Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Can you say lawsuit?

It was reported in local news today that a customer was shot in the leg by clerk who was handling a gun brought into a local GS by a customer. Details were sketchy, but it appeared that a customer brought in a gun for repair or cleaning, unaware that it was loaded. Apparently , a clerk began handling the gun without first checking to see of it was loaded. it went off,. hitting another customer in the leg. Several violations of routine common sense gun safety involved here.

Aren't those violations what they do best at a local gun shop?

I wouldn't expect anything less.

Local dealer shot himself thru the hand with a customers 45 when he didn't clear it. Now a big sign on the front door, "No loaded guns, No exceptions!", I guess to protect him from himself.

First rule: "Always consider the weapon loaded until verifying it isn't".

Saturday, I was in the LGS when an elderly gent was walking out the door with a newly purchased used Ruger 10/22. He was carrying the rifle by holding it by the pistol grip with his index finger through the trigger bow, resting on the trigger. He walked out into the parking lot like that. The lot is in a strip mall shared with other businesses.

I worked at a LGS back in the day before my "real job" and saw three accidental discharges. One by the owner, wiping down his Browning FN Medallion 308. Blew a hole in the roof...he climbed up and patched up the hole before the building owner found out. The other two were idiots like this bringing loaded pistols in for cleaning. Both took pistols out of their rugs and the unthinkable happened. I got a 9mm slug between my feet on one of the AD's.

It did not just "go off." The numbskull clerk pulled the trigger.

Guns don't "go off" by themselves. Some idiot pulls the trigger and BANG!!

L.W.

That's a million dollar wound, after medical fees, taxes, and lawyer fees right their. At the least...

Always verify that the chamber(and magazine) are empty before handling the weapon. That, and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction ALWAYS. Unfortunately, I see that rule violated all too many times at the LGS!

yeah, I think that goes without saying.

Back in the 1970's I shot NRA High Power with a guy who was a real hot shot, California State Champion, Camp Perry every year, etc. He did a lot of dry fire practice in his living room. One day, using his .308 target rifle, he shot through the picture window of his home and shot off the front door knob of his neighbor's home across the street, having used the knob as a dry fire target for years. Nobody hurt except his wallet and his ego.

One of the many reasons I stay outta some of the local "gun shop pro tackleberry outfits" around Clarksville. That and their 10-20 dollar below new retail price for %60 or worse condition tomato stakes....

What did the customer bring in a loaded gun for?

Cause he was stupid......

About a week ago in Houston...

That's terrible. No excuse for it at all.

Holy f u k ...... needs to be sued and convicted of negligent homicide.

I was working the gun shop by myself one day when a guy came in, white guy mid 40's clean cut type. He told me he didn't know much about guns but wanted a 12 gauge for his house. He pointed out a Winchester 1300 riot gun and asked to see it.

So I took it off the rack and opened the action like I always do. Then I handed it to him. He looked at it for a minute and then reached in his pocket. He pulled out a shell and put it in the action. Before he could close the action I had my 1911 leveled at his head, yelling, "Put it on the counter. " repeatedly. He stood there with a bewildered look on his face and started saying, " I just wanted to see if the shells I bought fit." But he laid it on the counter. Then I told him to step back and he did.

I pushed the alarm button and three minutes later two cops are coming in the door weapons drawn. I yell at them, " He loaded a weapon." One got hands on him and said, " We got him Garry." then I re-holstered.


We looked at the video play back, clearly supporting my story. They chalked it up to stupid and let him go. I have no question that had he closed that action I would have put a bullet in his brain. All that rode on a split second.

He apologized and said he didn't know. I believe that, just damned stupid. I told him I damn near killed him, he looked at the floor and said, "I know."


Spooky Situation

Epitaph on his headstone.... " I got killed cause I was a Dumb ass and I never had a bb gun as a kid either"

Was the shotgun pointed at you?

I can understand you getting spooked. It's that type of situation, but someone chambering a round if they have shown no intent to rob or kill you, and don't have the shotgun pointed at you is probably not grounds for deadly force. At least not in my opinion.

But, I understand the stress of that situation. EVERYBODY needs to use their heads.