For several years, I worked for a sporting goods chain

[Are_grits_groceries]

that carried handguns as well as rifles and shotguns, etc. it was a pain in the ass. With regularity, the ATF would appear to look at our records. Several times they were establishing the links for a weapon that had been used in a crime. At one point, our district manager had to represent the company and testify in a trial.

At the end of every night, they all had to be verified. Every handgun had to be in the right box and with the correct serial number. I was ecstatic when we got rid of them. Right before that, someone drilled through the roof of one store and stole all the guns.

That didn't end the fun. I was working behind the hunting counter when a customer asked to hold a rifle. I gave it to him, and he proceeded to aim it around the store at gawd and everybody. I asked him to give it back to me. I told him that he should not even hold a gun unless he knew basic gun safety. You don't aim at people. EVER.

He got huffy and told me he would be calling the home office. I told him good. I would invite them down so we all could take gun safety courses. He stalked off.

I never heard from him but I didn't care. What if some assclown that worked in the store thought it would be a real hoot to load a rifle unbeknownst to anyone else? That may sound fargetched, but you never know. I didn't want to find out.

[pipoman]

1. Most of the bigger sporting chains have the actions secured, in my experience..

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Where and when I was working,

lawd knows what was secured. It was a regional chain. From what I could tell, we were lucky to secure what we did. I was an assistant manager of that section for a while, and securing the actions was not a plan or action.

[Victor_c3]

3. Not really related to this post, I guess....

but one of the things that I learned in my time in the Army is the first thing you do when you pick up a weapon is clear it and make sure there isn't a round in it. You never know...

[AnneD]

4. From personal experience.....

when disaster hits, esp in large urban areas, the 2 places most likely to be hit are places that sell guns and ammo and pharmacies. Hospitals are sitting ducks unless they can get law enforcement out.