While at Academy tonight....

[Guest Astra900]

I was at academy sports tonight. there was a man and woman (married I assume) looking at a pistol. They looked to be in their early to mid 40's. I was looking at what was behind the glass - then I heard the man (no not the woman. The man!) ask the guy behind the counter; "now how do you load this thing?"

WTF????? I understand no one knows unless they are shown, but a middle aged man getting instructions on how to load a simple pistol from a sales clerk at Academy??????

I don't care who likes it and who don't, when I think about how ignorant some people are when it comes to guns, it really makes me question the idea behind EVERYBODY has the right to own one. It just scares me to think a grown man that's too dumb to load a pistol is going to go home with the total sum of knowledge gained from a friggin' paid-by-the-hour sales clerk. jeez!

[TripleDigitRide]

Last time I was in Academy, 2 thug-lookin fella's walked over to the sale clerk at the gun counter and asked, "we can buy some a'dem musky (musket?) pistols with no felony check, right?" They were talking about black powder pistols. I left before they finished shopping.

I've been keeping an eye on the news, waiting to hear a story about shooting with black powder revolvers. I guess no news is good news.

[Guest SUNTZU]

My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt

Shoot as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow

Loads a mite slow and i soon found out

It can get you into trouble but it can't get you out

- Devil's Right Hand

Of course, when you have a man with a machine gun and a man with a black powder pistol in a room, the one who wins is the one who shoots first.

[deerslayer]

I was at academy sports tonight. there was a man and woman (married I assume) looking at a pistol. They looked to be in their early to mid 40's. I was looking at what was behind the glass - then I heard the man (no not the woman. The man!) ask the guy behind the counter; "now how do you load this thing?"

WTF????? I understand no one knows unless they are shown, but a middle aged man getting instructions on how to load a simple pistol from a sales clerk at Academy??????

I don't care who likes it and who don't, when I think about how ignorant some people are when it comes to guns, it really makes me question the idea behind EVERYBODY has the right to own one. It just scares me to think a grown man that's too dumb to load a pistol is going to go home with the total sum of knowledge gained from a friggin' paid-by-the-hour sales clerk. jeez!

Perhaps he was new to guns?? Maybe he was raised a flower child and has seen the light?? Cut the guy some slack--at least he's interested in getting a gun, which makes him a potential ally. I don't see the problem here. If I go to Best Buy and ask someone how I install some RAM in my computer, I'm no smarter than this guy was. Tying my shoe was a sonofabitch the first time I ever tried.

[towerclimber37]

Perhaps he was new to guns?? Maybe he was raised a flower child and has seen the light?? Cut the guy some slack--at least he's interested in getting a gun, which makes him a potential ally. I don't see the problem here. If I go to Best Buy and ask someone how I install some RAM in my computer, I'm no smarter than this guy was. Tying my shoe was a sonofabitch the first time I ever tried.

+1

everyone has to start somewhere..and even if this guys been retarded where firearms are concerned..hopefully he'll find his way here and we can get him the edumacation he needs

[Guest m&pc9]

My father didnt like handguns. We always had shotguns, but I never had a handgun till I was about Thirty and that was a little 32 acp that a friend had given me. I bought my first 9mm last year in Nov. And someone had to show me how to properly operate it. Now I think Im becoming a gun nut. But you have to learn it some how.

[Tobashadow]

Got to get me one of them Musky guns and be a good gang banger.

I can see it now, shove it down his pants and the ball rolls out.

[Tobashadow]

Hmm with some further research you can buy a .44 cal 58 Remington black powder pistol then get a converter cylinder that allows standard 45 ammo to be used in it.

All mail order no background checks.

Scary!

[Fallguy]

Perhaps he was new to guns?? Maybe he was raised a flower child and has seen the light?? Cut the guy some slack--at least he's interested in getting a gun, which makes him a potential ally. I don't see the problem here. If I go to Best Buy and ask someone how I install some RAM in my computer, I'm no smarter than this guy was. Tying my shoe was a sonofabitch the first time I ever tried.

+1

[Guest bkelm18]

Perhaps he was new to guns?? Maybe he was raised a flower child and has seen the light?? Cut the guy some slack--at least he's interested in getting a gun, which makes him a potential ally. I don't see the problem here. If I go to Best Buy and ask someone how I install some RAM in my computer, I'm no smarter than this guy was. Tying my shoe was a sonofabitch the first time I ever tried.

+2

Chill Astra. We were all new to something at one point in time, and what did we do when we had a question? We asked someone who we thought was knowledgeable in the subject. Just like this guy. He didn't know how to load it so he asked someone who he thought would know and I'm sure he got the answer.

[Guest jackdog]

And the first time you handled a handgun you knew everything? I suspect that everyone on this board no matter what age could learn something new about better hand gun tactics, no matter what their age. I think you need to grow up a little with your attitude. This guy could just as easily have chosen to be an anti gunner. Or maybe he was and has seen the light.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

I'm still learning...always will.

[G27]

I hope you made an insulting remark, embarrassing him in front of everybody - the last thing we need is more people to become gun owners! Especially middle-aged people!

</sarcasm>

[Mike.357]

I like to think that in this situation I would have taken the opputunity to make some small talk with the couple and asked the clerk for a pen and a slip of paper.

Then I could write down "www.tngunowners.com" and encourage them to check this place out as a source for information.

They sound like they had interest but need a way to learn. New gun owners may have no clue about the wealth of knowledge that can be gained by a few hours of surfing sites like this one.

Better they learn here than from TV shows like NCIS.

I think you dropped the ball.

[VERO1]

I was trying to think of a witty reply, bit I think you guys have pretty well covered the topic. Perhaps recommending a range in the area that had training classes available but might have crossed your mind?

[Guest VolDaddy]

My CCW permit instructor prefered people with no gun experiecnce.They didn't have the bad habits, and were more eger to learn.

Astra just sell me the rest of you stuff if you give up.

[2000silverz28]

My father didnt like handguns. We always had shotguns, but I never had a handgun till I was about Thirty and that was a little 32 acp that a friend had given me. I bought my first 9mm last year in Nov. And someone had to show me how to properly operate it. Now I think Im becoming a gun nut. But you have to learn it some how.

I was almost the same way. We always had rifles and shotguns. Hunted all the time but I didn't own a pistol till about 2 years ago. I know I'm addicted to it now.

Some people just don't get into handguns as early as others. I had to ask and be shown alot of things about them before I was comfortable with them.

[Guest Astra900]

Then no one sees my point.

If the salesman had any sense at all, he wouldn't be trying to tell the guy which way the bullet goes in, he would be directing the guy toward a quality training course. If the guy doesn't has enough experience to even know how to get the magazine in and out of the gun, he doesn't need a sales clerk, he needs a certified instructor.

Actually because he's SO inexperienced, if he would go to a good class and be trained properly in safety and handling, it would probably be better than if he thought he knew what he was doing because he had been around guns before.

People who have not been taught properly are dangerous. I mean look at the 2 idiots from Owl Hollow a while back. One thought he was a cowboy super hero and shot himself in the gut with a .45 LC, the other thought he was Rambo and shot the power lines down with an FAL; Hip firing it like a F'ing idiot.

Cut him some slack huh? Okay, I would love to see the guy get into guns and love them like I do, but get some kind of real instruction. {Really my problem wasn't with this one guy specific} AND WHO KNOWS!!!!! This guy may already be lined up with a safety/instruction class! I don't know!?! But you can't tell me that every new gun owner DOES take safety and instruction seriously. People buy guns everyday, that have no idea how to SAFELY use them, and they never will. Overhearing the guys question just brought a real problem to light. Businesses will sell a gun because it's legal, and all they want is the money. But hey, if you have the money, they will sell you a car and could care less if you know how to drive, right?

I can certainly see the advantages some countries have that enforce mandatory military service. That's very hypocritical of me, since I didn't serve, but I wish now, that someone would have forced me to. I see so many benefits from it. Two of my very best friends were marines. You just don't see them do silly things around a gun, ever. I have shown one of them several guns he has never seen before, had no idea how to operate, but he still handled everyone the same. Very cool.

The inexperienced gun owner. The ones with no intention of seeker wisdom from the more experienced. I fear for myself in your presence.

[Guest Astra900]

I hope you made an insulting remark, embarrassing him in front of everybody - the last thing we need is more people to become gun owners! Especially middle-aged people!

</sarcasm>

No sir, I minded my own business. No one asked me for my opinion. No one was talking to me. I wasn't going to stick my nose in someone elses business.

[Guest Astra900]

And the first time you handled a handgun you knew everything? I suspect that everyone on this board no matter what age could learn something new about better hand gun tactics, no matter what their age. I think you need to grow up a little with your attitude. This guy could just as easily have chosen to be an anti gunner. Or maybe he was and has seen the light.

No sir I was as dumb as the next kid, but I was taught by people who did know what they were doing. I have never forgotten the instructions they give me.

[Guest mustangdave]

the sum total of my weapons knowledge until I joined the military was limited to a 22 rifle and my dads Ruger 41 magnum. Both of those promptly disappeared when my dad passed away when I was 12. Even in the military my exposeure was limited to shall we say the basics...38 revolver, 45ACP, Remington 870, and the M-14. The big change in my attitude in 1988, my family live in a military housing complex in San Diego...where some asian gang was trying to gain a foothold and the police were in effect useless. We had an incident one late afternoon...where these morons were driving thru the area scaring the children a group of us "dads" confronted them. I showed up with a friggin baseball bat...my neighbor just looked at me and said..."here you'll probably do better with this, if it comes down to anything"...and handed me a 45. Needless to say the punk didn't come back to this area.

[MudBugjr]

I saw a simular thing at academy one day. The sales counter was packed and I saw a salesman handing a guy a new glock. The guy asked if every time you pulled the trigger did you have to cock (ie pull the slide back) to get it to fire again. The guy totally looked scared holding it. The salesman did a good jog explaning but you should have seen his face when asked that. I know many years ago when I bought my first pistol with lil knowledge. I took it home did all the research i could read all the manuals and handled the gun til I was comfortable.

[Guest bkelm18]

Hmm, my dad taught me to drive. And he's not a certified instructor.... That must be why I've killed all those people with my car . Maybe I still fail to see your point. The guy asked how to load the gun, the clerk did his job and showed him. I've looked at new guns before that I didn't know how to field strip, so I asked the salesman. Does that make me dangerous? I guess I shoulda signed up for Pistol 101 instead.

Edited February 1, 2009 by bkelm18

[Guest bkelm18]

No sir I was as dumb as the next kid, but I was taught by people who did know what they were doing. I have never forgotten the instructions they give me.

And the salesman didn't know what he was doing?

[Guest Astra900]

. Maybe I still fail to see your point.

You're right. I yield.