As someone who would appear to be one of those Rick Grimes types, I’m somewhat offended (and I’m already over it because I understand).
I’m very used to being the book judged initially by my cover. When I started nursing school, I walked in the first day and got very strange looks. There was no dress code. And I am not comfortable dressing to impress. So I came to class in my camo pants, matching camo hoodie, camo hat, and boots. I also have a very “impressive” beard (so I’m told quite often). Most everyone thought I was in the wrong class (they told me so later). And then we took an intro test and I almost aced it. Next highest grade was just over 70%. Guess who everyone wanted to be friends with after that?
Who’s now a nurse that specializes in ACLS and airway management with patients on mechanical vents and tracheostomy’s?
I may not look like your ideal “gun toter” unless we were to cross paths in the woods during deer season. And if that’s how I’m judged, so be it. Theres an old adage of “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. But I can tell you from experience, that’s not on the person making the impression. That’s on the person refusing to see past their own judgmental, elitist, perceptions.
I also believe demographics and where one comes from plays a very large role in this. The attitudes or perception of people from various parts of the country, about people where I live (a flyover state) is very evident. Many times we are viewed as uneducated, racist, and/or unsophisticated and should be avoided. But we will be the ones who stop to help when your car breaks down or you have an accident. We’ll be the ones, many times, who stand there and hold the door for 10 people to walk through. Not just the pretty woman in the tight dress that we want to get a closer look at. They don’t usually say “Thank you” anyways.
I have posted a few stories on here of some of the things I’ve done in the benefit of others. One was a story of helping a family from Chicago that had slid off the road after a snow storm. The man was shocked anyone would stop. He said people don’t even stop for dead bodies up there. Another was a time I paid for all of a random soldier and his kid’s sundries at a gas station without him even knowing. It wasn’t for accolades. It was just a way to say thank you for keeping my country safe. In California or New York, that “might” be a very uncommon occurrence. Here, it’s not.
I do OC. Because I literally cannot CC in a way that would allow quick access to my firearm should I need it to defend myself or others from the threat of serious physical harm due to my body structure. Appendix carry a FS 1911 and tell me how comfortable it is. Carrying in the small of my back doesn’t allow me to defend/retain my weapon should I be attacked from behind. Shoulder holsters don’t work with hoodies. Neither do chest rigs. Tactical thigh holsters, just.....no. And I’m not going to carry a micro pistol just so it’s concealed. I don’t shoot them well anyways. Never have. It’s the short sight radius. And I believe it’s way more important to be able to hit your target than to just point in it’s direction. I do have situational awareness. I’m always scanning people. Don’t sit with my back to the door at restaurants. I’ve taken Defensive Tactics and Police Pistol 1&2 My DT instructor was inducted into the martial arts hall of fame the year before Chuck Norris. And he kicked my ass. A lot. But I also learned a lot and still practice what I was taught. My P.P. Instructor was the same instructor that taught TPD officers. After the first day, I was assisting him with the class teaching other students. I’ve trained in MMA with Randy Couture’s camp. And I could go on and on.
Am I the exception? Maybe. Maybe not. But I can tell you this; You wouldn’t know a single one of those things if you just saw me at the “Walmarts” and dismissed me as an uneducated redneck with no training. It would be a very bad idea to make that asssumption about me. And it’s an unfair assumption to make about anyone else.