Gun muzzling during stagecoach "holdup"

[oakdalecurtis]

I was just curious how my fellow gunners might view this incident. I have taught my 8 and 11 year old grandsons how to handle firearms and how to shoot them. They began with a pellet gun and now shoot my .22 rifle at the range. They know the gun safety rules very well and can recite and demonstrate them to me easily. I had recently taken them to an "old west town" nearby with a stagecoach ride. During the stage ride, a "holdup bandit" stopped the coach, all in fun of course. The bad guy had a realistic engraved western revolver. He pointed it skyward during much of the "holdup", but several times he pointed at us in the coach too. If I were not with my grandsons, I probably wouldn't have thought much about it, I get it, it's acting. But BOTH my grandsons commented to me as we left the scene that the bandit should not have pointed his gun at us, even in a fake holdup. (they knew it was play acting too of course, but they also were taught that you don't point a gun at anything that you aren't prepared to shoot). I was surprised and proud of their correct and learned comment and told them so, and agreed with them. I waited a few days and called the owner of the stagecoach ride. I was very understanding and told him I got it, it's acting, but related to him my grandson's comments. He agreed! The owner also said he had heard that from others and had talked with the 'bandit" about it, but the bad guy forgets sometimes and uses his pistol like a finger to point at people in the coach. (The gun was also made nonfunctioning ) I told the owner that this was not a big deal and I did not want to get anyone in trouble, we really liked the ride. I just thought he should know what my grandkids said. Did I go too far?

[tradecraft]

But BOTH my grandsons commented to me as we left the scene that the bandit should not have pointed his gun at us, even in a fake holdup.

Wouldn't be much of a holdup then...

[CouchOperator]

I guess you guys have never seen a war reenactment

[71MUSTY]

So it was not really a gun, just a prop????????

[oakdalecurtis]

It was a real gun that had been disabled somehow. I suggested to the act would be just as real if he just held the gun pointing skyward the whole time, no need to muzzle the patrons, that's all. I was still proud of my grandsons for demonstrating good gun knowledge.

[oakdalecurtis]

You're right, we have a civil war reenactment near by annually, I didn't think of that. The only difference I can see is that the civil war actors willingly allow themselves to be muzzled during the event. We never made that deal on the stagecoach ride, does that matter?

[IrishJoe3]

You're right, we have a civil war reenactment near by annually, I didn't think of that. The only difference I can see is that the civil war actors willingly allow themselves to be muzzled during the event. We never made that deal on the stagecoach ride, does that matter?

On a stage coach with a non functioning replica revolver.....

And you called the owner to complain, (come on, really, what else was it other than a polite, nicely worded complaint?)

And due to customer complaints, future old West shows, the robber wont be allowed to draw the gun. This will go on until someone wets their pants at the sight of the gun and complains. Etc, etc.

Regarding the civil war reenactment, those are real guns, shooting real gun powder. Do you really think they are never fired towards you, the spectator? Should you call and complain? I bet if you file your complaint with the host location you can get future events shut down... That'll show'm how safety conscious you are.....

[tradecraft]

You're right, we have a civil war reenactment near by annually, I didn't think of that. The only difference I can see is that the civil war actors willingly allow themselves to be muzzled during the event. We never made that deal on the stagecoach ride, does that matter?

No.

[heidad01]

Yes, you did go too far.

[SWalt]

Should have just explained to the grand kids its acting and should be realistic to give the patrons a taste of what a real hold up will be like. Then point out it didn't feel to good to have a gun pointed at them. Would reinforce the idea pointing a real gun at someone isn't a good thing.

[sakosf]

I was just curious how my fellow gunners might view this incident. I have taught my 8 and 11 year old grandsons how to handle firearms and how to shoot them. They began with a pellet gun and now shoot my .22 rifle at the range. They know the gun safety rules very well and can recite and demonstrate them to me easily. I had recently taken them to an "old west town" nearby with a stagecoach ride. During the stage ride, a "holdup bandit" stopped the coach, all in fun of course. The bad guy had a realistic engraved western revolver. He pointed it skyward during much of the "holdup", but several times he pointed at us in the coach too. If I were not with my grandsons, I probably wouldn't have thought much about it, I get it, it's acting. But BOTH my grandsons commented to me as we left the scene that the bandit should not have pointed his gun at us, even in a fake holdup. (they knew it was play acting too of course, but they also were taught that you don't point a gun at anything that you aren't prepared to shoot). I was surprised and proud of their correct and learned comment and told them so, and agreed with them. I waited a few days and called the owner of the stagecoach ride. I was very understanding and told him I got it, it's acting, but related to him my grandson's comments. He agreed! The owner also said he had heard that from others and had talked with the 'bandit" about it, but the bad guy forgets sometimes and uses his pistol like a finger to point at people in the coach. (The gun was also made nonfunctioning ) I told the owner that this was not a big deal and I did not want to get anyone in trouble, we really liked the ride. I just thought he should know what my grandkids said. Did I go too far?

Was that in town of Columbia?

[jeremiah12]

Geez, the nanny state mentality is spreading everywhere. Last summer I was on an extended vacation to Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. I saw more than a few re-enactments that used non-functioning prop guns and guns loaded with blanks. There was quit a bit of muzzling the audience. The stagecoach or train "holdups" would not not be as realistic without having a revolver pointed at the people being held up.

Even better, a few people were actually OC and no one gave a second thought. I am sure a lot were doing as I was, CC.

[sonofeugene]

I was just curious how my fellow gunners might view this incident. I have taught my 8 and 11 year old grandsons how to handle firearms and how to shoot them. They began with a pellet gun and now shoot my .22 rifle at the range. They know the gun safety rules very well and can recite and demonstrate them to me easily. I had recently taken them to an "old west town" nearby with a stagecoach ride. During the stage ride, a "holdup bandit" stopped the coach, all in fun of course. The bad guy had a realistic engraved western revolver. He pointed it skyward during much of the "holdup", but several times he pointed at us in the coach too. If I were not with my grandsons, I probably wouldn't have thought much about it, I get it, it's acting. But BOTH my grandsons commented to me as we left the scene that the bandit should not have pointed his gun at us, even in a fake holdup. (they knew it was play acting too of course, but they also were taught that you don't point a gun at anything that you aren't prepared to shoot). I was surprised and proud of their correct and learned comment and told them so, and agreed with them. I waited a few days and called the owner of the stagecoach ride. I was very understanding and told him I got it, it's acting, but related to him my grandson's comments. He agreed! The owner also said he had heard that from others and had talked with the 'bandit" about it, but the bad guy forgets sometimes and uses his pistol like a finger to point at people in the coach. (The gun was also made nonfunctioning ) I told the owner that this was not a big deal and I did not want to get anyone in trouble, we really liked the ride. I just thought he should know what my grandkids said. Did I go too far?

No, you didn't go too far. Don't worry about it. And be proud about the way you're training your boys and about how they are learning.

[tileguy]

yes i think you did.

[dieselpower]

I was just curious how my fellow gunners might view this incident. I have taught my 8 and 11 year old grandsons how to handle firearms and how to shoot them. They began with a pellet gun and now shoot my .22 rifle at the range. They know the gun safety rules very well and can recite and demonstrate them to me easily. I had recently taken them to an "old west town" nearby with a stagecoach ride. During the stage ride, a "holdup bandit" stopped the coach, all in fun of course. The bad guy had a realistic engraved western revolver. He pointed it skyward during much of the "holdup", but several times he pointed at us in the coach too. If I were not with my grandsons, I probably wouldn't have thought much about it, I get it, it's acting. But BOTH my grandsons commented to me as we left the scene that the bandit should not have pointed his gun at us, even in a fake holdup. (they knew it was play acting too of course, but they also were taught that you don't point a gun at anything that you aren't prepared to shoot). I was surprised and proud of their correct and learned comment and told them so, and agreed with them. I waited a few days and called the owner of the stagecoach ride. I was very understanding and told him I got it, it's acting, but related to him my grandson's comments. He agreed! The owner also said he had heard that from others and had talked with the 'bandit" about it, but the bad guy forgets sometimes and uses his pistol like a finger to point at people in the coach. (The gun was also made nonfunctioning ) I told the owner that this was not a big deal and I did not want to get anyone in trouble, we really liked the ride. I just thought he should know what my grandkids said. Did I go too far?

I cannot state the amount of, WAT I see here.

dude stop. Take a deep breath and just stop. Whats next calling TV Stations to ***** about the actors in the shows pointing guns at your family as they watch the show? Are you going to complain about video games? OMG the guy in the video game pointed a gun at me

I swear Californians are their own worse enemy.