Playing Golf with Someone Carrying a Weapon

[inthehole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthehole

I think a lot of guys are missing one key point.   The most likely need for a CCW when on a remote golf course is for protection against animals.    I've seen a coyote in the open, mid day just hanging around a tee box, showing no fear of humans ... this is highly suspect behavior, perhaps indicating rabies ??      The first thing I thought of was I wished I had my CCW - it would have been far better to be prepared than trying to extract myself from a big furry buzzsaw with a 9 iron ... fortunately, I was able to skip that hole without incident.

No, that was written out of the question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogielicious

Note: You know the player is not a Law Enforcement Officer or Military.  You are also not in an area with dangerous wildlife. Example: Areas of Australia that have deadly snakes.  Areas of Alaska with aggressive bear populations.  Also, it is not a high crime area or area dangerous military conflict area.  Example:  You are not playing near Bagram AFB in Afghanistan or in Mosul Iraq.

Ah OK - missed that part ... carry on.

[iacas]

Exactly. For most golf is a leisure activity and for the better part of 4-5 hours you are on 125 acres and encounter few people. Chances are those closest to you are someone you know and the other potentially 8 others ahead and behind spend most of the day hundreds of yards away from you.

I'm with others in wondering, though, how you can predict the future or speak to everyone else's situation.

What if the golf course runs through a bad neighborhood? What if there's a prison half a mile away? What if someone is really fed up with having golf balls hit their house? What if a guy had death threats against him so he carries everywhere in case one of the crazy people target him on the golf course because he's less likely to be carrying there?

All that said, of course, I've never carried a gun on the golf course. But I don't get to tell others they shouldn't. It's my choice whether to play with them or not (and that decision has many facets), but not to say that anyone who does is wrong (or whatever).

[Jeremie Boop]

I probably wouldn't be comfortable with it.  Mostly because I would he/she is probably a crazy person if he packs a gun in his golf bag.  Guns and crazy people are not a good mix.

Also, if he's wearing it on his person I would be concerned.  It seems to me that a good rule of thumb would be to not carry a firearm on your person while engaged in athletic activity.  It would just seem unsafe and I wouldn't want to be around unsafe gun people.  Also, the likleihood of the guy being a crazy person would be through the roof if he's doing that.

Assuming someone is crazy because they have gun in their golf bag is no better than assuming a person is a criminal by the color of their skin. And having a gun on your person while performing physical activities isn't exactly unsafe, I mean cops and military routinely have to perform very physical activities while having firearms on their person.

[jusanothajoe]

I voted maybe, I want to make sure he is not smoking weed before I agree to play with him.

Last week my company was visited by two customers we had never met. My boss and I were in a closed door meeting with them and the topic of guns came up. My boss opened the drawer on his desk, took out his new pistol and showed it to the customers. Both asked to see it, so he unloaded it, and handed it too them to look at.

Absolutely no one felt uncomfortable, just the opposite. Just a different outlook here I guess

.

[rehmwa]

like everything - I take my impressions one individual at a time.  so answer 3

and who's the crazy person?

I'd think it's the guy that assumes every stranger is homocidal and can't be trusted to make decisions for themselves.

In general - there would need to be very clear indications of instability before I'd worry too much about glimpsing a handgun in someone's bag.

and it's really silly reading people talking about wearing it on the hip - you urban folk watch too many movies?

and golf is neither an athletic activity, nor a very physical activity -

I'd be more scared of a guy with iron covers - clearly deranged

[dsc123]

Assuming someone is crazy because they have gun in their golf bag is no better than assuming a person is a criminal by the color of their skin. And having a gun on your person while performing physical activities isn't exactly unsafe, I mean cops and military routinely have to perform very physical activities while having firearms on their person.

Its completely different to judge someone by their actions than by the color of their skin.

As far as whether its safe to have a gun on your person while playing golf--I'm sure it can be done safely.  But cops and military people are also professionals and receive a LOT of training.  Any they were written out of the question.  I have no similar assurance about the guy playing golf with me.

And sure, the guy might have a reason to do it.  Or, he might be a crazy person.  The only reasons given thus far are basically that your life can be in danger at any given moment.  Okay, I guess that's true.  But the odds that you're going to need a gun to defend yourself on the golf course are probably about the same as the odds that you're going to need that fully stocked bomb shelter in your back yard.  Doesn't mean you can't do it, it just means that I'll be a bit more skeptical of your sanity than I would another person.

And I'm not anti-gun.  If I didn't have young children at home, I'd probably own a gun for self defense in my home.

[Jeremie Boop]

Its completely different to judge someone by their actions than by the color of their skin.

As far as whether its safe to have a gun on your person while playing golf--I'm sure it can be done safely.  But cops and military people are also professionals and receive a LOT of training.  Any they were written out of the question.  I have no similar assurance about the guy playing golf with me.

And sure, the guy might have a reason to do it.  Or, he might be a crazy person.  The only reasons given thus far are basically that your life can be in danger at any given moment.  Okay, I guess that's true.  But the odds that you're going to need a gun to defend yourself on the golf course are probably about the same as the odds that you're going to need that fully stocked bomb shelter in your back yard.  Doesn't mean you can't do it, it just means that I'll be a bit more skeptical of your sanity than I would another person.

Not exactly "completely different' IMO, because you are seeing one specific detail about a person and making a judgement about them. It's never a good idea to be quick to judge someone.

[Ernest Jones]

I'm with others in wondering, though, how you can predict the future or speak to everyone else's situation. What if the golf course runs through a bad neighborhood? What if there's a prison half a mile away? What if someone is really fed up with having golf balls hit their house? What if a guy had death threats against him so he carries everywhere in case one of the crazy people target him on the golf course because he's less likely to be carrying there? All that said, of course, I've never carried a gun on the golf course. But I don't get to tell others they shouldn't. It's my choice whether to play with them or not (and that decision has many facets), but not to say that anyone who does is wrong (or whatever).

Hmmm...might need to start a thread about people's comfort level playing golf with a guy who has multiple death threats against him. :bugout:

[Golfingdad]

Not exactly "completely different' IMO, because you are seeing one specific detail about a person and making a judgement about them. It's never a good idea to be quick to judge someone.

Why not?  If his judgment is simply "The guy with the gun makes me uncomfortable so I'm not going to play in his foursome."  How is that a bad thing?

I see creepy looking homeless guys while walking to lunch and I judge them based on that one aspect.  The "consequence" of my judgment is that I'm simply walking to lunch on the other side of the street.  I'm not calling the cops or holding up giant signs telling others this guy is a creep ... I'm just being safe.

It's FREQUENTLY a good idea to be quick to judge somebody in those situations.

[rehmwa]

Of course - this gives a whole other meaning to the "What'd You Shoot Today" thread....

that, and any "Aimpoint" threads

that, and the need for the clarifying phrase " Golf Shot"

[David in FL]

It's not hypocritical at all.  He doesn't carry on the golf course.  He doesn't think it's remotely necessary, and thinks that people who do are being 'scaredy-cats.'  It's very consistent. Hypocritical would be calling others scaredy-cats and saying they shouldn't carry on the course .... whilst actually carrying on the course. :-P

Not at all. The hypocrisy lies in that he clearly believes in his right to legally carry and decide for himself where and when it's appropriate to do so. . He does not that exact same courtesy/right to others.

[Jeremie Boop]

Why not?  If his judgment is simply "The guy with the gun makes me uncomfortable so I'm not going to play in his foursome."  How is that a bad thing?

I see creepy looking homeless guys while walking to lunch and I judge them based on that one aspect.  The "consequence" of my judgment is that I'm simply walking to lunch on the other side of the street.  I'm not calling the cops or holding up giant signs telling others this guy is a creep ... I'm just being safe.

It's FREQUENTLY a good idea to be quick to judge somebody in those situations.

He said the person is "crazy" because of the gun. How is that even a fair or accurate assumption? I will concede I should not have used "never" because that's not a good word to use. I would argue that frequently is probably a stretch though, depending on where you live. If you live in a bad area you may need to make snap judgments a lot more.

[dsc123]

Not at all. The hypocrisy lies in that he clearly believes in his right to legally carry and decide for himself where and when it's appropriate to do so.. He does not that exact same courtesy/right to others.

He didn't say others don't have the right to legally carry on the golf course. He just said that people who do that are the "scaredy types" and that he probably wouldn't enjoy their company.

He said the person is "crazy" because of the gun. How is that even a fair or accurate assumption? I will concede I should not have used "never" because that's not a good word to use. I would argue that frequently is probably a stretch though, depending on where you live. If you live in a bad area you may need to make snap judgments a lot more.

No I didn't.  I said that if a guy playing golf with me was carrying a gun, I said I would think he is probably a crazy person.  Probably.  Not definitely.  I'm open minded.

[Dave2512]

Not at all. The hypocrisy lies in that he clearly believes in his right to legally carry and decide for himself where and when it's appropriate to do so.. He does not that exact same courtesy/right to others.

I never said anything about rights. I said I probably wouldn't enjoy their company and this thread assures me it's a correct assumption. Not about guns but a clash of personalities doing something I do to have fun and relax.

[Lihu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by David in FL

Not at all. The hypocrisy lies in that he clearly believes in his right to legally carry and decide for himself where and when it's appropriate to do so.. He does not that exact same courtesy/right to others.

He didn't say others don't have the right to legally carry on the golf course. He just said that people who do that are the "scaredy types" and that he probably wouldn't enjoy their company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremie Boop

He said the person is "crazy" because of the gun. How is that even a fair or accurate assumption? I will concede I should not have used "never" because that's not a good word to use. I would argue that frequently is probably a stretch though, depending on where you live. If you live in a bad area you may need to make snap judgments a lot more.

No I didn't.  I said that if a guy playing golf with me was carrying a gun, I said I would think he is probably a crazy person.  Probably.  Not definitely.  I'm open minded.

It really depends where you are playing. There are regions in the world where it's pretty normal to carry a weapon, and the people who do so are perfectly likeable non-crazy folks. They are not necessarily just protecting themselves against other humans, too.

[LeftRightLeft]

I used to play golf with an undercover narc cop. He always carried. He also had a small arsenal in the trunk of his car. Richard was a ringer for Charles Bronson. Kind of intimidating. In this case, some guy casually mentions he has a loaded revolver in his bag. First, why would he need to mention that? That's a pretty good needle. I probably won't take any game at that point. I am definitely not going to suggest automatic presses. Let's keep it nice and friendly. If he starts talking to himself (and answering) I might make up a reason to leave the group, 'cause crazy folks (especially ones with guns) are not great playing partners.

[14ledo81]

[QUOTE name="David in FL" url="/t/81903/playing-golf-with-someone-carrying-a-weapon/54#post_1140838"] Not at all. The hypocrisy lies in that he clearly believes in his right to legally carry and decide for himself where and when it's appropriate to do so. . He does not that exact same courtesy/right to others.[/QUOTE] I never said anything about rights. I said I probably wouldn't enjoy their company and this thread assures me it's a correct assumption. Not about guns but a clash of personalities doing something I do to have fun and relax.

I have no problem with this. I guess the "scaredy cat" comment rubbed me the wrong way. It seemed a little judgmental. I think Erik showed (in his above posts) some very good, possible reasons a "normal" (not scaredy cat type) person would carry on a course.

[GolfLug]

I voted ok assuming my kids are not with me. I don't own guns but have been considering lately. My reasoning is the likelihood of getting shot at a golf course is statistically low to a silly level. If my luck were to run out one day and the person with whom I am playing is crazy enough to injure/kill somebody with a gun for not sufficient/right reason (anything other than self defense), they are probably crazy enough to take 9-iron to somebody's skull., i.e., they have another handy weapon of choice anyway.