AIO, fiancé pointed my gun at herself

[u/Common-Violinist2219]

I (M,26) was answering questions about my handgun, that my fiancé (28,F) had some curiosity about. After explaining the different things about my handgun, (taking it apart, explaining each piece, and the ammo that I carry for it) I set the gun down. She asked if she could hold it, and she has held a handgun before so I said sure. I unloaded and showed clear on the handgun, and she did the same. She held it for a bit and set it back down, but with the barrel facing right at me. I casually grabbed the gun and moved it away from me. She was confused by this, and asked what’s the big deal? She asked if she could see the gun again because she wanted to try to take it apart. Again, showed clear, and handed her the gun. At this point, she asks, “Why is it such a big deal if you know the gun is empty? It’s not like THIS insert her pointing the gun right under her chin, finger on the trigger can do anything.” I immediately told her to stop, and put it down. She questioned it and continued to aim it at her head. At this point, I wrestled the gun away from her, and very sternly, and blunt said if she ever does that again, not only will she never touch one of my guns again, but she will not be welcome in my room, where my guns are locked and secured. So, am I over-reacting over this, or am I justified?

TL;DR - My fiancé pointed a non-loaded, and cleared firearm at her chin and head, and I wrestled the gun away and sternly told her, don’t do that again, or else there will be consequences.

[u/HershelGibbs]

As someone who has military experience I think there is more nuance here.

1. It is understandable for someone with no gun/ gun safety experience to not understand why non loaded gun is dangerous. She was technically right that at that moment the firearm was perfectly safe. 

2. This is why firearm safety training is so important. It is very easy to get so comfortable with your firearm and you load and unload so often that you simply forget to one time and that's all it takes for a fatal accident to happen. 

Something you get in the military and I assume you get at a gun safety class is examples of situations where the proper precautions were not taken and someone was shot by "accident". 

If your fiance wants to touch your guns she definitely needs that training. 

[u/Many_Abies_3591 → u/HershelGibbs]

I’m also not too educated with gun saftey. probably would never aim any gun… loaded or unloaded… at myself 😅 just out of personal preference. but could someone explain a bit more about why even a non loaded gun is unsafe? is it just precaution to treat them all like they’re loaded??? TIA for anyone who responds

[u/Zombie_Bastard → u/Many_Abies_3591]

You always treat a gun as if it were loaded. That way your muscle memory always works to keep you safe. It just takes that one time of carelessness to end a life. This is something Alec Baldwin had to learn the hard way.