How would you handle it

[Shadow 7D]

I'm in my local superstore threading my way over to the dishes to look at pattern when a waving red light by the gun counter got my attention, then glared out my left eye. Some teenager was messing around with the crimson trace display.

I talked to him and asked that he not point the (blue)gun and laser at me and my sons, but I don't think it really made much of an impression, I'm thinking of emailing the manager complaining about the sporting goods department leaving laser laying around, as I really don't like when someone shine one in my eyes, not to think that he might have shined it in my sons eyes too.

 

[12131]

Why emailing, when you can ask to speak to one right then?

 

[Shadow 7D]

Night manager was checking, and the place is known for lack of customer service, but every time I've met the manager he has seemed nice, so figured why get blown off when I can email the man

 

[nicholst55]

Eyesafe laser; while I don't appreciate someone shining it at me, it's not a safety hazard.

 

[slamfirev10]

I talked to him and asked that he not point.....

respectfully, the problem is you asked, his type needs to be told

 

[M240]

not to sound like a jerk but I dont take anything from anyone even if i know ill get my bottom kicked. I would have walked over and taken it from him and said "I think you had better leave my sight before I get angry" but hey I guess thats just me. oh and an edit: sounds like slamfire feels the same way

 

[kingpin008]

Not to sound like a jerk, but you do sound like a jerk.

If I was the kid's dad and I saw you snatch something out of your hand and speak to him like that, we'd have words.

Not to say that the kid waving the thing around was doing the right thing, but you've gotta show a little restraint sometimes. Adults are supposed to be the responsible ones, remember?

 

[Shadow 7D]

Actually, I told him that there is a large number of individuals in this state that carry a firearm and that a laser sight is a universal threat, especially when attached to a gun, so he might want to be more careful where he pointed, and that I didn't appreciate the laser in my and my sons eyes, I actually thought someone was flagging me with one of the little LPC's they had, but that would have required someone at the gun counter, and I can tell you from experience, that takes at least an hour for them to show up. I toned down what I was going to say, when I realized it was a kid, now if I could have found his dad...

 

[Roccobro]

If I was the kid's dad and I saw you snatch something out of your hand and speak to him like that, we'd have words. .... Adults are supposed to be the responsible ones, remember?

And if that was your son, you would be perpetuating his idiocy. I'd be ashamed to admit it was my kid in a scenario as you presented!

Justin

 

[kingpin008]

And if that was your son, you would be perpetuating his idiocy.

Wrong. I'd only be "perpetuating his idiocy" if I didn't correct his behavior, which I most certainly would.

The difference is that rather than storming up to him in a huff and snatching the thing from his hand like some aggro caveman, I'd tell him to put it down, apologize to the man for ignoring his request to stop being reckless with it, and be done with it.

I'd be ashamed to admit it was my kid in a scenario as you presented!

I guess that's where we differ, then. There will always be times when kids act the fool, regardless of how they've been taught to act - but that's why the parents are there to correct them. There's no reason to be ashamed.

 

[Roccobro]

But the difference is I DO have kids. And they DON'T act that way.

 

[kingpin008]

Good for you?

 

[Bovice]

are we done crying?

IMO, you shouldn't have taken it so personally. It's not going to cause your eyesight to deteriorate at any level you would notice given how it was a quick exposure. Now, if the kid was truly being a menace and attempting to hold the dot over your eye, a quick "HEY!" would suffice. Just keep moving, he's not going to chase after you.

And really? You told him you thought he was a threat? If you're THAT paranoid, you need some help. Every crimson trace grip for display/handling that I've seen was mounted on a bright blue dummy-gun. If you still feel threatened by a blue dummy-gun, I'd love to see your reaction on the super soakers aisle.


I have to say that I'm really embarassed to be a part of this forum when things like this get discussed. Some of you guys need to put your big boy pants on and stop whining about every little incident you're involved in. Tomorrow I'm sure I'll read a thread about somebody who started defensively posturing because somebody menacingly cut their steak in the booth next to them at Outback Steakhouse, and did they respond correctly by taking cover in the bathroom and dialing 911. Why don't we save THR for stuff that's a little more firearm enthusiast oriented?

A phrase comes to mind that I think the OP missed-Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[M240]

ok ok Mr King, Im not saying id be so blunt your right. I kinda had a mind set of a 18 year old punk not some kiddy. but I would take it away no matter how old, of course not in a hurtful way by any means. and if this would make words with the parent then so be it I am ready to die for what I believe in. I am a jerk but I have a very strict and god abiding (My God) outlook on life. I WOULDNT hurt the kid!!!!! I just dont take nothin from no one! you dont grow up much more country than me.... guaranteed ive had more horses and drankin more bud than anyone you will ever meet. us kind of AMERICANS dont take it and walk away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Justin.. my name too...EDIT: ok ok Bovice's response is the best truley. This is the lamest thing ive ever writen about!!!!!!!!

 

[GojuBrian]

ok ok Mr King, Im not saying id be so blunt your right. I kinda had a mind set of a 18 year old punk not some kiddy. but I would take it away no matter how old, of course not in a hurtful way by any means. and if this would make words with the parent then so be it I am ready to die for what I believe in. I am a jerk but I have a very strict and god abiding (My God) outlook on life. I WOULDNT hurt the kid!!!!! I just dont take nothin from no one! you dont grow up much more country than me.... guaranteed ive had more horses and drankin more bud than anyone you will ever meet. us kind of AMERICANS dont take it and walk away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Justin.. my name too...EDIT: ok ok Bovice's response is the best truley. This is the lamest thing ive ever writen about!!!!!!!!

Surely you are not ready to die for something so trivial? I should think people would pick their battles carefully.

"I just don't take nothin from no one!"

Well, we are all held accountable to someone. Our parents and teachers when we are young, our bosses and elders when we are older, and always the law. Ofcourse, ultimately God himself. I take alot of stuff from alot of people,lol.

Bovice added

A phrase comes to mind that I think the OP missed-Don't sweat the small stuff.

Something to live by.

 

[wishin]

I think you handled it well. Yes, I think you should alert the manager. There's only so much he can do, but give him a heads up. I'd bet the kid didn't know it wasn't harmful. And, by the way y'all, keep your hands off my (grand) kids, wife, guns or anything else that is mine.

 

[slabuda]

Some people need to chill out and act like adults not 20 yr old boys with a chip on their shoulders (see it all thew time in the military).

Adults learn to "Take it" and turn down the testosterone because if they dont eventually they may do something they shouldn't have and end up in jail. And for us that possibly means loosing your gun rights for life. As gun owners we need to stop acting like the proverbial cave man and more like responsible, civilized gun owners.

So if you "snatched" this out of the kids hand (in his fathers eyes) and his father came up and rightly took offense what would have done, committed assault/battery possibly while carrying? Im sure the police would have had you handcuffed in the back of a car in no time flat. And with that attitude Im sure it would next be a cop bashing thread and how you would be suing them etc etc. So now charged with battery of a minor (Yes snatching something from a child will be considered battery especially when you say "I think you had better leave my sight before I get angry" and yes a teenager is a child in the eyes of the law unless they committed an adult crime,) as well as assault/battery after getting into a fight with his father you are now a lifetime criminal all because of an attitude Im an "AMERICAN" and "I just dont take nothin from no one!"


http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/battery
http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/assault

 

[slabuda]

Ok now after I said my peace. Politely go to the kid and ask to please stop doing that it hurts my eyes. If in fact I didnt just move on and ignore it. If the kid ignores you (how old was he?) look/ask for the parents, if not around yes speak to management about it.

Opps I see he was a teen, but there is a vast maturity difference in teens 14 is much different than 19.

 

[Impureclient]

He was aiming a laser sight at the eyes of a stranger and he was actually over the age of 6 years old.....

It is too late for him. Thank the parents. In fact you should have wrote a thank you letter for him to give to his parents thanking them for providing
a dishwasher in nice restaurants for people like your sons when they get older.

He is a lost cause and remember his face as someday you may run into him in an alley. Just be prepared to defend yourself from being mugged.
You handled it perfectly and the email/call will probably do the trick of getting the laser off the counter in the future from the hands of delinquents.

 

[mcdonl]

I would have ignored it unless it was deliberate and menacing. And I have to say, that I carry and a little red light alone is not a threat.

Do you just draw and start shooting at everyone who points a laser pointer at you?

Man! Stop by aisle 8, they have a sale on tough skin.

 

[General Geoff]

I would have ignored it unless it was deliberate and menacing. And I have to say, that I carry and a little red light alone is not a threat.

Do you just draw and start shooting at everyone who points a laser pointer at you?

Most laser pointers are "sight safe," as they call it. Some more powerful ones can and will permanently blind you if they're shone in your eyes for even a split second.


Lasers are NOT toys. Any person of any age who is waving one around, willy nilly, deserves to be lectured.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Um, would that be the sand in my eye feeling I have this morning, as for the Ignore it, the GUY was at least 50 feet away, pointing a GUN with a LASER SIGHT THAT WAS ON at me, some joe schmo walking though a store, and no, I didn't suddenly enter the aisle, rather I had been walking in the same aisle from the other side of the store.

I don't know how you feel, but suddenly finding someone pointing a gun at you, with the laser sight on, and flashing it in your eyes, means at the very least, this guy was using me and my two infant sons as a target, so for all you who say I over reacted by telling him to knock it off, and no I wasn't happy when it happened, go stand down range.

that is aside from the whole FDA warning on lasers about permanent eye damage, how do you tell if a 1 yr old has sore eyes?????

 

[TonyDedo]

I'm with slamfirev10 and M240 - I'd have given the kid hell. I don't care who it is (teenager, adult or otherwise), I don't take kindly to people pointing laser sights at me or my kids (be it a real firearm or a bluegun attached) and I'd have let him know (and not in a polite, 'would you please not do that' manner).

 

[Bovice]

Alright, you asked for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kp5ClrSvNI

 

[SSN Vet]

just a suggestion.... this works for me, as I have a deep loud voice that projects well, and creates a pretty harsh bark, when I have a mind to....

I also taught high school physics and geometry as a "test career" when I got out of the navy (only took one year to know it wasn't for me). So I had to come up with some strategies for dealing with teenage misbehavior. I was always casual, polite and courteous, in an effort to model how adults interact with each other, unless I saw someone intentionally doing something way over the line... Note that I said "intentionally" as in, they know their doing bad and think they'll get away with it because their own parent isn't there.

I call it "dressing down to parade rest"

I crank up my best DI bark (at about 90 dB)

"HEY YOU.... KNOCK IT OFF!"

I've yet to have a teenager who didn't put his tail between his legs and apologetically skulk away.

Of course... if you’re going to confront someone in this manner... you need to measure up the situation.... as it's clearly a confrontational approach, and it could turn bad on you.

Don't go there if you have concerns about a group turning on you.... or if jr. is 6'6" and 240 lbs.

Having a good no nonsense ticked off scowl game face helps too.

Once upon a time, it was every adult in the communities’ responsibility to "correct" young people who act inappropriately in public. My opinion is that we had a better society back then.

I don't go looking for trouble... rather, I avoid places where trouble is likely to be found... but I'm not willing to cede over the entire public square to a few delinquents who need to know that there is a civilized community of adults who don't feel obliged to put up with their cr@p.