How Not to Look Like an Irresponsible Gun Owner

Have you ever watched gun fail videos on YouTube and been appalled at the stupidity of some gun owners? One of the most tragic incidents occurred in 2019 when a man whose restored WWII Army jeep was on display at a show left a loaded, Condition 0 1911 in the jeep and allowed children to climb around in it. An 8-year-old found the gun and shot his mother with it, killing her. Fortunately, not all irresponsible incidents are that serious, but there is no need for irresponsible behavior of any kind.

Guns and gun ownership are constantly in the public eye and the crosshairs of the anti-2A crowd, and it is our duty as gun owners not only to maximize the safety of ourselves and those around us but to present an accurate picture of what a responsible gun owner looks like to the world. That should not be all that difficult to do, but it can be easy to get in a hurry and forget something important. Here are some reminders of the things we should avoid to neither look like nor be an irresponsible gun owner.

Not Taking Safety Seriously

This is one of the worst things a gun owner can do. There are far too many tragic stories of people shooting themselves or someone else because they were careless. These people not only cause suffering, they give all legal gun owners a black eye that the media and the anti-2A types will capitalize on shamelessly. 

4 Rules of Firearm Safety: Watch What Happens When You Don’t Follow Them

Some of the worst offenses are:

Not Checking to Ensure the Gun is Unloaded

Never assume the gun is unloaded, even if someone tells you it is. Whether you pick it up or it is handed to you, check for yourself.

Finger on the Trigger

Nothing makes responsible gun owners more nervous than seeing someone else handling, pointing, or loading a gun with their finger on the trigger. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Anything less brands you as an irresponsible gun owner and a safety hazard.

Pointing the Gun at People or Things

This is a major rule of gun safety: never point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Even if someone does everything else wrong and has a negligent discharge, if the gun is pointed in a safe direction, the harm will be minimized.

Taking Your Gun Out to Show Off/Letting Friends Handle It Casually

BBQ guns aside, pulling your gun out to show it off or look cool is not smart. Neither is handing it to a friend to casually check out, especially if they are not experienced with guns. All sorts of things can go wrong, ranging from a nervous bystander seeing it and freaking out to someone getting shot. Keep it in the holster where it belongs until you need it.

Not Knowing Your State Gun Laws 

Gun laws are ridiculously complicated and many are inconsistent as well. Magazine limits, prohibited locations, and transport laws can all vary considerably. It’s on you to know the state and local laws for where you live or anywhere you travel. 

Posting Your Gun on Social Media 

I know some people will disagree with me on this one, and that’s fine. You can do your own thing. Posting on gun forums is one thing, but to me, posting photos of your guns on social media platforms like Facebook is asking for trouble, especially if you add comments like “We don’t call 911.” Irresponsible postings can be used against the gun owner community as a whole, and you, in particular, in the event you are involved in a defensive shooting.

Using Alcohol or Drugs While Handling a Firearm

This one should go without saying, but let’s go back to those gun fails videos. How many of the stupid people in those videos are obviously drunk? It is just as great a sign of poor judgment as driving under the influence and can turn deadly in the blink of an eye.

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