Do you have a friend that you will never take to a gun range?

[TexasGunbie]

I took a friend to the gun range maybe a year ago and he was a horrible shot. He's a very good friend and shown interest in guns, and he's been thinking about getting one.

Anyways, he came over yesterday and I show him a few guns. I knew I was going to show him my guns so I had emptied them few hours prior to his arrival. Well he opened the case, picked up the gun, and pointed it straight at me as he was looking down the sight. So I told him not to ever point a gun at anyone, and he said well it's empty anyways... I ask him how he would know, and so he went on to check the gun... while still pointing the gun at me the whole time.

Now we are in our mid 20s, but clearly I don't think my buddy shows the maturity to handle a firearm. And now I am probably not going to take him to the gun range anymore.

Now I am quite inexperience myself, and was not taught proper gun handling. I taught myself how to safely handle a gun by reading online materials. What can I do to educate my friend on gun safety?

As the topic goes... are there friends you will never take to the gun range because of something that happened while handling a gun????

 

[Dnaltrop]

2, and they both did the same thing.

"here , let me show you this gun!"

Pulls slide, shows empty chamber.... drops slide... Removes magazine, Then meets the cry of "watch out, you just chambered it" with " No I didn't!", and pulls the trigger with the gun pointed near my gut to prove me wrong. (Boom!)

I'm still here, Unperforated, and it's taken me years to get comfortable enough to shoot around anyone. I just this year joined a private range because the 100+ mile drive to go shooting was annoying the wife.

 

[Unistat]

Well how was he supposed to know the 4 rules if no one ever told him? Do your part and educate him. If he won't listen, then you have something to complain about.

I know it is awkward, but hey, I had to teach the 4 rules to my dad who is an Army vet. It had been years since he really handled a gun and he wanted to get his carry permit. I took him to the range, but I made sure we both had the same understanding of gun handling.

It's not a disrespect thing, but a "I want to make sure we are all on the same page thing."

 

[dovedescending]

Hmm... off the top of my head, no. The people I hang with and count as friends are either not interested in guns, or the ones who got ME into shooting in the first place

I can think of a few folks who might THINK they are my friends, though...

 

[41magsnub]

A buddy of mine I took hunting once and only once. He dropped his rifle while walking behind me, as it fell a stick entered the trigger guard and when it hit the ground it fired. The bullet hit about 4" in front of my foot. He had a round chambered and the safety off. I've never done anything involving firearms with him since.

 

[buck460XVR]

Now I am quite inexperience myself, and was not taught proper gun handling. I taught myself how to safely handle a gun by reading online materials. What can I do to educate my friend on gun safety?

IMHO, you and your friend both need to take a class in hunter and/or firearm safety. Most local DNR, NWTF, and other sportsmen/shooting clubs offer free or inexpensive safety classes. There are also private and commercial type safety/training classes. I applaud you for learning what you can from the internet, but there is nothing like hands on training from a qualified teacher. I help with a local hunter safety program. It amazes me the amount of adults that bring their kids in for hunter safety that know less than their kids about firearms and firearm safety. Assuming a gun is unloaded is the #1 mistake I see being made.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

2, and they both did the same thing.

"here , let me show you this gun!"

Pulls slide, shows empty chamber.... drops slide... Removes magazine, Then meets the cry of "watch out, you just chambered it" with " No I didn't!", and pulls the trigger with the gun pointed near my gut to prove me wrong. (Boom!)

I'm still here, Unperforated, and it's taken me years to get comfortable enough to shoot around anyone. I just this year joined a private range because the 100+ mile drive to go shooting was annoying the wife.

I would never talk to those two people again for the rest of my life.

 

[TexasGunbie]

Well how was he supposed to know the 4 rules if no one ever told him? Do your part and educate him. If he won't listen, then you have something to complain about.

You're right, and that's why I am reconsidering the whole thing. But I really thought people have the sense to not point a gun at someone without checking to see if it's loaded. I know all over the news we hear about ex military accidentally shot family member because they were joking with the firearm, but I didn't think... well I just don't... I... I just thought it was common sense to not point a firearm at someone.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Yeah one guy because all he wants to do is shoot my stuff and ammo. Bullets and guns are not free, and its not my job to supply him with thousands of dollars worth of guns and ammo for his entertainment, although he seems to think otherwise.

 

[Sam1911]

Fortunately, none that I won't take because of a gun mistake.

I know plenty of folks I have no desire ever to share a gun range with.

Those friends with whom I do shoot 99% of the time are some of the most safety conscious and professional shooters I've ever met.

Now, some of the newer folks to my shooting circle have made a few mistakes (we all have once or twice) but in the way we run our practices, range sessions, and competitons we strive to create layers of safety precautions and protocols to attempt to limit just how bad an safety infraction could realistically be. The competition-oriented framework we normally use helps with that a lot.

I don't often interact with guns and other gun folks outside of those sorts of venues. The few friends with whom I do occasionally handle firearms in an informal setting are the absolute cream of my otherwise quite responsible group.

When I do handle firearms with/around others, I consider myself responsible for my safety, my associates' safety, and our level of responsibility -- regardless of who's hands are physically on a gun at any moment. Years of safety officer practice makes me very watchful, and as ready as I can be to head off trouble before it starts. I watch where I stand in relation to the muzzle of any gun being handled, and usually have my hands in a position to block "sweeps."

I guess I should probably get out more, but I've yet to run into anyone who'd actually try that "it isn't loaded" baloney with me. Hope it stays that way.

 

[CoRoMo]

...I don't think my buddy shows the maturity to handle a firearm.

You are absolutely correct.

...are there friends you will never take to the gun range...

Friend(s)? Hmmm.

Well, I can say this: I have family members that I don't care to shoot or hunt with. I will avoid it when possible, and I will shudder with anxiety when not.

...as ready as I can be to head off trouble before it starts. I watch where I stand in relation to the muzzle of any gun being handled, and usually have my hands in a position to block "sweeps."

This is some good info. Everyone should agree that, if you are 'showing' a gun to someone and they sweep you with that gun, you bear a bit of the blame too. Be prepared for a mistake.

 

[longhair75]

I don't have many friends that shoot. I have friends and family members that, while they are not really anti-gun, they are really not interested. There are a few family members that are anti, but they leave me pretty much alone.

 

[MrOldLude]

Bad stories and incidents are opportunities. I've shot with a few people who didn't have proper respect for a firearm. I took the opportunity to show and explain proper technique to them.

Writing off people because they're stupid does nothing but pass the buck onto to someone else. It's just poor logic, and you're contributing to the problem.

 

[Sam1911]

The kinds of awareness, preparation, and "setting" I was describing should work to help you minimize how bad these "bad incidents" really are. There's "muzzle" calls and the occasional physicial reminder to keep a gun pointed downrange. Those ceratinly are teachable moments from near-violations.

If it gets to the point of you staring down the barrel of a (possibly) loaded gun, you've let things get WAY too far out of hand.

Writing off people because they're stupid does nothing but pass the buck onto to someone else.

To a point. Someone who cannot or will not learn how to act with a gun -- right QUICK -- is not going to remain my problem for long. I'm a patient and gentle teacher. But I won't allow myself to be endangered.

Life's too short to let someone else's continued failures of responsibility or comprehension risk making it even shorter.

 

[Russ Jackson]

Quote: I knew I was going to show him my guns so I had emptied them few hours prior to his arrival.

Why did you have to empty the guns prior to hia arrival? Do you make a habit of leaving guns loaded? .

Plus someone would never handle a gun around me without telling them the rules. Impossible for someone to remove a gun from my case without me clearing it and handing it to them. If I went to a gun store and the cleark handed me an unchecked gun I would tell his boss. This is basic guns 101. You should have checked it prior to him touching it. I think you are to blame also. Sounds like Amature Hour...Russ

 

[yeti]

Do you make a habit of leaving guns loaded?

I can't speak for the OP, but I know I sure do keep them loaded. Why do you ask?

 

[TexasGunbie]

Writing off people because they're stupid does nothing but pass the buck onto to someone else. It's just poor logic, and you're contributing to the problem.

You're right.

In the end it comes down to my personality, I am outspoken on the internet but in real life quite the gentle giant. I hate to tell my friend that he is endangering people's live and if he wants to be a gun owner he should learn that it's no joking matter to handle one. So I did try to make him aware by pointing out to him that he shouldn't point the gun at me, but he replied that it's empty, though never checked in the first place. Subsequently I tried to lead him to a solution by asking "how you know it's empty?"... and I really thought that by asking a rhetoric question he would know the flaw in his handling. Still he keeps the gun at me.

Up to this point, I don't know how to educate him anymore. I do however realize that some people need more direct education than others.

I have shot in IDPA and go to gun range pretty regularly, but I always humbly admit that I sometimes accidentally break the rules. There are times when I lock the slide back and clear the gun, but when I lay it down on the table, I had it pointed to the guy next to me. I guess gun safety is an active learning and active practicing trait valuable in all situations.

 

[TexasGunbie]

Life's too short to let someone else's continued failures of responsibility or comprehension risk making it even shorter.

Sam... this is going into my box of good quotes.

Why did you have to empty the guns prior to hia arrival? Do you make a habit of leaving guns loaded? .

I keep only 1 gun loaded for home defense. But if I know I will show a friend a gun because he's interested in guns, I will always make sure to check and empty my guns prior.

Russ Jackson: This is basic guns 101. You should have checked it prior to him touching it. I think you are to blame also. Sounds like Amature Hour...Russ

Please go back and read original post before you write something that can be offensive...

 

[MrOldLude]

To a point. Someone who cannot or will not learn how to act with a gun -- right QUICK -- is not going to remain my problem for long. I'm a patient and gentle teacher. But I won't allow myself to be endangered.

Life's too short to let someone else's continued failures of responsibility or comprehension risk making it even shorter.

Again my point. Much of what I'm seeing here is people too willing to walk away.

Also, people incapable of learning are mentally handicapped. So they're probably more of a danger to themselves in general. Not just a gun-range.

"someone else's continued failures of responsibility or comprehension risk making it even shorter."

Passing the buck, shying away from responsibility. If this hypothetical person is as much of a danger as you seem to believe, then hopefully the person they eventually injure or kill isn't your friend or family. My life us one of opportunities. If I go through it statically, then I've failed.

 

[Strahley]

Nope, lucky for me I don't have idiots as friends, and they all know how to handle a firearm correctly. If I think they might not be able to, I go over all of the rules before I let them touch one

 

[Russ Jackson]

yeti,
While I leave certain guns loaded. I would never leave a loaded gun in a case where someone could just grab one. A display case is for displaying unloaded guns. Hiding a protection gun or guns is a whole different matter. He implied that the guns were in the open. By saying: Well he opened the case, picked up the gun making me think they were easily accessible. If I had a friend coming over to look at some guns they would be action open and set up to access. Not in a case. I would have control of my guns and he would access as I permitted. Especially if I had any reservations. As to loaded guns. Nobody would know there locations aside from me. Personally I think leaving loaded guns in a case is not proper....Russ

If I was wrong in my assumptions I am sorry. My intention was not to be offensive. It sounded like he normally had guns in a case that were easily accessible. As it sounded like he walked right up and grabbed one. Leading me to believe that next time he stopped by he might make himself at home and grab one which might be loaded.

 

[TexasGunbie]

Again my point. Much of what I'm seeing here is people too willing to walk away.

I don't have experience teaching gun safety but I tutor all levels of university math. From my teaching experience, some student give up too easily because they don't see the importance of it.
It's one thing to try your best and be a good example to your friends, but if they don't see the importance of it, they will not learn.

 

[TexasGunbie]

If I was wrong in my assumptions I am sure the OP will correct me. My intention was not to be offensive. It sounded like he normally had guns in a case that were easily accessible. As it sounded like he walked right up and grabbed one. Leading me to believe that next time he stopped by he might make himself at home and grab one which might be loaded.

Don't worry about it. I wasn't too concise in my original post anyways. So anyways... guns are in my safe, the only gun that's loaded is in my closet. But a friend was coming over, so I checked and made sure they were all empty, and brought them out of the safe to show him. I didn't have the slides lock back though the magazine is removed.

 

[Russ Jackson]

Then tell the guy you are going to take him to the range and teach him how to shoot and handle weapons. If you do not feel capable then a good firearm saftey class would be in order for the two of you. However I agree that some people should not handle guns ever. I have a brother that is that way....Russ

 

[Vonderek]

So I told him not to ever point a gun at anyone, and he said well it's empty anyways... I ask him how he would know, and so he went on to check the gun... while still pointing the gun at me the whole time.

This tells me that your friend is the type of person who takes umbrage at being corrected. No amount of patience or instruction will cure him of this...it is a character flaw. While none of us to some extent like having flaws exposed, most of us will accept the correction, alter behavior and learn from the experience. Mixing the type of person who will not accept correction with the potentially deadly business of shooting firearms is a recipe for disaster. I would never shoot with this person nor let him handle my firearms again. If he is a good friend I am sure you have other shared interests that you can take part in.