ScottRiqui
New member
What's the general opinion on shoulder holsters? Are they terrible because you're sweeping the hell out of everyone behind you, or is it okay because the gun is holstered (hopefully with the trigger covered up)?
gun store etiquette
- Thread starter gaseousclay
- Start date
Really? Even if the guy isn't just sweeping you unintentionally, but purposefully aiming the gun at you checking out the sights and other gun functions??? According to additional information provided by the OP, that's what he was doing.
There's a time for civility and instruction, and then there is a time for abruptly correcting stupidity and thoughtlessness. Even if you never grew up around guns, EVERYONE knows not to point a knife at someone. And most normal people can figure out on their own, without any instruction, that you don't go into a store, pick up a gun and start aiming it at other customers.
In a big box store, there are not many ways to handle a gun without sweeping someone.
It isn't a good thing but what really concerns me more are the folks who go to the LGS and un-holster a gun for the gunsmith. You really don't know anything about the gun. That is really a touchy point for me.
I shoot a lot at the outdoor range and the ROs are very aware of inadvertent sweeps and will get in your face if you do.
My very best friend is an LEO and he is very unforgiving of muzzle sweeps.
Even at the gun counter in a big box store he is very aware of sweeping. That scenario is not as disconcerting to me but then I realize he has seen a LOT of gun violence some of which is unintentional so he is viewing this somewhat differently than me.
He is more correct than I am.
I am becoming more like him. . .probably a good thing.
It isn't a good thing but what really concerns me more are the folks who go to the LGS and un-holster a gun for the gunsmith. You really don't know anything about the gun. That is really a touchy point for me.
I shoot a lot at the outdoor range and the ROs are very aware of inadvertent sweeps and will get in your face if you do.
My very best friend is an LEO and he is very unforgiving of muzzle sweeps.
Even at the gun counter in a big box store he is very aware of sweeping. That scenario is not as disconcerting to me but then I realize he has seen a LOT of gun violence some of which is unintentional so he is viewing this somewhat differently than me.
He is more correct than I am.
I am becoming more like him. . .probably a good thing.
Yeah, I think in that case the time for civility is gone and a loud, "Hey, watch the muzzle" as you are ducking down would get your point across. If it's just a sweep or inadvertent pointing in your direction as he's looking down at the gun just checking it out then I think you approach him (after moving out of the line of fire) to calmly say, "excuse me, please mind the muzzle direction. You had it pointed directly at me".
Some of you seem to operate on the idea that at a store there are only guns and no ammo. Or that the customers didn't bring their own guns in with them for some reason. What if the gun isn't the store's gun?
I don't care where you are or what you are doing. If you point a gun at me you will likely have one pointing right back and I suggest you consider mine loaded.
I don't care where you are or what you are doing. If you point a gun at me you will likely have one pointing right back and I suggest you consider mine loaded.
I don't know if the question has been asked, if it was I didn't see it, but how far away was this guy? That right there would determine how to handle the situation.
If the guy was close, then that's one thing. If the guy was on the other side of the store, then maybe he wasn't aiming at you, just in your general direction. Which, depending on your point of view, could look like he was aiming directly at you.
If the guy was close, then that's one thing. If the guy was on the other side of the store, then maybe he wasn't aiming at you, just in your general direction. Which, depending on your point of view, could look like he was aiming directly at you.
allenomics
New member
+1 pax.
I was at Bass Pro a long time ago with a friend. He pointed out that I ducked every time that the clerk swept me with the muzzle. I didn't even realize I was doing it.
There isn't much that angers me more than someone intentionally pointing a gun at me. I try not to take it personally.
There isn't much that angers me more than someone intentionally pointing a gun at me. I try not to take it personally.
gaseousclay
New member
i'd say he was no more than 15 to 20 ft away
zincwarrior
New member
Yea that rates a definite shout then to not point the gun at you. I wouldn't hit the deck or something exagerated (would get out of the line of fire though).
The stores I frequent require a box/case/holster for any gun someone brings in that they want someone at the store to look at. If you start drawing a gun from your holster, they'll tell you to reholster and come back when you follow the rules. Drawing any firearm, whether loaded or not, in public in Arizona can be considered aggravated assault, especially if you muzzle someone, so any decent LGS or range will require common sense rules to prevent it from happening.
As for being swept at the store...anytime it happens, I politely tell the person what they just did and that it's of the utmost importance that they keep their muzzle under control. 90% of the time, it's someone purchasing their first gun, and they just weren't aware. The other 10%, the person realizes what they did and they apologize. I have yet to have someone get upset with me for calling out their poor muzzle discipline.
It's going to happen guys. The chances of being muzzled by a loaded weapon are very small. I know, All Guns are loaded, Always, but common sense has to kick in at sometime. Be polite, be nice. Jumping down someones throat reinforces the stereotype that gun owners are aggressive and belligerent. Most people are fine being corrected on this, especially when they realize they wouldn't want it to happen to them.
breakingcontact
Moderator
Unfortunately it seems, gun safety in stores is out the window.
I've rarely seen an employee correct a customer.
Was at a store the other day, guy pointing glock at me, I look down, see his 2 year old son, then he points it at him.
Made me sick, should have said something, need to start saying something.
I don't know if it's the military thing in me or just me having reverence/respect for guns, but safety is #1 always.
I've rarely seen an employee correct a customer.
Was at a store the other day, guy pointing glock at me, I look down, see his 2 year old son, then he points it at him.
Made me sick, should have said something, need to start saying something.
I don't know if it's the military thing in me or just me having reverence/respect for guns, but safety is #1 always.
People have no common sense anymore it is sad. I would personaly have moved out of the line of fire and told the man to never point a gun at someone. Even someone who has never held a gun before or been inna store should know that. Alittle off topic but still discussing etiquette I was in D&L shooting supplies in RI and three men walked into the gun store reeking of alcohol and weed. I couldnt believe that they werent asked to leave by no means should you enter a gun store under the influence of anything and you should never point a gun in someones direction and at 15 - 20 feet away in an empty store he was definately an idiot because he had every oportunity to point it pretty much anywhere else.
Well Gaerek we are not talking about getting "swept". We are talking about turning around and seeing a guy with a gun aimed at your face.
That was the OPs situation. You are correct, I would consider it aggravated assault as well. And in this situation getting away with only have his ears bruised is mild cause he certainly deserved worse. And being new or ignorant is no excuse and doesn't warrant a "kid gloves" attitude.
The same guy that pointed that gun right at the OPs face is the same kind of guy who would bring a loaded gun to the gun store, pull it, to show the guy behind the counter his problem.
The problem isn't the gun, it's a the problem between the ears.
That was the OPs situation. You are correct, I would consider it aggravated assault as well. And in this situation getting away with only have his ears bruised is mild cause he certainly deserved worse. And being new or ignorant is no excuse and doesn't warrant a "kid gloves" attitude.
The same guy that pointed that gun right at the OPs face is the same kind of guy who would bring a loaded gun to the gun store, pull it, to show the guy behind the counter his problem.
The problem isn't the gun, it's a the problem between the ears.
I understand what you're saying, and I agree that ignorance isn't an excuse, but in that case, I wouldn't be mad at the customer with the gun. I'd be mad at the clerk that allowed that to happen. When it comes to people new to guns, I'm pretty lenient in what could be considered at least a relatively controlled situation. But that clerk should have known better. I certainly do not appreciate looking down the muzzle of a weapon, and maybe I would have reacted differently in that situation than I mentioned above (that situation hasn't happened to me).
I think in that case, I would have told the customer why what he was doing was bad. But then I'd tell the clerk he needs to pay attention to where customers are pointing guns. If he got snarky, or pulled out the "It wasn't loaded!" I'd be looking for a manager, and explain that if his clerks aren't going to be keeping customers from muzzling people, I'm going to stop shopping here.
Luckily, I haven't seen anything that bad, and the clerks at the stores I frequent the most practice good muzzle discipline. I watched a clerk snatch a gun out of a customers hand once because he was waving it muzzling practically the whole store. I thanked him for it.
I think in that case, I would have told the customer why what he was doing was bad. But then I'd tell the clerk he needs to pay attention to where customers are pointing guns. If he got snarky, or pulled out the "It wasn't loaded!" I'd be looking for a manager, and explain that if his clerks aren't going to be keeping customers from muzzling people, I'm going to stop shopping here.
Luckily, I haven't seen anything that bad, and the clerks at the stores I frequent the most practice good muzzle discipline. I watched a clerk snatch a gun out of a customers hand once because he was waving it muzzling practically the whole store. I thanked him for it.
thedudeabides
New member
I walked into one of the local gun stores and saw a kid buying a Ruger SR22--probably his first gun. He pointed it at me and started to pull the trigger, I swatted his hand out of the way with enough force that there was a red mark on his wrist.
The gun clerk took the gun away from him and apologized for what happened.
...what the hell, in what universe is that an appropriate action? I don't care if you're a novice. Why would you ever dry fire a gun, loaded or unloaded at someone? You don't need to be a Range Officer to know that's wrong, I think most four year olds could figure that out.
The gun clerk took the gun away from him and apologized for what happened.
...what the hell, in what universe is that an appropriate action? I don't care if you're a novice. Why would you ever dry fire a gun, loaded or unloaded at someone? You don't need to be a Range Officer to know that's wrong, I think most four year olds could figure that out.
I do agree the clerk was definitely at fault as well he should have corrected him. However that being said I still would have been ****** at the customer because it should just be commons sense to not point a gun at someone. The employees really need to crack down on this stuff they "should" know how serious that is. It's just sad to hear that the clerk didn't correct him.
I live in a busy "metropolitan" -tee hee 
- area, but I haven't had this problem that I can ever recall. I don't really stick around stores to browse, though, I'm mostly there for range time. I've only bought one piece at a store because the price couldn't be beat. Honestly, though, I'm pretty sure that if it happened to ME that I wouldn't sweat it. Chicago area gunshops don't keep stuff under the glass loaded, and you can't even carry a loaded gun anywhere. When that law changes, we'll see if accidents start happening (I wouldn't be surprised). I think it's a matter of where I live and the laws here, though. A menial amount of research must be accumulated before navigating our politics into gun ownership. There are certainly moronic gun owners out there, but I haven't really seen a whole lot around here. I can imagine that it's different for a localized society that, for the most part, never grew up around firearms and hunting or shooting sports. I'm speaking of law abiding folks, not gangland. That's a different story...
- area, but I haven't had this problem that I can ever recall. I don't really stick around stores to browse, though, I'm mostly there for range time. I've only bought one piece at a store because the price couldn't be beat. Honestly, though, I'm pretty sure that if it happened to ME that I wouldn't sweat it. Chicago area gunshops don't keep stuff under the glass loaded, and you can't even carry a loaded gun anywhere. When that law changes, we'll see if accidents start happening (I wouldn't be surprised). I think it's a matter of where I live and the laws here, though. A menial amount of research must be accumulated before navigating our politics into gun ownership. There are certainly moronic gun owners out there, but I haven't really seen a whole lot around here. I can imagine that it's different for a localized society that, for the most part, never grew up around firearms and hunting or shooting sports. I'm speaking of law abiding folks, not gangland. That's a different story...