A question from an Anti

[noway2]

Yesterday, I was having a phone conversation with my mother, a die hard anti who claims to HATE guns. My mother also knows that both my wife and I own and carry Glocks. Apparently my mother saw something about the "rise of the American gun" book and also overheard some coworkers talk about leaving their CCW in their car, which she knows I do when I am at work. During the call she asked the following question: "when you are carrying 'it' in your pants, what keeps 'it' from going off and blowing your toes off?" I had the phone on speaker phone and my wife and I both tried to explain that these 'things' just don't go off on their own and that unless the trigger is pulled it doesn't fire. We stated that when it is in a holster that the trigger area is enclosed so that this doesn't happen. We explained how Glocks have mechanisms to prevent them from going off if they are dropped. My wife also stated that most guns that lack thumb safeties also have a heavier and longer trigger pull. None of this seemed to register or make sense to my mother, who appears to be under the impression that these 'things' really do just, go off on their own.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[skysoldier29]

My Glock almost just went off. It was my own stupidity that it almost just went off. I got the safety strap caught in the trigger guard, I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing re-holstering.

[archer51]

Take her to the range and let her see for herself that it won't "just go off by itself".

[Carnivoire]

Wow sky - glad it didn't, I am always worried about getting my shirt or somthing in the holster.

My parents just took classes for CCW here in WI.
Durring one of the initial discussion processes, I took the occasion to show them several different types of guns, operation and safety features.
My mother was initially appaled that a revolver didn't have a safety - same mentality. After demonstrating safe handleing of each, they touched and tried each (dry fire only) and came to the conclusion on their own. The gun will not just go off by its self - yes, safe handleing is always required.

[CanuckQue]

Take her to the range and let her see for herself that it won't "just go off by itself".

You're not allowed to drop your gun at the range! And that's what she's afraid of. :)

Could you placate mom by not keeping one round in the chamber? It strikes me as wise to not have the +1 anyway

[jlately]

"when you are carrying 'it' in your pants, what keeps 'it' from going off and blowing your toes off?"

A holster.

Don't bother arguing, some people will just never "get it."

[suntzu]

You're not allowed to drop your gun at the range! And that's what she's afraid of. :)

I was at the range with my wife one time and she "let" me use her Beretta Neos which she has all stylized for her, pink slide, pink grips, pink sights. I dropped it some mud and stared at it. I wasn't afraid of it going off, I was afraid her going off!!!!!!!

[foxytwo]

My Glock almost just went off. It was my own stupidity that it almost just went off. I got the safety strap caught in the trigger guard, I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing re-holstering.

That is why I like a XD or other weapons with a grip safety. I put my thumb on the rear of the slide when I reholster, that way the grip safety is not depressed and the weapon can not fire.

[tallon4wd]

You're not allowed to drop your gun at the range! And that's what she's afraid of. :)

Could you placate mom by not keeping one round in the chamber? It strikes me as wise to not have the +1 anyway

As you tell the BG.......just wait for a second while I load my gun! If it is not cocked and locked it won't go BANG when you need it.

[skysoldier29]

That is why I like a XD or other weapons with a grip safety. I put my thumb on the rear of the slide when I reholster, that way the grip safety is not depressed and the weapon can not fire.

The gun doesn't make a bit of difference. I wasn't paying attention to detail and ... The only safety I need is the one between my ears and that safety lacked coffee. I'm not going to rely on some sort of manual safety to keep me from shooting myself. Lesson learned on my part (PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE HECK YOU ARE DOING!!!).

[mcp1810]

Tell her it is the product liability lawyers that keep it from going off. If someone offered a product that was so unreliable and so hazardous that it could possibly "just go off" like she is worried about, they would be sued out of existence the first time it happened. Tell her the engineers wanted to make them like that but the legal department wouldn't let them.

[lordofwyr]

It may sound a bit....uhm....sexist, but just ask her if her vacuum cleaner, blender or washing machine has ever "just turned on?" For men, ask if that table saw, skill saw or car ever just "turned itself on."

No? That's because a human must manipulate a button, switch or lever to make them do what they are supposed to do, and that is what a trigger is. It is an activation switch that MUST be activated manually and intentionally or the gun will not operate.

Maybe that will get the point across, but I doubt it.

People with a deep visceral fear of guns have watched too many movies that show guns as just popping off rounds if dropped or bumped and will never see that the triggers and safeties are there for a reason. Can human mishandling actually cause a gun to go off? Sure, but the human must over ride those safeties intentionally, if not stupidly and accidentally.

[Mike1956]

You're not allowed to drop your gun at the range! And that's what she's afraid of. :)

Could you placate mom by not keeping one round in the chamber? It strikes me as wise to not have the +1 anyway

(sigh)

[Mike1956]

Yesterday, I was having a phone conversation with my mother, a die hard anti who claims to HATE guns. My mother also knows that both my wife and I own and carry Glocks. Apparently my mother saw something about the "rise of the American gun" book and also overheard some coworkers talk about leaving their CCW in their car, which she knows I do when I am at work. During the call she asked the following question: "when you are carrying 'it' in your pants, what keeps 'it' from going off and blowing your toes off?" I had the phone on speaker phone and my wife and I both tried to explain that these 'things' just don't go off on their own and that unless the trigger is pulled it doesn't fire. We stated that when it is in a holster that the trigger area is enclosed so that this doesn't happen. We explained how Glocks have mechanisms to prevent them from going off if they are dropped. My wife also stated that most guns that lack thumb safeties also have a heavier and longer trigger pull. None of this seemed to register or make sense to my mother, who appears to be under the impression that these 'things' really do just, go off on their own.

What is the rationale for telling a die-hard anti who red-letter hates guns that not only you but also your wife regularly carry concealed firearms? The time for advice was BEFORE you shared that particular bit of information.

[JoJoGunn]

Sad to say that there are some people so convinced by the anti firearm rhetoric that they may be a lost cause for any reasonable discussion on the subject.

Having said that, I would not waste time trying to convince someone so convinced that she is correct. You can't fix what is unwilling to be fixed.

Even though the person is your own mother, sometimes facing the reality she may never change has to be addressed and maybe accepted for what it is.