Tactfully telling someone their gun handling is awful?

[T.Lex]

You know those tracts that Christians pass out, leave in restaurants, etc? We need gun safety tracts (or pamphlets) that we can pass out: the 4 rules, maybe some Cooper quotes, etc...

Perhaps a door-to-door campaign among the unbelievers?

 

[Phase2]

You tell them:

"Muzzle" or "I am NOT a safe direction!" (Guess what their response is in 100% of the cases, come on guess. Ok, I'll tell you, "eet ain't low-dead" with gun shop teeth)

The proper reply is: Do know what people say when they accidentally shoot someone?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

The proper reply is: Do know what people say when they accidentally shoot someone?

Excellent point.

 

[actaeon277]

Print out a few dozen (or hundred) examples of someone that "thought the gun was unloaded".

 

[actaeon277]

Jefferson County man killed in accidental shooting with 'unloaded' gun

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...th-his-gun-police-say/?utm_term=.b41e4c931c7b

Police say 16-year-old thought gun was unloaded when he accidentally shot his 20-year-old brother | MLive.com

Responsible Gun Store Employee Accidentally Shoots Himself With Gun He Thought Was Unloaded Americans Against the Tea Party

Man Dead after Accidental Shooting - Story | MyPanhandle | WMBB

 

[halfmileharry]

You don't think he doesn't want you coming around do you?
That's one way to run someone off without being verbally rude.

 

[HoughMade]

You know those tracts that Christians pass out, leave in restaurants, etc? We need gun safety tracts (or pamphlets) that we can pass out: the 4 rules, maybe some Cooper quotes, etc...

I think we need to get with the Chick Publishing people and make this happen.

If we can defame the Catholic Church in the process, we might be able to get them to do it for us.

 

[T.Lex]

I think we need to get with the Chick Publishing people and make this happen.

If we can defame the Catholic Church in the process, we might be able to get them to do it for us.

I think the Pope has said 4 rules isn't nearly enough. We need to convene a council and take a couple hundred years to develop the policy, then another couple hundred to implement.

MAYBE get the whole thing done in a century, if we fast-track it.

 

[STARCOM]

Just politely say you had recently read an article (go read one to be honest) about gun safety and you analyzed your own gun handling practices. Then lead into his….

 

[HoughMade]

The focus clearly needs to be on 4 rules vs. 3 and a mindset vs. reality. eventually, you may get around to discussing safe gun handling, but first things first.

 

[CindyE]

We used to have a neighbor like that. His garage faced ours across the alley. He was always showing off his stupid guns. I "tactfully" said, "Hey! Quit pointing that sh*t at me!" And of course, he replies that he never carries with one in the chamber. I answered that with, "I don't give a sh*t, don't point it at me!" Thankfully, we finally made him mad enough to stop speaking to us.

 

[Benp]

My 2 cents is to have each opportunity as a teaching moment. Move the barrel to a safe direction and explain to them why. You don't have to be mean about it. If they insist on not doing it then I would leave and tell them why.

 

[MinuteManMike]

This is a good guy and a long-time friend and I really do not want to hurt his feelings or embarrass him. But I think I have to say something next time I'm over if firearms are at all present. It really does freak me out. And the mentality will transfer over to the range and other folks too so it's really to his advantage to think that way.


Thank you all for the thoughts.

 

[MinuteManMike]

The proper reply is: Do know what people say when they accidentally shoot someone?

That is an excellent approach. Thanks again.

 

[Sniper 79]

A guy that waves guns around and points them at you is no one to be friends with.

I have had it happen too and told them off and moved on with life. No loss. I found out from another friend that continued his relationship with him he shot his mattress and then had another accidental at the range while a guy was checking targets. Needless to say they don't hang together anymore now either. I got to say "I told you so". Thank god no one was hurt.

Some people shouldn't have guns!

Also went over to speak to a neighbor about discharging pistols in his back yard. We live in a subdivision with kids everywhere. Ended up calling the County Sherriff on him. He acted like I am the one doing wrong and still wont talk to me. Again no loss to me and thank god no one caught a bullet. Keep good company and stay safe.

 

[throttletony]

"Safe direction."
... and it may take over a dozen times of hearing it. Just like when I take a new shooter out and have to say "finger off the trigger" about 100 times. If they get too offended at either of those gentle reminders, then you probably shouldn't be shooting with them.

 

[halfmileharry]

I have a friend who is really bad about waving guns around in his home. I know they're unloaded but it really freaks me out. It's terrible safety practice and I want to say something but I really do not want to cause offense.

Is there a good way to bring this up without causing offense?

I am socially-inept too often for my own comfort so that doesn't help...

For that matter, is there a tactful way to say this in a gun store? I have seen it a lot, especially during sales at bigger stores. Cabelas' opening days were really bad for that.

You mentioned a tactful way to mention it in a gun store? Some clerks are slow to catch on. I've told a few in the last couple of years that "You point that gun at me again and I'll point mine at you".
I'm sure I'd pretty much not have to resort to that but it does get the point across.

 

[Bapak2ja]

This is a good guy and a long-time friend and I really do not want to hurt his feelings or embarrass him. But I think I have to say something next time I'm over if firearms are at all present. It really does freak me out. And the mentality will transfer over to the range and other folks too so it's really to his advantage to think that way.


Thank you all for the thoughts.

Borrowing a line from Independence Day, Just "TELL him!"

I am very, very careful with handling firearms. No military or police experience, but I have learned from the NRA courses and from my sons (both military trained) not to point guns at people. I have been to many ranges, and gone shooting with Afghanistan veterans. One guy even told me after a range session that he was nervous about my gun handling skills so he watched me carefully as we set up and fired. As we were packing up he told me about his concern and stated I was good to go in his opinion because during the whole time I "never pointed a gun at" him.

Yet, every time I go shooting or clean guns after shooting with my Marine son I somehow manage to sweep him with an unloaded firearm. I just get to talking and I forget I have one in my hand. I make a gesture with my hand and I immediately think, "Crap! I did it again!". My son's rebuke is swift, pointed and painful to my ego; but it is well deserved. I have to learn to pay attention to this when I am talking to him. I enjoy my time with him so much that I forget. He cares enough about life, and our relationship, that he will not let it go unchallenged. I WILL fix this. If we have to agree that I will not handle a firearm while I am talking to him, so be it.

If you like the guy, just tell him. If he is a friend, he will understand that you are acting out of wise concern for safety. If he gets angry, or rejects the word of caution, tell him you will not be with him when guns are handled. NEVER. His choice at that point.

Bottom line: Just Tell Him.

 

[Thor]

We used to have a neighbor like that. His garage faced ours across the alley. He was always showing off his stupid guns. I "tactfully" said, "Hey! Quit pointing that sh*t at me!" And of course, he replies that he never carries with one in the chamber. I answered that with, "I don't give a sh*t, don't point it at me!" Thankfully, we finally made him mad enough to stop speaking to us.

The neighbor may be classified as stupid, not the guns...just saying. Unless you identify them as something most folks on this board would recognize as indeed stupid.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

"Hey!, Muzzle discipline, (insert name here). I don't want to be swiss cheese because you thought it was unloaded."

"Muzzle discipline"...