Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Would you pick up a privately owned firearm without asking?

I was getting a scope mounted at my local gun shop tonight.
I was in a crappy mood. It has been a bad day.
My rifle was sitting on the glass counter resting in it's open gun case along with a scope and some mounting hardware.
The tech who was servicing the gun was rummaging for some parts behind the counter and I was standing a few feet away looking at stuff for sale.
A fat 50ish looking guy picks up my rifle. A valuable rifle to me (maybe not to some of the deep pockets guys here) and he starts fiddling with the bolt and trigger.

I could not contain myself.

I said in a voice loud enough for the whole store to hear, "You're pretty nosey."
He asked, "Are you selling that?"
"No!"
"Well then are you buying it?"
I said (again in a loud voice), "You really ARE nosey aren't you?"
He schlepped away muttering something like 'this IS a gun shop - you know'.
I said nothing more but I thought, a gun shop is not the same as gun show.

doesn't matter gun show or gun shop or wherever.
if you know something isn't yours, don't touch it.

you're a nicer person than i am.

Might try the direct approach by informing the person that it's your rifle. Comments on his character might not be well received and will not convey the desired message.

In our local shops we're more than welcome to handle anything in the racks. Those behind the counter, we must make a request.

Nope. Common courtesy whether it belongs to the shop or a customer, you ask before setting your peter-pullers on it.

Had no business touching it at all.

+1

He was in the wrong. That said, had you been in a more patient mood, you could have fûcked with him for a while.

Should have followed him out to his car and jumped in the drivers seat, adjust the mirrors, check the glove box, pop the hood and look over the engine. Then ask him if he is selling it!

lol Roadrunner. that'd been funny

Only thing worse is if he would have dropped it on the floor.

I'd describe your action as nothing short of cordial.




Clark

A cordial might have mellowed him out...

Some people feel they have the right to do whatever they want in a store. But still I would have told him that is my rifle and I am having a scope put on it. If that did not work then you could be a little more stern. Remember you can not fix stupid but you can slow it down with a baseball bat.

For being in a bad mood, you sure let him off easy. If it would have been me, he would have smelled the pepperoni on my breath while I explained the proper etiquette concerning someone else's firearm.

That was something that was pounded into me many years ago.

Was it loaded?

+2

Hey! Where did you get that umlot?

Mitts off without asking. Ever!

looks like a lower case ^ to me,
vs a real umlaut

Just go start fondling the guy's wife without asking first....

Nope. Not your wallet, hat, take-out order, or trash either. (Well, I'd probably get rid of the trash after I knew it was YOU that dropped it.)

I have had very expensive stuff sitting on my gunshow table surrounded by signs that say "do not handle without permission" and some idiot will come along and pick it up. I ask if he saw the sign and one stupid bastard actually said to me "...aw, they don't mean nothing..." so I told him if it don't mean nothing, bring it over here and I'll shove it up your azz to see if it don't feel like nothing. He walked away muttering and I ended up the ornery bastard. Go figger!

Perhaps both of you could have behaved better.

I absolutely HATE people that can not keep their hands to them selves. I always ask and wait for it to be handed to me, taught my kids to keep their hands in their pockets in stores, gun shows, flea markets, yard sales Et Al.

Always stressed as my grandfather did to me, "If it ain't yours, leave it be."

Picking up especially a gun of mine unbidden may get you hurt!

JK, I never had a table at a show... but it amazes me the casualness and carelessness with which people will pick up other peoples stuff!

I was raised 'Is it yours'? NO! 'then put it down'

I always ask to pick up firearms.

If he said that he didn't see the sign, maybe SOME slack is allowed... but since he indicated that he did...

he just said 'phouc ewe'....

Sadly, at most gun shows the poeple that walk the aisles that know what they are doing and what they are looking at don't often 'expose' themselves.... the idiots??? Well they rarely need a sign!

IMHO

No I wouldn't. On the other-hand from the guys comments it sounds like he thought it was a gun from the store. Saying that, a little awareness on his part would have caused him to realize it was being worked on and should be left alone.

Firearms in a rack outside the gun counter yes I will pick them up. Anywhere else including the range I ask. And 99% of the time if I am at the range all it takes is a simple comment like "nice_______," and the owner usually asks if I want to shoot it. Simple etiquette really.

Glad you are so tolerant.

I'm not. I don't suffer ignorant fools easily.

When someone crosses those lines, the time for manners is over.

no one should ever assume permission to touch another's stuff.

The guy was probably not there to buy a gun in the first place. It never ceases to amaze me the hanger-outer's at gun shops. Seldom do I go into a shop that there aren't people just hanging out. No intention to buy, just looking and b-sing.

My wife not only can, but does............

He may have thought it was the gun store's rifle that was for sale.

Ha. It would have been funny if you had asked him if you could play with his wife. Plus, you coulda got lucky.

Careful there, Barry,....Miss Manners demands your complete attention and respect.

GTC

That is funny right there. I don't care what you say. That made me chuckle . . .

You're a dirty old man!

Even so, I always ask permission. Even on a gunshow table.

You just don't coonfinger a man's rifle unless he says you can.

Ah ha! So you're one of those pests that bother people at the range with friendly greetings and complimentary observations about their firearms.

Kind of like touching some one else's children. You just don't do it!

I've never understood the indirect approach to solving a problem. Women do it all the time though.

I would say that on average, I can't go a single month without confrontation.




Dave

I had to think about this, and how it applies to friends, relatives.... My dad's guns, I would pick up, but not get out of a cabinet. Anyone else, ask.

I have this one friend that whenever I see him at the range I just ask him what he has bought lately. I have test fired 3 or 4 Ruger semi autos a bunch of revolvers and 3 or 4 rifles. It's like a free test drive.

If you can't bother asking, then just keep your hands off. Not a hard rule to remember but some people just about need to have it shoved down their throat.

I'm off to range safety officer duty this morning.

Even as RSOs, we don't touch a shooter's firearm without asking permission, unless it's an emergency.

Paul

That's probably the best way.....but we're going to have to revoke your man-card for having the gun shop mount your scope.

I'd say you were more than decent about it. I don't pick up any gun that doesn't belong to me at a gunshop or otherwise unless it is sitting out on top of a case clearly marked FOR SALE, and even then I would ask if it's ok to check it out.

The gun was sitting in a gun case. To me, that screams it's someone's personal gun. In my mind, anyone picking that one up could potentially expect at least one walnut appearing on the side of their head.

And.. I've seen people in gun shops pick up FOR SALE guns and drop them.

I bet he'll touch a stranger's Harley too.

While I heartily agree with the hands-off approach, I fear that the much larger question that needs to be addressed is whether or not the perpetrator had removed his hat/cap prior to this whole episode taking place.

Who the hell takes their their rifle to a gun shop to have a scope mounted?

Did you have them sight it in, too?

made me spit coffee!

So funny answers, but I like Joe's the best... RoadRunner65s...

All I can add to this thread, is if you hate that kind of person... avoid any gunshop in Grants Pass Oregon...

Those type of idiots are a dime a dozen here....


all too often, at our local range...

you turn on the light, leave your bolt open, go down range to check or change your targets, turn around to come back, and some yoyo is fiddling with your rifle...

add that to no one is supposed to be touching their own firearm while someone is down range... kinda like rule number one at our range...

and then these clowns get all pissy, if you say anything to them about it...

half the time they are from California... but the other half the time, they are the local nimrods...

and if they aren't playing with your firearm, they will be standing there and fondling your ammo...

doesn't happen "all the time" but way more often than it should be occurring...

TFF.




Clark

Thank you for giving THOSE Californians a place to live cant stand them here either, I think a closed box of rattle snake eggs that says caution do not open may be a funny treat for them, well maybe me

That would make me homicidal.




Dave

The local gun shop has some rifles on a rack out where you can look at them.

Anything on the counter is: 1; being looked at by someone else, 2; being sold to the shop, or 3; just not put back yet.

So 1; it almost belongs to someone else. 2; it does belong to someone else. 3; it is courteous and prudent to ask the shop to handle, they usually want to size me up and check the chamber again.

I do indeed admire displayed items, and sometimes comment on them.

"Excuse me, but that is my rifle."

He likely would have apologized.

The RO would need to call for an ambulance for whoever did that w/my gear.

Maybe.

I suspect he'd just keep finger blasting it.




Dave

Exactly.




Dave

Answer to the OP's question; No. Never. I do not touch anyone else's firearm without asking.

Even if a firearm is in a rack "outside" the gun counter I would still ask the attendant for permission to handle it.

There are some simple protocols that should never be over-stepped.

fwiw, i've seen a lot of folks that would have been
way better off to pay someone to mount their scope
instead of doing a ham handed job of it their selves.
i see a lot of used scopes with scratches and grooves
from poor installation and scopes that get damaged internally
from overtightening and crooked rings, etc.

someone else sight in ? (as opposed to bore sighting)
no way. i can't see someone else sighting a scope for me

All the above is why I mount mine myself. I'll do a much better job than Junior behind the counter with no training. For me it's just part of owning a gun,but you are correct that Junior will do better than some nitwits.

As to the topic,I would have simply told the guy that it was my gun and I would appreciate it if he would leave it alone if I didn't want him handling it. Usually I'm even nicer than that.I would get close enough to make sure the guy didn't drop it and strike up a conversation while politely pointing out that it was my gun. I don't usually hurl insults from across the room.

Fat dude in his 50's, no thanks, his Wife aint likely to be worth handling.

I have become less than understanding of such stupid/boorish behavior and would not have been as kind in response as you were.
He may have fully understood why it is improper to pick up any gun lying there when I finished.

There's your problem. Mount your own scopes.

http://parabola-llc.com/ and get at minimum a Reticle-Tru and maybe a Scope-Tru if you think you need it.

Then a lapping kit: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2130187492/wheeler-engineering-scope-ring-alignment-and-lapping-kit

He was wrong, but I'd have taken a more direct approach informing him so. Something along the lines of "get your fat mitts off my rifle."

I'm getting pissed just thinking about it.

The guy would be missing four valve stem cores before I left the range.

Another person who keeps a valve stem remover in their vehicle for just such occasions!

At the range, NO one touches any firearm when the flag is down, the RO watches, as do other shooters.

I would have said "Hey dickhead, that's my rifle and I'd thank you to keep your cotton pickin' dick tongs off of it." He should get the message.

NO!!!!

In fact, I would not pick up or touch anything that belonged to another without first asking!!

Perhaps, we can all get back to being gentlemen and observing good manners and recognizing proper ownership that comes with rights and respect.

Starting with civilized freedom of speech!!

That depends entirely on the size of his checkbook............

The couple of gunstores that I frequent have inventory laying on the counters so that customers can play with them. There is no asking to pick them up--that is what they are out there for in the first place.

That is what the guy assumed was going on.

You could have simply informed him directly that it was your gun and you didn't want him touching it.

Life is easier than you're making it.

I always ask, laying out or not.

donsm70

Touching other peoples vehicles, especially with mischief in mind is equally as bad as touching thier firearms. I wouldn't do either. I say what is on my mind to people's faces, no need to sneak around looking for their ride.

Even in our LGS you ask to pick up any firearm, regardless if it is sitting in the rack or just the counter. Till you own it you don't touch w/o permission.
That guy got off lucky IMHO, was that my rifle he would heard about it, and I'm one of those polite Canadians everyone hears about.

How about a married month?

What does his weight and age have to do with the fact he touched your property?

I wouldn't do that to someone but it doesn't surprise me someone did that. I wouldn't have taken a rifle to a gun counter to mount a scope and I wouldn't have left it unattended if I was worried someone might handle it.

I would not, you do not feel up another mans wife or walk into his house like you own it either.

That would have been grounds for a major AZZ WHOOPING. The guy was clearly in the wrong. Hell, I won't touch any rifle without first asking permission. Gunshop or gunshow, doesn't matter...

[quote=280shooter]"Excuse me, but that is my rifle."

He likely would have apologized. [/quote


This,

As to all those doing their best Mr T responses. I guess that means non of you have ever had a brain fart moment. Congratulations on that. Actually I'll share an experience from the other side of that exchange. I went to the driving range at the local golf course and there was a set of nice irons laying scattered all over in the grass. There was no one around so figuring some kid had his Dads golf clubs out I gathered them up took them to the pro shop and turned them in at the counter. I returned to the range and in about 20-30 minutes here came a guy looking around on the ground . I spoke up and said if you re looking for golf clubs I took them to the pro shop. He made a rude remark about leaving other people's property alone and stomped off. About all he accomplished is at the end of the day there were two people thinking the world is full of jerks.

Hell yes, pick it up and go "Rifleman" on it.!

No. If it's not mine, I don't touch it. End of story.

Oh, they don't live here, they are just visiting relatives...still with CA plates on their vehicle.

But my point being, we have plenty of moronic locals that do the same thing.

We have ONE range manager, that drives around in his range truck, time to time. that's about it

Military folks you don't have to teach range safety and etiquette....nor kids of military personnel. ( usually)...

But the local abundance of Beavis and Buttheads, scare ya...

We also have an abundance of two other types., that drive me nuts.

1. Beavis and Butthead with an AK.
They will usually come out with a couple of 100 round mags. Walk right out and get a target stand without waiting to turn on range safety lights, much less asking anyone or informing them.
Then they will frequently pick a new target stand. Once set up, will run their AK on semi auto, emptying the mag as fast as they can, with their cheap Chinese ammo, and waste a brand new target stand at 25 yards, turning it into toothpicks... and then take their gun and leave, with no thought to picking up the 200 steel cases they leave laying all over the place...

2. Morons with Muzzle Breaks on their ARs

These guys will set up to your left, right next to you. Then when they shoot ( if they followed common courtesy protocol on setting up their targets), they will go to semi auto and emptying their mag as fast as possible. Regardless of hearing protection you have on, those firearms right next to you get pretty loud... which you enjoy as their hot brass is raining all over your back, neck etc.

Frequently the AK guys will do the same thing.

Then they empty their mags and they are cluelessly wondering why you are standing up, all pissed off and want to beat the crap out of their asses.. with that "what's your problem" look on their faces.

Two reasons I try to go to the range, when there aren't many people there...

And then there are the clowns that think the range provides range service like a Motel... they never pick up the trash etc, they leave all over the place... brass, shot targets, or will pull them off a target stand and just drop them on the ground for someone else to pick up...Friggin Trailer Trash Morons.

I was raised "look, but don't touch" ,unless you ask. "May I?" Is too simple to just ignore doing.

Do you apply that to cars at a dealership or clothes on a shop rack , or just guns?

Go jump in a new F-150 and take it for a test drive and let us know how that works out for you....

I'm still stumped people can't mount their own scopes

Typical drama queen response, you make it sound like the guy walked away with it and fired a round.
more like he only adjusted the drivers seat and lifted the hood.. ...what would the dealer do in that case?

Same type of people that leave their valued property unattended on a shop counter.




and being careless with your property only invited opportunity to make your bad day even worse.

Sounds like the guy just lacked common sense. Not a capitol crime but annoying for sure. Most gunstores I have visited have the guns behind glass or behind the counter and the guns on the racks in the isles. Pretty standard that if you want to pick up a gun off the rack (not behind counter) it is fine.

But common sense would dictate there is a difference between those guns and the ONE sitting on the counter in a case. That one is either a customer gun, or one in the process of being bought...either way out of play.

Those stories from the range are ECHELONS above this. I'd have a major freakout session if getting back from marking a target some delta bravo was pawing my schidt. But that is part of what I pay for with my range membership...cut's 90% of that crap right out.

You tell me.

You're the one too stupid to know what to touch or handle, and what not to.

Grow a brain, Touching someones gun is not like the felony act of stealing a car off the lot.

Managed to fit quite a bit of stupid in a relatively few number of words right there. Maybe next time the OP will paracord his rifle to his belt loop to prevent misunderstandings and be less 'careless' about his property. GMAFB.

The dealership example is also a non-starter...unless you want to talk about some jackass visiting a dealership and inspecting other customers vehicles that happened to be parked in the lot. Pretty much two kinds of vehicles there, the ones all cleaned up with stickers on the windows and the guys that are parked there shopping for those. Of those that are FOR SALE, much like the guns that are FOR SALE at a gunstore there is a certain amount of touch allowed...and some that requires more permission. We all know this. But none of that has to do with the car/gun that belongs to a customer just visiting.

For fughs sake next thing someone will tell me if I bring my car to the dealership for an oil change (about as likely as having a scope mounted at a gunstore) that a curious customer might rightfully take it for a spin and it would be MY fault for being a careless for not guarding my vehicle better. Jeesh.