Do you ever allow anyone else to handle your guns? If so, does this apply to any of your guns, or only specific guns? Will you ever allow anyone other than yourself to shoot one (or all) of your guns? How about the circumstances under which someone is allowed to handle your guns?
This is a philosophical question, and one that I was hoping all of you could weigh in on to help settle a debate we're having among a couple of us in my agency.
Here's the back story:
One of my friends is a former military sniper and a 25+ year LEO (he's a good bit older than I am, and served his military time in the early 80's). Anyway, we were talking guns the other day, after I brought in my new AI to show him, and the subject turned to gun philosophy. His philosophy is that, as a warrior, no one should ever get to handle your guns except you (and your spotter if you're working as a sniper team). He was saying how he wouldn't have let anyone finger-fondle the new Accuracy International if he was in my shoes, and felt that this philosophy was the prevailing opinion among military (and police) snipers.
On the other hand, for my part of it, I'm usually willing to let other people handle (or even shoot) most of my guns. In the past I've had the opportunity to shoot some pretty interesting guns owned by others who were kind enough to let me fire a few shots, and I usually try to pay it forward with that courtesy myself. But, to a certain extent I can see what he's saying when it comes to duty weapons. For me, it's something like this:
1) If you're cool with me you can handle my guns in my presence, but you better not be messing with my sights or optics (unless appropriate under the circumstances).
2) You'll probably be welcome to shoot my guns at the range, but only under my supervision.
3) You won't be allowed to take my guns out without me, though I've occasionally loaned a gun to a buddy while out hunting, etc.
4) I'm more relaxed with my gun "toys" than I am with the guns upon which my life depends.
So, where do you guys stand on this issue?
This is a philosophical question, and one that I was hoping all of you could weigh in on to help settle a debate we're having among a couple of us in my agency.
Here's the back story:
One of my friends is a former military sniper and a 25+ year LEO (he's a good bit older than I am, and served his military time in the early 80's). Anyway, we were talking guns the other day, after I brought in my new AI to show him, and the subject turned to gun philosophy. His philosophy is that, as a warrior, no one should ever get to handle your guns except you (and your spotter if you're working as a sniper team). He was saying how he wouldn't have let anyone finger-fondle the new Accuracy International if he was in my shoes, and felt that this philosophy was the prevailing opinion among military (and police) snipers.
On the other hand, for my part of it, I'm usually willing to let other people handle (or even shoot) most of my guns. In the past I've had the opportunity to shoot some pretty interesting guns owned by others who were kind enough to let me fire a few shots, and I usually try to pay it forward with that courtesy myself. But, to a certain extent I can see what he's saying when it comes to duty weapons. For me, it's something like this:
1) If you're cool with me you can handle my guns in my presence, but you better not be messing with my sights or optics (unless appropriate under the circumstances).
2) You'll probably be welcome to shoot my guns at the range, but only under my supervision.
3) You won't be allowed to take my guns out without me, though I've occasionally loaned a gun to a buddy while out hunting, etc.
4) I'm more relaxed with my gun "toys" than I am with the guns upon which my life depends.
So, where do you guys stand on this issue?