Secretive about guns, ammo, etc.?

While I'm sympathetic with people who don't want people to know they have guns, keep in mind we are in a culture war. Many people and organizations are pushing the idea that nobody should own guns and people who do are nutty.
If someone with no strong opinions doesn't think they know anyone who is interested in shooting sports or owns guns, it's easier for them to buy into the narrative. On the other hand, if they are vaguely aware that Bill and his wife, normal folks who live in the fourth floor apartment, enjoy going out to the range, it's harder for them to assume it's weird.
I'm not suggesting you need to wear an NRA hat and plaster your car with gun related stickers, but being secretive keeps you from being a low-key ambassador.
That can put you in awkward positions at times, but the more we hide the easier it is for the average voter to dismiss our concerns.

Kleanbore said:

That's an aszumption.

They may forbid their kids to play with Bill's.

I have seen that happen.

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Then I probably wouldn't want mine playing with theirs. I have no use for narrow minded, intolerant people. It's not acceptable and I would teach my children likewise if I had any.

I would have no problems reassuring other parents of their children's safety and even demonstrating the safeguards I had in place. If they can't get past that, they are no better in my eyes than the ones who don't want their kids around "those n*****s down the street."

Kleanbore said:

They may forbid their kids to play with Bill's.

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Seems to me we need to be willing to take some risks if we want to preserve our rights.

HOW DID YOU KNOWETH WHAT WAS IN THAT BOX? DID YOU NOT YET OPEN IT WHEN YOU ANSWERED YOUR NEIGHBOR'S QUESTION?

FYI: typing in all caps is the equivalent of shouting.

bdickens said:

Sneaking around, being secretive, hiding and lying about things just reinforces the idea that what you are doing is somehow illegitimate.

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Not really. If someone has a $10K+ gun collection and tries to hide the fact that they have $10K+ in assets sitting in their house all day while they are at work, does not mean that having all those guns is illegitimate, it just means the owner is being prudent and excersicing caution so that he still has a gun collection when he comes home.

"Not being secretive" is not the same as advertising or of going into excessive detail.

I got a glock hoodie for xmas one year. It's a good ol hoodie and one of my favorites and I wear it often, usually with a shell or flannel over it. Only when I'm on a new construction job or something will I take a layer off, there on the job I am mostly around other hunting, shooting, roughneck types so I dont really worry about it.

My sister gave me a glock air freshener and I actually put on my shifter. A trooper recently pulled me over, said "ah a glock guy eh", I was confused at first because I had forgot it was even there after so long. I just kind of chuckled and he turned his Sig toward me and indicated his preference. Had it been a different cop I suppose the situation could have been different. Definitely made me think twice about it.

bdickens said:

When others find out that "normal" people like them own guns, carry guns, etc. It removes a lot of the "evil" mystique.

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Maybe. It's always a gamble. On the other side of that, if I found out that my otherwise "normal" neighbor/co-worker/acquaintance was into swinging, it wouldn't change my opinion on monogamy it would just open the realization that they're into something I find odd. I will grant that's not the best example but you get the idea.

Reasons I don't generally let on that I own guns to people in my immediate circle are (a) that I work with kids, and specifically their kids -- and whether or not we here agree, that can be scary to the uninitiated. (b) red flag laws -- 'nuff said. (c) I live in an area where our city attorney aggressively pursues using those GVROs (aka red flags) and also we're under a firearm storage edict that requires guns not in our immediate control to be locked up. In other words, there's a lot of room to get into hot water just for owning a firearm. For that matter, it's prudent to just keep that information on a strict need to know basis. One last thing, sharing information with one person means they'll share with others. So while maybe the person you felt was trustworthy enough to hear about your hobby indeed is, and has no ill-intent, the next guy doesn't and you have no control over that.

Speedo66 said:

As I mentioned, "normal" can vary by region and setting. I'm sure even in TX there are anti areas, Austin maybe, having a gun was not "normal" in NYC. I've talked to people who would literally accept being killed by a robber rather than touch a gun to defend themselves.

I'm not a "biker", but I ride a motorcycle, this makes me strange enough for some people. No need to totally freak them out by letting them know a dangerous motorcycle riding gun crazed nut job lives in the neighborhood. I'd see torches and pitchforks in my future.... lol

I'm also concerned about any possible adverse effects this may have on my grandkids who go to school here, and possible thefts.

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Don't forget hearing protection for both hobbies.

I almost always am wearing a Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot t-shirt. I've never noticed or had anyone give me any crap for it. I get lots of nice and curious comments. I always tell people that shooting machine guns is good, clean fun.

Yes, I'm pretty much under the radar. No decals on vehicles or gun insignias on clothes. When I was in my early 20's I saw a friend have his house burglarized while at work. He had a pretty good collection of guns.

I'm so incognito about it that only close friends know what I have.

In this climate with red flag laws being implemented that has potential concerns associated with it. That article about the crossing guard is one of those scenarios not to experience.

I don’t advertise anything. I am not too worried though. The people at my gun range are not people that I would pick out of a crowd as likely to be concealed carriers. About a third of those at the range are women. I think guns are more widespread than people think. Maybe it’s just Texas.

Shanghai McCoy said:

I hunt and shoot with my,(now retired), UPS driver.

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Mine retired and went to deliver for the lumber yard. I still see him all the time to sign for deliveries!

I don’t “flaunt it” either. I’m just a keep to myself type. But hey, everyone has a hobby...

Zendude said:

I don’t advertise anything. I am not too worried though. The people at my gun range are not people that I would pick out of a crowd as likely to be concealed carriers. About a third of those at the range are women. I think guns are more widespread than people think. Maybe it’s just Texas.

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It's definitely not Texas. You aren't even in the top ten list of states with the highest gun ownership per capita.

I live on the border of the number 3 state in the nation with the highest per capita gun ownership and live in a small town of 800. Everybody has guns. If you don't, you're weird. I have a Sig sticker on the back window of my SUV. I have LEO plates. I wear a Glock hat to work.

I feel sorry for those who live in areas where they are afraid to let people know they are supporters of firearms and freedom. I could never live in fear. I don't know how you guys do it.

I have a neighbor that has a "Protected by Smith and Wesson" sign on his drive by the road and a deer decoy and two targets at the end near his house. I don't think he has a problem with people knowing.
I don't have problem with people knowing. As a matter of fact, that might be a signal to stay away if you're up to no good. I just don't advertise what I have.
Dean

Secretive about guns, ammo, etc.?

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New Do you keep your hobby private?

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Absolutely not!

To the contrary, I share my shooting and my reloading hobby with anyone who might be interested.

buck460XVR said:

...if we were really trying to be secretive, would we really be here posting on a public forum?

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Really? I guess the mods 'know' who you are but anybody else? This is all I 'know' about you.
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Trey Veston said:

It's definitely not Texas. You aren't even in the top ten list of states with the highest gun ownership per capita.

I live on the border of the number 3 state in the nation with the highest per capita gun ownership and live in a small town of 800. Everybody has guns. If you don't, you're weird. I have a Sig sticker on the back window of my SUV. I have LEO plates. I wear a Glock hat to work.

I feel sorry for those who live in areas where they are afraid to let people know they are supporters of firearms

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Hey now, take it easy and don’t be ‘judging’ on “The Republic”

Texas has suffered from a huge influx of people fleeing from Blue states and we are doing our best to welcome them as long as they leave their failed socialist politics (that most are fleeing) behind. Still, it takes them a minute to get the vibe on what this place is about. And moving to Houston or Austin doesn’t always help.

I myself am a New Englander by birth (NH) but left to join the military in 1982. Settled in the San Antonio area upon my last assignment in 2008 and haven’t left, retired from active duty in 2010 and now in my second life.

I used to resent the “Texan First, American Second” attitude when I’d meet die hard Lone Star folks in my travels...now I’m one of them!

When the poster said, “it’s a Texas thing”, most folks won’t understand the subtle nuance behind that statement, but take it from a guy who has lived all over and had friends from every part of the US, it means something. All my “native” friends call me, on occasion, a “Damn Yankee” (someone from the North who came to TX and STAYED). A “Texas Thing” is a real thing, and I embrace it these days!

Just clarifying, NO OFFENSE meant to anyone, especially Trey...so please don’t take it that way.

I have always kept an extremely low profile when it came to my guns. No advertising on my part in terms of bumper stickers or decals on the car windows. Haven't ordered ammo in years and then it was at an address where I use to live so no trail back to me here. I don't subscribe to any gun magazines and I'm not on anyone's mailing list. The wife has ordered a couple of black powder guns for me for Christmas but she has those delivered to where she works (small, privately owned business), and she takes care of all the mail and packages there anyways.

Whenever I moved I was the only one who moved my guns, ammo, and accessories. Just loaded up my vehicle, backed into the garage, closed the garage door down, and went about my business. I liked to do it on a weekday when all the neighbors were at work.