The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Why you should never return an unsafe firearm

Badger Arms · January 15, 2001, 06:09 AM

My father related a story to me where a lady went into his store and bought an HK-4 pistol (.32 caliber incarnation I believe). The gun was returned by the police a few days later. Lady had shot herself in the head. The gun was cleaned and resold. What I found odd about the story at first was that she'd bought a (then) $250 gun when a $50 gun would have done the trick. I now realize that at that point near the end of her life, money was not important. And that HK was a nifty looking gun if I do say so myself.

I always worry about selling defective guns as I often deal in used guns. I took one Mossberg 500 back when the purchaser said it wouldn't feed correctly. Sure enough, it didn't for me either. I gave him a refund and apology, fixed the gun myself, and resold it. The first owner didn't trust the gun but the new owner didn't know it had ever had a problem. Operating in good faith is part of the deal. It was interesting that I bought the gun at a pawn shop. Original owner bought it from a department store. He took it out and found out it jammed. Sold it to pawn shop who sold it to me. I sold it to two people. Too many transfers. I felt somewhat good to put the gun back on the trail in working condition after a bunch of us got screwed along the way.

I will never trust a Mossberg, btw. Seen too many broken ones in my time.

January 15, 2001, 06:09 AM	#3
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	My father related a story to me where a lady went into his store and bought an HK-4 pistol (.32 caliber incarnation I believe). The gun was returned by the police a few days later. Lady had shot herself in the head. The gun was cleaned and resold. What I found odd about the story at first was that she'd bought a (then) $250 gun when a $50 gun would have done the trick. I now realize that at that point near the end of her life, money was not important. And that HK was a nifty looking gun if I do say so myself. I always worry about selling defective guns as I often deal in used guns. I took one Mossberg 500 back when the purchaser said it wouldn't feed correctly. Sure enough, it didn't for me either. I gave him a refund and apology, fixed the gun myself, and resold it. The first owner didn't trust the gun but the new owner didn't know it had ever had a problem. Operating in good faith is part of the deal. It was interesting that I bought the gun at a pawn shop. Original owner bought it from a department store. He took it out and found out it jammed. Sold it to pawn shop who sold it to me. I sold it to two people. Too many transfers. I felt somewhat good to put the gun back on the trail in working condition after a bunch of us got screwed along the way. I will never trust a Mossberg, btw. Seen too many broken ones in my time.