I encountered some ignorance at the grocery store today!

madmikeb

madmikeb

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I was at the grocery store today doing my weekly stockup, wearing my S&W pullover sweatshirt. I was in the vegetable section and there was an elderly woman whose cart was blocking the aisle, I was in no hurry so I was just waiting patiently for her to finish what she was doing and move on. When she looked up and saw me standing there she stated, "I guess I better move, I see by your sweatshirt what you'll do to anyone that gets in your way." To say that it just about floored me would be the understatement of the year. I thought of a number of things that I would like to have responded with but in the end I just held my tongue and moved on. The last thing I wanted to do was get in a debate with someone that clueless. But what a thing to say to someone you don't know. I think that was probably one of the most ignorant statements anyone has ever made to me.:(
 
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There will always be people who say inappropriate things. Hopefully they will always say these inappropriate things to people like you who are possessed of sufficient self-control and maturity to not respond in a ugly or unkind way. Doubtless she had to wonder, given her unfounded assumption, that you did not act according to her stereotype. Good for you. Sincerely. brucev.
 
I have only worn a firearm related shirt once. It was celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the 1911 & I didn't really think anything about it. I had worn it all day around the house when my wife let me know that she wanted to visit a sick friend at the hospital. I offered to drive since I wasn't doing anything and forgot about the shirt. We were in the elevator when the gentleman that got on with us asks if I get many offers for my shirt? I was like, offers? He says yeah, I would like to buy your shirt! :eek: I have to say that was a first. Luckily, a local store sold them, so I told him where he could get one. :)

Navarre
 
I would have laughed. That is ridiculous.

I wear a Beretta hat once in awhile to the club. When headed home I may need to stop for something and I forget I have it on. I get a nod or two and think, "why is he/she staring at me?" Other shooters have given the approving single nod with eye contact. Some soccer mommies stare and then look away quickly.
I just figure they are checking out my bod.

Until.... I remember I have the hat on!:D
 
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I occasionally wear caps and shirts with firearm related subject matter. I've never had a negitive comment. I normally wear this stuff when I'm going to a match at my club or to the range or a gunshow. I really don't notice what others are promoting with their clothing and I suspect not many other people do either.

Years ago while in the USAF I put a bumper sticker on my car that said "When they pry my cold, dead hands...", I know you've all seen the one I'm referring to. Anyway, I drove down to the local K-Mart. When I came out I went to open my trunk and low and behold someone had scraped my bumper sticker right off the bumper! There was a neat little pile of paper right under the bumper. My wife and I both got a chuckle out of that. That was the last bumper sticker I ever put on my vehicles and that was 38 years ago!
 
For years I never wore any gun related clothing but as I got older and seen how gun owners tended to be portrayed in the media I came out of the closet, pun intended. For years it was almost as if I was ashamed of being a gun owner, after all, I didn't want anyone who didn't know me to know my deep, dark, secret....:rolleyes:

If more gun owners would come out of the closet and let "Their freak flags fly" maybe the non-gun people out there would see most of us don't have horns growing out of the top of our heads and we look, and act, a lot like they do.....:cool:

I figured that if I'm a proud American Gun Owner there was no need to hide it anymore and if people don't like it, they can lump it! :p
 
All you're doing is telling people stuff about yourself that ought to be kept private.
 
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jimmyj said:
I have always make it a rule never to wear anything out in the public that would ID myself as a LEO or "Gun Person".
Jimmy
Click to expand...

Jimmy I agree 100%. I see people with NRA stickers on their car and I think they are inviting a thief to break in their car. I am like you the less people know the better off I am. Don
 
ogilvyspecial said:
For years I never wore any gun related clothing but as I got older and seen how gun owners tended to be portrayed in the media I came out of the closet, pun intended. For years it was almost as if I was ashamed of being a gun owner, after all, I didn't want anyone who didn't know me to know my deep, dark, secret....:rolleyes:

If more gun owners would come out of the closet and let "Their freak flags fly" maybe the non-gun people out there would see most of us don't have horns growing out of the top of our heads and we look, and act, a lot like they do.....:cool:

I figured that if I'm a proud American Gun Owner there was no need to hide it anymore and if people don't like it, they can lump it! :p
Click to expand...
+1 what Ogy said. If i want to wear my Remington camo hat
or my S&W t-shirt to heck with anyone who does'nt like it.
I'm a proud gun owner and have'nt ever been approached in a negative way or got a disparaging comment. I can hold my own in a firearm debate. Not about to let some uneduacated knuckehead dictate what i wear. Now i would NOT put anything on my truck or car firearm related. That's asking for trouble as you leave these unattended, but as for clothing, if you don't like what i wear tough....


chuck
 
I had a similar situation some years ago in a Wally World. I was having my truck's oil changed and was reading a gun rag at the magazine stand...an older guy was staring at me and when I asked if I could help him, he merely replied to the effect that enjoy my guns now because "we're going to take them away from you..." He walked away from me and disappeared. I've gotten used to dealing with weirdos over the years and Wally World tends to attract them.
 
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I wear my NRA and HRA (Hawaii) T-shirts all the time.

Each to his own, but I would not leave a firearm in a car or truck unattended anyway, so I see no harm in a bumper sticker.

I think the OP handled it perfectly, by just ignoring the old lady. Still, it would be tempting to look her straight in the eyes with a 1000-yard stare and say, "Bang! You're dead." Just say'n.;):D
 
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