Do You Loan Out Guns?

[Coyote_Hunter_]

When I took Dave hunting for the first time, I let him use my 7mm RM. We've been hunting together now fro over a decade.

My future son-in-law used my Savage .30-06 last fall while hunting with me. That's OK, because I bought it to give him as a wedding present. He doesn't know it yet but come August 6th , its his.

 

[wrs840]

I'd loan to friends and family only.

I have about three friends.

Les

 

[RX-178]

I would loan my weapons to anyone I know. KNOW being the key word.

Other than that, I tend to be a bit of a gun-ownership + CCW evangelist.

There isn't a single person that I have met, and am on good terms with, that I have not invited to try out some of my firearms. I also have the advantage of knowing some specific secluded areas out in the desert outside of town with natural backstops so they won't be intimidated by a public range full of shooters who (presumably) already know what they're doing.

It also helps that a friend of the family is both a 'kitchen table' FFL, and a licensed CCW instructor.

 

[gvnwst]

I have maybe 3 friends that i would let have any of my guns for a period of time, without my being there. Two are THR members.

 

[bensdad]

I've loaned out a couple of .22s to a friend (he has extensive firearms experience) who was trying to decide which one to get for himself. I also loaned out a deer rifle to another friend (also with plenty of experience) for an antelope hunt. All guns have come back in great shape. I'll quit when I get burned.

 

[Kind of Blued]

None of the above. The options are neither mutually-exclusive nor exhaustive.

I'd loan a gun to a friend/female acquaintance who was in elevated danger and might need one for self-defense. I'd loan a gun to a friend for any reason if they were trustworthy. Nevertheless, the understanding is that if they lose/damage it, they will replace it.

 

[Dr.Awkward]

Responsible friends? Okay, but the weapon never leaves my sight. Never had a good experience lending out a vehicle, either.

 

[mongo4567]

I've loaned some out to responsible friends. They need to be someone I know well and trust with the firearms.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Not gonna happen. I trust my friends, but they have guns of their own. I would never ask to borrow one from them, and am a bit insulted if I am asked. When shooting together, sure, but only when I'm there. If I need one bad enough to borrow it, I need it bad enough to buy it. I feel the same should hold true of them. BTW, could I borrow your wife, you underwear, your children, your job or your birth certificate/sscard?

 

[22-rimfire]

I might loan a rifle for hunting purposes to a very good friend (short term). That is about the only case I can think of. Otherwise, they can buy their own or go with me shooting and test drive some of mine. IF you break it or mess it up, you bought it.

I have loaned one 22 rifle out. He had it for a number of years and it got to the point that he though it was his. So, I took it back. If it was a cheapie, I might have just given it to him after a few years, but it was one of my favorites, a Weatherby Mark XXII semi-auto.

 

[2RCO]

I answered -No but will let people close shoot them.

This is my general policy which has exceptions like family members and good friends.

At the range if someone wants to shoot one I'll let them take a shot or two.

 

[jbkebert]

I will lend some of my firearms to family, or another hunter ed instructor. There are times when we do youth and women hunts. I have borrowed a youth .243 to take a young man hunting. I have also loaned out a 20gauge to another instructor to do a youth turkey hunt. Heck there are times when we use guns from our own collections in classes. To either explain action types, safety or whatever. Sometimes resources are stretched thin and there are somethings that should not be taught with power point.

 

[model of 1905]

Nobody, no time, nope, not gonna happen.

 

[theken206]

depends, a friend has my AR with a 1000 dollar ACOG at his house right now.

but I trust him with my life, let alone one of my guns.

 

[ACBMWM3]

ive let friends and family use my guns while Im around. Except my father. i will let him take them, but he usually only goes shooting with me so....

 

[Lon371]

I would and have, only to a couple very close friends. I have to youth who are hunting next to me(arms length) The catch being, it comes home by sundown. I do not have a MEGA dallor collection or closet queens. I do have guns for hunting and they get used.

Lonny

 

[DeathByCactus]

No, never, won't even consider it, absolutely not, ever.

I trust my friends because the friends I have are only a few very close ones. However, even they have people over at times that I don't trust or like. I can't risk A) my friends hurting themselves; B) my friends friends hurting themselves; C) their lack of safe security; D) their lack of firearm knowledge/misfire into a wall or persons.

Now, my friend at one point had constantly been talking about wanting a weapon. So I did buy him a shotgun, 12g, home defense setup. Got him some buck shot and showed him how to use it... he still forgets how to load the damn thing. So I basically put a lock on it and said, "If someone breaks in, cock, point, shoot, /endscarysituation."

My weapons are my weapons and my responsibility. I refuse to loan them to anyone for any reason. However, I will always take my friends to the shooting range if they want to go and bring my weapons so they can play all day... as long as they pay for their ammo lol.

 

[frogomatic]

I have exactly one friend that I would loan a gun to. Though to be fair, he'd never need to borrow one of mine as he has many of his own. Lets just say he and I have been through hell and high water together, I'd trust him with my life and anything I own.

If I'm at the range and there are folk around, I'm always happy to share my ammo with anyone. In so doing I've had opportunity to shoot pretty fine guns that didn't belong to me, and have reveled in the sight of those same folk having a blast with my irons.

 

[buck460XVR]

I don't lend just any gun to any body, but there are many of my guns I lend to certain people. My sons can use any gun they want.....any time. They grew up using them and know the proper way to take care of them...and some day they will be theirs. My brothers can use any gun they want, for they learned how to use guns the same way I did, and we are tight enough that I know their respect for my property. I have maybe 3 good friends that I would let "borrow" certain guns.These are guns that have only monetary value and can readily be replaced.............

..........I also will let folks at the range fire any of my weapons as long as I feel confident they can safely and responsibly shoot them. It's part of promoting our sport...that said, I don't let just any doofazz that comes along and asks, have his way with them.

 

[coloradokevin]

Generally, no.

But, I did recently loan my Glock 22 to my closest friend/roommate for use during her police academy (THR member "darkhorse84"). She's like family to me, so I can make an exception to my normal "rules".

I also have a couple of very close out-of-state friends who I would be willing to lend a gun to, but they are also like family to me!

When I'm at a range I'm always willing to let people try my guns, as I just consider that to be part of the sport (similarly, I've shot a great deal of interesting guns owned by other folks at various ranges). But, loaning a gun out to someone is an entirely different matter!

 

[EHL]

I lent my brother one of my personal handguns for CCW while his gun was in the shop for a few weeks. DIdn't think twice about it. I'd do the same with any family member THAT I TRUST. (not all family is anywhere near trust worthy) I might (key word being "might") lend one to a really close friend (practically family) and only if I knew they would never do anything stupid with it. So far, I don't know any friends that I could 100% vouch for them in that department.

 

[Odd Job]

I'll let someone use it while I am present, but won't loan it. I am a bit biased because of the licensing / certificates needed to get my firearms.

For me it isn't a matter of trust, but even with best intentions, accidents happen. I lend a guy a gun and he has an auto accident and is killed.
It may be awkward getting that firearm back.

For the purposes of discussing inanimate objects I agree that guns are tools, but let's face it they are on a different level legally. Nobody ever made the headlines by leaving a hammer in a toilet at Starbucks, and it is unlikely that there will be an argument about a favourite screwdriver in a deceased person's estate.

If I was guaranteed to get the gun back with no misadventure involved, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[penny]

I will share at a range like many others with safe persons while I am present.

I have loaned one firearm out to my husbands lifelong friend for his daughters first whitetail hunt. Returned in same shape as borrowed and the girls each harvested their first deer with my shotgun. I came out ahead on that deal.

 

[hexidismal]

Anyone who is has a knowledge of gun safety (my judgement) and can be trusted to treat my guns safely and responsibly (also my judgement) is welcome to use them at the range.

I would never loan out any gun to anyone.

Actually, if we're talking handguns.. loaning someone your handgun here in NY would be highly illegal.

 

[moooose102]

in my younger days, i made the mistake of loaning out one of my guns to one of my cousins. it took me 3 months to get it back (we have a 2 week deer season). :banghead: so basicly now, i will loan them to my brothers, or my brothers son, or i have one nephew i would loan a gun to, that is about it. if someone wanted to shoot one of my guns while i am there, i wouldn't have much of a problem with that. you really never know if that is something you want until you try it.