Firefly gun safety question

POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Saturday, January 22, 2011 04:17
VIEWED: 5569
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BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:10 AM

Okay, pretend you're Mal. Get real gruff, brood a little if you have to... Good?

Now say a member of the crew is in trouble, and you have to hurry off to the rescue, 'cause you're the captain, you know. You don't have your coat on or your holster strapped on you just now, but times-a-wasting and all you can do is grab a gun and skedaddle.

You can't go in with your gun unshucked because there's a bunch of purplebellies nearby and you don't want to draw attention.

So where do you put your gun?

If it's your service pistol from the war, my first thought was maybe you'd tuck it in the back of your waistband/belt, but that also seems unsafe to me, like a good way to shoot your own backside off.

Also, is this something a soldier would do? Seems undisciplined.

My second thought was to take a smaller gun than your service pistol and slip it in your boot instead.

Thoughts? Better ideas? Glaring issues stemming from my ignorance of gun safety?

PHOENIXROSE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:28 AM

Back of the waistband is certainly preferable to the front of the waistband, I'll tell you that much! You might hit yourself in the backside if the gun has no safety, but that's not as bad as the alternative.

Tucking it into the boot might not be entirely safe, either. Could make it more difficult to walk or run smoothly, and might shoot your foot.

I think it most likely that when soldiers/officers/Mal do not have their holsters on, their guns are in them. That way, grabbing a gun and grabbing the holster is the same thing, and it just gets strapped on as you walk. I could be wrong, though.

I do not need the written code of a spiritual belief to act like a decent human being.

BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:38 AM

It's a good point, and something I'm also wondering about (hence calling this a gun safety thread).

When not using a gun, if it's not out and out stored, then it would seem safest carried in a holster. So this is also an option I'd consider.

But would a holster with a gun in it by necessity draw as much attention as just a gun singular? Especially if you happened to be in an area were most civilians are unarmed?

BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:38 AM

EDIT: Odd, I can edit in the beta version but only if I've posted on the beta version.

Well, ignore these two posts.

BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:40 AM

EDITTED - Beta troubles. More conversation? :) I'm doing research for a story and I don't want to flagrantly abuse gun safety rules.

PHOENIXROSE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:55 AM

It would probably draw attention, but without a coat to cover it a huge pistol in the back of the waistband will be spotted by at least a couple people. But yes, storing in a holster is a good plan. I seem to remember my grandpa doing that with one or two of his guns.

I do not need the written code of a spiritual belief to act like a decent human being.

BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 6:59 AM

Also true. I guess I have to think up whether the holster is more conspicuous or not, in addition to whether it's safer.

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Monday, January 17, 2011 7:10 AM

From the undisciplined point, yes, it would be. I expect Mal buckles on his holster, with gun, when he puts on his pants.
If pressed, he might use a different piece, with a shorter barrel, and stick it in his pocket. Boot or back of pants would also work, with some comfort issues.

Another question-- do revolvers, or exposed hammer long guns like Zoe's mare's leg, have safeties? I thought you kept them safe by keeping an empty chamber under the hammer, and sometimes, the hammer set on half-cock?

INVADERCHAT

Monday, January 17, 2011 7:11 AM

While not exactly 'safe' I don't think it's as dangerous as you seem to be thinking to just tuck it into the back of your pants. Especially with a gun that has a safety lock or one where you need to pull back the hammer on the back of the gun like some of the ol'skool guns in Firefly have the chances of accidentally setting it off are pretty low. I'm not saying it's recommended or anything but if I didn't have anywhere else it's not something I'd even think about. Typically gun triggers aren't like hairpins, they actually take a bit of pressure to fire.

BYTEMITE

Monday, January 17, 2011 7:18 AM

I think maybe PR and NOBC have won me over. If Mal is going outside, then he'll have a holster. That's just him.

If he happens to have been waiting in a shuttle for said crewmate to get back, and is sitting down in the seat at the console when he gets the news, he might have removed the gun from his holster to make sitting less onerous. Then, heading off to go to the rescue, he just gives his gun a check and shoves it home.

I may have some elements I can use that would make Mal with a holstered gun stand out less to the Alliance soldiers, so I think it might still work.

Invaderchat: barring me not knowing any better, maybe I should just play it safe with my story. For personal knowledge: waistbands not so dangerous as considered. Interesting.

Thanks. :) Still interested in hearing thoughts though!

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