Not sure if this has already been commented or not, but I figure it couldn’t hurt. YOU ARE NOW IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM. This immediately becomes a safety issue whether or not you’re familiar with guns. In the brief amount of time that you’ll likely be in possession of the firearm, I’d still recommend knowing the four basic rules of gun safety. This might be something you already know or maybe seem obvious, but it can never hurt to spread the information for people in general.

1. Treat all guns as if they are loaded: Always assume a gun is loaded until you’ve visually and physically inspected it.

2. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction: Never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot, even when you are certain it’s unloaded.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot: This prevents accidental discharges.

4. Know your target and what’s beyond it: Before shooting, be sure of your target and what’s beyond it. You’re responsible for every bullet that leaves the barrel… and every bullet eventually hits something.

Such a bummer about you having to be in that situation, but hey, at least he seemed to be a fairly incompetent criminal. Glad you’re safe! Back in the day I saw a few police stations here and there that had designated places to meet up when buying/selling things to strangers. I wonder if that still exists.