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Do You Lend Guns to Friends? Question of the Day

Robert Farago - comments No comments

“Legislation pending in the Maryland General Assembly would define a loan of a gun as a transfer,” baltimoresun.com reports. A gaggle of Democratic lawmakers believe the ability to loan a gun to someone without a government permission slip “makes it easier for the bad guys and criminals to get around the background check laws.” Be that as it isn’t . . .

I’m terrible when it comes to lending guns to friends. I’ll do it at the drop of a hat. Why not? If the recipient does something unfortunate with the firearm — a negligent discharge, suicide or a crime — it’s not my fault, right?

Of course, I don’t lend a person a gun if I think any of things are likely to occur. But who knows, really?

What I do know is that I have some cool guns and I like to share cool things with my friends. And so I do. Do you?

Or do you refuse to run the risk of a bad, bad thing?

Do you share the Democratic legislators’ belief that an unexamined firearms “transfer” is such a danger to society that gun owners should be prohibited from loaning a gun without a criminal background check on the person benefitting from their ballistic largesse?

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Robert Farago

Robert Farago is the former publisher of The Truth About Guns (TTAG). He started the site to explore the ethics, morality, business, politics, culture, technology, practice, strategy, dangers and fun of guns.

0 thoughts on “Do You Lend Guns to Friends? Question of the Day”

  1. Depends on the friend and the reason.

    To help a buddy get his NM CCW permit in the largest caliber? Sure, done it. To help the shifty neighbor three doors down, who’s said hello three times in five years, deal with “a little problem around the house?” Not likely.

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  2. Nope except at the range. Guns aren’t exactly a car.
    I did however have to co-register my EDC with my business partner and vice a versa in NY. Due to their sucky possession laws.

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  3. There are some companies in TFG’s portfolio who make high quality guns.

    I was concerned when I saw Remington buy Dakota Arms. Well, now my worst fears have come true. Dakota is part of Remington, and now Remington is going down the tubes.

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  4. Paul Harrell is my go-to for thoughtful gunstuff analysis … though he’s typically reviewing ammo and application, rather than specific firearms.

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  5. Depends, at the range I’m super happy to let anyone try my stuff, I’ve got some sweet weapons and I’m happy to let people try something you don’t see everyday.
    Lend as in give to someone who then takes it away from my house, mostly no, as I like my toys and have invested in nice ones and don’t know many people who would want to borrow instead of just go shoot together.

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  6. How secure is the software it uses? Can it be hacked allowing a thief to know that I’m getting a firearm out of a safe? Or does the police have access to it, in the event that someone gets swatted and the police come in guns blazing if they detect the person inside opening their gun safe, when a citizen is merely trying to defend himself?
    Call me skeptical but I’m weary of bringing in any smart device in my home to the point that I’m looking at going back to a flip phone.
    (If there’s trout in the milk you have to look)

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  7. The Colt Mustang pocketlite was ahead of its time.

    12.5 oz and good functioning with ammo of the day.

    The problem was we didnt have all the CCW states that we have today.

    The one I liked the most but was never able to find was the Pony, a DAO mustang.

    A friend had one that worked well but Colt quit making them before I got one.

    I recall Ayoob did an article on replacing the springs to prolong service use.

    That said, i dont want a SA pistol in a pocket holster.

    These guns are fun to shoot but I will stick to my LCP for EDC.

    I look forward to seeing the wring-out of the 911.

    Maybe do a comparo with the Mustang, Sig, and Kimber.

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  8. Nope. I might let you shoot it at the range while I’m standing next to you but not handing it out to carry or qualify. Buy your own.

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  9. Scary. Sucks that he had to kill a wolf but hey, sometimes when you’re an apex predator other predators have to be reminded of who’s really in charge.

    Nice that the beasts are making a comeback but that will mean more contact with people.

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    • “Nice that the beasts are making a comeback …”

      As much as I love canines and wolves, I am deeply concerned about an abundant wild wolf population on the loose. Seems like an abundant wild wolf population could seriously be a huge problem.

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  10. It’s never come up…I have a few friends/brother who I would but except for my brother they haven’t asked. All of my church friends have guns too…

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  11. Here in Washington state the loan of a firearm requires a background check and transfer by an FFL.

    Really – I’m not making this up.

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    • The details are different, but pretty much the same in California now, except that you may loan firearms to close family members. The rules apply at the range as well. The only other exception is that gun ranges can still rent out guns. But I don’t think any one at any range, including the BLM ranges, is actually “enforcing” this law. I mean really, does anyone carry proof of ownership around with them?

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  12. Not ONE of the bazillion homicides in MD can be traced to a loan. They could have fixed this in 2013 when they trampled over Marylander’s rights…. but it did not have a lot of support, or impact, then either.

    Know what the theme of the homicides in Maryland is? “repeat offender.”

    Democrats in MD need to focus on keeping bad guys, er, their constituents, in jail.

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  13. I’ll let other people use my firearms (freinds & freinds of freinds) at the range (while I’m standing there). Mostly, it is so a relative of a friend can try a particular firearm that I happen to own.

    Most people that I might loan a firearm to probably already have a version of the guns I own and they all have carry permits.

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  14. In a world where cursive isn’t even being taught anymore, Robert and Co’s few typos are not a concern of mine. I’m also 64 and have seen the changes. The word there, their and they’re along with the total disregard for the word too as in also are so common.

    My point is that I come here to be informed and even humored sometimes. I appreciate the facts presented in a fair and just manner. I “get it” when there is an error, it takes nothing away from the meat of the article. More Israeli supermodels, less proofreading works for me! Carry on Robert

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  15. Not anymore, loaned my 243 to a new deer hunter, then his dumbass Freind decided my scope wasnt zeroed. Re zeroed it and didn’t mark down the changes as I had ask them to do. Couple weeks later, I go to their house to get it and it’s propd in the corner with a loaded chamber. So no more of that

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  16. What’s that you say? Remington is filing for bankruptcy? Why, with quality firearms such as this, I simply can’t believe it!

    Alternatively for those who suffer from a difficulty understanding sarcasm;

    If you had to distill all the reasons Remington is about to go belly-up into one massively pointless turd sandwich, it would look a lot like a PGO box-fed pump-action shotgun…

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  17. New from Remington? What, are they having a fire sale? This isn’t really the time to promote new products, just before they padlock the doors.

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  18. ‘Why are you marketing a bag specifically to people trying to hide a gun from the general public? ”

    Perhaps because it’s the Americans People’s right to exercise their right if they choose and said companies choice to produce a product catering to that market.

    I gain joy from watching Leftist’s panties getting all in a knot from something as this.

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  19. quarter cock safety sounds like it’s just the tip.
    seriously, i hate the hammer block safeties on my not early enough levers. good on them for ignoring the litigious society.
    the shorter, round barreled versions are over a pound lighter, but i don’t think you can go too far wrong with any of these.

    Reply

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