Ok, Lucy ‘splain this to me

[Shibadog]

I am by no means “tacticool, but I witnessed something that I just can’t figure out. I am however an “experienced” guy, having started hunting with my Dad 66 years ago. I’ve been shooting handguns since 1970, and have over the years carried pretty much every single day for more than 4 decades,so I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Anyway I’m in the LGS bs’ing with the guys on a cold January morning. Two mid 30’s dudes come in and are oohing and drooling over the stuff in the case. A 50ish guy comes in, goes to the counter and buys a couple boxed of .45 acp. As he reaches for his wallet his vest opens enough to clearly show a 1911, cocked and locked, in a owb holster. No big deal. When he leaves the two young guys immediately go into a “did you see that”, “he was carrying a Cocked pistol”, “man, that’s scary ****”. (I’ve got a c&l EMPunder my sweatshirt while this is going on). The guy from the gun shop then says “what are you carrying Charlie” to which young Charles responds “my Sig 365, appendix carry”. The shop guy then says “ so it’s dangerous to carry a cocked and locked 1911 in an open holster, but it’s safe to carry a cocked and Unlocked striker gun shoved down the front of your pants”? This led to some looks and muttering, followed by the classic “ but it won’t go off unless you pull the trigger”. Shop owner “no, but neither will the 1911, and then only After you grip the pistol And after you drop the safety”. The guys were totally in the dark, esp concerning their OWN weapon. Why don’t people bother to actually learn about the weapon they carry rather than just what they’ve been told/read by someone equally in the dark? I truly don’t care what anyone carry’s but at least know the pros and cons of YOUR choice,

 

[jjrr]

Some of the younger generations somehow have the idea that they know something the rest of us don’t know and this applies to about everything in life, not just the subject here. Sadly maybe the numbers are huge that just “don’t want to hear it”.

 

[ken158]

Another reason I never wanted to work in retail sales…

 

[Greyman50]

From your 5th sentence on explains everything…..

 

[Brian Parrish]

I am by no means “tacticool, but I witnessed something that I just can’t figure out. I am however an “experienced” guy, having started hunting with my Dad 66 years ago. I’ve been shooting handguns since 1970, and have over the years carried pretty much every single day for more than 4 decades,so I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Anyway I’m in the LGS bs’ing with the guys on a cold January morning. Two mid 30’s dudes come in and are oohing and drooling over the stuff in the case. A 50ish guy comes in, goes to the counter and buys a couple boxed of .45 acp. As he reaches for his wallet his vest opens enough to clearly show a 1911, cocked and locked, in a owb holster. No big deal. When he leaves the two young guys immediately go into a “did you see that”, “he was carrying a Cocked pistol”, “man, that’s scary ****”. (I’ve got a c&l EMPunder my sweatshirt while this is going on). The guy from the gun shop then says “what are you carrying Charlie” to which young Charles responds “my Sig 365, appendix carry”. The shop guy then says “ so it’s dangerous to carry a cocked and locked 1911 in an open holster, but it’s safe to carry a cocked and Unlocked striker gun shoved down the front of your pants”? This led to some looks and muttering, followed by the classic “ but it won’t go off unless you pull the trigger”. Shop owner “no, but neither will the 1911, and then only After you grip the pistol And after you drop the safety”. The guys were totally in the dark, esp concerning their OWN weapon. Why don’t people bother to actually learn about the weapon they carry rather than just what they’ve been told/read by someone equally in the dark? I truly don’t care what anyone carry’s but at least know the pros and cons of YOUR choice,

Perhaps it is just ignorance of the safety mechanisms of the 1911, but I think there is something more here. Gun people, whom I love and defend, say and hold some inconsistent beliefs just because they are part of our culture and statements are accepted without scrutiny. For example, people who practice AIWB carry also believe that a small of the back holster will break your spine because somebody will push you down.
The one that baffles me is the idea that showing a gun or having a gun will deter a criminal causing him to look elsewhere for an easier victim, but open carry will get you killed.

I think you are on to it when you refer to the pros, yes there are some, and the cons, yes there are some, of any choice.

Kind regards,
BrianD

 

[WR Moore]

I doubt a great many people know/understand the mechanics of how their firearms-and a great deal of other stuff-actually works.

Slightly related example: instructions on the firing line- "This stage is 6 rounds in XX seconds. You will have to reload during the stage". (depleted magazine from previous stage). I don't recall if we said "have to reload" or got specific and explained they'd run out of ammo and have to reload. Despite this, you could count on at least one on the line demonstrating a ferocious trigger yank (possibly several times), stare at the gun, realize the slide is locked back, recall how to reload and reach for the spare magazine.

Obviously, for some the handgun was just one more darn thing to lug around.

 

[gdogs]

I'm constantly amazed at people that think a Glock (as well as 99% of the other striker fired handguns) has a safety. Anything that can be "turned off" by simply pushing against the trigger is not a safety IMHO. Putting a striker fired pistol in the your pocket in anything less than a positive retention holster is completely insane in my mind. Most pocket holsters that I've seen (and used) have very little retention. Not much of a problem with most DAO designs like I carry, but doing so with a striker and yes even hammer fired pistols with a safety is a no-go for me.

 

[somorris]

At least they were interested in firearms, and it appears they learned something that day! Sounds like a win to me!

 

[WCCPHD]

Don't bother explaining truth and facts to some people. Its all about feelings and what they are told.

Remember: "Common sense is not nearly as common as it once was."

 

[Yaworski]

Some of the younger generations somehow have the idea that they know something the rest of us don’t know and this applies to about everything in life,

I think that this has been true since time began.

 

[Mule Packer]

You have to remember...much of the information our young people get is from television or movies. What do you expect?

For example...proper shooting stance.

 

[Yaworski]

Anything that can be "turned off" by simply pushing against the trigger is not a safety IMHO.

I've said that since day one. "The gun won't fire unless you pull the trigger." Yeah, sure but many things can cause that trigger to be pulled accidentally.

Not many years ago, I read of a cop whose jacket wound up in his holster and when he pushed his Glock back into the holster, the jacket wedged into the trigger guard and fired the pistol. Oops.

 

[Yaworski]

We "gun people" need to remember that just because someone owns a gun or is in a gun shop, they may not be a "gun person."

My boss carries daily and has for years but has no interest in firearms other than the one that has. He shoots to maintain proficiency but not for recreation.

I've known many cops who know nothing about guns other than their duty gun and view practice and qualification as onerous tasks.

I have a friend who had been an Air Force Security Policeman. I was showing him my new 1911 and locked the slide back to show him that it was empty. After I handed it to him he asked, "Does the slide stay back all the time and only go forward when it fires?" He knew his S&W revolver, the M-16 and that was about it.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Ignorance is not limited to the youths. I've heard quite a bit of absurd things by older gun owners as well. As some noted, at least these two hopefully learned from the experience. We should be helping to educate young shooters when they say silly things, not berate them. Unless the future we want is less gun owners and more anti-gunners. We need to be unified, yet I've never seen more squabbles in an interest group than with gun owners, we rip on each other as much or more than anti-gunners. Instead we should be building each other up and realizing we at some point all said or did something ignorant that we could grow from. I know I have, and likely will continue to. The important thing is being open to learning.

 

[Shibadog]

I've said that since day one. "The gun won't fire unless you pull the trigger." Yeah, sure but many things can cause that trigger to be pulled accidentally.

Not many years ago, I read of a cop whose jacket wound up in his holster and when he pushed his Glock back into the holster, the jacket wedged into the trigger guard and fired the pistol. Oops.

This-the thought of reholstering a weapon with a “trigger” safety while wearing the holster scares the tar out of me (yea, I know if nothing gets in the way it’s no problem). Seeing tactical tommy stuff one into his britches makes me cringe. To ME triggers are there to fire the weapon-period. Grandson is a deputy who carry’s a Glock every day, BUT his is in the holster and STAYS there unless needed. I routinely go in and out of places (courthouse, post office, Dr’s offices) where carry is verboten, so I upholster and reholstering fairly often. YMMV

 

[Durango Slim]

Why don’t people bother to actually learn about the weapon they carry rather than just what they’ve been told/read by someone equally in the dark?

Most don't know the difference between a push rod and a connecting rod, yet they still drive.

You don't need to know the intricate details of how something works to use it.

As far a scoffing at someone's ignorance, remember that everyone starts at zero and learns along the way. The kid that bought the Sig wasn't suddenly imbued with knowledge of 1911s as soon as he took delivery.

There are a lot of different types of guns and expecting every firearm owner to know all of them is folly.

 

[Yaworski]

Most don't know the difference between a push rod and a connecting rod, yet they still drive.

One pushes, the other connects. Duh.

Sadly, most people have no interest in knowing how things work. My curse is that I want to know how everything works.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Who's scoffing?

Most don't know the difference between a push rod and a connecting rod, yet they still drive.

You don't need to know the intricate details of how something works to use it.

As far a scoffing at someone's ignorance, remember that everyone starts at zero and learns along the way. The kid that bought the Sig wasn't suddenly imbued with knowledge of 1911s as soon as he took delivery.

There are a lot of different types of guns and expecting every firearm owner to know all of them is folly.

The young men in their ignorance were scoffing at the man carrying a cocked 1911.

Kind regards,
BrianD

 

[Yaworski]

Someone once asked me why I preferred teaching women to shoot over young men. I said that women generally say, "I know nothing ... teach me." Men say, "Here let me show you all the cool stuff I already know." Also, women smell nicer.

 

[Jimmyjones]

This-the thought of reholstering a weapon with a “trigger” safety while wearing the holster scares the tar out of me (yea, I know if nothing gets in the way it’s no problem). Seeing tactical tommy stuff one into his britches makes me cringe. To ME triggers are there to fire the weapon-period. Grandson is a deputy who carry’s a Glock every day, BUT his is in the holster and STAYS there unless needed. I routinely go in and out of places (courthouse, post office, Dr’s offices) where carry is verboten, so I upholster and reholstering fairly often. YMMV

I normally carry a 640 or another Centennial AIWB, If I draw and need to re-holster, I remove the holster, insert firearm, put it back on my belt. I'm actually more comfortable with a 1911, or my CSX. Hammer to ride and a manual safety.