Do You Have a Gun You'd Lend To Someone in Need?

[CWL]

Yup.

Depends on the family/friendship relationship, but my dad can always keep one-o-mine Glocks at his place, also the 586.

My SKS and 870 are also 'extreme need' weapons.

There are those I trust my guns to, there are others I wouldn't lend my car, let alone $20 to.

 

[JohnKSa]

First of all, I'm not against giving firearms to people.

I've given a shotgun to my sister, and a revolver to my mother.

I made sure that both of them knew how to use them before I did so, and I'm not talking about a 30 minute talk, either.

Back to the questions though--how is someone buying a gun different from my loaning them a gun.

ANYONE (competent or not) can go buy a gun if they wish, as long as they are not legally disqualified for some reason. It's not necessarily a good idea, and I recommend to anyone who asks me that they take a basic firearm safety course or a rough equivalent when they purchase a firearm. (We're talking about people who have no experience with guns--remember the starting post?)

But, if they don't take a course and still choose to buy a gun, I don't have a problem with that, it's their legal right, and I'm not big on infringing on people's rights. EVEN when they may be doing something stupid. We know what I think is prudent, but that's not what the law says.

Now, you'll want to know if I support waiting periods or mandatory training. NOPE. Remember what I said about infringing on rights. That's a bad thing. Rights must be sacrosanct, untouchable. EVEN when people don't use them wisely. Otherwise they're not rights. They're priviliges which the [sarcasm] government in it's infinite wisdom and mercy parcels out at its discretion[/sarcasm].

But, you say, YOU'RE infringing on their rights by not loaning them a gun. Wrong again. They have the same rights as I do to purchase guns and the same rights I do to use/loan their property at their discretion. They chose not to exercise their right to purchase a firearm, and their lack of planning and deficiency of logical forethought doesn't inspire confidence in me that they will safely/legally use the firearm they want me to loan them. Therefore, unless I can give them an adequate training session at the end of which they can demonstrate through knowledge and gunhandling skills that my initial impression is incorrect, I'm not going to let them leave with one of my guns..

Is a dealer irresponsible if he sells a gun to a person who is clearly incompentent. Yes, in my opinion he is. Is he breaking the law? Not at all. But, that misses the point. IT IS NOT HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE FITNESS OF THE PURCHASER--ONLY THE LEGALITY OF THE TRANSACTION. I can't take that kind of a hands off approach. Remember--this post was about a family member or close friend. Unlike the dealer, I CARE about these people. In the same way I wouldn't toss the car keys to someone I know can't drive, I wouldn't give a loaded gun to a person I care about whom I knew to be completely untrained.

I hold myself to a higher standard than the person who is merely conducting a legal mercantile transaction. The fact that I may not be held legally responsible for the mayhem which may result from my ill-advised loan doesn't change the fact that I would still hold myself responsible.

Ok, my turn to ask a question. Does anyone know what the NRA considers to be the minimum course duration (hours) for training a person in Basic Firearm Safety? Does anyone know if actual range time is considered integral to this minimum course?

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

If no gun permit or proper training -- Hell no... but if properly trained, certified but just without a gun -- my Beretta compact.

 

[clubsoda22]

They don't need the gun "right now" unless the person is in their house. Anyway, tell them to give me 4 hours, go to the local shop/indoor range, find them a good 38/357 revolver or uncomplicated 380 or 9mm automatic. (whichever they feel more comfortable shooting), take 2 hours to teach them to shoot and send them home with their own gun and some good ammo. I'll lend them the money for the gun, no problem, but not one of my guns.

 

[JohnKSa]

Ok, my turn to ask a question. Does anyone know what the NRA considers to be the minimum course duration (hours) for training a person in Basic Firearm Safety? Does anyone know if actual range time is considered integral to this minimum course?

No takers, I guess...

The minimum Basic Firearm Safety course provided by the NRA is called a "First Steps" course. It is 4 hours long and includes range time.

The standard Basic Firearm Safety course provided by the NRA is 8 hours long and, of course, includes range time.

For the record, neither of these courses deal with the legal aspects of using a firearm in self-defense.

 

[pale horse]

This is really a good thread.

To answer the question, Yes I would. If I knew that the particular individual had some common sence.

Currently my buddy is borrowing my model 10 till he can afford one of his own. He was in the army and knows how to handle a weapon so that is one of the reasons I loaned it to him. But for those who I do not trust 100% I tell them that I am only a few speeding tickets away. The reason I say this is because it is hard to impart all my judgement, skill, training and common sence to them in a short period of time. There are two gals in my Church that are house sitting a good way away from town and I have trained both of them to shoot so that they are at least competitent if I did need to borrow a pistol. I told them that if something looks funny to call me and I will be there quick fast and in a hurry EVOC, red light running when clear, california stopping, bootlegging corner turnning to get to the two gals for their safety.

There is a verse that says "blessed are the peace makers." as well as "no greater love than one who gives his life for another." I have no resevations about helping those in need. Nor would I care if I died doing so or spent my life in prision for helping the individual legally.

For the selected few people I trust I would lend a side arm and for the rest I will go to them and help them. Of course I will have a few weapons with me.

 

[ruger357]

NO.