Grant Cardone Points Gun at Camera. Ethical?

[stevemac]

Motivational speaker & car sales trainer Grant Cardone posted a pic on social media of him pointing his pistol at the camera with his finger on the trigger. His caption says he loves the 2A. Someone commented that safe handling is also a hallmark of the 2A and I added to always treat it as if it's loaded and to never point it at something you don't want to kill.

The question is, is it ethical to take and post pictures pointing a gun at the camera with your finger on the trigger?

[decepticon6551]

You're asking if it's ethical to point your gun at a camera, as opposed to a TV or toaster?

If he was pointing it at a puppy, or that goofy lookin chick in the background, that would be unethical.
Personal electronics, and major appliances - ethical.

[tradecraft]

Camera slept with his wife.

[MrBlazito]

What the hell is going on with the guide rod in that gun?

[003]

A very poor example of safe gun handling. This is exactly the kind of thing the anti-2nd amendment crowd will exploit.

[decepticon6551]

https://www.itargetpro.com/

What the hell is going on with the guide rod in that gun?

I noticed that too.
Spare parts are to be expected when you're working on your car, not when you're cleaning your guns.

[stevemac]

A very poor example of safe gun handling. This is exactly the kind of thing the anti-2nd amendment crowd will exploit.

Yeah, this is what I'm getting at.

If you are a pro 2A advocate, would these actions contradict your advocacy efforts?

Most of the firearm advertising I have seen implement safe handling in the photography where the trigger finger is straight and clearly outside of the trigger guard. I'm assuming they do this to prevent accusations of promoting violence and to emphasize safety.

Grant Cardone has over 244k followers on his Instagram channel and it is possible that this pic and others like it could be offensive and perhaps even threatening to non-shooters. And since he is semi-high profile it can be used against an advocate (NRA, etc) arguing that the shooting community emphasizes a culture of safe handling, etc.

In my opinion it is not ethical. Wondering what others thought about it.

[DRM6000]

What the hell is going on with the guide rod in that gun?

Looks like a Glock 35. That guide rod is normal.

[TKM]

I've woken up stupid on occasion. The trick is to avoid posting until it passes.

[L84CABO]

You're going to have to help me understand how this is even remotely unethical? And how is this any different than what Hollywood does with guns? The only problem I see here is if there is actually a live person behind the camera or he didn't clear the weapon. And since we don't know, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt an assume he's being safe. Heck, for all we know he was in the middle of dry fire practice and decided to snap a photo of it and post it. Moreover, I'm done caring what the damn anti 2A crowd thinks. There's no reasoning with those idiots and they're going to wet themselves at the mere sight of a weapon anyway. Personally I think we should ram our great big beautiful, legal, AMERICAN, Constitutionally protected gun hobby down their throats until they choke on it.

[XDJYo]

Appears to be in a hotel ballroom? Then, maybe an unsafe direction.

[csshih]

Looks like a Glock 35. That guide rod is normal.

34 or 35, yup. My gen 4 looks like that.

[dieselpower]

so is a picture of a gun pointing at the camera just as bad or is it only when you are watching it happen?

[highpower]

Net nanny over thinking. It's a camera, not a person. Get over yourself.

[dwalker]

You're going to have to help me understand how this is even remotely unethical? And how is this any different than what Hollywood does with guns? The only problem I see here is if there is actually a live person behind the camera or he didn't clear the weapon. And since we don't know, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt an assume he's being safe. Heck, for all we know he was in the middle of dry fire practice and decided to snap a photo of it and post it. Moreover, I'm done caring what the damn anti 2A crowd thinks. There's no reasoning with those idiots and they're going to wet themselves at the mere sight of a weapon anyway. Personally I think we should ram our great big beautiful, legal, AMERICAN, Constitutionally protected gun hobby down their throats until they choke on it.

Agreed on every point.