Politeness and etiquette goes out the window with me and gun safety/awareness
I have escorted people to the front gate and off ranch over gun issues. Have been told a couple times I overreact.
I don’t care.

There’s absolutely no reason to be polite in that situation

A few years back there was an "idiot" next to me shooting at the Garland Public Range. He was pointing his hand gun everywhere but down range at the target. He muzzle swept our group several times. I eventually approached him and took his gun away form him and after dropping the mag and clearing the chamber I gave it to the RSO stripped down in pieces. I have not been back to the chit hole range since.

I'm around a lot of strangers with guns every year. And they are standing on my land. I do not have to be overly polite, and I do not have to be an a-hole either. You open a gun case , and the bolt is closed, I am going to reach down and open it. The only safe gun is one with an open bolt, or open slide, and you still NEVER point it at anything you are not willing to destroy. I would say those words to him, look him in the eye, and never crack a smile. This is serious business, and if he cannot take constructive criticism then I would not want to be anywhere near him, holding a gun ever again. I would also plainly tell him I hope he does not accidentally shoot his wife or his kids due to his carelessness.

No sugar coating this stuff, it is life and death.

Do you have to actually tell someone they're "an idiot". Think I'd take the more PC route and kindly mention to the guy that he's practicing poor firearm handling protocol and why that is. If he doesn't like it, then non-politely tell him he's an idiot. Why has society gotten into first wanting to yell or cuss instead of discussing things sanely. We'd be a lot better off if we went back to doing it like we used to do.

That exact same scenario cost me a hell of a guiding job a few years ago, owners 16 yr old son would swing a loaded gun past everyone while handling. I addressed it immediately and it didn't go over well with the owners. It's a matter of life and death.

Polite happens within the scope of acceptable behavior. Your situation is not within.

Gun safety is zero tolerance. If you do it around me we will handle it on the spot. I will also yell at you for smoking while pumping gas.

Does anybody still do that?

"Bless Your Heart"...dumb azz idiot!

If you addressing safety cost you the job I argue that it wasn't "a hell of a guiding job". Sounds to me you were done a favor.

'It's not loaded'

My response to this is always 'There's a huge list of people that have died from 'unloaded' firearms. Let's not add to it.'

I had a friend that had terrible trigger discipline and would muzzle people all the time. One day we were at my range and I gave a stern "HEY MFer!!! Get your finger off the trigger and quit pointing that thing at me or go TF home." Hasn't been an issue around me anymore.

I would call him an idiot for showing his guns
That's how they get stolen

A good friend of mine's son was killed with a shotgun "not loaded". I have zero tolerance when around guns. I don't see what a direct "if you don't mind don't point that gun anywhere near my direction" hurts in a situation like the OP stated.

Hey dipchit stop being stupid. That’s what I’d say.

Yes. Probably 1/3 of people in this state are actual morons. Where you are is likely different.

I see on here with pictures. Someone shoots a deer and has their rifle laid across it and pointing right back in their direction with a closed bolt. Heck, sometimes it’s their kids. I don’t say anything… but I think it. However, just about every time I see someone with the bolt open I comment that I like the gun safety. Especially if it’s their kids.

Same goes with a shotgun leaned up against the tailgate full of birds. We’ve all heard stories of the dog knocking the gun over and it going off and shooting someone.

This is a great thread! I can almost guarantee you it will make a difference for someone in the future to either speak up when they see something, or change their actions themselves.

Was with a group of family and couple of friends recently and they wanted to shoot their guns. There were 2 pistols and an AR among 5 people. They all shot the guns for a minute and one of the friends who knows noting about guns of any sort wanted to shoot. He finished the mag and my nephew reloaded it and handed it back to this guy. He began talking and the pistol was waiving everywhere with his finger in the trigger guard. I told him to get his finger off the trigger and to hand me the pistol then proceeded to clear a round out of the chamber and dump the contents of the mag onto the dirt. Handed it back to him with the slide open and told him that even with no mag and the slide out of battery you still should never point it at anyone or anything you didn't want to shoot and only a gun handled in this condition is truly safe. He spent the rest of the afternoon repeatedly apologizing. Never met this dude before but I didn't care at that moment what he would think of me afterwards. Turned out to be a real nice guy.

I think we got you beat - probably 4/5 that are actual morons here.

As to the OP: I don't tolerate poor gun safety. I wouldn't have been nice - polite - whatever. Most people aren't going to take you serious the first time if you're nice. I'd rather be an [censored], teach you, and move on. One stupid mistake can cost someone their life - nothing nice about it.

That place was the worst. Always seemed like it was where the gangbangers went to train. Shooting their handguns sideways. Shooting across lanes. Sweeping people. Then ironically the ROs would chew your azz out if you dared to carry a fully cased gun during a cease fire.

I grew up hunting in south texas. From a very young age, was taught about guns. Camp rules, all actions left open. Bolt action? better have the bolt open. Semi auto? Better lock the bolt back and take out the mag. Lever action? better have that lever open. Pump? Have it open. Even single and double barrel shotguns? Better be broken open. It just really isnt that hard.

Sorry, but I'd have no nice way of explaining it to him!!!!!!

Why do you want to "sugar coat" the obvious? Sounds WOK to me.

Tell it like it is with ZFG...to Father as well.

There’s no nice when it comes to this.
I packed up my stuff, loaded up my boys and left because of this kind of thing.
They did have 2 accidental shots fired after we left, no one was hurt, but it’s not worth taking a chance.