@AGM  
It’d be even more important in a military setting.  
In a civilian setting, you might have anything between a few minutes to an effectively negative amount of time to react to someone armed - so, a slight improvement in reaction time isn’t that useful, though I still think it’s worth keeping (and the more people have guns, the more relevant it is)  
But in a military setting? You’re going up against other trained gun-men, and outside a successful ambush it’s important to be the first to react; Spending a split-second going ‘So, hang on, that’s an enemy, right?’ could cost your life.  
Mind, I’ll fully admit that I’m, at best, being the kind of military planner that has never been in battle - ya know, the kind where they get sweeped off to a safe office far away from the front lines.  
More likely, I’m armchair generalling :P  
But my point is: As long as it doesn’t cause a massive increase in PTSD, my approach would still be valid if these guys are soldiers on active duty.

@AGM
 
Artist/commissioner says he’s their adopted son. War hasn’t happened yet.

@aerion111  
it’s so nice to know that safety nerds like you are not allowed to join the real military for mental and physical reasons, kek

Even if the gun had been missing half the parts, I’d still be skeptical to pointing it right at someone - the blue guy should at least scoot over a bit more.  
If nothing else, this is letting blue guy get used to having a gun pointed at them; I kinda feel that the reaction to a gun being aimed in your direction should always be immediate and unconditional adrenaline - specifically so you don’t hesitate when the gun is real, intact, and loaded.  
So anything that gives you reason to go ‘Hang on, is the gun dangerous right now?’ is bad, on top of any risk it may or may not pose on its own.

@Background Pony #75B0  
Then, and I’m aware he’ll likely not ever see this, y’all should have, let’s say, positioned the rifle and it’s maintainer 180 bloody degrees. XD

@mathprofbrony  
that pegasus is surely captive, so there won’t be a problem if something goes wrong

oh I see it now.

From the source:
 
“This is a commission I completed last night, and before I go any further I feel compelled to state a few things:
 

As you all know, the proper way to do any maintenance on a gun is to point it directly at someone else.

Bruh, muzzle discipline.