How NOT to hold a gun next to your face (image at misslibertyamerica.com)

[elcaminoariba]

I just heard about misslibertyamerica.com, a seemingly nice cause, so I went to their site. I was greeted with an image showing the most careless/reckless/stupid gun handling I have EVER seen in my life. Let's play "count the gun handling abominations" contained within this image.

Ironically the image, which depicts multiple violations of basic gun safety, is in the "rules" page.

Here's my email to them:

The picture on the left, on this page: http://www.misslibertyamerica.com/Rules.html shows a woman ignoring AT LEAST TWO of the most basic rules of gun safety. FIRST and most appalling, she has her finger NOT ONLY inside the trigger guard when she's not aiming at a target, which is EXTREMELY dangerous enough, but to top it off, she has the gun close to her face while pulling the trigger! Good grief, who took this picture full of dangerous and irresponsible gun handling? How could you not notice and even post it? Seriously. Learn gun safety. Since she has her finger on the trigger, which is bad enough, she even does it in a way that makes it appear that she is actually PULLING the trigger! Wow. She isn't even looking at where she's aiming as she's pulling the trigger! This awful and downright dangerous (because of the irresponsible message it sends) image needs to be removed IMMEDIATELY. I honestly don't think you want to present images of people violating multiple rules of gun safety. At least I hope you don't. It's carelessness on display like this where people get the idea that it's somehow ok to walk around with their finger on the trigger (so they can feel "cool"). If I saw someone holding a firearm in a dangerous manner like that, I would very sternly and even rudely tell them to stop and get their finger off the trigger while a gun is next to their face. If they refused to follow basic rules of safety, I would leave. Stupidity and carelessness around guns gets people killed and/or seriously injured.

Since I shall assume that they are a good organization which just made a terrible oversight, and that they will promptly remove the image after receiving my email, here is a copy of the image, hosted elsewhere, to remind some our less experienced members, many of whom do not own guns yet, what you NEVER do with a firearm:

 

[rattletrap1970]

Well, I think you could have worded it much better. A lot of photographers don't have a lot of firearms experience. And even less models do. You could have conveyed your point while teaching someone without sounding like you are scolding and admonishing them. When you present a point like that you immediately out people on the defense and have a far less chance of reaching them.
I know we get into the habit of being a little over-the-top when it comes to our adherence to safety (and I agree and understand) but sometimes the overzealous nature is more to abate what an anti thinks than about the safety issue itself.
If you were at a range with a new shooter, maybe someone who paid you to teach them, would you say the things you said in the tone you said them? Just something to think about.

And what is with the Purple Square? It's a woman wearing a shirt. Is it somehow offensive to wear a shirt now?

 

[elcaminoariba]

Well, I think you could have worded it much better. A lot of photographers don't have a lot of firearms experience. And even less models do. You could have conveyed your point while teaching someone without sounding like you are scolding and admonishing them. When you present a point like that you immediately out people on the defense and have a far less chance of reaching them.
I know we get into the habit of being a little over-the-top when it comes to our adherence to safety (and I agree and understand) but sometimes the overzealous nature is more to abate what an anti thinks than about the safety issue itself.
If you were at a range with a new shooter, maybe someone who paid you to teach them, would you say the things you said in the tone you said them? Just something to think about.

And what is with the Purple Square? It's a woman wearing a shirt. Is it somehow offensive to wear a shirt now?

1. Well this ISN'T a new shooter I took to the range. This is an organization representing gun owners in the political realm. I didn't call them nasty names, I told them that dangerous behavior with firearms is not tolerable.

2. I didn't think the tight shirt and close up image of a woman's chest was very appropriate for this site. People may not notice the dangerous gun handling because they're too busy staring at her chest. If they want to show that on their website, that's their business.

3. Engaging in the behavior in that image will quite possibly partially blind a person for life. Kinda puts my sternness in perspective doesn't it.

 

[JohnBiltz]

That photo is of Summer Glau and was an ad from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

 

[elcaminoariba]

That photo is of Summer Glau and was an ad from Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

You are correct. I never watched that show. Here's one without too many violations of gun safety (although we cannot see what she's aiming at).

 

[rattletrap1970]

1. Well this ISN'T a new shooter I took to the range. This is an organization representing gun owners in the political realm. I didn't call them nasty names, I told them that dangerous behavior with firearms is not tolerable.

No you came off sounding like a kook. You don't have to say "nasty" names for people to look at you like a raving dope.

2. I didn't think the tight shirt and close up image of a woman's chest was very appropriate for this site. People may not notice the dangerous gun handling because they're too busy staring at her chest. If they want to show that on their website, that's their business.

Oh, please. I don't even know what to say to that inane banter. It's a girl for god's sake. They aren't evil. There is no law against a tight shirt even in a public place. If you can't be safe with a gun because of implied tits then you most likely shouldn't be handling one.

3. Engaging in the behavior in that image will quite possibly partially blind a person for life. Kinda puts my sternness in perspective doesn't it.

No, it doesn't. A calm polite explanation about the problems with the photo and a polite suggestion that there are better ways to show gun handling would have been more effective.

The letter would have gotten more attention if it read more like this:

Good Day,
Upon visiting your website I noticed a photo showing a Young Woman holding a pistol. I just wanted let you know that the picture does not convey safe gun handling as it shows her finger on the trigger of the gun prior to acquiring a target. This is universally viewed as “unsafe” gun handling. You may want to use a different photo as undoubtedly you will receive a lot of flak from conscientious gun owners and shooters.
Thanks for your time.

If I had take that photo it would have portrayed the safe handling of the pistol in question. However, if I had gotten a letter that read like yours, I assuredly would have deleted it. Cripes, man, you demanded that someone change their website because YOU found issue with it. Liberals do that a lot; Demand someone change their ways because they have issue with it.

 

[pockets]

First thing I thought when I went to the linked site was; "What, Summer Glau is holding a gun incorrectly? What a shock!"
A lovely and very graceful girl, Firefly and Conner are cool shows. But she is an ex-ballerina and an actor, not an NRA instructor.
There isn't enough space on the internet to list all of the bad gun-handling shown on Sarah Conner Chronicles or any of the Terminator movies. They were created for entertainment, not education.

Oh yes, the second thing I thought was; "I wonder if they paid Summer Glau for the use of her image?'

Tight shirt inappropriate for THR? ...... It's a fully-clothed woman in a normal looking shirt. What is the big deal?

 

[elcaminoariba]

Rattle, you made your point the first time. Your most recent comment sounded raving and contained name calling towards me. You lecture me about politeness after calling me a "kook" and a "dope." Incredible. It was not appreciated. It was low road. Find another thread.

But she is an ex-ballerina and an actor, not an NRA instructor.
There isn't enough space on the internet to list all of the bad gun-handling shown on Sarah Conner Chronicles or any of the Terminator movies. They were created for entertainment, not education.

Agreed, however, a pro second amendment website that will reach a LOT of non gun owners, makes us all look bad when they portray gun owners as reckless and careless. Even if the reckless behavior and abominable gun handling is not consciously noticed, it IS noticed subconsciously. Soon-to-be gun owners will see it and imitate it. If you've ever seen dangerous gun handling and wondered where they got the ideas, there it is. We can't stop hollywood from pushing it, but we can speak up when we see people on our side pushing it as "cool."

 

[rattletrap1970]

Dude, who do you think you are?
One, I made my point a second time because you still didn't get it.
Two, Now you are ordering me out of a thread because you don't like what you heard.

Why don't you take yourself to another forum? You've been here less than a month and you are issuing orders? That's fairly low road.

Oh and I didn't call names. I said you sounded like a kook, and it made you look like a dope. We'll see if you prove that true by continuing to argue when you are wrong.

 

[shockwave]

Dude. It's a web page. It was designed by some kid. He scrounged around online and found a couple of pics with Google image search and slapped 'em on the banner.

The photo selection deal was completely detached from the pageant thing. There's no connection there and yes, you came off looking like an Internet psycho.

Personally, I'd rather this contest skip the CPR part and replace it with a demonstration of unarmed combat skills.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

First, the edit pic is a joke. You put a purple square over her covered chest? You did that, I take it, to make it look like she was exposed?

What are the multiple gun violations?

FIRST and most appalling, she has her finger NOT ONLY inside the trigger guard when she's not aiming at a target, which is EXTREMELY dangerous enough, but to top it off, she has the gun close to her face while pulling the trigger!

If you are using Jeff Cooper's rules, then possibly the only violation you can claim is having her finger on the trigger. She isn't aiming at a target? How do you know what isn't in the picture? She has her face close to the gun while pulling the trigger? What safety rule violation is that? When I shoot a bullpup, my head is touching the side of a rifle right next to the chamber but that isn't a safety violation.

Since I shall assume that they are a good organization which just made a terrible oversight, and that they will promptly remove the image after receiving my email, here is a copy of the image, hosted elsewhere, to remind some our less experienced members, many of whom do not own guns yet, what you NEVER do with a firearm:

Okay, you are assuming they are a good organization who made an oversight but working diligently at besmirching their name by crying foul and posting your exploits?

You are correct. I never watched that show. Here's one without too many violations of gun safety (although we cannot see what she's aiming at).

There are NO safety violations in the second picture that you can prove. You have no idea of the context of the image. For all we know, it is a picture of a woman shooting two guns down range or supposed to depict her shooting two guns down range. In order to fire, her fingers have to be on the trigger. Her guns are pointed down range and she is looking down range.

 

[Bubba613]

Do people really have nothing better to do?

 

[Gord]

This is what we call, in the vernacular, an "epic troll thread."

OP: I don't know what I'm talking about. Also, breasts are evil.
Subsequently: SUMMER GLAU IS HANDLING PROP GUNS SO CARELESSLY IN STAGED ADS FOR A TV SHOW, MUST WAIL AND GNASH TEETH AS THE FOUR RULES ARE SACROSANCT SERIOUS BUSINESS WHICH IS WHY I STORE ALL MY FIREARMS POINTING AT THE GROUND AT AN ANGLE I HAVE VERIFIED BY GPS DOES NOT ENDANGER ANYONE IN CHINA

 

[JShirley]

To the OP: your email does make you sound like a kook. I'm not calling you names, I am giving a straightforward assessment of your written message's tone. You're so worried about gun owners' image...that you're going to sound positively frothing in your email to them? We're also supposed to believe you are the only (very new, incidentally) member here that has the steely-eyed focus to ignore normal, clothed female anatomy to focus on gun safety violations?

This thread could be titled How to Not Win Friends or Positively Influence People. Closed, with prejudice.

John