gaseousclay
New member
I don't blame you. I think most people have the same visceral reaction when a gun is pointed in their direction. I also think being a novice to guns is a poor excuse for common sense.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
gun store etiquette
- Thread starter gaseousclay
- Start date
I don't blame you. I think most people have the same visceral reaction when a gun is pointed in their direction. I also think being a novice to guns is a poor excuse for common sense.
Armorer-at-Law
New member
This is far more of concern to me. Even if it is brought in cased, as opposed to being drawn from their holster, it is a million times more likely to be loaded than are the store's guns that are chamber checked every time they are taken out or put into the case.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.
Doesn't bother me at all. I don't care if you carry a loaded gun into a store. I have mine on me all the time when I legally can, and I go everywhere I can legally go with it.
If I bring it in to have a store look at it for some reason I'll pull it out and show him. I'll simply let him know it's on me and loaded, ask if he wants to see it, if he want's me to clear it or if he want's to do that himself. If he want's me to go back to my car, clear it and bring it in he will let me know. If there is a sign on the door specifying how they want it, I follow the instructions. I would expect no less from others.
I just expect the gun to be handled right and won't put up with people who handle them wrong.
I am never nervous around guns, only around people who don't know how to handle guns.
If I bring it in to have a store look at it for some reason I'll pull it out and show him. I'll simply let him know it's on me and loaded, ask if he wants to see it, if he want's me to clear it or if he want's to do that himself. If he want's me to go back to my car, clear it and bring it in he will let me know. If there is a sign on the door specifying how they want it, I follow the instructions. I would expect no less from others.
I just expect the gun to be handled right and won't put up with people who handle them wrong.
I am never nervous around guns, only around people who don't know how to handle guns.
Inspector3711
New member
To the OP... I was in a local store a couple of years ago. An Iraqi gentlemen was looking for a shotgun to take on a family visit to Iraq since shotguns were allowed at that time and the area was dangerous.
I was standing next to him and he moved a shotgun barrel towards the side of my head.
I immediately threw a hard forearm block. He was quite surprised. I can guarantee, just by his expression, that he will never forget that lesson. The kid behind the counter should have at least said something.
I haven't been in that store since. I feel the guys at the counter bear some responsibility, and if they won't step up then I won't patronize their store. As a customer, they need to ensure my safety by having rules and enforcing them.
I also quit frequenting a local range when I saw careless handling going on unchecked. Don't want to be in an accident or witness one. I've seen enough bad things.
As far as loaded guns coming into a store go, every gun is loaded and should be handled as such. As long as that's the case I'm fine with it.
I was standing next to him and he moved a shotgun barrel towards the side of my head.
I immediately threw a hard forearm block. He was quite surprised. I can guarantee, just by his expression, that he will never forget that lesson. The kid behind the counter should have at least said something.
I haven't been in that store since. I feel the guys at the counter bear some responsibility, and if they won't step up then I won't patronize their store. As a customer, they need to ensure my safety by having rules and enforcing them.
I also quit frequenting a local range when I saw careless handling going on unchecked. Don't want to be in an accident or witness one. I've seen enough bad things.
As far as loaded guns coming into a store go, every gun is loaded and should be handled as such. As long as that's the case I'm fine with it.
I could swear this is illegal, at least in some places, falling under the illegality of pointing a gun at somebody as a joke even if you think it's unloaded. If he really was lining you up, it doesn't deserve niceties, he should know better. Maybe he was aiming to the side, though!he was lining me up in his sights.
Stupid anyway and I would say something, as should the guy at the counter have done.
buck460XVR
New member
when I was at Gander Mtn there weren't many people in the gun department, so it wasn't exactly a busy weekend.
Wow.....a GM on a weekend durng the biggest gun buying frenzy our country has even seen and they weren't busy?
stupidity is no excuse for being careless with a gun.
As far as I know, stupidity is the ONLY excuse for being careless with a firearm. Can you give me another? Being uninformed/unknowledgeable is not being careless, nor does it make one stupid, but it could be a reason you had a gun pointed at you. Either way, being polite and informative generally gets better results than bein' an arse and makin' a scene. That kinda takes one down to the same level as the "stupids".
The only result I would care about in this situation is the one that gets the gun out of my face. All other considerations are way in the back of the bus.
If afterwards, the guy can't understand why you got angry. Then you should hit him instead of just yelling.
I try to understand this concept of trying to be an "ambassador" for gun ownership and I do not see it. I was raised with guns, spent most of my professional life with guns. And I have one on me whenever I am able.
But approaching everything from the angle that gun owners and non-gun people are different is hogwash. People are just people and some are ignorant and some are stupid.
Willingly wearing that label makes them see you as a different kind of person too, it reinforces the bad idea. Guns are part of this world, being ignorant about them, what they do, and how you should handle one is foolishness.
It's like saying I don't need to know how to use a knife because I am not a cook and I only eat at McDonald's. If you only eat at McDonald's and you can't cook and don't know how to use a knife then this is not a life style choice. It's just stupid ignorance.
If a person can't fight, can't use a knife, can't shoot a gun, then a person is defenseless. The only kind of person that goes through life defenseless is the kind that drinks every flavor of koolaid at the bar. They can't be helped, not unless they actually survive the day reality comes calling. Then they might learn.
If afterwards, the guy can't understand why you got angry. Then you should hit him instead of just yelling.
I try to understand this concept of trying to be an "ambassador" for gun ownership and I do not see it. I was raised with guns, spent most of my professional life with guns. And I have one on me whenever I am able.
But approaching everything from the angle that gun owners and non-gun people are different is hogwash. People are just people and some are ignorant and some are stupid.
Willingly wearing that label makes them see you as a different kind of person too, it reinforces the bad idea. Guns are part of this world, being ignorant about them, what they do, and how you should handle one is foolishness.
It's like saying I don't need to know how to use a knife because I am not a cook and I only eat at McDonald's. If you only eat at McDonald's and you can't cook and don't know how to use a knife then this is not a life style choice. It's just stupid ignorance.
If a person can't fight, can't use a knife, can't shoot a gun, then a person is defenseless. The only kind of person that goes through life defenseless is the kind that drinks every flavor of koolaid at the bar. They can't be helped, not unless they actually survive the day reality comes calling. Then they might learn.
I was at a gun show in Virginia some months back and a couple of young servicemen were handling an AR-15 with an aiming device and were pointing it at me. I loudly told them they needed to point it towards the ceiling. Sometimes you have to embarrass a person because if it is something they should have received in training [like two young servicemen; it is what I learned in basic training thirty-three years ago); therefore they should know better.
It is no wonder we had alot of accidental shootings resulting wounded friendlies in the Desert (I was there in '03-'04) that you did not hear about in the news.
In a store, be diplomatic.
At a gun show, make some noise.
It is no wonder we had alot of accidental shootings resulting wounded friendlies in the Desert (I was there in '03-'04) that you did not hear about in the news.
In a store, be diplomatic.
At a gun show, make some noise.
twice barrel
New member
Of course if both the clerk and then the customer cleared the gun and he's just looking it over and not deliberately pointing it at you...you could just be polite and ask if they'd cleared the gun. If they've done that and you unwittingly position yourself in front of the muzzle while he's looking at it its just as much your fault.
When someone is handling a gun its just as much your responsibility to be aware and stay out of the way. Anyone going in a gun store should know this.
The only way to stay safe is when everyone is doing their part instead of just trying to blame someone else. If you're not willing to do that just stay out of the shop.
When someone is handling a gun its just as much your responsibility to be aware and stay out of the way. Anyone going in a gun store should know this.
The only way to stay safe is when everyone is doing their part instead of just trying to blame someone else. If you're not willing to do that just stay out of the shop.
I am gonna have to dissagree twice barrel. If you are in a store looking at a gun point it towards the celing or at the wall behind the counter even if you have to back up a big while looking at a rifle. There is no reason at all to point it across the store where a person could be or as you say unknowingly walk in front of it.