Progressive Politics

I make exceptions to my gun views in places where police response times are over 15 minutes. In those places, you're your own security, there's dangerous wildlife, and there's few easy ways for people to steal a weapon for nefarious needs. There, it's a tool with a use, just like any piece of heavy machinery.

If a specific individual has dangerous experiences with stalking, or had to make a restraining order, that's also a circumstance that I think merits an exception - but only for the victim in question, not for friends.

So, it still doesn't answer the question of why you'd ever be the one checking, clearing, loading or unloading a gun owned by someone worried about an ex-lover. Even if the gun happens to be in their house when you visit, that has nothing to do with you or your hands.

To exaggerate my point, I just don't see why you'd be saying hello to your farmer friend, spotting their shotgun above the cabinet, and then deciding to show them how cleanly you can unload it to prove that you can handle it safely. You've brought up a lot of circumstances and factoids, but they haven't developed a logical "point" where you'd regret not knowing how to use a gun.