So, I work at a gunstore and...

[True Grit]

You need to find another job. Get used to it. This is why you check the gun before you give it to the customer.

I suppose it is also unsafe to check the rifling on a revolver by looking down the muzzle with the cylinder opened.

There are practical limits to gun safety folks. I am always the one who has to say this because everyone else is too afraid to. Safety is good but sensible safety is better.

I would be upset too. It doesn't matter if he's behind the counter at a gun shop, hunting in the woods, at the range, or on patrol. Saftety still applies. Just because the man works at a gun shop doesn't mean that he has to be use to or like people waving guns in his face. NEVER point a gun at someone unless you mean buisness and I'm not talking about "sales" = ]

 

[Lakedaemonian]

Okay, my biggest gripe about this whole situation is Jackassery with an "unloaded" weapon translates into Jackassery with a "loaded" weapon. Negligence is not a random act, but a habit just like proper weapon safety. And of course, staring down the barrel of a Beretta Extrema 12 gage sucks big time.

 

[kingpin008]

If the store has a properly posted "no loaded weapons" sign then customers are bound by law to obey it.

Maybe in your neck of the woods, but that's not true across the board.

 

[kingpin008]

Lake - you haven't mentioned how you handled the situation. As an employee of the shop, you have the authority to correct such actions, and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future. Perhaps if you were a bit more direct with your customers, they'd be a little more cognizant of the safety rules.

 

[walking arsenal]

Welcome to the real world.

I used to work in a shop and we came up with two simple ideas to keep people from pointing guns around.

First. We made sure we where the ones to open the gun cases and check the gun. Not the customer.

Gun case goes on counter. We open it. We check the gun. Nice gun. what can we do for you.

Gun needs to come out of display case. We check it. Dump the mag. Hand gun to customer. Explain the features.

Second. We put a target on the wall and when we handed someone a gun we just said keep it pointed at the target.

It worked really well.

If you can't handle people then maybe working in a gun shop isn't your cup of tea.

 

[DammitBoy]

If the store has a properly posted "no loaded weapons" sign then customers are bound by law to obey it.

If you go to any CCW thread here, you'll get an argument from half the posters saying they don't need to honor that sign or that if they break that rule, nobody will know because they say they'll keep it concealed.

 

[Lakedaemonian]

If you go to any CCW thread here, you'll get an argument from half the posters saying they don't need to honor that sign or that if they break that rule, nobody will know because they say they'll keep it concealed.

Check, good to go. Leave it concealed and if someone trys to rob the place by all means draw and drop, but the PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT is people feel the need to pull out their hot weapon and compare it to something I pull out of the case. In which case I politlely, but with a sharp and direct tone ask "Sir, if that gun is loaded, unload it now."

 

[Lakedaemonian]

Lake - you haven't mentioned how you handled the situation. As an employee of the shop, you have the authority to correct such actions, and hopefully prevent them from happening in the future. Perhaps if you were a bit more direct with your customers, they'd be a little more cognizant of the safety rules.

Oh no, I just stand there dumbfounded. Of course I correct the action. The most recent case of blatent improper safety was like I mentioned earlier. A man from out of state askes to see a Walther PPK. I pull it out, check clear, and set the gun on the table in front of him. He proceeds to pull out his own LOADED PPK and says, hey this is just like mine.

Im being completly serious here. Oh, and dont get me started about the Desert Eagle boy. A guy walks in with his Desert Eagle in a drop leg thigh holster. I ask him, "Sir, is that hand cannon loaded?" (in a joking tone as not to offend) and his reply "Oh I forgot that was there" REALLY?! No seriously you FORGOT you had an extra 5 pounds strapped to your thigh?? These are the MORONS I'm talking about gents. I'm not saying every gun enthusiest that comes into a gun store is a moron because then Id be calling all of you morons. Im talking about the guys that give all of us safe gun owners a bad name.

Edit:

Please dont take what Im saying in the wrong way. I am ALL about carrying concealed. I believe a few well trained citizens living out their lives armed could stop a lot of bad situations. For instance, maybe a psycopath shooter in Arizona may not have gotten as many shots off if a CCW fella was present. However, when there is a SIGN on the door that says "Please, no loaded guns on premesis" and not to mention the fact of the MILLIONS of dollars in deadly merchandise on the shelves. Dont piss on the electric fence please.

 

[Vyacheslav]

another one of those "i work at a gun store and every customer who has ever done something wrong is a moron" threads. you do realize that not everyone who walks into a gun store has had experience with guns before and might not know all about gun safety. that's why you clear the gun before handing it to them and correct them if they point it in the wrong direction, simple as that, no need to go home and cry to a bunch of guys on the internet about it.

 

[redbullitt]

Id keep a spray bottle handy. Squirt them with it and "NO" in an authoritative voice.

Works on ferrets.

 

[doc2rn]

We put a target on the wall and when we handed someone a gun we just said keep it pointed at the target.

It worked really well.

^This is a very acceptable solution.

 

[Bubba613]

Oh no, I just stand there dumbfounded. Of course I correct the action. The most recent case of blatent improper safety was like I mentioned earlier. A man from out of state askes to see a Walther PPK. I pull it out, check clear, and set the gun on the table in front of him. He proceeds to pull out his own LOADED PPK and says, hey this is just like mine.

If that kind of thing is really going to bother you you need a new line of work. Because that's going to happen every day.

And the most common reaction I see to "no guns" signs is "I'll take my business elsewhere."

 

[Mags]

The only safety concern I have with gun shops is when I am handed a gun with the action closed and unverified. After I have verified the gun to be clear I generally aim at some stupid sign behind the counter and test the trigger.

I'm sure my actions make some people mad, they're probably the same folks who dont like being muzzle swept by holstered guns either such as a shoulder holster.

 

[FROGO207]

SHEESH--------Nothing like living in the real world is there. A LOT of people are unaware of many, what are obvious to some, safety rules. IMHO things are much safer today in regards to firearms use. A lot of people that don't know any better could be well served by your ability to use a gentle teaching moment. You in a non threatening voice "Hey there-it"s not safe to point that muzzle at me (them etc.) like that." Then ask them if they remember the four rules-if not remind them "These 4 rules have helped me and my friends stay safe while handling/using firearms in the past" then state the 4 rules in an informational way. IMHO a person who has little or no prior firearms experience will want to learn to be safe just like we wanted to when we started in most instances.

 

[ForumSurfer]

If the store has a properly posted "no loaded weapons" sign then customers are bound by law to obey it.

Legally that depends on where you are.

If that is posted, they don't get my business...ever. At least until they remove the signs. Hopefully a certain store in Apex is reading this. I've gone out of my way (which speaks volumes given current gas prices) and paid MORE money for the same firearm elsewhere since this one particular store refuses to honor my rights.

My favorite store has a big sign on the front door that says "Keep it holstered while inside." Smaller text directs the customer to bring any items that need to be displayed inside a case, unloaded. Should be common sense...but it isn't. They also have a sign in the bathroom that says "stand closer, your range isn't as long as you think."

Last week I was swept by a guy. He whipped out his new PT1911 and proceeded to empty to the chamber and show it to the clerk. He was thoughtful enough not to point it at the clerk...instead he pointed it to his immediate right where I was handling a blackhawk out of the case. He had the nerve to roll his eyes as the other clerk and I stopped our conversation and stared nervously. I handed the blackhawk back and told them I'd be back later.

 

[bbuddtec]

One thing... it's dealing with the public, never let a sign take the place of interaction.


( Never assume the sign did your job )

Be the range officer...

 

[SSN Vet]

How about this one...

after conducting a chamber check in the customers presence, as you had the pistol to them say "please be careful not to point the muzzle at anyone"...

and if they balk "but you just unloaded it" .... respond with "it's standard gun safety and the person you point it at doesn't know that"

Or.... gun store display counters could be arranged with a designated "target" for customers to take a firing stance and see the sight picture. Put large text over the target "do not pull the trigger".

Few people (especially men) have the humility to admit it when they are clueless (especially about a macho topic), so assume the role of friendly instructor of the basics from the get go.

Be especially watchfull of guys who put on the air of "know it all".

Regardless of the customers knowledge and pactice, YOU, having a clue can ensure the safety of yourself and the other employees and customers.

Not that the OP did this, but many will balk at the state requiring a demostration of knowledge and minimal proficiency for a CCW or FOID card as a denial of 2nd ammendment rights in one breath, and then state that people shouldn't be allowed to pass the threshold of a gunstore or range, without that same K & P.

 

[Panzercat]

First, congratulations on actually having customers. You are usually the first point of contact a gun n00b will encounter. As such, you're either going to get fusterated and drive them away or start finding ways to deal with it.

I'd suggest putting a plackard out in plain site with the four rules. If the person's ability to handle a firearm is suspect, point to the plackard casually before you hand it over and politely advise them to observe the rules.

 

[mdauben]

the PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT is people feel the need to pull out their hot weapon and compare it to something I pull out of the case. In which case I politlely, but with a sharp and direct tone ask "Sir, if that gun is loaded, unload it now."

I admit this seems like such a self-evident process I sometimes have a hard time getting my head around people ignoring it. If I ever felt the need to pull a loaded CCW out for any reason other than using it, my first action would be to automatically drop the magazine and clear the chamber (or dump the cylinder) while pointing it in a safe direction.

 

[ForumSurfer]

In which case I politlely, but with a sharp and direct tone ask "Sir, if that gun is loaded, unload it now."

I hate that! There's no reason to pull it and clear it in the store.

If I ever felt the need to pull a loaded CCW out for any reason other than using it, my first action would be to automatically drop the magazine and clear the chamber (or dump the cylinder) while pointing it in a safe direction.

And that is the reason...there is no safe direction in a store full of people in every direction. Ricochets will happen off of that carpet covered or tile covered concrete floor.

 

[christcorp]

For a very serious topic, some of it is just too funny.

1. If a gun shop in Wyoming put up a "No Loaded Guns Allowed" sign on their door, they would be out of business within 4 weeks. Customers would simply never go to that gun shop.

2. 86% of all Wyoming households have guns. Most wyoming citizens have been shooting guns since they were children. The problem most gun customers have here, is keeping our lip carefully bit as we hear some part time gun store employee pretend they know what they're talking about. Sometimes you just want to say: "Here's the money for the merchandise. I'll give you an extra $10 to shut the hell up".

3. We get a lot of transplants in from California, New York, etc... We actually get calls from rural transplanted residents to the highway patrol and sheriff's office complaining because an elk, deer, bear, coyote, etc... is cutting through their yard/property.

But even with some of the issues, I am so glad that I no longer live in New Jersey. Oh; and for what it's worth, our state legislature just met and overwhelmingly introduced and approved a bill, that the governor just signed into law, stating that wyoming residents no longer need a concealed weapons permit to carry a pistol concealed. Plus, we still have our open carry. "We still have our CCW permit for those who travel a lot out of state". God I love Wyoming.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

There is a line, unfortunately, that as a person making sales that you don't want to cross with your customers. You don't want to come across as chastising in advance or being condescending about gun instruction. Maybe some of y'all have missed many of the previous threads dealing with gun shop attitudes, but far too many of us experience the gun shop curmudgeon behind the counter when we go into gun stores. Too many gun store folks don't seem to care if they make sales or not and so customer go elsewhere to buy guns and such individual gun stores suffer.

If you are the gun store person behind the counter and you are tired of how people handle guns inside of your shop, then why haven't you found a way to better resolve the issue other than to complain about it?

We had one of those "posted" gun shops as well here in North Texas. It went into business after the owner of our only gun store retired and went out of business. He had done good business for decades and we were ripe for a new shop. It lasted about 3 months.

Your customers are not the enemy. They may not be who you want them to be, but they are not the enemy. A good salesman can work through a difficult situation without stepping on toes or making people upset.

 

[jtcimp00]

Having worked in a store myself, I made sure to tell the customers where they could point the gun. It's generally not a good idea to have one customer pointing a gun across the store while another is walking through the front door. If a customer has a problem following my rules and the rules of the manager, they lose the privilege to view the store's guns and most certainly any privilege that they had to buy them. Not a power grab, just common sense. Just like when the idiot who screams at me because he makes an error on the 4473 which disallows him from buying a firearm and attempts to rip up the document and threatens me that he will be waiting for me later loses his privilege to come back in the store. It really all boils down to having sound management being behind you 100%. I am usually for the customer is always right, but I have to disagree on this one. I am generally suspicious of the loaded status of any gun's chamber, and refuse to be at the wrong end of the barrel at any time. Maybe you should speak to the management about your concerns.

 

[Gouranga]

You know, I have seen that behavior from both sides of the counter. I do not ever take for granted that the guy who handled a gun before me has properly cleared it and nobody should ever do so with me.

I always say there are 4 basic rules to gun safety. You can break 1 without endangering a life, but once you break 2, you are endangering someones life. Once you start pointing a gun at someone you are already half way there.

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to Gander and had someone pointing an AR at me. In all fairness, I have had a stupid time or 2 when I have been really checking out a handgun, I was thinking of buying and not been paying attention to the muzzle and had it pointing at the clerk. I will apologize, but in my mind, I am kicking myself.

I think as a community we can and should be able to learn from another. I should be able to respectfully point out an unsafe practice and likewise if I am being an idiot (we all have our moments) the clerk, should be able to respectfully request I not point a firearm at him.

Though I will say this, working at a gun store this is something you will see from now till the day you stop working there. You could have a word with the owner and ask him/her if they would mind if you respectfully requested the customer not point a gun in your face. But really, that is all you can do.

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

Some people are just ignorant of gun safety. It's probably because they never attended a hunter's safety course.

That is the problem often and they get or new to guns etc.