Arced? Swept?

[A-37]

What's the word or phrase for someone carelessly swinging a gun (rifle or pistol) across your body or pointing it directly at you while handling it?

I recall seeing it here.

My neighbor did it to me yesterday with his Ruger 10/22 (25 round magazine, no less). I gave him a wave-off with my hands.

Something similar happened a few weeks ago when I was showing a gun to a friend. He looked it over pointing it right at me. Would you believe he's a member of SWCA?

[Muss Muggins]

I usually don't get real fancy with my words at that juncture. The most polite phrase I use is "I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't point that thing at me . . . "

[kamloops67]

Swept is the correct term

[Alpo]

I've seen all types of weird terms - "muzzled" seems to be gaining popularity.

I believe "swept" is correct.

[Chuck24]

Rules prohibit the best answers.

[gasaman]

Originally Posted by Chuck24

Rules prohibit the best answers.

^^^THIS^^^

[quneur]

Stupid? Irresponsible? Village idiot?

Its happened to me before in a sporting good store. The idiot was handling black tupperware and kept pointing the barrel in my direction. I wanted to tell the customer he shouldn't own a firearm if he kept disregarding safety rules and the salesperson he shouldn't be anywhere near the gun counter.

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I had that happen to me in a LGS.

I was Not bashful in Loud voice telling him to point gun

somewhere else SAFE.

Yes, pretty much everyone in the store heard me and Looked.

[OMCHamlin]

I've heard the term "flagged" used, as in: "that numbskull just flagged the entire low end of the firing line when he went to clear his weapon"... Meaning he allowed the muzzle to point to his left while racking the slide. This was a GM1 who had JUST graduated SAMI school...

[Jessie]

When I go to my LGS/gunsmith with a gun or to pick one up, I always open it up to show myself and him its clear.
In doing that once, he told me that I swept him. I never knew it!
I was shocked when I heard that. He said not to worry, that he'd already cleared it before I arrived.
Not good enough! I will never forget it and its made me doubly aware of that muzzle.
It's scary to think that after decades of handling firearms and while I actually was trying to be safe and showing clear, this happened.
It enforces another cardinal rule....
Finger off the trigger until ready to fire!!
Learn from my mistake.

[BB57]

Lots of people have commented on this video in the past, in terms of the LGS staff failing to check/clear the handgun prior to handing it to the customer (the focus of the lawsuit).

Lots of people have also commented on the customer who failed to check/clear the weapon when he received it, and who then racked the slide with the ejection port facing away from him - and thus failing to see the round being chambered (and as an LEO hw should have known better on both counts.

However, the biggest threat in the room was the officer/customer sweeping the FOUR people to the left of him further down the counter. All involved are incredibly fortunate that no one else got shot and possibly killed with his negligent discharge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUonA66btgI

You'll often see the same type of behavior on a firing range. Right handed shooters are in the majority at around 80%, and right handed person much more likely to sweep the shooters to the left of them as they bring a handgun across their body for loading, chambering a round, and other evolutions where the handgun has to be manipulated.

Consequently, whenever possible I will take a position on the right hand side of the range, as far to the right as possible.

----

When I observe a shooter on a public or club range sweeping others, I'll make the range cold and have a chat with the individual. I don't get in their face about it, but rather I'll turn so that I am facing to the right and then demonstrate for them what's happening as they manipulate their pistol or revolver, and have them understand where the firearm is then pointed when they do the same thing while facing down range with the handgun pointing to the left. For many shooters today, it's an eye opener as they have never been taught proper muzzle control.

It has the secondary benefit of showing them a safe means to accomplish what they are trying to if it is necessary to bring the firearm across their body - turn their body so that the muzzle always points down range.

Here in eastern NC, many folks also sail, and I can explain it to them like the sail on a boat, where the sail remains in the same position relative to the wind, while the boat maneuvers underneath it. They then pick up on the analogy of keeping the muzzle pointed downrange at all times while they maneuver their body around the firearm.

----

One of the unfortunate artifacts of well intentioned but misguided efforts to keep children safe from guns by keeping children away from guns, keeping guns out of schools, etc, is that an ever smaller percentage of the population is taught firearm safety in schools or other public settings.

Back in the day, it was common for secondary schools to have shooting teams as part of the normal intramural sports program. It was also common for NRA hunter safety courses to be taught to sixth grade students, usually on school property with the consent and collaboration of the school in announcing the class, handing out the consent forms to students and collecting the signed consent forms after the parents signed them.

Today, none of that is likely to happen, and unless a future shooters gets exposure to proper gun safety and handling in he home, they don't have all that many opportunities to pick it up elsewhere unless they recognize the deficiency and take the time and spend the money to attend a firearm safety course.

[Mainsail]

I've had two memorable incidents- both at the same indoor gun range in Tacoma.

The first was a father shooting with his two sons, I guess their ages at seven and eight. For some reason he rented two lanes so the sons kept walking around behind the partition to get to dad, both waving their pistols in every direction BUT downrange. I politely but sternly expressed my displeasure and left. The money I had spent to rent the lane never even crossed my mind. I stepped out and told the clerk it would be a good idea to have an ambulance standing by- that the accidental shooting was inevitable. He did nothing.

The second time it was four college age guys and their girlfriends renting ONE lane. Each time someone stepped back to reload their magazines and let another one in to shoot, they brought back both the magazine and the gun to the back table to reload. Add in all the horseplay and bravado it it was chaos and everyone on both sides were being swept. I caught one of the offender's eye as his muzzle was passing me and said very sternly, "Stop pointing that gun at me!" He got the message and I suggested they leave their guns at the line and only take their magazines back. He huddled his group and corrected.

[Rogue Wizard]

Around these parts we refer to that as "muzzle sweeping". I have a neighbor who is very bad at that and the last time he did it, I made a point of educating him as to why he should not do that. I had mentioned it before, but this time I was very emphatic (but diplomatic)
about it.

I also have a problem with people who do not index whilst handling a firearm......

[CaptRon956]

It happens to the best of us, this is why practice & training is vital.. Last week one of the guys during our IDPA match got DQ'd for going past the 180° rule... spun around & fanned everyone behind him with a glock 17. Its the best way to learn IMO.

As far as the video is concerned....wow.... I cannot believe neither the salesman or the customer, who appears to be LEO failed to safety check the firearm.. basics rule of thumb, always assume the firearm is loaded... jeez, they taught us that in grade school back in the 70's...

[Whitwabit]

A-37 .. wondering about your handle "A-37" . Flew them in TAC 6TH SOS .. Just wondering..

[Whitwabit]

At the range I go to if anyone see someone sweep another the word Cease Fire is Heard. Anyone can call it at any time and if you violate the Cease Fire you are escorted off the range. The person in violation is then reprimanded personally in private. If that person does it again they become PERSON NON GRATA .. and are removed and Banned!! No exception allowed!! Weapons out of a case do not leave the cubical and are always pointed down range! The case is taken to the shooting table to remove weapon to shoot and put in rug/case before moving it from the shooting table and the range.

[JayAychOh]

"Flagged" is (or was) a common term, too. I still remember tactical instructors screaming, "You're flagging your partner, wildman! Muzzle control!"

[mqqn]

Muzzle-sweep is the term I use in my classes.

If you muzzle-sweep anyone with an unloaded firearm (in gun handling exercises for instance) you get one warning. Second time I ask you to leave with no refund.

If you muzzle-sweep anyone with a loaded firearm, I order you to unload, show clear and leave immediately with no refund.

I do tell students they can register for a subsequent class and I will not charge them again, but they have to start from the beginning.

This is just basic gun safety. You NEVER point the barrel at your hand, your leg, your foot, anyone else.

Ignorance and Negligence/carelessness. It's hard to tell them apart.

best

mqqn

[Doug M.]

"Crying" is often a good word to use. I am not really good with the idea of someone pointing a gun at me, and reserve the right to respond as the circumstances dictate. Invective is a given. I may well find it appropriate to draw my own.

[eveled]

I use a laser or light on a gun, as a teaching tool, for new shooters. To show them were the gun is pointed as they are handling/ loading it. People don't realize where the gun is pointed when they are not aiming it.

Then after the lesson, if I see a minor violation I say, "remember the light".