Muzzle pointed at dude at gun show story...

[cane]

Most of the gun shows I've attended didn't have police officers checking guns, rather it was being done by contract security personnel.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Unfortunately, carelessness and/or non-awareness of where the muzzle of a firearm is directed is common at every gun show that I have ever been to. I expect it was the same at the one in the original post. I have to wonder if the guy who corrected the police officer for poor gun handling also made it his duty and business to correct irresponsible gun handling at other times he witnessed it. Somehow, I doubt it. Sometimes people just like to be able to tell a police officer that he/she is wrong.

More likely he corrected the officer because the gun was aimed at him than some theoretical anti-police sentiment. In fact that seems like a very far fetched interpretation of the OP's description of events.

Mike

 

[Ignition Override]

A few of you might have been appalled by this Youtube video.
An LEO checked over a handgun at the retail gun shop counter.

He put his finger over the muzzle, pulled the trigger while aiming very close to other customers.
The bullet shot off the end of his finger, but missed the other people. You can see that his finger looks shorter.

Why was the gun loaded, and how many people did Not check it? Why did the sales clerk not check it?
Who was in charge of training that Gomer Pyle wearing the uniform, and signing him off at their range?

 

[a_canadian]

This guy, yeah, fun times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HlAOWiRwhw
Seems to me the path of the bullet after going through his finger was about like this, maybe a bit lower as in just barely missing the counter top. He got really lucky not to have killed anyone that day. Pointed it into the area of the 4 other people at the counter a couple of times before he fired it. Didn't bother dropping the magazine to check before racking the slide. Didn't check the chamber. Just amazingly careless gun handling. The the store staff were negligent in keeping a loaded handgun in the cabinet, but this cop suing is absurd. His fault entirely that the thing went off. If he'd used the most basic of safety practices it would not have happened. Screenshot from the video 1 frame before the shot.

 

[Flynt]

Police officers are supposed to be trained. They're also held to a higher standard.

 

[22-rimfire]

I worked gunshows for about 10 years throughout the Midwest. The cops at the door checking guns more often than not seemed to have no concept of muzzle control. I would never say anything to them though. They didn't seem to be too thrilled with the job anyway.... I have also had quite a few cops on our range where I instructed and RO'd matches and everybody was horrified at some of their gunhandling skills. I am not bashing cops - it's not their fault - their training is usually awful.

I think it is their fault. They should set an example. They know better. I wonder how they would like it when somebody else's gun is pointing at them? I know, they draw their weapon and.... they end up in the news.

 

[Apachedriver]

Unfortunately, carelessness and/or non-awareness of where the muzzle of a firearm is directed is common at every gun show that I have ever been to. I expect it was the same at the one in the original post. I have to wonder if the guy who corrected the police officer for poor gun handling also made it his duty and business to correct irresponsible gun handling at other times he witnessed it. Somehow, I doubt it. Sometimes people just like to be able to tell a police officer that he/she is wrong.

There are two kinds of LEO that blindly jump to that type of conclusion. One's usually young/newer and can be taught better. The other is usually a hopeless case even when things go bad. The second one is the type that make life difficult for the others on the job. Thankfully, there aren't too many of those out there.

Any individual conducting an entrance safety check owns the responsibility to carry it out without endangering themselves or others attending. If that standard isn't or can't be met, then they should be corrected in a respectful manner.

Once inside a show, the guided assumption is the firearms are safe to handle.

PS: Are you a lawman? If so, I hope you do become legendary for the best actions and reasons; Especially in light of the current sentiments being pushed across the country.

 

[Apachedriver]

Most cops, particularly in urban areas, are not gun people. It's a tool just like a plumbers wrench.

This doesn't absolve them (or any gun owner) of the responsibilities that come with the tool they carry or handle; the most minimal of knowledge being keeping fingers of the trigger and pointed away from self and others.

They don't all have to become Joe Tactical Gun Nut. That's why SWAT exists.

 

[GarySTL]

This doesn't absolve them (or any gun owner) of the responsibilities that come with the tool they carry or handle; the most minimal of knowledge being keeping fingers of the trigger and pointed away from self and others.

They don't all have to become Joe Tactical Gun Nut. That's why SWAT exists.

I don't disagree a bit with your statement about responsibility. And I think it's kind of sad that folks who may depend on guns for their, and our, safety sometimes have such little respect for safe handling.

 

[legendary_lawman]

There are two kinds of LEO that blindly jump to that type of conclusion. One's usually young/newer and can be taught better. The other is usually a hopeless case even when things go bad. The second one is the type that make life difficult for the others on the job. Thankfully, there aren't too many of those out there.

Any individual conducting an entrance safety check owns the responsibility to carry it out without endangering themselves or others attending. If that standard isn't or can't be met, then they should be corrected in a respectful manner.

Once inside a show, the guided assumption is the firearms are safe to handle.

PS: Are you a lawman? If so, I hope you do become legendary for the best actions and reasons; Especially in light of the current sentiments being pushed across the country.

I couldn't disagree more with your over generalization about two kinds of LEO's and jumping to conclusions. It is clear you have jumped to some conclusions of your own. I don't support unsafe gun practices no matter who it is that happens to be guilty of it.

My point was and is that there are people that make it a point to talk about how they corrected a law enforcement officer for this or that or how they outshot some cop at the range and on and on and love to posture about it. Not surprisingly, it's a common thing on gun forums. If the alleged infraction has been committed by a person outside of law enforcement, would this story have even been posted and been as vehemently discussed?

I'm not getting into a huge debate over this as you are entitled to you opinion, just as I am, so this will be my last post on this topic. If you feel the need to have the last word, it's all yours.

 

[Baron_Null]

If the alleged infraction has been committed by a person outside of law enforcement, would this story have even been posted and been as vehemently discussed?

Maybe you haven't been here long enough, but yes, it would be as discussed, so you can rest easy knowing it's not just your favored people being called out for poor gun handling. Threads involving being muzzle swept at a gunshow or gun store happen regularly, and they usually go a few pages before they get archived or locked.

 

[boomeradf]

We have some good times here at our gun shows.:banghead:

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2015/11/02/bullet-hits-2-gun-show-expo-idaho/75063900/

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2014/07/01/11882565/

 

[shootniron]

Happens at every gun show...must it be reported?

 

[IWAC]

I worked gunshows for about 10 years throughout the Midwest. The cops at the door checking guns more often than not seemed to have no concept of muzzle control. I would never say anything to them though. They didn't seem to be too thrilled with the job anyway.... I have also had quite a few cops on our range where I instructed and RO'd matches and everybody was horrified at some of their gunhandling skills. I am not bashing cops - it's not their fault - their training is usually awful.

I was at our local range, and they had closed half of it due a police department doing qualifications. The Lieutenant in charge demanded the range be totally closed,due to their activities. Fortunately,the Rangemaster told them it was a public range, and he wouldn't close it all to customers.

I observed some unsafe gun handling, the worst since I was discharged from the Service. Training or common sense, it was not readily observable that day!

 

[sequins]

Is anyone surprised that someone doing an activity as a hobby does it better than someone doing it as a job? My dad used to always say that you can train anything except "givea****" and you either come with that or you don't and it's the real decider of potential. Some cops shoot crappy and so what? I shoot crappy on some bad days and I love shooting and aspire to shoot good. Most cops aspire for their check to clear and for their wife to still be there at the end of the day and there's not a thing wrong with that. I'd rather a cop be a family man than be John Rambo.

If the guy was aiming a gun at a person on accident and you say "hey man don't aim that over here" it's not a big deal.

 

[shafter]

I know in my neck of the woods we had a "you laser, we taser" mentality when it came to firearm safety in the academy and during quals. The guys I work with have impeccable firearm safety habits. Btw, I wouldn't complain a bit by working that detail. I bet they got to handle some cool guns that day.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Happens at every gun show...must it be reported?

Yes.