I encountered some ignorance at the grocery store today!

[vic3620]

I help with my daughters high school marching band program. one time I got told about my inapropriate Captain Morgan shirt, that i forgot I was wearing. So I read her student handbook. There is to be no clothing worn with alcohol or tobacco related advertising.
But it fails to mention firearms related items.
I have worn my S&W shirt, and no one has ever said a word.

vic3620

 

[Strato]

We're here to stay
We're armed today
We're not going away

 

[Muley Gil]

"Any bets on whether she had a Prius in the parking lot?"

My 86 year old pappy is an NRA member and he has an NRA sticker on his Prius! Not all Prius owners are tree huggers. Some just like Toyota quality and good gas milage.

 

[Bevo1]

I tell all the young guys I train to think twice about wearing LEO shirts and putting blue line stickers on their trucks. Being fresh out of the academy and gung-ho, it's hard to convince them. I had one ask me why I wasn't proud of my profession. I am proud, just not dumb. The last thing I want is some thug I arrested last night to see me walking in Wallyworld with my children, and see a Police t-shirt and recognize me. My truck has one sticker, and it's my old unit patch from the USAF. I feel the same about wearing a gun shirt. If there is a robbery or shooting wherever I'm at, I don't want them knowing I have a gun. I want to have the element of surprise.

 

[Lenny_D]

I've nothing to be ashamed of. I will not act that way. I carry most everywhere and if I wear clothes that make meeker people look at me funny too bad. I'm an American exercising my constitutional rights for freedom of speech and to use a tool legally. I will not apologize.

 

[Stu1205]

I go the the Post Office every day to pick up my business mail.
That is also where all my gun magazines get mailed to.
Several times a week, I get a slip for a package that was too large to put in my box, so I have to go inside and get it.
While standing on line I'll read the latest issue of Shotgun News or another gun magazine I just got.
I love the looks on the faces of the people around me.
Of course I am never armed when I am in there.

Stu

 

[cmort666]

Jimmy excellent advise, yet it's a sad state of affairs that we need to hide our career and hobby choices.

That's a CHOICE, not a "need".

If you choose to hide your interest in firearms, that's fine by me, but realize that it's simply a CHOICE.

Assuming that you are not violating some law, there's simply no objective NEED to hide ones interest in firearms.

The ignorance, stupidity or bigotry of random strangers towards guns and gun owners does not in any way create any necessity for action on my part. It certainly doesn't create any duty for me to skulk around as though I were some kind of criminal or deviate.

 

[madmikeb]

"Any bets on whether she had a Prius in the parking lot?"

My 86 year old pappy is an NRA member and he has an NRA sticker on his Prius! Not all Prius owners are tree huggers. Some just like Toyota quality and good gas milage.

There are exceptions to every rule, and believe me your pappy is an exception! I've been the parts manager for a Toyota dealer for 25 years so I have a pretty good idea about this.

 

[moosedog]

It seems like rudeness is on the rise and some believe that they have to present their personal views on the rest of us.
I wear gun or LE shirts once in a while but haven't encountered anyone saying anything about it.
People can sure be sphincter muscles.

 

[RightArm]

People own gun shops. Should they dress them up as flower shops so as not to attract thieves, or possibly offend someone. That way, only people in the know will shop there and they won't tell anybody. You can walk out with ammo in a pink bag with a daisy hanging out so that no one will follow you home. I'll see if I can't find some investors, but quietly and only amongst people simpathetic to the cause.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Flying your colors to tell the world what you're about is a form of tribalism; nothing wrong with that. I do have some reservations about the wearing of some corporate logos simply because I do not feel it is my task to do their advertising for them. Why should I pay for an article of clothing that advertises a product where they really ought to be paying you.

That's why I wear Harley-Davidson branded clothing even though I don't ride their motorcycles: the royalty payments. I think that's great the way they pay residuals to everybody who wears their clothing. The royalties don't quite cover the cost of purchase, as a rule, but it makes Harley clothing a lot cheaper than shopping at Goodwill.

 

[forresth]

"I guess I better move, I see by your sweatshirt what you'll do to anyone that gets in your way."

damned right you better move, or I'll knock you on your hind end and stomp your knee-caps Its not as if someone like you would be capable of keeping me from doing it without some sort of weapon

 

[Fishslayer]

Other than a Knight's Armament T shirt a friend gave me I only have one piece of gun related clothing. And I wear it everywhere!

 

[CajunBass]

When I was in Iraq, I wanted to have a dotted line and "cut here" n Arabic tattooed on my neck.. but the wife vetoed it. On second thought, might not have been a good idea!

When my stepson deployed to the sandbox, he had a LARGE Christian cross tattoed on his back, with the words "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Pslam 111:10) in Hebrew.

His mother about had a cow, but he said he wanted everyone to know where he stood.

 

[oldafsp]

On one of my frequent trips to Wal Mart I picked up more than my usual 2 or 3 boxes of ammo. The wife and I proceeded to the grocery section to finish up shopping.

I was looking in frozen food section when this gal walked by and asked if I really needed that many bullets...

I didn't even get to open my mouth. My wife answered for me.

"We're just stockin up honey. Just like biscuits, you can't have too many."

God I love that woman....

 

[The Big D]

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

I'm with jimmyj on this issue. Never wore "gun" or "cop" attire when I was a LEO and surely do not now.

Whilst working more than a few folks were surprised when they learned my occupation; in fact, new friends are, too, when they learned of my former life.

Most plumbers, electricians, doctors, lawyers, carpenters, builders and other folks I know don't go about their off-hours wearing attire that identifies their occupation or hobbies. They have multiple interests in life and are NOT defined by one, in particular.

Re: vehicles, there will never, ever be a sticker, decal, or dealer logo on my rides. Nope.

Be safe.

 

[quneur]

I don't fuss with what I wear. Often I wear hunting clothing and don't care what ne1 thinks. When walking my dog, people are always asking what breed (tickled dogs are uncommon here) and I tell them, "its an English setter, she's a hunter." Some are interested in what I hunt some stop asking question but none have admonish me.

Then I often wear t-shirts with holes. I wear them out then it goes to the rag pile. When family sees them they always comment and give me t-shirts for gifts but still like wearing the old comfortable ones. I have a nice stock pile of unworn shirts; those I haven't gotten to wear yet.

The only shirts/pants I won't wear openly are military fatigues. I am not a veteran and don't pretend to be one. I have too much respect for vets.

 

[bshepherd]

I occasionally wear a tshirt, cap or other firearm/shooting related clothing. Heck this is Texas and a large portion of the state wears camo a majority of the time. And that's just the ladies! Just not an issue down here. And when we are in Louisiana hunting, you are out of place if you don't have some sort of gun or hunting related apparel.

 

[straightshooter1]

Well, you were seeking attention when you selected that particular shirt to wear, weren't you?

If you choose to wear a Harley shirt, a political shirt, a concert shirt, any shirt or jacket with a logo, corporate, political or comedic-you are looking for attention. You expect people will read whatever, right?

So, just as you have an absolute right to wear these things and show the whole world you're a Smith guy (with a Kimber under the shirt-now how sincere was that message, really? ) those who read your ad, your political philosophy, your hobby or whatever you wanted them to see have the right to absolutely despise you for what you say, what you show or for no reason at all. Or, they can give you the thumbs up, a smile, or stop and chat.

Just like it was your choice to wear that particular shirt or hat or jacket, it's their choice whether to respond, and, if they choose to respond, whether to be supportive or hostile, or something in-between.

Although I relegate logo'd hats and shirts to the range, I absolutely support your right to wear them anywhere.

I just think you have no right to act surprised or express hurt feelings when your sought-after attention isn't the kind you expected. If I put on a T-shirt that is very unflattering about our current president, perhaps questioning his birth place, I should probably expect some hostile retorts from certain folks who see it, right?

So, if folks look at you like you have a big bugger sticking out of your right nostril, or like you really need to try a shower once in a while, it's only to be expected. Just like the hugs and kisses from others.

I mean you wanted folks to see/read them, didn't you?

Bob

 

[Bevo1]

If I put on a T-shirt that is very unflattering about our current president, perhaps questioning his birth place, I should probably expect some hostile retorts from certain folks who see it, right?

Not around these parts. Someone is sure to buy you dinner and ask where they can obtain said shirt.