Alcohol and guns

[Steve in PA]

Why do people feel the need, want or desire to drink alcohol when handling or shooting firearms?

Last night I was working and decided to check a somewhat secluded area which borders my jurisdiction and came across three guys doing some shooting. I had heard the shots as I came around the corner.

I pulled up to the guys and asked what they were doing here. It is private property, but people do use it to ride ATV's, 4x4's and some shooting. Along with illegal dumping, drinking parties, stealing parts from a nearby junk yard, etc. The first group I don't have a problem with, but the second I do.

I was telling the guys that I don't hastle people for riding ATV's, shooting, etc. Then I spot the cooler and three open cans of beer. Now that I had a problem with. It just amazes me that people think think its okay to do something like that.

I told them that mixing guns and alcohol is like gasoline and fire. They don't mix!! Now, there is nothing illegal about what they were doing (shooting and alcohol), but after several minutes of me expressing my concern I think they say the light. At least I hope so.

[jcabin]

It's all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out, or in this case gets shot in the eye. Just a good idea to keep em seperate.

[NineseveN]

Why do people feel the need, want or desire to drink alcohol when handling or shooting firearms?

Last night I was working and decided to check a somewhat secluded area which borders my jurisdiction and came across three guys doing some shooting. I had heard the shots as I came around the corner.

I pulled up to the guys and asked what they were doing here. It is private property, but people do use it to ride ATV's, 4x4's and some shooting. Along with illegal dumping, drinking parties, stealing parts from a nearby junk yard, etc. The first group I don't have a problem with, but the second I do.

I was telling the guys that I don't hastle people for riding ATV's, shooting, etc. Then I spot the cooler and three open cans of beer. Now that I had a problem with. It just amazes me that people think think its okay to do something like that.

I told them that mixing guns and alcohol is like gasoline and fire. They don't mix!! Now, there is nothing illegal about what they were doing (shooting and alcohol), but after several minutes of me expressing my concern I think they say the light. At least I hope so.

And this is why I like and respect you so much. Good job handling that one IMHO.

[thatJeffguy]

I've had a few beers and shot guns. Sorry if the safety nazi's hate me for this. I know my limits and I know that a beer and a steak, then shootin' some guns, won't raise the odds of me blasting someone. YMMV, and don't do anything that you don't feel is safe, personally.

I've never shot when I've been "drunk", but I've shot, ridden snowmobiles and done rock climbing slightly buzzed.

[soberbyker]

I've had a few beers and shot guns. Sorry if the safety nazi's hate me for this. I know my limits and I know that a beer and a steak, then shootin' some guns, won't raise the odds of me blasting someone. YMMV, and don't do anything that you don't feel is safe, personally.

I've never shot when I've been "drunk", but I've shot, ridden snowmobiles and done rock climbing slightly buzzed.

The trouble with alcohol for a lot of people is it's very easy to cross the very fine line where you know what you're doing to not so much. Once you cross the line it's over you no longer know what's good for you.

One day a few beers may have no impact at all, another you've crossed the line. Things like empty stomach, heat and others come into play. It's best, IMHO, to leave the guns alone if you've chosen to have a few beers. That line isn't as clear cut as you may think.

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[7998]

Steve you did just fine.

What was he supposed to do, confiscate their weapons, and arrest them?
I agree that alcohol and firearms, cars, motorcycles, and many other things don't mix. "But" if the fellows were just having a "few"beers and were being safe, and on private property then let them be.

Now if they were shooting at towards possible trails that could be in use by atv's, or people in general, then yes they should have been told to leave.

Jeez, there isn't many LEO's like that anymore.

[thatJeffguy]

The trouble with alcohol for a lot of people is it's very easy to cross the very fine line where you know what you're doing to not so much. Once you cross the line it's over you no longer know what's good for you.

One day a few beers may have no impact at all, another you've crossed the line. Things like empty stomach, heat and others come into play. It's best, IMHO, to leave the guns alone if you've chosen to have a few beers. That line isn't as clear cut as you may think.

.

I agree with that completely. I'd never tell someone ELSE how much they should have to drink before deciding to not shoot and I'd never argue if someone said one sip of beer was enough alcohol that they didn't want to touch guns. The times I drink now are so few and far between that the odds of that occurrence happening while I was shooting are almost non existent.

However, when I'm "out west" in Wyo, Colo or Montana, sure, I'll bring some cold Coors Light to the range. I don't do it if anyone else is around though.


As for Steve's action...

I don't think he acted in the scope of "under the color of law". Here's how I think about it... if your grandfather was a policeman and came upon something not illegal but not especially smart, wouldn't he stop and say a few words?

What if some guys were juggling flaming katana's while chugging rum and a postman stopped to give them some fatherly advice about how dangerous that could be? He's obviously "on the taxpayers clock", but I'd have no problem with that.


All's well that ends well.

[MostlyHarmless]

Why do people feel the need, want or desire to drink alcohol when handling or shooting firearms?

There eventually is an explanation to this. Not a justification, but merely an explanation.

To get to the point, I have to take you on a little detour though. It always surprised me that the percentage of intoxicated motorcycle riders, involved in accidents, was higher than the percentage of car drivers involved in accidents. My "simple" thought was "motorcycles and alcohol don't go together, stupid".

But think about it again. Riding a motorcycle is commonly considered a higher risk than driving a car. There are many fatality statistics that "prove" it (they don't really, but read on). So it is quite natural that only people, who are willing to take higher chances or "risk" more, are willing to ride. I ride, and I way too often hear people saying they are too afraid to even try. Logically, everyone overestimating their own capabilities is in the group actually trying their chances. They ride, they ride fast, they ride faster and they become tree huggers (not the way they thought of the meaning of the word, a little more literal).

So since we find all the over confident people in the too much risk taking category, they boost the numbers of accidents that could be prevented by skills and training. I still doubt that a "safe driver" would be more prone to an accident on 2 wheels, 4 wheels or 18 wheels. They are just wheels. The thing that really boosts the numbers is "not having situation awareness".

Now back on topic. Alcohol and guns.

Drinking alcohol is taking a risk. Period. You are impairing yourself. Watch yourself.

I am doing it right now. I am aware of it. I know the risk. I have a personal don't drink and ride policy and I have a personal don't drink and gun policy. I do not have a don't drink and post policy, so you guys will have to put up with some drunk comments every now and then.

However, alcohol is a very treacherous drug. It makes you feel confident and capable while actually numbing your senses, seriously increasing your response times and decreasing your accuracy.

Drunk shooters are more an argument against alcohol, than they are an argument against guns. If they didn't have a gun at their disposal, they'd use a knife, or a baseball bat, or a stone, or their fist, or a car ... they would use "some thing".


Jan

[JCWohlschlag]

I am doing it right now. I am aware of it. I know the risk. I have a personal don't drink and ride policy and I have a personal don't drink and gun policy. I do not have a don't drink and post policy, so you guys will have to put up with some drunk comments every now and then.

Keep drinking. You’re still making sense.

[GoldWinger]

Simple reason. Because it is manly to do so. Drinking beer is a manly activity. Shootin' guns is also a manly activity. So doing both together is double manly.

When I was younger, every activity involved drinking (except shooting). Play football, drink beer. Play softball, drink beer. Play Risk, drink vodka. Trivial Pursuit, drink rum. Why'd we do that? Because we were stupid. Manly but stupid.