Incident: Don't pump your shotgun in public

[Min]

I had just come out of a gun show last weekend, and I was carrying my Winchester 12 GA Defender with me to my car. It's the only time you see people with guns on their backs out in public that doesn't cause mass hysteria.

So, anyway I reached my car which was parked next to a little park with trees and benches. Thinking I was alone, I decided to pump it once for the heck of it, before putting it into my car. Well, as soon as I did it I realized someone was watching me. Sure enough, a rastafarian-type homeless man sleeping on a park bench only a few yards away woke up from his afternoon nap and looked at me real hard. I guess he knows what a shotgun pump sounds like.

Sheepishly, I put the gun into the trunk and drove off. You think I gave him a start?

 

[TheeBadOne]

You could fire off a .357 mag in the room of a bar fight and not skip a beat, but rack the slide of a shotgun and you have the world's attention

 

[DMK]

Somebody racked a shotgun near me, and it wasn't a range, I'd be looking long and hard at them too, while simultaniously looking for cover.

 

[Min]

Well, I just got the shotgun, and was kinda tickled about it. So, I could not resist pumping it.

So, what the man saw was this dude holding the above shotgun, and he heard the slide racked. I sure did not look like a cop. I'd give money to know what went through his mind just then!

 

[toro]

As a gun lover, I think you did a wild and crazy thing. What if that homeless man got up and jumped at you and you accidently shot him? You would loose everything you own all for one moment of not thinking. Guns are dangerous and not to be used as a play toy. IMHO.

What if that homeless man was one of those Florida cops who love to dress as homeless men. You would be cooling you rear in the clink. No Disney World, no Sea World. Just a dirty jail cell. Lucky for you it was just a nameless, homeless man, you scared. In all the years I have been shooting, I have never stored or put a cocked gun in the trunk. Empty or not. No logic.

A police officer was off duty and another officer he was with pulled out a cocked weapon and accidently shot his friend. Not a very funny situation.

Molly


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Galations 6:7-10
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

[sm]

I always check the action of any firearm that is about to be placed in vehicle...no exceptions. If it iis to go into a gun case, soft case, holster, paper sack, or loose, the action gets checked. I don't care . It could be a LEO, an undercover LEO, or woody woodpecker in his birthday suit.

I will be as discreet...as possible..

I check the action, it shows I'm responsible. I'll take my chances with WWP and a judge.

Safety-always.

 

[timbo]

Now, I'm not an expert on shotguns here, but just because he worked the pump-action on the shotgun doesn't mean he was doing it with a loaded magazine...

You didn't do that, did you?

 

[faustulus]

play toy

Aren't toys by definition something to be played with?

What if that homeless man was one of those Florida cops who love to dress as homeless men. You would be cooling you rear in the clink.

OK which law was he breaking?

In all the years I have been shooting, I have never stored or put a cocked gun in the trunk. Empty or not. No logic.

I missed the part where he said it was still cocked when he put it in the trunk.

A police officer was off duty and another officer he was with pulled out a cocked weapon and accidently shot his friend. Not a very funny situation.

I guess he never heard of not pointing a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.

 

[deanf]

What if that homeless man got up and jumped at you and you accidently shot him? You would loose everything you own all for one moment of not thinking.

How farfetched is that?

 

[Edward429451]

Yeah of course you could get in trouble for it, menacing or brandishing or whatever. But it was funny!
(only cause it turned out so well of course.)

 

[Min]

Now, I'm not an expert on shotguns here, but just because he worked the pump-action on the shotgun doesn't mean he was doing it with a loaded magazine...

You didn't do that, did you?

Timbo, you're right - there were no shells in it. The cops don't let you leave the gun show with a loaded firearm, and I wasn't about to start loading shells into it before I got to my car.

Um, if the homeless man jumped me I would have had no choice, but use the shotgun on him. (By whacking him over the head with it).

 

[QuickDraw]

What if that homeless man got up and jumped at you and you accidently shot him?

I would have to say that would be the stupidest thing that homeless guy did all day!
I see nothing wrong with clearing a weapon before putting it in
a car,do it all the time.
That would be a strange police report"Now let me get this straight,You had a shotgun,you racked it,the homeless guy jumped at you and you clubbed him with it?"

QuickDraw

 

[PATH]

A smile, a wink, and a wave as I would then proceed to get in my car and leave.

 

[Feanaro]

As a gun lover, I think you did a wild and crazy thing.

He pumped the shotgun, he's nuts! He didn't break any laws, he wasn't pointing it at the guy, he wasn't being threatening and it wasn't even loaded.

 

[DrPsycho]

Be sure to thank Hollywood for these conditioned responses.

 

[Ivanimal]

What a riot, I would have smiled, winked and said have an American day. If you were leaving the gun in the car and he noticed it and you had not noticed him the story would have a different ending. Why are we worried about everyone else and whay they might think.


quote:
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As a gun lover, I think you did a wild and crazy thing.
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No laws broken here.

Enjoy your new gun its a beaute.

 

[toro]

Here is what I think. I think you cannot be too careful with a firearm. The old famous saying I didn't know the gun was loaded just don't work. "I didn't know the gun was loaded and I'm so sorry my friend, I didn't know the gun was loaded, but I'll never ever do it again."

Just think how many people are killed with "Unloaded Guns." quite a few. He didn't say it was unloaded, but it makes no difference. You don't play with firearms in public. I know he said he was in a safe place. Was it safe. NO a homeless man was there. I don't care if he wants to be careless, but this is why so many people hate guns. Everyday you read in the paper where someone was killed because someone else thought a gun was unloaded. Why do you think Gun Shows require people to put tie tapes through the actions of all guns?
Molly


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John 17:1-4
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify the Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

 

[Min]

Here is what I think. I think you cannot be too careful with a firearm. The old famous saying I didn't know the gun was loaded just don't work. "I didn't know the gun was loaded and I'm so sorry my friend, I didn't know the gun was loaded, but I'll never ever do it again."

Huh? Actually, I think I might done the homeless guy some good. He realized how close he came to being blown away by a shotgun just lying there on the bench minding his own business.

I bet he became a born-again believer in Jesus after that.

 

[Feanaro]

He didn't say it was unloaded, but it makes no difference.

Timbo, you're right - there were no shells in it.

If he was pointing it at said homeless man then I'd be with you. But Min never said he did so and racking the slide on a shotgun is not unsafe. He did nothing dangerous that I am aware of. If Min checked the shotgun first, which I hope he did, then I see nothing wrong with it.

I checked the bolt of my M48A in the parking lot of the Gun Cellar when I was leaving with it to make sure it was smooth. There were people walking around here and there. Irresponsible? No, I checked it first, had my finger off the trigger, pointed it in a safe direction and had the safety on. I think you are over-reacting.

 

[Edward429451]

I agree. Its a totally reasonable and prudent responsible action to clear that weapon one (more) time befor securing it in the vehicle. Even if it was funny.

This mentality of oh it was rude or menacing or scared the poor guy will soon make it illegal for even kids to play 'finger guns' and point at his friend or classmate...,oh wait thats been done already.

 

[tyme]

Pop quiz. You're homeless and asleep and wake up to the sound of a shotgun being racked. You notice there's a gunshow nearby, and that the person appears to be leaving. Do you...

a) go back to sleep
b) tell the person that you'll accept the shotgun even though it doesn't fit in your change cup
c) attempt to jump a person with a shotgun.
d) decide the person with the empty shotgun is too easy a target, walk into the gunshow, and try to rob a dealer

 

[standingbear]

lol

MIN "I bet he became a born-again believer in Jesus after that." (you got me laughing so hard,i had an astma attack).hearing that unmistakable noise from a shotgun does make one "take notice" with a sence of urgency.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I will always check guns when moving from one place to another.

I was bringing my Mossberg 500 to a friends house one day. I pull up in his driveway and get out of my big red Dodge Ram. I pull the shotgun out of the truck and rack the slide to check the feed tube and chamber. The house two doors down in the cul-de-sac had the realtor there and a young couple looking at the house. They were all standing there looking at me. I waived and said "welcome to the neighborhood." They did not end up buying the house.

These things happen.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[Tim Burke]

toro writes:

Here is what I think. I think you cannot be too careful with a firearm. The old famous saying I didn't know the gun was loaded just don't work.

Checking the action of a gun believed to be empty before putting it away is a safe practice, and should be encouraged. Are you at all familiar with pump shotguns?

 

[faustulus]

The old famous saying I didn't know the gun was loaded just don't work

So let me get this straight Toro, you are advocating putting a gun in the back of your car -- or anywhere for that matter -- without checking to see if it is loaded? Yet your arguement is people are shot with "unloaded" weapons because they didn't check to see if the guns were loaded.
OK I got it now.