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

[Thomas]

I think you should have a mature, private discussion with him, explaining exactly WHY you will not take him. Leave out all the "gotchas" or any references to his politics or opinions about guns in general. Don't preach, belittle or try to convert him. Just explain to him that his comments, especially his "joke" about shooting you, caused you great concern. Careful deliberation on his behavior left you feeling very uncomfortable at the thought being around him if he were armed and you think it would be unwise to go shooting with him. Encourage him to go to a good range on his own and get some professional instruction, but you will not, now or ever, go shooting with someone who has, jokingly or not, threatened to shoot you. In order that this will not become a permanent bone of contention at work, you will never discuss firearms with him or around him again.

I disagree with this. It will most likely put him on bad terms with the OP. Then, the idiot co-worker might say something to someone else that gets the innocent OP in trouble. The best way to handle this IMO, is to let the topic between the two die, which means never initiating the topic, and if the other person brings it up, gracefully change the subject. After a while, the idiot co-worker will disassociate the OP with guns in his mind.

[Warhammer]

I think you should have a mature, private discussion with him, explaining exactly WHY you will not take him. Leave out all the "gotchas" or any references to his politics or opinions about guns in general. Don't preach, belittle or try to convert him. Just explain to him that his comments, especially his "joke" about shooting you, caused you great concern. Careful deliberation on his behavior left you feeling very uncomfortable at the thought being around him if he were armed and you think it would be unwise to go shooting with him. Encourage him to go to a good range on his own and get some professional instruction, but you will not, now or ever, go shooting with someone who has, jokingly or not, threatened to shoot you. In order that this will not become a permanent bone of contention at work, you will never discuss firearms with him or around him again.

I disagree with this. It will most likely put him on bad terms with the OP. Then, the idiot co-worker might say something to someone else that gets the innocent OP in trouble. The best way to handle this IMO, is to let the topic between the two die, which means never initiating the topic, and if the other person brings it up, gracefully change the subject. After a while, the idiot co-worker will disassociate the OP with guns in his mind.

I would say that making comments about going to the range and shooting the OP already qualifies as "bad terms." I agree that if the topic dies a natural death, it should be left alone. However, the coworker sounds like the type who would continue to press to be taken to the range, just to prove his own point or provoke a response. In that case, I think a calm and reasoned, but very direct response is the best approach.

[olafpfj]

Punk,

The context was as follows: We were having a civil discussion about pro vs anti etc which I foolishly allowed myself to get sucked into. Near the end of the conversation he says "you know that you are just living for the day you have to use your gun on someone". I said, in a quite serious tone, "No, absolutely not, I sincerely hope that I NEVER have to use my firearm on another person. However, I am prepared to stop any threat that poses a deadly threat to me or my family." He didn't get it and just kept rambling on, and then the 'shooting you while at the range' comment was made. I really didn't know what to make of it because it shocked me so much. In the interest of not making a big scene at the office I shut my mouth about the topic until I left.

BTW, I have decided: NO firearm discussions of any kind with this clown, and I will NOT be taking him to the range with me.

The irony I see in this whole situation is that in his attempt, or whatever it was, to bait you he has inadvertantly uttered statements that could place him on a "not eligable" list. He is doing EXACTLY what the anti's want people to report to the authourites to prevent sales of firearms. Tell him that you are reporting him and that he will be prohibited...for life, without due process...from ever being able to legally purchase or posess a firearm. This is the kind of behaviour and language that the anti's continually harp on, after the fact, that is the problem with our "loose" firearm laws.

If we just had better laws <insert name> would not have been able to obtain a firearm. Make sure that he understands that he is now officially, as per his anti utopia, that guy.

See how he feels about having his civil rights denied because of his "joke". That is, after all, what he wants for the rest of us!!!

[speedsix]

...a person like that won't be swayed by your facts or your kindness...he's got his mind made up and his accusative comments prove it...anything you say WILL be used against you...

[Oldgringo]

...a person like that won't be swayed by your facts or your kindness...he's got his mind made up and his accusative comments prove it...anything you say WILL be used against you...

Right on! As in the proverbial hot potato, drop him and any association NOW.

[VMI77]

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.

Ditto.