Ever talked someone out of buying a gun?

[Sheslinger]

This story has two parts, so bear with me.

We had two friends of our over, and Cslinger was showing them "the collection". The girl proceeds to take the rifle and turn 180 degrees, with muzzle crossing all three of us standing there. Cslinger, her husband, and I all sort of got a little upset and told her to watch it. She said, "Ok, alright, what's the big deal though?" Our argument that she did not know whether it was loaded or not was met with, "What kind of idiot would give someone a loaded gun?" So, I found myself being the anti here and was telling her about all stupid home accidents because someone handed someone else a loaded gun or left it laying around. Her husband tells her that is precisely why he does not want to have a gun in their house because she does not take gun ownership seriously enough.

A couple of days ago, a 55-year-old woman was beaten while walking down the trail near where this couple used to live. So, we had them over, and my friend tells me that she is freaked out and wants to buy a gun. I found myself once again in an unusual situation, telling her that she needs to start coming shooting with us first and trying different things and to wait until she is comfortable with something to buy a gun.

So, anything like this ever happened to you where you had to tell someone, "You are not ready for a gun"?

Thanks
Sheslinger

 

[BerettaNut92]

I had people over who I wouldn't even show them my guns because they couldn't even handle that....both need some growing up to do.

 

[boing]

Someone once asked me if he should buy a Jennings. Other than that, no.

Looks like you're on the right track: talking her into some training, rather than talking her out of a gun.

 

[Snowdog]

Years back, I regretfully had to talk a coworker out of a handgun purchase because he made the remark on several occasions that he felt it would be challenging not to eat a bullet if things went particularly wrong.

Yes, this liberal's worst fear was from that of his own potential actions.
Chronically depressed, I realized the baseball bat he was using at the time for home defense was a better option for him.

 

[Hypnogator]

From Rule 6, "The Rules of Combat Gunfighting"

.....A gun is a weapon, not a magic wand that will paralyze your opponents with fear or make them reasonable. If you aren't prepared to kill to defend yourself, don't carry a gun.

And yes, I have talked friends out of buying a gun because they said they only would use it to "scare" an attacker. Criminals are the world's best thumbnail psychologists. They'll know whether an individual is willing to use a weapon or not. Better that such people be armed with OC spray, whistles, etc.

 

[notbubba]

I've talked a couple of people out of buying a certain gun(Taurus millenimum), but not out of buying a gun.

 

[cool45auto]

I think you did real good recommending training rather than the outright purchase of whatever firearm the salesman would have pushed on her.

And, yes, I've done it before. Not because it was a brand I didn't think was worth having but because the person just didn't need to have one.

 

[sm]

Yes.
Either because the gun was unsafe, would not fit them, fit criteria of needs, budget ( don't buy the ubertactical on Visa, get the used model 10 type thing and pay cash that's in your pocket you saved for).

Some people , attitude, threat, gestures, history of violence, suicidal

 

[Standing Wolf]

Just once: the guy was too dumb and irrational. Fortunately, I think keeping and bearing arms was more a fantasy for him than any serious desire.

 

[.45Ruger]

A friend of mine who knows I like to shoot but had never gone shooting with me before called me last weekend to tell me he went to the gun show and bought himself a Ruger P95 and a SAR1 AK 47. He says "Okay now I have the best guns that I can afford so will you teach me to use them"? He hadn't even taken either out of the cases yet. I was proud that he had gotten two reliable and value priced gun so I said of course. Had I known he wanted a gun or two I woiuld have taken him out and let him shoot different things of mine to decide what to get but he did some redearch and decided what to get all on his own.

 

[DMK]

Sheslinger, I wonder if your friend really understands the potential of the destructive power of firearms. I suggest that some time you setup a demonstration of just what a rifle bullet can do to a watermelon or jug of water.

Don't forget that the extent of most folks' knowledge of firearms comes from fiction and fantasy, not reality.

 

[jhisaac1]

I had a coworker once who was thinking of buying a gun so she could scare someone who broke in. She wasn't sure she could shoot someone. I told her that she shouldn't buy a gun for protection unless she was sure she could pull the trigger if she needed to. Never heard anything on the subject after that.

jhisaac1

 

[sidearm]

Only once - It was WAY over priced.

 

[PATH]

The boss sold a Mossberg 500 to a resteraunt owner. Well the fella mishandled the shotgun and blew a hole in the floor of the resteraunt. The landlord of the building just happened to have his office directly below the eatery. It seems this fellow blew a good part of the landlords desk and the accompanying chair to pieces. Sheepishly the fellow brought the shotgun back and said he really did not feel comfortable using it. I concurred with his assessment. When he left, I am sorry but I am only human, I laughed till I cried. His tale of woe also included the landlords reaction to his errant shot.

The second story concerns a rather liberal fellow who came into the shop after the 9/11 tradgedy. He told me he knew little about firearms and did not feel comfortable with them. I tried to explain a few things but he was just one of those folks who would soil himself whilst trying to pass wind. He told me he probably would not shoot someone if he needed to defend himself or his family. I thought it better that he not have a gun as a bad guy might use it to conduct a prostate exam on his person. I ended up selling him some pepper spray. I know some will say I should have counseled him but you had to be there. In my heart I really did not think his having a gun would make anyone, including himself, safer.

Lastly, I have not sold firearms to people who appear depressed, mentally unbalanced, or those who give off a bad vibe. It's my call and I'll live with it.

 

[Mr. Goodglock]

Last year I successfully talked an ex co worker to buy a Glock 19 as she felt like to have a gun in the house. I instructed her to shoot the Glock with mine first and let her handle other pistol to make sure that the Glock suit her hand etc. I also provide some documents of shooting, ballistic and some part of Bill Jordan's No 2nd Place Winner. However, as far as I know, the Glock is at her house in the lock with empty magazine, a 50 rounds-box of 124 grain hydrashok+P+ I told her to buy was still almost full less few rounds she tried for the first mag and some folk in her house had not been instructed to use this shooting piece. I feel some guilty introducing it to ignoring hand. Next time I have to make sure the would be owner has the commitment and responsibility.