A Firearm Scenario

[DentonandSasquatchShow]

Was thinking about this today and wondered how others thought.

Scenario:

You are out hunting, fishing or otherwise legally carrying your sidearm. You come across a LEO or game warden and exchange hellos. The officer is friendly and strikes up a friendly conversation. You're not being detained or questioned, it just seems like he wanted to shoot the poop. At one point he says he likes your firearm and was thinking of getting one himself, then asks "Can I take a look at it?"

Do you let him take a look or decline? And why...Go!

[bhp1410]

Ask if you can see his.. if he says yes then sure hand it over

[Flintlock Tom]

I had a Border Patrol agent ask to see my M1. I let him see it and asked if he wanted to shoot it. (ping!) Big grin and he went on his way.

[tawadc95]

If I did I would certainly explain that I am going to take it out, unload it and leave the slide locked back before I hand it to you, then you are free to let the slide down and look it over and move a little slower.

[dwinters14]

I guess it would depend on the cop. I've met some cool dudes and a lot of them are gun enthusiasts just like us.

I always feel like you'll get further with honey apposed to vinegar. But I'd still CMA and not show him anything that might be illegal if I had it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[one9kilo]

I'm not doing anything illegal so sure. If its a game warden, I most likely will bump into him again so it doesn't hurt to befriend him... or at least attempt to.

[ChuckDizzle]

I always let the game wardens check out my stuff, they are usually looking for compliance with the method of game harvest.

After a friendly chat they usually point me to a good spot to hunt what I'm looking for.

[smittty]

That scenario, he's still on duty so my opinion is that if he asks, regardless how friendly it may appear, unload and let him take a look.

[Preston-CLB]

That scenario, he's still on duty so my opinion is that if he asks, regardless how friendly it may appear, unload and let him take a look.

That's a good thought and course of action to take. You might even make a friend to go shooting with, or get good info about places to hunt or shoot.

As I see it, we are ambassadors of our sport. Anything we can do to maintain or garner a good rep is a good thing.
-P

[Spyder]

Eh, if you're that far in to a conversation and it's no different than you'd have with another hunter or someone at the range, they ain't out to "get you". Anyone can check out my gear whenever they want, as long as they're safe about it.

[omega]

no, he shouldnt be asking to look at your gun unless he suspects it's not legal

I wont even let a random person at the range handle my firearms, even if they ask.

[200Apples]

You are out hunting, fishing or otherwise legally carrying your sidearm. You come across a LEO or game warden and exchange hellos. The officer is friendly and strikes up a friendly conversation. You're not being detained or questioned, it just seems like he wanted to shoot the poop. At one point he says he likes your firearm and was thinking of getting one himself, then asks "Can I take a look at it?"

Like our esteemed colleague omega, my default is never to ask strangers who happen to be on duty if I can see their firearm. Likewise, I won't let any random stranger handle my firearms if their request is out of left field...

That said, in the OP's scenario, the interaction has progressed past the random, out-of-left-field stage of the encounter, and while we'll never *really* be able to say until we're actually in this situation, the request in the OP seems a friendly one and by one with whom you share a mutual interest. At that point, safe gun handling dictates that not only I clear my firearm, but that he should too, at least by an obvious visual check of the chamber through the open action... etc.

[200Apples]

ON THE OTHER HAND, if he accepts your firearm and stuffs it into his belt at his 6 o'clock then orders you to your knees and says, "You got a purty mouth...", you'd better have your backup weapon handy.

[71MUSTY]

Was thinking about this today and wondered how others thought.

Scenario:

You are out hunting, fishing or otherwise legally carrying your sidearm. You come across a LEO or game warden and exchange hellos. The officer is friendly and strikes up a friendly conversation. You're not being detained or questioned, it just seems like he wanted to shoot the poop. At one point he says he likes your firearm and was thinking of getting one himself, then asks "Can I take a look at it?"

Do you let him take a look or decline? And why...Go!

This happens often when we are out camping/shooting with the Church (Usually CHP or Sheriff). Of course I let them shoot and I invite them to come back for grub after their shift (we always have plenty). FWIW they rarely accept, but it never hurts to be friendly. Some of the Church dads are LEO's anyway and most that are not have CCW.

I even took a CHP officer 4 wheeling because his unit couldn't get to what he wanted to check out. When I buckled up he laughed and said "You don't have to do that on my account" (we were already off road).

I told him "It's not on your account, where we are going it's really hard to steer if I get bumped into your lap"

He then buckled up too

[DRM6000]

ON THE OTHER HAND, if he accepts your firearm and stuffs it into his belt at his 6 o'clock then orders you to your knees and says, "You got a purty mouth...", you'd better have your backup weapon handy.

The weapon of last resort - teeth.