Moral Dilemma

[ddstuder]

A dilemma is a problem offering two possibilities, neither of which is practically acceptable.

I am asking y'all to weigh in on this on for me.

Most of my close friends know that I reload. I have told all of them, that I will not reload and sell ammo to them. They all understand this and for the most part are OK with it.

A friend of mine called me the other day. It seems that his Father is suffering from alzheimer's and it is getting worse.

His Mother asked him to try and take a pistol from his father, because she is afraid he may mistake her for and intruder while he is in the middle of one of his spells. His Father of course will not comply with this, as he is a Native Texan and has had a firearm his whole life, and is just too proud to give it up.

My friend asked me to make some "Dummy" .38 sp rounds without powder in them to put in his father's pistol. I told him I did not feel comfortable with this, because this could result in a squib round lodged in the barrel and could be dangerous for his father.

After some discussion and his begging for help, I told him that I could possibly "kill" the primers by removing the anvil from them, and soaking them in oil, making them look normal from the outside, and then put a heavy crimp on the projectiles so that they would not budge. I would not have to make a whole box, as his father only has 8 rounds of ammo for his pistol.

So that would solve one issue. But what if someone broke into his fathers house and he actually needed "Live" ammo to defend himself? The Dummy rounds would not be much good for that.

So as you see neither solution is a good one.

I am unsure how to proceed. On the one hand, If I learn that his father shot his mother with his "Live ammo" that would be tragic, but then if I learn that his family was harmed by an intruder, while his father was pulling the trigger with my "Dummy rounds", it is a no win situation.

I realize, that the only answer is to remove the gun from his father, but maybe the dummies would pacify him until they can get this done.

What do Y'all think?

[OldCannon]

It's a tough problem, but here's what I suggest..

Have them order some professionally made blanks like these (http://www.atlanticwallblanks.com/38-SP ... p_142.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). Let THEM manage this situation. You will have helped advise them, but had no active part. Their wishes respected, safe in case they get used, and you get peace of mind.

[mr surveyor]

personally, I think it's a bad idea from many angles..... but is you insist on fake ammo....

take some spent primers and use a properly sized flat nosed punch and "undimple" a few. Shouldn't be a rocket surgery procedure, and spent primers will re-seat sufficiently for the rouse. Load some nice looking XTP's or GD's in new looking factory stamped brass and most folks would never know the difference.

still sounds like bad juju to me though


jmo

surv

[ddstuder]

It's a tough problem, but here's what I suggest..

Have them order some professionally made blanks like these (http://www.atlanticwallblanks.com/38-SP ... p_142.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). Let THEM manage this situation. You will have helped advise them, but had no active part. Their wishes respected, safe in case they get used, and you get peace of mind.

I thought about that, but unfortunately those look like blanks. He has JHP in the pistol now and would obviously notice the "rose crimp" of those rounds.

[Wes]

I agree with a commercial solution, these might work better

http://www.dummybullet.com/inert_bullets.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hawk44]

I had to deal with something like this about a year ago, it is not easy. For the safety of all involved removal was the only answer. what do you think would happen if he had an encounter with the police? So removal is the only real answer. It is sad that it has come to that stage in life, but anyone of us could be there. I would hope my kids would take the appropriate action for my and others well being.

[carlson1]

A friend of mine ask me to pick up a pistol here in the DFW area and bring it to him in Tyler. I did that about a year ago.

Three months after he had the pistol in his possession he passed away. His wife has a lot of mental problems. I did not feel comfortable since I am the one who brought that pistol in their home.

I called her son and told him the best thing was to remove the pistol from the home. I knew where my friend kept it. The son did just that. There was all kinds of heck to pay for about two weeks and now she doesn't even remember the situation.

I say tell him he needs to remove the pistol, man up, take the abuse, and bet he will see that the turmoil will not last long.

[Lumberjack98]

I had to deal with something like this about a year ago, it is not easy. For the safety of all involved removal was the only answer. what do you think would happen if he had an encounter with the police? So removal is the only real answer. It is sad that it has come to that stage in life, but anyone of us could be there. I would hope my kids would take the appropriate action for my and others well being.

This is certainly a tough spot for you. I think that I would respectfully decline and offer suggestions that have been previously mentioned.

[RPBrown]

For all involved and for your peace of mind, I would have them go the commercial route or remove the gun. Chances are if the man is suffering from alzheimer's, he will not even think about the gun more than a day and if they take it while he is sleeping, he may not even know it.

My dad has been suffering with that nasty stuff for a few years now. I have removed all of his guns for the same reason and he has not even mentioned it. They were removed while he was asleep but all were in a glass gun case so he could see them every day. Of course now he doesn't remember me coming to see him or talking to him.

[2firfun50]

I had to deal with something like this about a year ago, it is not easy. For the safety of all involved removal was the only answer. what do you think would happen if he had an encounter with the police? So removal is the only real answer. It is sad that it has come to that stage in life, but anyone of us could be there. I would hope my kids would take the appropriate action for my and others well being.

Having to deal with this is never easy. My family went thru the same issues in the last year. I think they will find the gun easier to remove than the car keys. Please remind them not to forget the car keys. Driving may be a much bigger threat to safety of all concerned than the firearm.

[ddstuder]

Yep!

I think the best thing for me to do is back away.

None of this sounded like anything that I need to be involved in. I agree, they need to just remove the pistol.

Thanks for all the comments!

[xring]

Dummy rounds & Blanks do not look like normal rounds. Blanks have a crimped section where the bullet would be. and the dummy rounds shown on the link previously posted, have a hole drilled through the case. I think making some would be a bad idea ( what if they were needed and didn't work ) that could get him killed. Maybe one of the combination gun boxs and give him the wrong combination or if he has alzheimers he may not be able to remember the correct combination. All that said, it's deception and it is usually a bad policy. I know it will case some conflict but if Dad knows he has alzheimers then you may be able to explain whe he shouldn't have a gun. If he is in early stages he may understand. We had to do this with my Grandfather's car keys. It was a tough day but my Father gave in and gave them to him. After Grandpa ran into the garage he gave them back.

xring