When I was in the service, a watchstander pointed an empty weapon at me and pulled the trigger. I can still feel the chill I felt as I realized what he had done.
This watch facility is manned 24/7 with armed personnel going in and out. Over the years several weapons mishaps/near mishaps ocurred such as firing a round into the floor, a petty officer picking up a loaded shotgun (left unattended), cocking it and almost taking out the communications console, etc.
Weapons safety should be practiced at all times by all users. Even when it is enforced as it is in the military (weapons clearing zones, ammo accounting, safety rules, there will be mishaps. Playing with a weapon is never wise, and should never be allowed.
You showed great restraint in not pummeling him. I don’t care if I just inspected the weapon and handed it to someone, if they pointed it at me and pulled the trigger my first reaction would be to disarm them, violently.