History Main / WheresMyGun

* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', Indy is confronted by a massive Thuggee swordsman and cockily reaches for his revolver (in a CallBack to the famous scene in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk''). However, his smile vanishes when his hand pats his empty holster and he remembers that his pistol was taken off him when he was captured.

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In some sources, Guardsmen can be ''executed'' for not having their weapon with them, leading to them taking it with them even in the latrine.
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* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40K'': In some sources, Guardsmen can be ''executed'' for not having their weapon with them, leading to them taking it with them even in the latrine.

* ''WesternAnimation/PrivateSnafu'': Happens several times to Snafu as a result of his general ineptitude. In "Fighting Tools", he has trouble finding his rifle (although given everything else he has done to his weapons, not knowing its whereabouts is the least of his problems). In "Gas", it is his gas mask that he can't locate.

* The two CIA agents at the start of ''Film/ActOfValor'' certainly could qualify. None of them even bother with making sure they have a weapon ''at the ready'' when the one answers the door. Sure, they might have been only expecting food delivery, but that still doesn't excuse them from not being ready for things to go sour quickly.
* In ''Film/Halo4ForwardUntoDawn'', the cadets find themselves scrambling to get weapons and ''live'' ammo in the face of a Covenant invasion. Making matters worse is that the storage locker for the weapons and ammo is password protected, and the system is malfunctioning. Clearly no one in the UNSC ever thought to use a [[BoringButPractical simple key and padlock system]], which can at least be smashed off in an emergency... like when genocidal aliens are invading.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': For being a cybernetic super soldier, the Master Chief seems to never have an available weapon on hand whenever trouble starts at the beginning of most of his games. He usually gets one within about five minutes of the player being handed control, but still, hasn't anyone thought to have at least a set of emergency pistols in the cryo rooms?

* ''WesternAnimation/PrivateSnafu'': Happens several times to Snafu as a result of his general ineptitude. In "Fighting Tools", he has trouble finding his rifle (although given everything else he has done to his weapons, not knowing where its whereabouts is the least of his problems). In "Gas", it is his gas mask that he can't locate.

Doesn't necessarily have to be a firearm, any time a character loses a weapon of any sort can certainly count here. A ProperlyParanoid character trying to [[DefiedTrope defy this trope]] will often feel like they CantBatheWithoutAWeapon.

This trope basically occurs any time a character has to spend time looking for his weapon (and possibly getting killed in the process) when he should be doing something a bit more useful, like ya know, fighting. Sometimes however, it plays out because the gun in question is special to him, and he refuses to use anything else, even when there's piles of useable rifles at his feet.

Doesn't necessarily have to be a firearm, any time a character loses a weapon of any sort can certainly count here.

!!!'''Examples:'''

* Happens in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' to the last soldier that Zaytsev shoots in his introductory badass moment. Once he realizes that Zaytsev is there, and has killed 4 of his comrades, he quickly realizes that his rifle is not within arms reach, and tries to go for it... only to have Zaytsev [[BoomHeadshot introduce his skull to a 7.62mm bullet before he can get more then three feet from his starting position.]]
* ''Film/VanHelsing'' has a scene early in the film where Prince Velcan used himself as bait to lure out a werewolf. It worked, but in the ensuing chaos that followed, he lost his pistol. While the villagers shoot at the trapped werewolf, he begins screaming at them to find ''his'' gun. Justified in this case as his gun is loaded with Silver Bullets, and is therefore, the only thing that can ''kill'' a werewolf. He eventually does find it, and manages to kill the werewolf in question, however he gets knocked off a cliff for his efforts, and later becomes one.

* ''VideoGame/TombRaiderAnniversary'' has Lara supsended in a trance when she gets all three pieces of the MacGuffin together and is shown a vision of the past that shows how Atlantis collapsed. When she returns to reality, [[BigBad Natla]] steals the artifact. Lara reaches for her guns, only to be confused when she sees that her guns are mysteriously gone before she gets restrained by [[BigScaryBlackMan Kold]]. Natla's goons show that they were the ones that stole her weapons.

* Possibly one of the big triggers for some soldiers suffering from PTSD. Many soldiers in modern armies are trained to NEVER leave their weapon outside of arms reach (if they can help it), and in training are usually punished for doing so. After about three months of training, they deploy, and possibly go through about 2-4 tours in a hostile zone where they keep their weapon on them at all times. By this point, the weapon practically becomes a part of them, and when they finally come home.... the weapon is taken away from them. This leaves many soldiers feeling naked, and often leads to soldiers fearing things that they really shouldn't... but can't help it when they are not within arms reach of their weapons.

* Happens in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'' to the last soldier that Zaytsev shoots in his introductory BadAss moment. Once he realizes that Zaytsev is there, and has killed 4 of his comrades, he quickly realizes that his rifle is not within arms reach, and tries to go for it... only to have Zaytsev [[BoomHeadshot introduce his skull to a 7.62mm bullet before he can get more then three feet from his starting position.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo}}'': For being a cybernetic super soldier, The Master Chief seems to never have an available weapon on hand whenever trouble starts at the beginning of three of his four games. He usually gets one within about five minutes of the player being handed control, but still, hasn't anyone thought to have atleast a set of emergency pistols in the cryo rooms?
** In the supporting material, the Elites are ripe with this trope. They will only use Covenant weapons, or will resort to fighting it out in hand-to-hand with the humans as opposed to picking up a fully loaded Assault Rifle that's at their feet.
** The above situation is completely reversed with the UNSC however. Marines and Navy personnel alike are seen CONSTANTLY picking up Covenant weapons when the situation calls for it. It gets particularly funny if a Marine picks up a fuel rod launcher, and starts riding shotgun in a Warthog...

* In the live action series ''Film/Halo4ForwardUntoDawn'', the cadets find themselves scrambling to get weapons and ''live'' ammo in the face of a Covenant invasion. Making matters worse is that the storage locker for the weapons and ammo is password protected, and the system is malfunctioning. Clearly no one in the UNSC ever thought to use a [[BoringButPractical simple key and padlock system]], which can atleast be smashed off in an emergency... like when a genocidal Alien race is invading.

* In the live action series ''Film/HaloForwardUntoDawn'', the cadets find themselves scrambling to get weapons and ''live'' ammo in the face of a Covenant invasion. Making matters worse is that the storage locker for the weapons and ammo is password protected, and the system is malfunctioning. Clearly no one in the UNSC ever thought to use a [[BoringButPractical simple key and padlock system]], which can atleast be smashed off in an emergency... like when a genocidal Alien race is invading.

* Sarge from ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' is a serious offender here. While all of the other characters can and do switch weapons, sometimes ''on the fly'', Sarge is the only one in the entire series that refuses to go anywhere without his Shotgun. Although the one time he didn't have it, when he could've used it he was acting as bait for Agent Washington (justified as Wash made him surrender it), most other characters would've picked up another weapon later instead of trying to swipe it back from Wash.

So you're a soldier, laying in the middle of your base with nothing to do. Your tasks for the day are done, and you lay down to take a nap... when suddenly the enemy decides to attack, and throws the place into absolute chaos. Making matters worse... where's your gun? This trope has just played out, and is a massive OhCrap to any poor unfortunate soldier or policemen that has it happen to them.

* Happens in EnemyAtTheGates to the last soldier that Zaytsev shoots in his introductory BadAss moment. Once he realizes that Zaytsev is there, and has killed 4 of his comrades, he quickly realizes that his rifle is not within arms reach, and tries to go for it... only to have Zaytsev [[BoomHeadshot introduce his skull to a 7.62mm bullet before he can get more then three feet from his starting position.]]
* VanHelsing has a scene early in the film where Prince Velcan used himself as bate to lure out a werewolf. It worked, but in the ensuing chaos that followed, he lost his pistol. While the villagers shoot at the trapped werewolf, he begins screaming at them to find ''his'' gun. Justified in this case as his gun is loaded with Silver Bullets, and is therefore, the only thing that can ''kill'' a werewolf. He eventually does find it, and manages to kill the werewolf in question, however he gets knocked off a cliff for his efforts, and later becomes one.
* The two CIA agents at the start of ActOfValor certainly could qualify. None of them even bother with making sure they have a weapon ''at the ready'' when the one answers the door. Sure, they might have been only expecting food delivery, but that still doesn't excuse them from not being ready for things to go sour quickly.

* For being a cybernetic super soldier, [[{{Halo}} The Master Chief]] seems to never have an available weapon on hand whenever trouble starts at the beginning of three of his four games. He usually gets one within about five minutes of the player being handed control, but still, hasn't anyone thought to have atleast a set of emergency pistols in the cryo rooms?
** In the live action series HaloForwardUntoDawn, the cadets find themselves scrambling to get weapons and ''live'' ammo in the face of a Covenant invasion. Making matters worse is that the storage locker for the weapons and ammo is password protected, and the system is malfunctioning. Clearly no one in the UNSC ever thought to use a [[BoringButPractical simple key and padlock system]], which can atleast be smashed off in an emergency... like when a genocidal Alien race is invading.

* In AssassinsCreedII, Bartolomeo practically tears his house apart to find.... his Claymore "Bianca". All the while Ezio was busy cutting down their enemies just outside.

* Sarge from RedVsBlue is a serious offender here. While all of the other characters can, and do switch weapons, sometimes ''on the fly'', Sarge is the only one in the entire series that refuses to go anywhere without his Shotgun. Although the one time he didn't have it, when he could've used it he was acting as bait for Agent Washington (justified as Wash made him surrender it), most other characters would've picked up another weapon later instead of trying to swipe it back from Wash.

* Happens to the last soldier that Zaytsev shoots in his introductory BadAss moment. Once he realizes that Zaytsev is there, and has killed 4 of his comrades, he quickly realizes that his rifle is not within arms reach, and tries to go for it... only to have Zaytsev [[BoomHeadshot introduce his skull to a 7.62mm bullet before he can get more then three feet from his starting position.]]

* For being a cybernetic super soldier, [[franchise/Halo: The Master Chief]] seems to never have an available weapon on hand whenever trouble starts at the beginning of three of his four games.