, which I later learned was the range staff responding to the incident, and ejecting the shooter from the premises.

After all was said and done, the only injury I sustained was multiple small particles of concrete shrapnel in my face... and several days of ringing in my ears.

The interesting thing about the incident was that it had been videorecorded, and I was able to watch it later. The range had installed a surveillance system in order to monitor the behavior of patrons, and, after witnessing the dangerous position of the rifle, the staff had already been en route to the bay in the moments prior to the ND.