A viral video from a gun range has recently resurfaced, serving as a stark reminder of why safety protocols need to be taught to anyone handling firearms. The clip shows a man pointing a live handgun at his friend while posing for a selfie, and is a perfect example of what not to do at a range. It originally took place at the Top Gun Training Center in Houston, Texas, in 2018, but was recently shared as a cautionary tale on social media. The clip was uploaded to Instagram by coreinteresting, and the caption hits the nail on the head: “Two Indian men went to a gun range in America and were acting like an idiot, the RSO had to intervene and kick them out immediately.” It also notes, “A camera-ready moment of pure recklessness: When a selfie nearly turned into a tragedy at the gun range.” In the video, you can see a man is at a shooting lane, posing, while his friend takes pictures. As they do, the Range Safety Officer, or RSO, notices and moves in closer. The second the RSO sees the live firearm aimed directly at the friend, he steps in with immediate action. He physically grabs the weapon, points it downrange, and clears the chamber. He then says something to the men and leaves. Both look very shocked and confused in the clip. Failure in basic safety instruction Now, it should also be noted we don’t actually know the ethnicity of the men in question. The caption notes that the men are “often identified as Indian or South Asian tourists in online discussions.” The caption claimed that this specific incident has gained fresh traction following a separate, high-profile incident on March 8, 2026. In that case, an Indian student in Maryland, Akhilesh Chetla Ravi, faced calls for deportation after posting a video of himself recklessly handling a handgun in a convenience store. Safety advocates are now sharing these two videos together to highlight the zero-tolerance policy for firearm negligence in the United States. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWo7iU_D3D5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== The caption also claimed that the RSO became a bit of an internet icon for his situational awareness. Many range owners now use this specific clip in mandatory safety briefings for new shooters to illustrate two critical rules. Rule number one is to never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy. Secondly, many U.S. ranges have implemented strict no-camera or no-selfie policies on the firing line specifically because of this 2018 incident. The conversation on Instagram is pretty active, with one user commenting, “Seriously. I love going to the range but that type of behaviour is disturbing. The lack of respect is terrifying.” Another user noted, “The RSO responded quickly, but it was not ‘superhuman speed’ lol. I can usually spot beginners at the range — and selfies and pics tend to be a good indicator. If I were the RSO, I would have forewarned them to keep the gun pointed downrange before the actual event, since the two appeared to be telegraphing their noob status.” The experienced shooting range official realized the guys were about to do something stupid and stepped in at exactly the right moment. pic.twitter.com/KyqgLtP3xJ— The Best (@TheBestqueenx) July 31, 2026 Frustratingly, earlier this year, TheBestqueenx shared a similar incident from Turkey on X. In that video, one of the two men is taking selfies and, in the process, points his gun at his friend. In this case too, the RSO responded quickly, separated the men from the guns, and escorted them off the range. One user responded to that video by saying, “The moment a phone or camera comes out on an active range, end of range time! You are or a gun range, not at a Waffle House!” According to NSSF, the Firearm Industry Trade Association, safety always comes first. They list 10 but emphasize four are the most important. The first rule is always to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, where a bullet cannot possibly strike anyone, even with ricochets or penetration through walls. Case in point, during some horseplay, a police officer shot a colleague in the shoulder. Additionally, never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. It is serious enough that just pointing a weapon at someone can get someone arrested. The second rule is that firearms should be unloaded when not actually in use. Additionally, always double-check that your firearm is empty. Never assume a gun is unloaded. Third, the NSSF warns that you should never rely on your gun’s safety. Treat every gun as though it can fire at any time. After all, the safety is a mechanical device that can become inoperable. Finally, the fourth rule is to be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Once a gun fires, you have given up all control over where the shot will go. As the site notes, firearms safety is up to you.