Hoplophobia-A Real Life Example

[DT Guy]

(For those who haven't heard the term, "Hoplophobia" was coined by Col. Jeff Cooper to describe an irrational fear of guns.)

I walked into the local Fed-Ex (after calling company HQ and a variety of local shipping places to find one that can/will ship a firearm) with a 13"x4"x12" box, sealed, addressed and double-taped closed. Placing it on the counter, I declared (as required by Fed-Ex regulations) "I'd like to ship this. It is a handgun", and then watch the counter person take three rapid steps backward from the package, throwing her hands up in consternation.

From a package.
A sealed, addressed, taped-for-a-ride-to-hell-and-back, package. Pure nonsensical response based on a preconditioned paranoia.

It was textbook.

Of course, after I handed this woman $77.72 to ship my STI Spartan back to Texas, I was the one who was having a negative emotional reaction, but that's a different story....


Larry

 

[Inebriated]

What an idiot...

EDIT - dang man, are you having the thing video taped and given warm milk and a belly rub on it's way? $77 is a lot lol

 

[Sky]

I know a woman that if she sees someone or gets a shot herself she passes out! There is not much of a monopoly on strange.

 

[Ryanxia]

That's why we have the 2nd Amendment, because people are stupid, and they can vote

 

[DT Guy]

EDIT - dang man, are you having the thing video taped and given warm milk and a belly rub on it's way? $77 is a lot lol

I was pretty shocked myself...insured it for $600, and they require Next Day Priority service...I think it sits on the pilot's lap.

On the other hand, it left the Chicago suburbs last night at 6:45P and got to Austin, Texas at 10A!!

Larry

 

[Bojangles7]

it left the Chicago

That explains a lot right there.

 

[The-Reaver]

I hate people like that.

 

[Inebriated]

I was pretty shocked myself...insured it for $600, and they require Next Day Priority service...I think it sits on the pilot's lap.

On the other hand, it left the Chicago suburbs last night at 6:45P and got to Austin, Texas at 10A!!

Larry

Ahh, I see. At least they work quick.

 

[Mr.Blue]

I had to ship my CZ 97BD from Wisconsin to Arizona and it cost me about the same. I was pissed too. Thankfully, my counter guy was profession about it. He even boxed it up in front of me.

I was told that the reason it cost so much and needs to go "next day" is they worry about employee thefts. They ship Firearms in a way that the package is handled by fewer people, thus less chance for a theft. It is also easier to investigate thefts with less potential suspects.

 

[mortablunt]

Reminds me of a guy in my college Democrats. He turned pale when I brought my Nerf gun to a meeting because I was going to go blasting afterwards. His excuse? "My uncle was a victim of gun violence." He comes from San Francisco, advocates absolute pot legalization and beleives that kids who bully are expressing themselves. Next time I see him and I have a "weapon" around I will tell him that I am just expressing myself like I have a right to.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I have an Aunt who went on a panicked flip-out over a Red Ryder... I let other family members pick her up at the airport now.

 

[NavyLCDR]

I know a woman that if she sees someone or gets a shot herself she passes out! There is not much of a monopoly on strange.

Except there is a valid, medical reason for passing out in that case.

 

[Ringolevio]

mortablunt:

Reminds me of a guy in my college Democrats. He turned pale when I brought my Nerf gun to a meeting because I was going to go blasting afterwards. His excuse? "My uncle was a victim of gun violence." He comes from San Francisco, advocates absolute pot legalization and beleives that kids who bully are expressing themselves. Next time I see him and I have a "weapon" around I will tell him that I am just expressing myself like I have a right to.

Wait a minute! Are you saying that, even with all that sensitivity, the guy defends bullies?

Because most of his ilk think that bullying is one of the worst things imaginable. I think what they really fear is that being bullied is a natural process in which kids learn how to stand up to bullies. And that doesn't fit their agenda of the wimpification of normal males.

(Just as their hoplophobia is a reflection of their fear that they don't have the discipline and mental stability to handle guns.)

More than 50 years ago, I got bullied in grade school. My dad taught me a few "moves". The next time the bully did his thing, Bada-Bing, Bada- Boom, he found himself on his culo with a bloody nose; his career as a bully was over.

 

[WardenWolf]

That explains a lot right there.

Surprised the city wasn't paying HIM to ship it out.

 

[Kiln]

People have fears of random things. I work at a hospital that has a mental patient wing and I've met a woman that literally peed herself when cotton balls were brought near her and a guy who freaked out to the point of violence when somebody tried to touch him with a pine cone (not even sure if they have a name for these things but it does happen).

 

[paramedic70002]

Good old Fed Ex. Sure guns are a high theft item, when you have to tell them there's gun in there. Last time I shipped a gun it went regular and I insured "collectibles." No problems.

 

[KennyTHX]

My mom ( well, my friend's mom, anyway) is like that, but I think it's because she has some PTSD issues. I guess her brother shot himself in the driveway when she was a teenager or something. So she won't even touch a gun.

I think it's PTSD related because she doesn't like "popping" noises of any kind either. Seriously, you know those pilsbury dough cans? She plugs her ears and makes one of us pop those.

 

[Flopsweat]

Heh. The last time I shipped a firearm the FedEx lady was flirting with me. And I'm not exactly Mr. GQ.

 

[[email protected]]

yes, that's the way business works these days... FedX has a problem with employees stealing packages with guns and so their solution is to charge the customer more.

I have a supplier in my business who did the same thing... have a problem with freight company that constantly damaged packages... solution... put the freight on a extra large pallet and charge me more.

I think it probably would have been cheaper to use an FFL... they could have mailed it through the post office. Or worse case it would cost about the same but the extra money would have gone to your local FFL instead of Fedex

 

[Mxracer239y]

Heh. The last time I shipped a firearm the FedEx lady was flirting with me.

Probably because, after watching you pay those insane overnight shipping charges, she felt like she owed you SOMETHING.

 

[Devonai]

...and a guy who freaked out to the point of violence when somebody tried to touch him with a pine cone...

This is the reason why I should never become a health care professional.

 

[Chedderbob]

I had almost the same experience literally 3 days ago.

Walk in to FedEx, set my package down that is addressed, sealed, and ready to have a sticker thrown on it and ride out the door.

I say: "Law requires me to tell you this is a handgun."
Kid behind the counter looks like he doesn't care. Then from the back I hear "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa... WHAT did you say?" An older gentleman with the gold name tag runs up to the counter to inform me "You cant ship a handgun, it's ILLEGAL!"

I chuckled, not really wanting to get into an argument with a guy who is obviously pretty uneducated (him knowing I had a handgun probably didn't make things any better), I walked out, drove 6 miles to the other FedEx, walked out in about 4 minutes with the package on a truck.

 

[Pilot]

Morons.

I think UPS and Fedex has to hire a certain percentage of these people. Something about quotas, AA, etc.

 

[Mike1234567]

Regarding Shipping Cost; It's cheaper for me to go through my FFL because, even though I must pay his $25 fee, he can ship very cheaply via USPS. Total cost is $35-45 depending on insurance fees and destination.

AND... I don't have to deal with wimpy morons.

 

[lloveless]

Are there gun stores in chicago?
ll