hexidismal
Member
I've got sort of an interesting situation here, and I wonder (as the title implies) how some of you would handle it. No doubt this must have happened to some of you before..
My current girlfriend has this friend in the area. I think it's important to note that it's sort of her only friend in the area, as she's been staying with me for awhile due to some personal troubles in her life, and she's not anywhere nearby most other people she knows. She's involved deeply in the friend's wedding plans and all that kind of stuff. The reason I note that should become clear as this goes on.
So, this girl has a finance.. and hes, well.. an absolute dolt. He's nice, don't get me wrong, but he's just the kind of guy I absolutely would not trust with a loaded firearm. Not only is his knowledge and willingness to learn about firearms seemingly very limited, but quite frankly he's just not bright at all. He's also fairly young (22 y/o) , and was raised in a very low income city environment. While I certainly don't hold that against anyone, what I mean to convey to you is that his attitude and mannerisms are very "ghetto".
So here comes the problem. While visiting at my home ( accompanying my girlfriend's friend ), he asked to see some of my firearms. Mind you, he knew already that I was avidly pro-gun (I make no bones about that) and that I possessed some number of firearms. I only clarify that so as to inform you the reader, that I would otherwise not have announced my possession of firearms to him. Anyway, since that was unavoidable, I thought of it as a possible opportunity to impress upon him some of my ideas of how a responsible and legal gun owner thinks , as opposed to much of what he has likely been exposed to. Let's never forget that the only way to improve upon the unfortunate outlook of some regarding gun ownership ans proper usage is to teach people, right ? Well, in the course of discussion I made the mishap of mentioning that I was placing an SKS rifle ( modified "tactical", adj. stock, pistol grip, 30rd mag) up for sale. (Which I did, here on THR). He mentioned back, "One day I want to buy something like that, maybe I could buy yours if you still have it". (Not an exact quote) . I didn't think much of it, thinking that "One day" was a far day off, and the rifle would be long gone. So I mumbled something like "Sure, sure, one day maybe" (Mistake #2) , and went on to something else putting it far from my mind. Eventually my girlfriend and her freind parted ways, and thus I was also free of having this somewhat cretinous fellow in my home.
A day or two later the friend stopped by again, this time by herself. At some point she said to me (of course), something along the lines of " Oh, we discussed it and I want to buy the rifle you have for sale for J*** that you said you would sell him, to give it to him for his birthday"
...
"AAAAaaagh!", I screamed internally, and quite to myself.
I was sort of at a loss for words. So, here I am in a bad situation. I would really like to come up with some way to not sell this guy the rifle. The fact is I don't believe he will act safely with it. Obviously, though I do really need the money right myself, it hardly seems worth the worry, and the potential safety hazards to others. BUT.. If I don't sell the rifle, then I put my personal life in a somewhat hazardous situation of its own for all the obvious reasons.
Keep in mind though, these few facts. The man, although seemingly incapable of forming his thoughts into a well organized sentence.. says he wants the rifle for personal protection of his family. I'm sure most of us at least can agree that under the reasonable guidelines that he has not been convicted of any crimes, and is not considered mentally ill (just intellectually challenged.. hehe), that to have the protection afforded by a firearm is his right. On the other hand, I strongly feel that determination should be made by approval by licensed firearms dealer. On the personal side, by my refusal to honor what was perceived as an offer of sale, I stand a good chance to put a wedge between my girlfriend and her basically one and only good friend (and soon to be co-worker).
So what would you do ? Has anything similar ever happened to you, where you've been put in such an uncomfortable situation over the sale of a firearm ?
EDIT: Please also read post #49 in this thread from me
-JT
My current girlfriend has this friend in the area. I think it's important to note that it's sort of her only friend in the area, as she's been staying with me for awhile due to some personal troubles in her life, and she's not anywhere nearby most other people she knows. She's involved deeply in the friend's wedding plans and all that kind of stuff. The reason I note that should become clear as this goes on.
So, this girl has a finance.. and hes, well.. an absolute dolt. He's nice, don't get me wrong, but he's just the kind of guy I absolutely would not trust with a loaded firearm. Not only is his knowledge and willingness to learn about firearms seemingly very limited, but quite frankly he's just not bright at all. He's also fairly young (22 y/o) , and was raised in a very low income city environment. While I certainly don't hold that against anyone, what I mean to convey to you is that his attitude and mannerisms are very "ghetto".
So here comes the problem. While visiting at my home ( accompanying my girlfriend's friend ), he asked to see some of my firearms. Mind you, he knew already that I was avidly pro-gun (I make no bones about that) and that I possessed some number of firearms. I only clarify that so as to inform you the reader, that I would otherwise not have announced my possession of firearms to him. Anyway, since that was unavoidable, I thought of it as a possible opportunity to impress upon him some of my ideas of how a responsible and legal gun owner thinks , as opposed to much of what he has likely been exposed to. Let's never forget that the only way to improve upon the unfortunate outlook of some regarding gun ownership ans proper usage is to teach people, right ? Well, in the course of discussion I made the mishap of mentioning that I was placing an SKS rifle ( modified "tactical", adj. stock, pistol grip, 30rd mag) up for sale. (Which I did, here on THR). He mentioned back, "One day I want to buy something like that, maybe I could buy yours if you still have it". (Not an exact quote) . I didn't think much of it, thinking that "One day" was a far day off, and the rifle would be long gone. So I mumbled something like "Sure, sure, one day maybe" (Mistake #2) , and went on to something else putting it far from my mind. Eventually my girlfriend and her freind parted ways, and thus I was also free of having this somewhat cretinous fellow in my home.
A day or two later the friend stopped by again, this time by herself. At some point she said to me (of course), something along the lines of " Oh, we discussed it and I want to buy the rifle you have for sale for J*** that you said you would sell him, to give it to him for his birthday"
...
"AAAAaaagh!", I screamed internally, and quite to myself.
I was sort of at a loss for words. So, here I am in a bad situation. I would really like to come up with some way to not sell this guy the rifle. The fact is I don't believe he will act safely with it. Obviously, though I do really need the money right myself, it hardly seems worth the worry, and the potential safety hazards to others. BUT.. If I don't sell the rifle, then I put my personal life in a somewhat hazardous situation of its own for all the obvious reasons.
Keep in mind though, these few facts. The man, although seemingly incapable of forming his thoughts into a well organized sentence.. says he wants the rifle for personal protection of his family. I'm sure most of us at least can agree that under the reasonable guidelines that he has not been convicted of any crimes, and is not considered mentally ill (just intellectually challenged.. hehe), that to have the protection afforded by a firearm is his right. On the other hand, I strongly feel that determination should be made by approval by licensed firearms dealer. On the personal side, by my refusal to honor what was perceived as an offer of sale, I stand a good chance to put a wedge between my girlfriend and her basically one and only good friend (and soon to be co-worker).
So what would you do ? Has anything similar ever happened to you, where you've been put in such an uncomfortable situation over the sale of a firearm ?
EDIT: Please also read post #49 in this thread from me
-JT
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