'Anti' co-worker wants to go to range with me?

[sabrs584]

I work with a guy who insists he is not an 'anti', and then always proceeds to prove himself wrong. His main argument is "if more people have guns in their hands, the more crime there will be!" I give him a brief argument from time to time but usually don't take the bait.

Well the weird thing is he has been pestering me to go to the range! He knows I possess firearms, not a CHL. I told him that I would need to spend some time with him on firearm safety before we went and he scoffed at that. (He claims to have used firearms before but I have my doubts) That was red flag #1. Then he proceeds to joke around about shooting me when we go to the range and so on.....red flag #2..wow. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[McKnife]

If he had initially shown interest in self defense or firearms, I would say go for it.

But, it sounds to me as if he is not mature enough. I would tell him no and I would never bring up firearms in a conversation with him again.

Just my 2¢.

[Thomas]

Don't. Try to avoid him politely. It sounds like he's the kind of guy who might say something about you to another person (innocently in his mind), but comes out wrong and gets you in trouble. If you can't get away from him (works in same area as you), just dont talk to him about guns.

[The Annoyed Man]

Anybody who jokes about shooting me can go jump off a cliff. I'd tell him that you don't take people to the range and prefer to shoot alone.

[smtimelevi]

I'd tell him that since more guns = more crime if he goes shooting that will increase crime.

[Rusty4570]

I have had the same situation.I told the guy that we would go to range with a strict understanding that I am the boss,and at the first sign of not being serious about safety,you would be ejected from the range.You may just turn an anti to a pro.

[punkndisorderly]

I go out pf my way to take people like that to the range. One of the "hooks" I use is that if you are anti gun, you should at least know your enemy. The majority leave with the feeling that guns, shooting, and the people who do it aren't what they thought they were. They may not change their opinion, but they do leave with a positive experience relating to guns and that most of us are not the creepy people waiting to snap or the thugs they see with guns on TV. I can only remember one that didn't end up having a great time. I think she had some deep seated issues in her past that were stronger than a trip to the range could cure.

As far as safety, it's easy for someone ignorant to joke about it standing at the water cooler. When they actually are at a range with others and have guns in front of them, they tend to become very serious.

[Oldgringo]

Anybody who jokes about shooting me can go jump off a cliff. I'd tell him that you don't take people to the range and prefer to shoot alone.

, surely you can find someone else to hang with?

[speedsix]

...can't see the possibility of good coming out of it for all the red flags waving in my face...I wouldn't take this loose cannon to lunch, much less let him hold a slingshot around me...

[fishman]

Tell him if he wants to "go shoot", then get a gun and go to the range. Since he's an "expert" he doesn't need you to go and hold his hand.

[74novaman]

Anyone who claims to already be an expert in gun safety, and then says he wants to shoot you....is not someone who I'd be a real hurry to hand a loaded gun.

[Munk]

...pass.

[Keith B]

I wouldn't be so polite. I would tell him that his comments are totally out of line and that you are glad he is anti-gun because he doesn't appear mature enough to take gun ownership and handling seriously. Tell him these are the kind of thoughts that cause people like him to lump responsible firearms owners into the same categories as gang bangers and thugs. If he doesn't like it then I would see no great loss as a friend. I personally would not want to associate with people who wouldn't look at the subject in an adult manner.

[surferdaddy]

Tell him sure, but you'll have to be especially careful cause the last guy that went with you experienced that horrendous accident which unfortunately left him sterile. :p

[wharvey]

Something like this happened to me years ago. A fellow worker who was anti gun but not vehemently so nor that vocal about it said that his brother-in-law, a county judge!, gave him a handgun and suggested he keep it in his house. The guy wanted to go to the range with me to test it.

In spite of his anti gun bias he had never tried to push the anti-gun stuff and we were friends so I took him to my favorite public range in the area. Turned out his was a very competent shooter. But then we were both in our 40's and he had served in the military so that was to be expected. A person is anti as a personal choice doesn't bother me that much as long as they don't try to push it on others.

I guess taking this guy is just a personal decision you'll have to make. I would watch him very carefully as to safety but you know that. Who knows, you might make a convert.