Store a gun for somebody else?

[GigaBuist]

I got what would seem like a weird question today. I say 'seem' because it struck me as really odd but I'd pondered something similar before and actually asked the same thing, but different circumstances.

A co-worker, male in his early 40's or late 30's asked me at lunch today if he bought a gun if I'd let him keep it at my place. His wife is entirely anti and he doesn't really trust himself with safe handling since he hasn't even shot a gun but for a few times when he was 18-20ish.

I'm not opposed to the idea if he helps somebody purchase their own gun that they can take full ownership of later. He's not asking me at all to buy one for him, or sell him one, and he has no intended purpose of it -- just kinda thinks it'd be prudent to own a gun. I can't really disagree with that, but I would presume at his age he'd realize that he's perfectly capable of storing his own firearm safely... besides, I'm not exactly home all the time so I have no idea how he'd "check out" his gun and return it later. Seems like it'd be inconvient for us both. He's mostly concerned, it seems, that his daughter would shoot herself with it accidentally. I'm sure we all know it's perfectlly possible to keep a firearm safe from a 3 year old child.

LIke I said though, I posed this same question to somebody once before I got into shooting. In this case though I was 19 or 20, lived in apartment, and the only place I knew I could shoot at was at this guy's house -- and I'd known him since I was 8. He agreed, and didn't mind the idea at all, but I never took him up on the offer.

Just seems a little odd is all, but I understand where he's coming from.

 

[jefnvk]

I can help you with the check-out thing. At college, I have to find an RA to unlock the gun room whenever I want to bring in/take out a gun. You would think that with 15 people capable, I could find someone, but no. Its to the point where I am seriously considering keeping guns in my trunk.

Way big hassle. Not for you, but him. Then again, if its a big hassle for him to get his guns, he may just decide to kep it at his house.

 

[Ivy Mike]

safe deposit box at his bank maybe? He can get it when he wants, put it away when he's done and the wifey will never know. Besides, if she's such an anti, why are they still married?

Not sure if banks allow guns in deposit boxes though...perhaps unloaded.

 

[stealthmode]

isnt it a crime to take a gun into a bank?

 

[Bubbles]

His wife is entirely anti ...

There's your coworker's real reason for not wanting to bring the gun home. His other problems - lack of education about firearms and gun safety, and keeping the gun secure from his daughter - are easily solved.

Some states prohibit concealed carry in banks. Mine doesn't, so the anti-gun banks have to post "no guns" signs if they don't want people carrying.

 

[joab]

Not illegal so why not store it.

I had a friend's gun for over a year. His situation was the same as you describe.
After a while he realized that he was not cut out for gun ownership and sold the gun..
By storing it at my house he was able to come to that conclusion safely without endangering his 6yo daughter. Which he would most certainly have if he had had the gun at home.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

What kind of gun?

Rifle/shotgun, no problem.

If it's a pistol, then it's probably illegal. You can't take possession of a pistol without a transfer, recorded on that green "permit to purchase" or "safety inspection" form that Michigan uses. But then it wouldn't be his gun, it'd be yours.


Regards.

 

[Archangel]

There's always the option of having a separate safe at your house, but only he has the keys / combo access to it. That way, even though it's stored at your place, only he (the actual owner) has access.

 

[Greg L]

There's your coworker's real reason for not wanting to bring the gun home. His other problems - lack of education about firearms and gun safety, and keeping the gun secure from his daughter - are easily solved.

Agreed.

I would probably let him (although if it is a pistol then check MI laws) but only for a preset time limit (in this situation). He needs to work out his issues with his wife & not sneak around like he is having an affair (which in a sense he is, although this is probably cheaper ).

Greg

 

[jefnvk]

If it's a pistol, then it's probably illegal. You can't take possession of a pistol without a transfer, recorded on that green "permit to purchase"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in many states, I believe that a handgun is treated no different then a long gun.

EDIT: OK, the guy's in MI. Yes, thats illegal. Still wondering about handguns uin other states, though.

 

[cratz2]

I've done it before... Someone I trusted very much but I must say that it gives me pause that you don't know exactly how old he is... I think that would put him in the 'I'm sure he's a good guy, but I don't know him that well' category.

 

[Trebor]

You are in Michgian, so if it's a handgun, don't do it.

If it's a long gun, it depends on how good of a friend he is. Personally, it would have to be family or a very close friend for me to store a gun for someone else. Casual friends and co workers don't qualify. There are too many potential problems otherwise.

 

[Roadkill]

A buddy went to Iraq, divorced, no kids. Brough about 75 over to me for storage till he gets back. Either you trust someone or you don't. Doesn't sound like you do.

rk

 

[Valkman]

isnt it a crime to take a gun into a bank?

Not that I know of - I carry in there all the time.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Unless I had a real visceral dislike for or plain didn't trust the guy, I'd do it, then take him shooting a few times. Sure, why not?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

isnt it a crime to take a gun into a bank?

Not illegal in Florida.

 

[GigaBuist]

I'm aware of MI law, and already told him that if he was interested in a pistol that it was an absolute impossible thing because of the laws. He wasn't even interested in a pistol he said, just a rifle or a shotgun.

I'm not sure where the trusting him thing comes into play. Unless the guy plans on buying a weapon, storing at my place and go shooting with me, then pick it up one day, kill somebody, and return it and pretend like he sold it to me. Seems far fetched.

I know his parents are rabid liberals, so perhaps this is just the fleshing out of his acceptance of the conservative lifestyle.

Then again, it's possible he's got a substance abuse problem of some kind and doesn't always trust himself. Maybe keeping it off-site is the only option he thinks he has?

I'm thinking a better option would be to let him know I'll call him every time I go to the range, and he's free to come along and pick out anything he wants to try out. That'll let him learn multiple weapons platforms and make a better decision anyway with no real investment from him. Problem there is I never get to the range anymore thanks to work. However, if I'm free he probably is too with regards to work.

I just made a post in General too about how pro-gun our company seems to be, so perhaps a bunch of that is rubbing off, especially when working next to me. Shoot, this is my background desktop at work:

I suppose such a request, if out of the blue, would be rather odd -- but there was a recent (as in 5-6 months ago) espisode where some armed robber killed a fellow and was running amok. Horribly enough in the same area that he lived in. His first comment was, "This is one of those times I wish we had a gun at home" -- his wife was home with the child and he's 45 minutes from there. He's also a news junkie, so when he saw something about the XM8 he asked me about it. He's got an interest in firearms (I think it comes with the convex wedding tackle really) and thinks logically, and knows WHY they're useful to civilians, at least with home defense.

I'm thinking at this point, based upon the posts that I should do the following:
- Definately get him to the range and let him pick out the weapons for the trip.
- Maybe repeat a few times.
- If he still wants to buy his own, but doesn't trust himself, I'll store it, but he's going to recognize that I have -zero- interest in trying to accmodate him. I'm basically a lock box.
- If he's the least hesitant about lifetime gun ownership then just buy something that he likes and I also wouldn't mind having in my collection. If you do that, and want to bail, I'll buy it off you at a very decent price. I wouldn't want him to, if he decided it wasn't for him, to sell it face to face with some crack addict unknowningly or get ripped by a pawn shop. Might as well put it in my hands and I'll pay fairly for it.

Sound sane?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd have to figure a guy who's afraid of his wife isn't much of a man.

My only legal concern would be responsibility for the firearm in the event of fire, flood, theft, et cetera. If I were to keep a firearm for someone else, I'd probably want him or her to sign a waiver of responsibility against those eventualities.