Guns and alchohol consumption - Poll

[MKEITH]

Won't even clean my guns while having a cold beer. Even if I'm not feeling any effect from the alchohol, it is still in my system,and I know first hand what kind of stupid stuff alchohol can make me do.Just not worth the risk. I mean how would i explain it to my wife when my beretta turns up pregnant?

 

[jbauch357]

I barely drink any more.....

...but I used to always bring masses of beer when I would go shooting. One of the best activities for Sunday was to go back to the bar for breakfast and bloody maries and then head to the woods for drunken shooting fun. Some friends would bring non-drinkable green stinky substances too. We all grew up around guns and handle them safely (or so it seemed to us at the time) in any state of mind - nobody ever got hurt. On the other hand I have friends I won't go shooting with at all because of their complete lack of safety - realistically they are idiots...

 

[Nitrogen]

Chose, "never a drop, its disgusting behavior I don't condone" and i'm assuming you mean drinking before a shoot, not drinking in general.

I will NOT drink before shooting. In fact, I very rarely drink at all; the most being maybe one drink with a meal.

 

[RPCVYemen]

I should have written: I know that alcoholics have difficulty having just one beer, but for the rest of us, do we really need to point out the difference between having a beer and getting drunk?

I knew that - I was just playing.

Alcoholics should definitely not drink and shoot, that's for sure.

Mike

 

[FCFC]

Alcoholics should definitely not drink and shoot, that's for sure.

Alkies shouldn't drink at all, regardless of what they're doing.


I never drink before, during or after shooting. That's because I don't drink at all. But I do talk on my cell phone while shooting. Sometimes they're important calls but most of the time it's just casual chit-chat. I try never to get into an extended argument while I'm on the phone and shooting. So I usually just let the other person win the argument. I don't want my concentration upset by some silly point or other.

Unless it's about politics or sports. Then, I just can't let it go. But, even if I'm strenuously discussing (not arguing), I follow all gun safety rules and practices. I've never had an accident doing this.

 

[PAC 762]

I didn't vote. I never shoot after drinking, but I host several build parties a year and my friends and I drink more than a few while building guns. No ammo near us, of course.

 

[heron]

Cinco de Mayo is coming up, and this is such a timely topic . . . I've heard that the instructions for behavior on that holiday are, "put the bottle in your mouth, point the barrel in a safe direction."
And by the way, I do not drink and shoot. These days, in fact, I hardly ever drink at all, except for the 4 oz or so of wine with dinner.

 

[PistolNewbie]

Jesus H. Christ in a Sidecar...I'm 6'1" and 190lbs.

That is the first time I've heard that one! I finally (at age 56) gave up the alcohol at the suggestion of my cardiologist. Did I ever drive under the influence--hell yes! Did I ever handle/shoot guns under the influence--not on your life. Guess that makes me a candidate for sainthood!

 

[PistolNewbie]

Alcohol, tobacco, firearms?? The US Government seems to think they mix very well! (Sorry--I couldn't help it!)

 

[yhtomit]

How a non-drinker drinks

My alco tolerance is low, both in me (I'll have the occasional cider, stretched over an hour or so, or the occasional 1/4 goblet of wine, stretched over dinner), and moreso in others (I don't want to shoot with anyone who I think is even a smidgeon impaired).

I would not object to someone sipping a cold beer on a hot day while shooting -- the way I drink my cider, even with no real tolerance, I never feel even the slightest alco-buzz. But I'd rather for simplicity never to feel obligated to so much as enter a conversation about it. A lot easier to say "none at the range, thanks."

So when I build the range at my castle, that will likely be one of my rules ...

timothy

 

[Biker]

This is a good time for me to say *KNOW THY SELF!* If you think you shouldn't drink or take pills or whatever while packin', don't. What is so hard to understand about this concept? If you can and wish to, do. If you can't, don't. It really is that simple.

Biker

 

[Blackfork]

I like a drink a couple times a week,

Or not. Can take it or leave it. I would NEVER drink and shoot.

Anyone cracking a cold beer around the Texas highpower ranges would be frowned on. Just isn't done. Shotgunners different I hear, but I'm not a shotgunner.

I order a mixed drink every year at the Texas Competitors dinner at Mon Ami at Camp Perry and I am definitely in the very small minority. I had a martini a few years ago there and most folks didn't know what it was. That's a good crowd to be in.

Couldn't find a selection on the poll that reflected my stance.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

And this is as good a time as ever to say it, it's not:

alchohol

It's "alcohol".

Sorry, just one of my pet peeves.

 

[Daemon688]

Drinking and guns don't mix. If anything happens, you'll have a heck of a time explaining that one to the judge.

 

[TheArchDuke]

Where's the "I drink less than moderately, I'd say sparingly, I've certainly never been drunk. But I never drink before shooting...ever" option?

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Guns & Alcohol is why the Wild West was wild. Too many armed people under the influence of liquid courage. Not a good thing for anybody. I like to tip a few as well as anyone but the guns are not there. I like my guns too much to have any reason to loose them. Just my $.02 worth

 

[buck00]

Never a drop, it's disgusting behavior I don't condone.

I don't drink a drop of alcohol when I shoot. However, there was a night where after drinking moderately- I was put into an emergency where I had to handle and fire a firearm.

So while these polls are fun on THR, in the real world sometimes the situation dictates the action.

 

[RCouch]

Think the poll is ridiculous because it leaves no room for a person that drinks once in a while but never while shooting. Make the poll realistic and not so slanted and I might answer it. Or maybe not.

 

[collateral]

I know of several people from my city that ended up dying due to their combining firearms and beer. I will never do it, I will never condone it. IMO it truly is disgusting behavior.

If you want to drink, go ahead. But leave your gun where it belongs, out of your hands until you sober up.

 

[chemist308]

You don't drink and drive. Why on earth would you drink and shoot?! There's a reason you can't take a gun in a bar. Saloons of yesteryear understood it all to well.

 

[Plink]

Am I the only one that finds it alarming and saddening to see so many "I've shot while drunk and/or stoned" votes?

 

[Cosmoline]

The poll is a disaster. There's no way to know what to think from it.

 

[LadySmith]

I know first hand what kind of stupid stuff alchohol can make me do.Just not worth the risk. I mean how would i explain it to my wife when my beretta turns up pregnant?

I don't mix guns & alcohol.

 

[strat81]

I love beer (Guinness!) and I love guns. But not together. EVER.

 

[.cheese.]

I'm confused with the responses..... it goes from, I drink while or before shooting, to "I won't drink at all" with no inbetween?

I drink occasionally. I only once got drunk, and it was by accident because I drank a scotch on the rocks with a somewhat rare scotch whisky that was 59% alcohol instead of the 43% most are (I didn't figure it out until the next day). It was terrible. I hated getting drunk.

I just enjoy the taste usually of a good scotch, and the little bit of buzz that follows doesn't hurt.

When shooting is involved, it's just like driving to me. If you did drink before, you wait quite a while until you're satisfied that you're sober..... well, unless you're drinking in a bar and somebody strolls in shooting... but then again you shouldn't be armed there anyways in most states.

I don't think I've had anything to drink before shooting. It wasn't even intentional, it's just that shooting is a daytime thing and drinking is a nighttime thing with friends or a girl, and some nice conversation.

I just don't see that working out with guns (at the range):

Me: So how was your week at work?

BANG!

My friend: Oh, it was ok, the boss is getting annoying with his constant nagging though.... and those TPS reports are going to be the death of me. (takes a drink of beer)

BANG!

Me: TPS reports? (drinks some scotch)

BANG!

My friend: Don't ask. It's the dumbest thing. What about you? (takes a drink of beer)

BANG!

Me: Ehhh... fine.... somebody keeps stealing my stapler though.

BANG!