Anyone borrow or loan handguns to people

[nipster]

I get questions all the time from people I shoot with:

"hey, I am going shooting with my (other) friends in a couple days, can you loan me your ______". (usually a 357 or 44 magnum)

I always politely decline, most of the time they will come back with "Hey, any time you want to borrow my _______ I will let you".

It puts me in an uncomfortable position, but I always say know. For obvious reasons.

I don't think I am, but i'm not being unreasonable am I? Too many things could go wrong, the least of which is the gun getting damaged or lost.

The ONLY people I have ever loaned a handgun are immediate family (brother who is a shooter and mother, when father was on a long out of town trip and he took his only handgun). I have loaned rifles and shotguns to friends who I know are going on hunting trips on a couple occasions, I am fine with that, as I have hunted with these people and I know they are responsible and will not do anything illegal with my gun.

 

[gregintenn]

I'll take a customer's odd gun in order to build a holster to fit it. Other than that, I'm not in the borrowing or loaning business.

 

[Denver Dick]

I'm 60 years old and have owned guns since I was 13 (since Dad was always too busy to take me to the gun shop, my big brother would buy them for me before I was 18). I have never, ever loaned a gun to anyone, even my brother (of course, he's like me in this regard and would never ask ). Frankly, that brings me to another point, IMHO anyone that would make such a request probably doesn't respect firearms enough. They seem to think of them the same as hedge trimmers or pruning shears.

 

[BlueBridge]

Nope, to much responsibility! The closest I have come to loaning a gun is to my brother when we are at the range together.

 

[Stu Honea]

I'm 60 years old and have owned guns since I was 13 (since Dad was always too busy to take me to the gun shop, my big brother would buy them for me before I was 18). I have never, ever loaned a gun to anyone, even my brother (of course, he's like me in this regard and would never ask ). Frankly, that brings me to another point, IMHO anyone that would make such a request probably doesn't respect firearms enough. They seem to think of them the same as hedge trimmers or pruning shears.

I don't loan tools,money,or guns.No exceptions.

 

[M29since14]

...IMHO anyone that would make such a request probably doesn't respect firearms enough. They seem to think of them the same as hedge trimmers or pruning shears.

Excellent point. I have always felt that way but was never clever enough to put it in words. To the OP: No - never a good idea to loan a pistol to anyone. You're not unreasonable.

 

[venomballistics]

If I have a situation where "WE" are headed out I'll loan a gun afield as required... that way I can account for it. That is the only way anyone will fire one of my guns.

 

[GKC]

I don't like for anyone, even my wife, to handle my guns...but because my wife sleeps with me, I agree on occasion. If someone else is willing to sleep with me, I might consider loaning them a gun...but if they are that desperate or crazy, letting them handle a gun is not a good idea, so no.

 

[tekarra]

Only to immediate family and that goes for tools as well. Friends have not asked to loan them a gun.

 

[Mickey D]

Nope, never have nor will I.

 

[thndrchiken]

I have no problem providing a loaner as long as I am with the person the entire time. If we part ways, my pistola goes with me. Way too much liability these days. I also have no problem loaning a rifle or shotgun for a hunt but I have to know the person borrowing very well. Other than that it's a flat out "NO".

 

[MarineSgtjimh]

I don't loan tools, vehicles, fishing tackle,dogs, wives , money, or guns. Saves a lot of problems.

 

[growr]

I must be the odd man out on this one....as an instructor I loan firearms to students all the time. All I ask is that they use factory ammo in them.

Many times students will try something on the table that fits them much better than what they brought out which makes their day much more pleasant all the way around.

Randy

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Back in 2004 my Dad loaned one of his shotguns to one of my brother's who
had told him that he was receiving death threats.

He wasn't exaggerateing since there was indeed a serious threat to his life.

He used the gun on himself.....

 

[pete-driver]

I bought a marlin 30-30 for $125 and put a $50 dollar scope on it. That is my loaner gun. Even then it usually only gets loaned at deer camp.
Old uncle Kenny said he was done hunting so gave all his guns away, usually shows up and hunts one morning. Also good for helping someone with a bad scope or broken gun finish a hunt.
But my hand guns or any other guns heck No.

 

[Edmo]

No, no, and no...

Same with money, tools, vehicles, trailers, and just about anything I have. I don't ask to borrow stuff from them so don't ask to borrow my stuff.

I'm really particular about my things and people who borrow things generally are not.

Edmo

 

[palmetto99]

I have to know and trust the person to loan a firearm. I don't do it very often, but I have done it.

I have borrowed a few, but once again, I have to know and trust the person. The exception for borrowing is my brother. He'll let me borrow just about any firearm because he knows it will be very well cleaned when he gets it back.

 

[kritter]

I'll loan out just about any gun I own for someone to use. But,only if I'm standing next to them..

I learned my lesson a long time ago lent out a model 12 in 20 gauge to my brother, seems he leaned it up on the back of his truck at the skeet field, and forgot about it when he left.....

never again.

 

[rimfired]

Illegal to loan a handgun. Shotgun and rifle OK. No pistola's.

 

[Roundsworth]

Loaning guns, money or motor vehicles will only create rifts, whether it be with family, friends or neighbors. I agree that most folks that borrow things would not respect them. They obviously don't care enough to save money to purchase said items.