Gun Store idjit, chapter 2

shamus005 · January 19, 2006, 07:12 AM

I decided to browse at a used Sig. I'm used to the gun store people clearing the weapon before handing it to me, but the gun store guy takes the gun out, POINTS THE GUN AT ME WITH HIS FINGER ON THE TRIGGER, and then proceeds to rack the slide back to ensure the weapon is clear. During this procedure I took a prudent side-step to get out of the muzzle sweep. I look the weapon over. Aftwerwards, I rack the slide and lock it back to ensure the weapon is safe and hand it back to him with the muzzle in a safe direction. He then releases the slide slock and the slide slams shut on an empty chamber.

You know, it's not just the gun store employees...it's the customers that are starting to tick me off. I can't walk into a gun shop without at least one or two or three idjits muzzel sweeping me, their fingers on the triggers. I'm doing the gun store limbo and trying to avoid the muzzles of multiple guns being handled by rank ignorant, untrained unaware idjits.

Grayrider · January 19, 2006, 10:12 AM

Customers....

I was looking at a carbine years ago--don't recall what exactly. It was in my then regular shop that happened to also be a pawn broker. This kid looks at the gun I am holding and says, "what do you hunt with that daddy?" His father pulled him back behind him like he was in danger, and said soberly "it is not for hunting son, it is for .... killing .... people... " (dramatic pause coupled with trembling in his voice). He then glared at me like I was sent from the devil himself...

My dealer friend appologized. No biggie, but some people are so ignorant..

GR

BreakerDave · January 19, 2006, 03:01 PM

The fact that an individual works at a gun store means little in terms of his knowledge or competence with firearms. Not everyone has received proper training in the handling and use of firearms.

Instead of complaining about the ignorance of gun store employees and customers, you can take the opportunity to provide them with the proper instruction. Most people are not trying to do the wrong thing with their gun handling. If it is properly explained to them, they will accept the instruction.

FirstFreedom · January 19, 2006, 03:04 PM

oh man, the stuff you hear and see. Yesterday I see gun store clerk demonstrating pistol to customer; drops slide on empty chamber hard.

Quote:

doing the gun store limbo

Could be the latest dance craze - cross between the locomotion, the twist, and the chicken dance.

spacemanspiff · January 19, 2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Could be the latest dance craze - cross between the locomotion, the twist, and the chicken dance

psshhaawwwww! we gots to get wildalaska to take pics of Wild West Guns very own hiphop artiste 'Al' breaking down his urban dance skillz to avoid customers covering him with muzzles. he's got moves that breakdancers envy!

FirstFreedom · January 19, 2006, 03:22 PM

Quote:

breaking down his urban dance skillz

ha!

BusGunner007 · January 19, 2006, 03:46 PM

It hard to be diplomatic with 'idjits' in the gun store.

In the future, I promise to do my best to calmly bring their attention to SAFETY - with a smile - while doing the:

"SHOOT SHOP SHUFFLE"

...'scuze me while I go work on my mooves!

Herr trigger · January 19, 2006, 07:38 PM

It is for this reason that I am reluctant to buy a gun which is a "display model" Many times when I agree to purchase the firearm the clerk comes out of the back with the empty box and wants me to take the one in the case which has undoubtly been handled or mishandled by countless gundumb morons. Many times if they do not have another similar gun in stock and will not order me a new one I will go buy it elsewere. If I am paying for a new gun, I will be the first one to play with it.

FirstFreedom · January 19, 2006, 09:38 PM

Yep. Unless they knock 5-10% off the purchase price. Esp. rimfires - I don't buy the display model because of dry fire concerns.

toast · January 20, 2006, 04:16 PM

Was in a CCW class where the instructor was passing around a revolver to the circle of seated students. Out of the 15 or so people in the class I was the only one not to point it at anyone, not to mention at least 4 or 5 fellow classmates. And, of course, everyone closed the cylinder before passing it on. The instructor failed to notice this and said nothing.

toast · January 20, 2006, 04:17 PM

Double Tap, sorry.

beardking · January 20, 2006, 11:47 PM

I was going to Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine to visit there OH so wonderful range and of course had to check and lock up my guns before I entered the store. While the bonehead check my gun to make sure it was empty, he was pointing it directly at my stomach with his finger on the trigger. I did the obligatory sidestep motion (I'm sorry, I don't dance) and once I got my guns back went on about my bidness. I did make it a point to mention to the older dude that unlocked my guns that the younger bonehead that is supposed to be "keeping it safe for other customers" could REALLY use some education in the correct ways of handling firearms.

Eghad · January 20, 2006, 11:54 PM

We started out with revolvers in my CHL class.... you woulda gotten eaten alive for closing the cylinders in the class even if passing them around. The Instructor must have spent 30 minutes telling the students what was acceptable and unacceptable handgun handling practices before we were allowed to pass the revolver around.

Mike P. Wagner · January 21, 2006, 12:11 AM

A good reason for teaching your kids...

I did a lot of shooting as a kid - my dad taught me all of the safety rules. I lost interest before high school.

A decade passes, and I don't touch a weapon. I am on a road trip during grad school with a sculptor friend, and we're both very tired. We stop at his grandma's house and have a big dinner, with wine etc.

So I am half asleep when gandam decides to show us her deceased husband's firearms. She hands me a bold action rifle with the bolt closed.

I am not even thinking - I swear it was muscle memory - my hands pull back the bolt so the action was open (it was clear, there was no round in the chamber). My friend looked at me all bug-eyed - I had moved pretty fast.

He said, "Why did you do that?"

I loooked down, and I was a little surprised, I really hadn't thought about doing it. It was purely reflex. I had a rush of gratitude for my dad and that NRA training as a kid - maybe the whole point of all that to take the proper action when I *wasn't* thinking.

I sort of put my foot in my mouth (I was looking at action, still astounded that the old habit was still there) - I said,"Never hand a weapon to someone unless the chamber is empty, and they can see the chamber." I think I embarassed the grandmother - but I was quoting my dad.

The terminology may still not be the same, but those old lession stick.

Mike

ICE1210 · January 22, 2006, 07:38 PM

Wagner,
I tought Shooting Merit Badges for Boy Scouts of America for 6 summers. You could always tell whose kids had been "Raised Right".

January 19, 2006, 07:12 AM	#1
shamus005 Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2005 Posts: 526	Gun Store idjit, chapter 2 I decided to browse at a used Sig. I'm used to the gun store people clearing the weapon before handing it to me, but the gun store guy takes the gun out, POINTS THE GUN AT ME WITH HIS FINGER ON THE TRIGGER, and then proceeds to rack the slide back to ensure the weapon is clear. During this procedure I took a prudent side-step to get out of the muzzle sweep. I look the weapon over. Aftwerwards, I rack the slide and lock it back to ensure the weapon is safe and hand it back to him with the muzzle in a safe direction. He then releases the slide slock and the slide slams shut on an empty chamber. You know, it's not just the gun store employees...it's the customers that are starting to tick me off. I can't walk into a gun shop without at least one or two or three idjits muzzel sweeping me, their fingers on the triggers. I'm doing the gun store limbo and trying to avoid the muzzles of multiple guns being handled by rank ignorant, untrained *unaware* idjits.

January 19, 2006, 10:12 AM	#2
Grayrider Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Posts: 138	Customers.... I was looking at a carbine years ago--don't recall what exactly. It was in my then regular shop that happened to also be a pawn broker. This kid looks at the gun I am holding and says, "what do you hunt with that daddy?" His father pulled him back behind him like he was in danger, and said soberly "it is not for hunting son, it is for .... killing .... people... " (dramatic pause coupled with trembling in his voice). He then glared at me like I was sent from the devil himself... My dealer friend appologized. No biggie, but some people are so ignorant.. GR __________________ Moderator, CZ Clone Club Stop in and chat about Tanfoglio, IMI, and other CZ Pattern Pistols!

January 19, 2006, 03:01 PM	#3
BreakerDave Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 36	The fact that an individual works at a gun store means little in terms of his knowledge or competence with firearms. Not everyone has received proper training in the handling and use of firearms. Instead of complaining about the ignorance of gun store employees and customers, you can take the opportunity to provide them with the proper instruction. Most people are not trying to do the wrong thing with their gun handling. If it is properly explained to them, they will accept the instruction. __________________ Statistics are like bikinis... What they reveal is suggestive, but what they hide is crucial.

January 19, 2006, 03:46 PM	#7
BusGunner007 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2001 Location: Upper Left Coast Posts: 2,116	It hard to be diplomatic with 'idjits' in the gun store. In the future, I promise to do my best to calmly bring their attention to SAFETY - with a smile - while doing the: *"SHOOT SHOP SHUFFLE"* ...'scuze me while I go work on my mooves! __________________ "...if you're not havin' fun, you're workin'..."

January 20, 2006, 04:16 PM	#10
toast Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 180	Was in a CCW class where the instructor was passing around a revolver to the circle of seated students. Out of the 15 or so people in the class I was the only one not to point it at anyone, not to mention at least 4 or 5 fellow classmates. And, of course, everyone closed the cylinder before passing it on. The instructor failed to notice this and said nothing. Last edited by toast; January 22, 2006 at 02:34 PM.

January 19, 2006, 07:38 PM	#8
Herr trigger Member Join Date: December 30, 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 26	It is for this reason that I am reluctant to buy a gun which is a "display model" Many times when I agree to purchase the firearm the clerk comes out of the back with the empty box and wants me to take the one in the case which has undoubtly been handled or mishandled by countless gundumb morons. Many times if they do not have another similar gun in stock and will not order me a new one I will go buy it elsewere. If I am paying for a new gun, I will be the first one to play with it.

January 19, 2006, 09:38 PM	#9
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Yep. Unless they knock 5-10% off the purchase price. Esp. rimfires - I don't buy the display model because of dry fire concerns.

January 20, 2006, 04:17 PM	#11
toast Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 180	Double Tap, sorry. Last edited by toast; January 22, 2006 at 02:31 PM.

January 20, 2006, 11:47 PM	#12
beardking Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2004 Location: Dallas, TX (area) Posts: 128	I was going to Bass Pro Shops in Grapevine to visit there OH so wonderful range and of course had to check and lock up my guns before I entered the store. While the bonehead check my gun to make sure it was empty, he was pointing it directly at my stomach with his finger on the trigger. I did the obligatory sidestep motion (I'm sorry, I don't dance) and once I got my guns back went on about my bidness. I did make it a point to mention to the older dude that unlocked my guns that the younger bonehead that is supposed to be "keeping it safe for other customers" could REALLY use some education in the correct ways of handling firearms.

January 20, 2006, 11:54 PM	#13
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	We started out with revolvers in my CHL class.... you woulda gotten eaten alive for closing the cylinders in the class even if passing them around. The Instructor must have spent 30 minutes telling the students what was acceptable and unacceptable handgun handling practices before we were allowed to pass the revolver around. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

January 21, 2006, 12:11 AM	#14
Mike P. Wagner Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2001 Posts: 452	A good reason for teaching your kids... I did a lot of shooting as a kid - my dad taught me all of the safety rules. I lost interest before high school. A decade passes, and I don't touch a weapon. I am on a road trip during grad school with a sculptor friend, and we're both very tired. We stop at his grandma's house and have a big dinner, with wine etc. So I am half asleep when gandam decides to show us her deceased husband's firearms. She hands me a bold action rifle with the bolt closed. I am not even thinking - I swear it was muscle memory - my hands pull back the bolt so the action was open (it was clear, there was no round in the chamber). My friend looked at me all bug-eyed - I had moved pretty fast. He said, "Why did you do that?" I loooked down, and I was a little surprised, I really hadn't thought about doing it. It was purely reflex. I had a rush of gratitude for my dad and that NRA training as a kid - maybe the whole point of all that to take the proper action when I wasn't thinking. I sort of put my foot in my mouth (I was looking at action, still astounded that the old habit was still there) - I said,"Never hand a weapon to someone unless the chamber is empty, and they can see the chamber." I think I embarassed the grandmother - but I was quoting my dad. The terminology may still not be the same, but those old lession stick. Mike __________________ PCV Yemen 84-86 Past results are no guarantee of future performance.

January 22, 2006, 07:38 PM	#15
ICE1210 Member Join Date: August 12, 2005 Posts: 33	Wagner, I tought Shooting Merit Badges for Boy Scouts of America for 6 summers. You could always tell whose kids had been "Raised Right".