unintentionally pointing a loaded gun at somebody

Ward S, lots of good stuff here.

To add to the safety talk, long ago when I was a little Boy Scout, I learned that when recieving a knife or axe from someone, have a solid grip on it before you say "thank you"

"Thank you" is not out of politeness, it's the code word that means, "I have it in my control now, and you can let go of it, it won't drop"

likewise when handing something dangerous to someone, I wait to hear that signal. Wish more people practiced this. Safe handling always.

Safe handling always
 
Branrot, I've seen a couple of those. "Racing stripes" is what they're called around here. Glocks, HK's, *&*'s you name it. Although, I haven't heard of it happening with any revolver--yet.

The major cause in our area seems to be people forgetting to get their %$^$ fingers off the trigger whilst re-holstering. Training and common-sense issue.

LawDog
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben:
Hell, I just learned that it's a courtesy to take the mag out of a pistol when you enter a gun shop. I'd have NEVER thought of that... I mean it's a GUN STORE.[/quote]

Thankfully, that isn't a universal courtesy! It's far more dangerous to be tinkering around with your carry gun than to just leave it holstered! One of the local gunshops here has a sign that reads: "Please ask before unholstering any firearm". That's an admonition that I can understand, and a common sense one at that. To have one needlessly handle a loaded gun in public is pretty stupid IMO.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ward S:

well, whats the difference between doing that and wearing a gun in a horizontal shoulder holster when somebody is behind you?[/quote]

I think that the question is a little more complex than the answers you are getting. The problem I see is that I read a fair amount about negligent discharges when the gun is being put back in the holster- in essence, people don't have their fingers as clear of the trigger as they think they do. The finger snags on the holster, and catches the trigger, and there's a discharge. In a hip mounted holster, you've shot the ground, or your leg, or something else I don't like to think about.

It seems to me that shoulder holsters are much riskier for bystanders than hip holster for exactly that reason.



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ahlan wa sahlan
PCV Yemen 1984-86
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ben:
Hell, I just learned that it's a courtesy to take the mag out of a pistol when you enter a gun shop. Never stop learning... and welcome to TFL,
Ben

[/quote]

A funny story about this exact point, and the efficacy of NRA safety training for kids. In the early '60s, I was did a lot of target shooting with a 22 bolt action rifle. In that context, I took several of the NRA courses where we shot (The Izzak Walton League in Germantown, MD. I wonder if it's still there?) I have vague memories of getting a Marksman patch, or something like that.

Flash ahed to the early 80s. It's probably been 15 years since I touched a gun. I'm on a partying road trip with a couple of friends, doing stuff I hope my son never does. At any rate, at the end of a long day, we stop by one of the guys' grandmother's house. To set the scene, I'm dog tired, and the grandmother decides to show us her deceased husband's rifle collection. She hands me a rifle. With the bolt closed, and the magazine in. Without the slightest conscious though, I open the bolt, and pop out the magazine.

The funny thing is that I really didn't give it any thought, it was totally reflexive. I looked down at the open bolt and the magazine no longer in the rifle. I was literally as surprised as my friends.

My buddy Mark said, "Why did you do that?"

I said, "You're always supposed to hand a weapon to someone with the action open, and no round in the chamber."

Mark's wife, Vicky said, "How'd you know that?"

I shook my head, "I don't have a clue. That's really wierd." A couple of seconds later, I said, "You know, I took a bunch of NRA courses when I was a kid. I can't believe I remembered that."

The cool part of it, thinking back, was that it was totally reflexive, which is the way that I want safety training to be. I was dog tired. I didn't look down at the weapon and think, "This weapon is being handed to me improperly. I better open it." As I said, I was as surprised at my actions at my friends. All of that training, backed up in a big way by my Dad's safety training, really paid off.

It still bugs me a little when I rent at a range, and they don't hand me the weapon and the magazine separatelym with the action of the weapon open. I don't say anything, but before I hand it to my son, I always pull the magazine out, and open the chamber.



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ahlan wa sahlan
PCV Yemen 1984-86
 
JG: Statements such as these are constantly made be the anti-rights people. Consider the fact that "Guns are made for protection", instead.

Shoot straight,

Dave

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JG:
Excluding several target guns, most handguns were designed to kill (people and animals)[/quote]
 
First, NEVER point a gun at someone unless you intend bodily harm. It's about intent. Most guns nowadays are safe if not touched, they will not go off, and you can read about Glocks etc.. dropped from helicopters etc without firing. Those are safe conditions.

When you hold a gun and point it, you are no longer in a "gun safe" condition. You intend to inflict harm, or give the threat of inflicting harm. This type of action (unless for self defense) is exactly what the anti-gun people say that gun owners do, and it is exactly what LAW-ABIDING gun owners absolutely say you should never do unless for protection; loaded, unloaded, or otherwise.

I was at 2 gun stores today....

At the first gun store, I asked to see a gun, the guy just handed it to me. I gave him a dirty look. He didn't even check the chamber, very careless, and so I walked myself out of there in a hurry. I don't like people who don't 1) show respect for the power in a gun, 2) don't display any safety thinking.

All guns when it comes down to it, depend on 1 safety, the 8lbs gray stuff between the ears.

So at the second store, I walk in, and ask to see a gun, and the guy checks it, and hands it to me. I immediately do what I'm taught (and rightly so I might add) to do, and that's to remove the magazine, and then check the chamber.

The store owner was annoyed by this, as if I didn't trust him when he checked the chamber. GUESS WHAT???? I don't trust him. I don't trust any of you, please don't any of you trust me!!! Check for yourself, check again if you have doubts. 2 seconds to check, maybe a life saved, maybe yours. CHECK CHECK CHECK. I'm so anal about gun safety, and I think I'm in the right here. So the owner mumbled something under his breath about it. I walked out of that store as well. I will not buy a gun from someone who either does not practice safety, or even worse, grumbles at someone who is practicing safe firearms handling.

So don't point your gun at someone unless you intend to pull the trigger, don't buy from a dealer who doesn't practice safe firearming, and ignore under the breath mumblings, check for yourself.

EVERY GUN IS LOADED. Remember that, and you will live longer.

Shoot safe!
Albert
 
Munir -

Yes, the Germantown Isaac Walton League is still there. I live ten minutes down the street. Not a member, though.

Later,
Chris




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"TV what do I see, tell me who to believe, what's the use of autonomy when a button does it all??" - Incubus, Idiot Box
 
Back in the 40's when I was given my M1 in the Army they told us all to shoot at anyone that pointed a weapon at you.It was good advice then, and good advice now.It works..I'm still here,and I still will do what I was trained to do over 50 years ago.Teaching that lesson to all would get rid of careless gun handlers in short order. :)
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wishbone:
Back in the 40's when I was given my M1 in the Army they told us all to shoot at anyone that pointed a weapon at you.It was good advice then, and good advice now.It works..I'm still here,and I still will do what I was trained to do over 50 years ago.Teaching that lesson to all would get rid of careless gun handlers in short order. :)[/quote]

But it would make a lot of careless gun handlers' families very rich, and gun owners very poor. :-)

Munir


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ahlan wa sahlan
PCV Yemen 1984-86
 
Good question with good answers. I'll add that I too dislike shoulder holsters and cross draw holsters or any holster that points the muzzle more than about three feet from the person who wears it. Come to think of it, holsters like that are banned from several forms of competition.
 
Good answers/commentary all--

One other thing I would like to point out is that a majority of the shoulder holsters (I frequently carry a Galco SS2) have a strap across the hammer area of the gun that will allow you to carry either "cocked-n-locked" or in battery. The Galco SS2 has a notch in the strap that covers the firing pin area which would make it very difficult for the hammer to make any contact with the firing pin. I have tried to fire my gun (an AD on purpose) with the gun in the holster (but not on my person) just to see if it would happen for this exact reason.

Probably the biggest area of concern with a shoulder holster is reholstering your gun. This takes practice and I would advise doing so with NO ammo/magazine in place with the gun pointing in a safe direction.

YSHMV - Your Shoulder Holster May Vary

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--Stephen
Park Cities Tactical
 
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