EPISODE #12: Finding a Dropped Gun

[Rob Pincus]

Thanks much, r_w.... been wanting to say that in front of a large audience for quite some time now... kudos to Bane and OC for putting on air.

-RJP

[MichaelJ07]

+1,000,000!!!!!  I actually applauded the TV when I heard you say that on the episode and backed it up (I love DVR's) so my wife could hear it, too. 

PLEASE PUT THAT PORTION UP ON THE WEBSITE.  I really want to be able to show a few people that--it just makes too much sense. 

+1 to infinity!!!! (Just to beat r-w's number  ) This really should be pinned somewhere on the homepage.
And this should be plastered on every firearm forum on the Internet! 

I certainly enjoy the show and learn something new each week.  Thanks for making it happen.

Michael

[sash]

On a related subject, after watching the show as a family last night, my 14 year old son asked me what he should do if HE is the one that is able to secure the dropped weapon, and then a teacher tells him to hand it over.  Both my son and I are pretty sure that he will be the most competent shooter at school, as he has been competing with me in various shooting sports for half his life.

Obviously, such a scenario is very unlikely, but worth a thought, if this episode is to be seriously considered.  The best his mother and I could come up with was for him to politely tell the teacher that he was an expert with that firearm and knew what to do safely; however, if the teacher felt he/she was more competent, then he would surrender it.  If the teacher insisted, he really has no choice but to hand it over.  I really don't want my son to learn what I learned in Iraq about the terminal effects of firearms, but in that situation, he has a calm head, superior skills, and I'd like for him to have "the best defense."

Any thoughts?

[tombogan03884]

He would have to make a call based on the circumstances but Clearing (unload and safe) the weapon prior to turning it over may be his best bet.

[Rob Pincus]

This is quite a a long shot scenario, but it is a likely follow-up question.... Personally, if it is my daughter, I'm telling her to keep the gun and explain to the "teacher" that she is making the problem worse and should stand down. Human behavior being what it is, most teachers are probably going to back down.

-RJP

[Sponsor]

[DonWorsham]

I also don't like the idea of unloading the gun and passing off to another while a threat still exists.

[tombogan03884]

I also don't like the idea of unloading the gun and passing off to another while a threat still exists.

When I posted , I made some assumptions, 1), the reason the gun was dropped was that the threat had been jumped by others and lost it in the struggle, 2) threat did not whip out another weapon,  3) threat was being handled by others. Like I said, specific circumstances would dictate what needs to be done, but if the threat has been dealt with it would just be safe handling procedure to clear the weapon before handing it to any one else.

[Ocin]

It is somewhat appropriate that I am traveling home from Europe on the day that this episode is airing.

In some all countries in Europe, there is certainly an attitude that if we don't talk about guns, make guns hard to get and stigmatized the entire topic of responsible gun ownership, that everything will somehow be fine.

We know better.

-RJP

Sorry, had to correct that.

On a related matter:

http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1171649.ece/Actieplan_tegen_gewelddadige_overvallen

It's in Dutch, I wasn't able to find an English translation. Basic message is that over the months January and February of this year the number of shops, small businesses and homes being invaded and robbed at gunpoint has increased by 21% compared to the same months in 2008. As a result of that a taskforce comprised of police, entrepeneurs, social workers (and i am pretty sure the boy-scouts and cub-scouts will probably be involved in this task force as well) will tackle this problem (or rather try to, I hope the will succeed  , but i doubt it severely).

There is of course a more cost effective and simple soution to this problem  , but i don't need to tell you all what you all know, right?

[Rob Pincus]

Ocin,

I've actually found a lot of positive gun culture and acceptance of firearms in general in some European Countries... not limited to, but exemplified by, Czech Rep and Slovakia....

Meanwhile, Tom,

In the scenario we were addressing on the show, the "dropped gun" was from a downed good-guy.... while the threat was still active at some other location... In the case of the gun being the threat's gun, I'd be more inclined to leaving the gun on the ground in the first place.

-RJP

[Ocin]

Ocin,

I've actually found a lot of positive gun culture and acceptance of firearms in general in some European Countries... not limited to, but exemplified by, Czech Rep and Slovakia....

-RJP

I stand corrected. These countries are indeed within the EU nowadays.