'Anti' co-worker wants to go to range with me?

[speedsix]

...this guy doesn't sound to be either open-minded or teachable...no go...

[michael e]

I like to go the the range alone, I spend a couple hours there. It's my only get away. I have taken friends that want to learn but I make them take another vehicle. If this guy isn't a good friend I would not take him.

[sabrs584]

Thank you for all of your replies. Fortunately I have not hung out with this guy outside of work so that won't be an issue. I did make a soft committment to take him but I left an 'out'. He really acts strange sometimes overall so I think I will exercise this 'out' and never bring guns up again at the office.

Great input, thanks again!

[jdlott74]

DH is normally a person that loves to take anti-gun people to the range and converts them. But saying that, I'm sure that with people like this co-worker of yours, he WOULD NOT touch that one with a ten foot pole. 1) he seems like he is a know it all and doesn't want to learn, 2) with those comments about shooting you at the range is a MAJOR red flag. That's a safety issue, even if he was saying it jokingly. I'd tell him in no uncertain terms that you personally don't think with his comments that he is ready mentally and safety wise to take shooting if he still wants to go shoot, to go to a run range and have an instruction help him.

[CC Italian]

I have found that many of the non second amendment believers are not really 100% anti when you start to talk to them but believe in extreme restrictions. They want to argue a philosophical point, not legal or common sense when coming to firearms.

1. For some reason they want to limit the guns a person can own. 2. Most believe this limitation should be left to non semi automatic rifles and shotguns that have limited capacity for hunting only. 3. They don't believe in owning handguns and they believe that people who walk around with handguns on them are all crazy!!

In the end I tell them I will own whatever the law will allow and that is the law. If people don't grow up with firearms around them they are usually uncomfortable with them and treat them as evil. Most that grow up with them treat them as a tool to be respected!

As for the original post I would never even go to a range with someone who joked like that!

[johnson0317]

Uh, uh. Nope. Definitely not. Show me a sincere interest and I will buy the ammo. Joke about shooting me and you won't ever get into a gun discussion with me again.

RJ

[strider67]

Then he proceeds to joke around about shooting me when we go to the range and so on.....red flag #2..

With friends like that, who needs enemies? I would disassociate...

[aaangel]

i don't like to talk about guns @ work . your 9 year old co-worker is lucky your boss didn't hear him. oh wait..... i take it back, cause my 9 year old nephew wouldn't even joke around shooting someone. you should see his muzzle control w/ his airsoft. (guess who taught him?

[punkndisorderly]

With the second post by the original poster, I think I 'll revise my comment.

I was picturing more of a "I don't know what i'm doing, I might accidentally shoot you" or "what, you don't want to go to the range with me? Are you afraid i'll shoot you?" Kind of comment. Not an ambiguously creepy "you never know, I might shoot you"or kind of comment.

If someone gives you the creeps, taking them to the range probably isn't a great idea. I'll take a jerk. I won't take someone that I get bad vibes off of. That type I avoid when I can, and keep it strictly inane conversation when I can't.

Out of curiosity, can you put what he said in context?

[NavAir]

Listen to that little voice...

...telling you not to take him to the range.

Steve

[olafpfj]

Listen to that little voice...

...telling you not to take him to the range.

Steve

I had a very close friend who started to drop hints about hurting himself. Although I never told him he was immediately banned from any discussion or contact with any of my firearms...for life.

I don't let anyone get away with making any off color jokes about shooting someone and I have removed some posts from my FB page from firearm friendly friends that I think have crossed the line. I know they were completely joking but an overzealous DA would have a field day with some of my friends "jokes".

[sabrs584]

Punk,

The context was as follows: We were having a civil discussion about pro vs anti etc which I foolishly allowed myself to get sucked into. Near the end of the conversation he says "you know that you are just living for the day you have to use your gun on someone". I said, in a quite serious tone, "No, absolutely not, I sincerely hope that I NEVER have to use my firearm on another person. However, I am prepared to stop any threat that poses a deadly threat to me or my family." He didn't get it and just kept rambling on, and then the 'shooting you while at the range' comment was made. I really didn't know what to make of it because it shocked me so much. In the interest of not making a big scene at the office I shut my mouth about the topic until I left.

BTW, I have decided: NO firearm discussions of any kind with this clown, and I will NOT be taking him to the range with me.

[Warhammer]

I heartily agree with the majority here that you should NOT take this person to the range.

I think you should have a mature, private discussion with him, explaining exactly WHY you will not take him. Leave out all the "gotchas" or any references to his politics or opinions about guns in general. Don't preach, belittle or try to convert him. Just explain to him that his comments, especially his "joke" about shooting you, caused you great concern. Careful deliberation on his behavior left you feeling very uncomfortable at the thought being around him if he were armed and you think it would be unwise to go shooting with him. Encourage him to go to a good range on his own and get some professional instruction, but you will not, now or ever, go shooting with someone who has, jokingly or not, threatened to shoot you. In order that this will not become a permanent bone of contention at work, you will never discuss firearms with him or around him again.

[Dave2]

BTW, I have decided: NO firearm discussions of any kind with this clown, and I will NOT be taking him to the range with me.

<IMHO>Good call. Joking about shooting someone in that setting indicates a lack of respect towards the damage that guns can inflict on a body, which in turn indicates that he is not as familiar with gun safety as he thinks he is.</IMHO>

[tbrown]

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. But sometimes the student isn't ready yet.