diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/backpack.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/backpack.dm
index 51453d59cc7..10cb5f6a871 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/backpack.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/storage/backpack.dm
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 	if (!..())
 		return 0
 
-	if(species_restricted && istype(M,/mob/living/carbon/human))
+	if(species_restricted && ishuman(M) && !(slot in list(slot_l_hand, slot_r_hand)))
 		var/exclusive = null
 		var/wearable = null
 		var/mob/living/carbon/human/H = M
diff --git a/code/modules/projectiles/gun.dm b/code/modules/projectiles/gun.dm
index 124c68daab2..203d2424824 100644
--- a/code/modules/projectiles/gun.dm
+++ b/code/modules/projectiles/gun.dm
@@ -701,12 +701,8 @@
 		to_chat(user, SPAN_NOTICE("You are no-longer stabilizing \the [name] with both hands."))
 
 		var/obj/item/offhand/O = user.get_inactive_hand()
-		if(O && istype(O))
+		if(istype(O))
 			O.unwield()
-		else
-			O = user.get_active_hand()
-		return
-
 	else
 		if(user.get_inactive_hand())
 			to_chat(user, SPAN_WARNING("You need your other hand to be empty."))
@@ -751,11 +747,10 @@
 
 /obj/item/gun/mob_can_equip(M as mob, slot, disable_warning, ignore_blocked)
 	//Cannot equip wielded items.
-	if(is_wieldable)
-		if(wielded)
-			if(!disable_warning) // unfortunately not sure there's a way to get this to only fire once when it's looped
-				to_chat(M, SPAN_WARNING("Lower \the [initial(name)] first!"))
-			return FALSE
+	if(wielded)
+		if(!disable_warning) // unfortunately not sure there's a way to get this to only fire once when it's looped
+			to_chat(M, SPAN_WARNING("Lower \the [initial(name)] first!"))
+		return FALSE
 
 	return ..()
 
@@ -814,7 +809,7 @@
 	if(user)
 		var/obj/item/gun/O = user.get_inactive_hand()
 		if(istype(O))
-			to_chat(user, SPAN_NOTICE("You are no-longer stabilizing \the [name] with both hands."))
+			to_chat(user, SPAN_NOTICE("You are no-longer stabilizing \the [O] with both hands."))
 			O.unwield()
 			unwield()
 
@@ -822,6 +817,9 @@
 		qdel(src)
 
 /obj/item/offhand/mob_can_equip(var/mob/M, slot, disable_warning = FALSE)
+	var/static/list/equippable_slots = list(slot_l_hand, slot_r_hand)
+	if(slot in equippable_slots)
+		return TRUE
 	return FALSE
 
 /obj/item/gun/Destroy()
diff --git a/html/changelogs/geeves-fixes_wielding_guns.yml b/html/changelogs/geeves-fixes_wielding_guns.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b33b43c87b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/html/changelogs/geeves-fixes_wielding_guns.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+author: Geeves
+
+delete-after: True
+
+changes:
+  - bugfix: "Wielding guns and picking up species restricted backpacks now work again."
\ No newline at end of file