Some people...

[atxgun]

So I ended up going to Red's south in Austin with a group of people yesterday to fire some rounds down range. We got two lanes for the 4 of us. I brought my S&W 9 and XD, this other guy I hadn't met before brought some kind of 44 revolver. We were all having a good time and at some point I step back from the lane to let someone else go. I turn around and this guy is outside of the lane, turned around, unloading the shells from his 44 pointed right at me! ARG! There are signs and common sense that say keep your weapon pointed down range!

Luckily I made it out of there w/o becoming one of those statistics of people shot with an "unloaded gun".

[flintknapper]

If the cylinder was open and his finger off the trigger, etc... you were O.K. despite his lack of etiquette.

[txaggie]

Rule #1 - The gun is always loaded - always!!

[Lumberjack98]

Sorry to hear about that.

Did you report it to the folks working there?

[Glock 23]

Rule #1 - The gun is always loaded - always!!

X2

[HighVelocity]

The worst part about people doing stupid things at the range is that they don't know they're being stupid.

[Longtooths]

Rule #1 - The gun is always loaded - always!!

X2

+3

[WarHawk-AVG]

This is an example of when to tactfully explain to someone "the riot act"

There are stories of people being shot all the time at gun ranges...and improper muzzle discipline with a loaded or unloaded firearm is still improper...

A .44Mag oopsie will put someone in the grave, at the very least change their lives forever

[flintknapper]

Rule #1 - The gun is always loaded - always!!

Then how do you clean it, dry fire it, transport it, etc?

[LarryH]

flintknapper, you're kidding, right?

That's Cooper's Rule #1.

[TX Rancher]

Sorry, but I agree with Flint on this one…there are many times that my firearms are not loaded, so the statement “The gun is always loaded� is wrong. I’m pretty sure every gun at sometime in its life is unloaded…certainly during the manufacturing process.

Now if the statement is “All firearms should be treated as if they are loaded� then we are getting closer to reality, and I personally believe that’s the intent of the statement.

But the reality is even that rule doesn’t apply all the time. How many of you were in the military and trained with blanks? Did you aim your weapon at the OP-FORCE folks and pull the trigger? I remember having bayonet practice with a live opponent and my weapon was certainly pointed at him many times during the exercise. But that wouldn’t have happened if everyone assumed all weapons must be treated as if they were loaded. The same is true for many LEO training exercises. How about all those shootem-up adventure movies we all watch? Have you ever taken a weapons retention class? The list of situations where the statement may not apply is rather lengthy.

As I said, I agree with the intent of the statement, but as I believe Flint was alluding to, it certainly isn’t an absolute.

In the final analysis, your brain is the ultimate safety. Engage it, and everything else will fall into place.

[flintknapper]

Sorry, but I agree with Flint on this one…there are many times that my firearms are not loaded, so the statement “The gun is always loaded� is wrong. I’m pretty sure every gun at sometime in its life is unloaded…certainly during the manufacturing process.

Now if the statement is “All firearms should be treated as if they are loaded� then we are getting closer to reality, and I personally believe that’s the intent of the statement.

But the reality is even that rule doesn’t apply all the time. How many of you were in the military and trained with blanks? Did you aim your weapon at the OP-FORCE folks and pull the trigger? I remember having bayonet practice with a live opponent and my weapon was certainly pointed at him many times during the exercise. But that wouldn’t have happened if everyone assumed all weapons must be treated as if they were loaded. The same is true for many LEO training exercises. How about all those shootem-up adventure movies we all watch? Have you ever taken a weapons retention class? The list of situations where the statement may not apply is rather lengthy.

As I said, I agree with the intent of the statement, but as I believe Flint was alluding to, it certainly isn’t an absolute.

In the final analysis, your brain is the ultimate safety. Engage it, and everything else will fall into place.

Exactly my position on it.

[bullseye10x]

Agreed, using common sense to determine when the "always loaded" safety rule is applicable will get you a long way. I've seen folks contort themselves into some very strange positions and guns hit the deck on occasion, just because a person is trying not to flag anyone with a gun that has been cleared already...

Now, I'm not saying the OP should have been 100% OK with a hand cannon being pointed in his direction, but a few details are missing here: If the cylinder was open (sounds like this was the case) then it was plainly visible that the gun was clear. No harm, no foul. If the cylinder was closed, that's a different story. Either way, if it were me, I would have just moved clear of the muzzle and tactfully asked the shooter to keep his firearm pointed in a safe direction while loading/unloading.

[txaggie]

I guess if you guys are ready to trust someone else's judgement of "loaded or not", then ok by me, but I won't be on the same firing line as you.

[anygunanywhere]

I guess if you guys are ready to trust someone else's judgement of "loaded or not", then ok by me, but I won't be on the same firing line as you.

I believe you are not taking their stance in the proper context.

When you are cleaning your firearms, do you ever look down the bore to see if it is clean?

Are you looking down the bore of a loaded firearm?

Yes, the guy with the .44 was stupid and needs lessons on etiquette and handling a firearm.

Anygun