Disappointing Incident in Gun Store

C

Captains1911

New member
Disappointing Incident at Gun Store

While waiting at a carwash yesterday, I had some time to kill and decided to browse a local gun store across the street. After being there for about 5 minutes, I noticed a woman who was shopping for a pistol with who I assumed to be her husband, pointing and dry firing the gun in the direction of other customers in the store, including a child. I almost couldn't believe my eyes at first, and the store clerk helping them didn't seem to care. I walked over and said "please do me and all of us a favor and stop pointing that all over the store, there are safe directions here where you can do that," and pointed a few of them out. Well, neither her, the husband, or the clerk were very happy with me, and I caught an earful, including several expletives, from all of them. I maintained my composure and explained how I wasn't trying to to be a jerk, but just wasn't comfortable with the way she was handling the firearm, however it was falling on deaf ears. The clerk actually demanded that I walk away, which I did after stating once more to "please just be safe."

I'm sure these kind of things happen all too often at gun stores, shows, etc., as I witness it all the time, but as an instructor I sometimes feel obligated to say something when I see it. The problem is, no matter how polite I try to be, it rarely end wells. I understand that the store clerk was trying to make a sale, but safety shouldn't be sacrificed during the process.

So, what do others see and think? Do you witness these kind of things, and what, if anything, do you do about it? To be honest I'm so fed up and exhausted with this kind of crap that I'm considering just staying away from most gun stores and all gun shows in their entirety.
 
Last edited:
Us lawful gun owners are responsible for policing our own ranks, if we want to keep the other side at bay. I'm with you, if I see an unsafe act, I speak up.
 
Never seen that before and unless they pointed it at me I would have just walked out of the store if I was there to just pass some time like you said. I've learned that a lot of people defend their actions even when they're completely wrong. Anymore when I see something that bothers me I walk away and keep my mouth shut.
 
Educating the ignorant can be difficult, if not impossible. I respect your choice of action, sounds to me that you had a reasonable argument.
Personally, I probably would not have bothered to confront the offending woman. But I see no problem with what you said/did.
 
You did the right thing in my opinion. I always make sure I am pointing in a safe direction even though the clerk and I have visually seen that the gun is unloaded. I was taught that there is no such thing as an unloaded gun. As a side note, a LGS which is now closed had an incident which reinforces what you did. An employee was looking at a gun that a customer was trading in when he aimed it at the front door and pulled the trigger. So much for the front door and the radiator of a car outside. It could have been a lot worse. Not to be outdone, several years ago, a teacher at a Hunter Safety class wanted to demonstrate how loud a cap was on a muzzleloader, indoors. Why, I don't know. He never checked to see that it was loaded. Thankfully, the hole that was created was in the roof.
 
I would and have been more direct at dealing with the same situation. "Point that basted gun in a safe direction before someone in here presumes it is loaded and takes corrective action upon your person."
 
It's all in how you present yourself. Most anyone will get defensive if they feel belittled or treated like an idiot. I'd be willing to bet most people would respond positively if approached in a helpful way. That's how I do it, and I've yet to encounter unpleasantness. Sure, they may give you a weird look at first, but once they know you're on their side and just want to show them something you learned years ago that adds to everyone's safety, they soften right up.
 
Years ago, at a LGS, I had an "uncomfortable" task to return a firearm bought for me as a gift. Was a semi-shotgun, my wife bought as new: but no box or instructions! There was a part that could into into the magazine in either direction, in spite of it not being the same on either end.

Went to the gunshop, talked to the manager. He informed me they did such a high volume of business that they could not save boxes and tossed them. I asked about the instructions, and he said the same thing. I began to lecture him, in a loud fashion, that gunshops should be a bastion of protection of gun rights, by making sure all purchases are done correctly, with everything supplied by the manufacturer (bear in mind, the invoice stated "new firearm").

I asked for a full refund, which the manager quickly approved, as I was agitated and had a few other customers listening in.

I repeat: as gun owners, we bear responsibility to make sure our sport is enjoyed in a safe manner.
 
I would and have been more direct at dealing with the same situation. "Point that basted gun in a safe direction before someone in here presumes it is loaded and takes corrective action upon your person."
Click to expand...

Sounds like me.
I have no use for stupid and stupid is as stupid does when it comes to gun safety.
 
Captains1911, I think you were totally in the right and handled the situation very well, the sales clerk was an idiot for letting the other idiots handle firearms the way they were doing so.

If the sales clerk was not the store owner I would have requested to speak with the owner or manager, explained to him the lack of proper firearms safety knowledge the sales clerk has and how he allows customers to exhibit the same.
 
The problem I've seen is this: if the clerk offends the customer, it ends up being called "poor customer service," and the manager chews the clerk out when the business gets a bad review on Yelp or wherever. As a result, clerks are often reluctant to speak up.

As a customer, I'm not going to waste time figuring out whether it's loaded or not. I'd sternly inform the guy with the gun he needs to watch where he's pointing it.
 
I have to agree with the more direct approach. I find people in general do not receive kind correction, but will change behaviors more when chastised. I have heard too many stories as illustrated above, of AD/ND. I don't want to witness one first hand.
 
I place zero blame on the offending customer since we don't know if he/she has any firearm experience. This may be their first handling a firearm and possiblely has never heard anything about gun safety. The manager should be notified immediately and if it's a decent outfit, he/she will promptly rectify the situation. Suggest putting a target on a couple walls, behind the counter and high close to the ceilings. I don't think any customer would get upset if a clerk said, after handing over an unloaded firearm, "you can aim the gun here or here at these targets, and although the gun has been made certain its unloaded, it's a safety rule to never point a gun in an unsafe direction". That should solve the problem, keep customers happy and keep up "gunners" happy as well. If the owner can't take five minutes and couple targets to initiate a policy like that to the staff, choose a different store and email the offending store and let them know why they are losing your business.
 
What I use and get to offten is when someone is sweeping the store at chest level is . I state loud and plain . Muzzle Awareness ! Everyone gets it and not much room for argument unless they just want to make themselfs look stupid . Some times I will add alm at the corner of the cieling above everyone else . Folks like to handle firearms and point them before they buy them . I saw in one shop the owner had a "target" to catch the attention of the pointers and snappers up high on his back wall to get the muzzles up .
 
Once the conversation turned sour you could have said if you don't believe me, then please take a look at the safety instructions the manufacturer packed in the box with THAT gun you're holding.
 
If the clerk had no issues with how she was handling the firearm, perhaps he sould have suggested that she aim the gun at him instead of at other customers.

I do agree with your approach and how you handled the situation. Sounds like the clerk is a tool.
 
Since everyone was acting like fools, the best thing would have been to just vacate the place as quickly as possible.
Trying to explain their folly was a waste of time, as you saw.
It just delayed your getting to safety.
When in doubt, run for the hills.
 
Captains you did the exactly right thing. I can't believe the clerk didn't do anything.

I would never ever go back to that store and tell them why.
 
I would and have been more direct at dealing with the same situation. "Point that basted gun in a safe direction before someone in here presumes it is loaded and takes corrective action upon your person."
Click to expand...
Didn't even think of that. If I'm in any store, turn around and see a gun pointed at me I'm go to burn them. I don't know who they are and hesitation with a gun in your face is bad. :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top