Reading Gun Magazines In Public?

[Manedwolf]

At the B&N here, which has a WIDE selection of gun magazines, people reading them in the cafe don't get a second glance.

Someone reading, say, High Times is more likely to get an "Oh, THAT sort..." look.

It's also fun to confuse clerks other places by buying a combination like Shotgun News, Macworld, and Conde Nast Traveler. Challenges their assumptions, if they have any.

 

[LoveMyCountry]

I wonder if some of us might be projecting our feelings onto others. If you think you are weird/scary/dangerous than you might believe everybody sees you that way. Is it possible that their look of disgust is actually boredom, curiosity or, dare I say it, interest in what you are reading?

LoveMyCountry

 

[jrou111]

I have no qualms reading a gun mag in public, same with the Bible.


Are people just too ashamed to offend others?

 

[javacodeman]

Wink at 'em and say tomorrow's Wednesday. I'm expecting my copy of "The Blade " to arrive by then. Would you rather I stop by and see you then?


No, this isn't a knife magazine . . .

A little bit of warning next time please. I pulled that site up at work--government work. Hope it didn't have anthing offensive on it. Network guys get uptight about stuff like that.

java

 

[Mr White]

I'd like people's opinion on whether they do - or should - read gun magazines in public on the chance that some anti-gun person notices and gives you grief.

I read gun magazines in public in the hope that some anti-gun person gives me grief... And its worked on several occasions.

One of my favorites is to stand at the magazine rack at Barnes & Noble reading gun magazines with my kids and laugh at the yuppie soccer moms when they give me dirty looks and herd their precious little children away.

 

[Prince Yamato]

There should be no shame in reading a gun magazine in public. Hell, whip out a copy of Soldier of Fortune if you really want to go all the way.

If someone gives you hell, just give 'em the old, "Hey Ackley Kid... mind your own business... jesus, do you ever brush your teeth?"

If your choice in periodical literature doesn't phase them, then your choice in paperback literature should.

 

[Rokman]

I work in various hospitals during the week and I have lots of down time between medical procedures. I pass the time usually reading firearm mags, hunting mags, or off-roading mags and people usually don't comment on my choice of reading material. If they do, I really don't care.

 

[Deanimator]

It's also fun to confuse clerks other places by buying a combination like Shotgun News, Macworld, and Conde Nast Traveler. Challenges their assumptions, if they have any.

In the Crocker Park outdoor shopping mall in Westlake, OH there are a Borders and a Barnes and Noble almost within sight of each other. They're a five minute walk apart. I have to go to both of them, since one has "New York Review of Books" but not "Smallarms Review" and the other vice versa. So when I check out at Borders, I usually have a "New York Review of Books", a "Shotgun News", and a "Combat Handguns". When I go to Barnes and Noble, I usually have a "Smallarms Review", a "2600", and an "American Handgunner" or a "Guns".

Of course I almost always have on my NRA member's hat with the M1911A1 and Bush pins, or my NRA Instructor hat with the Gock 22...

 

[ZXD9]

I read gun magazines and books all the time when I fly. I can't say I've ever had a negative response (that I noticed). I don't care for overly chatty people on the plane so if this keeps them quiet and scared, so much the better.

 

[hankdatank1362]

I got you all beat.

I manage an antiques store. It's one of the largest on the east coast. (47,000 sq. ft) I always keep a couple gun periodicals strewn across the counter. I like the ones with the realle evil guns on the cover, like SPECIAL WEAPONS FOR MILITARY AND POLICE or COMBAT HANDGUNS. I make sure to lay them all face-up. When the little old ladies come up to the counter to try and haggle with me over a freakin' $4.95 cup and saucer, they notice what I'm reading, and tend to get a little squeamish.

If anyone doesn't like it, they could always talk to the owner. He's the guy in the camoflague next to me, cleaning his S&W 4506. (He's 21, I'm 22. I love the customer's faces when they realize two "young punks" run their favorite shop.)

 

[Manedwolf]

Re:, the antiques store...need to keep those magazines above the "You break it, you've bought it" sign.

 

[real_name]

There have been several posts above referring to scared or intimidated members of the general public in relation to exposure to someone reading a gun rag.
I think two things are at play here, and bear in mind I'm here in TN and not in IL or somewhere so my normal and your normal may differ.
I'm not totally convinced that anyone actually even notices that we are reading gun magazines, remember that our situational awareness is naturally honed to a greater level than the sedated sheeple grazing around us, we are conditioned (self or otherwise) to notice things. Let's not assume that they notice half of that.
Also we're reading a gun magazine on a plane, anyone who notices this and sits elsewhere is probably thinking either 'That is the worst undercover air marshall I've seen yet' or 'Oh a gun nut, I sat next to one of them on the way here, ended up being lectured on (insert topic) for the whole flight when I only wanted to sleep, I'll sit next to that old woman who's already asleep instead.'
I do believe that some people view gun magazine readers with suspicion, but not as much as we are expressing here, and I don't believe that we scare them by reading gun mags in public.

Now if I saw an Arabic edition of Soldier of Fortune being read on the plane next to me that would be a whole other story.

 

[PTHOR]

I look for people that don't like guns, and then I share my opinions with them whether they want me to or not.
If they try to walk away, I just follow them...

 

[Mr White]

Walking Arsenal
I read them all the time. If i get dumb comments i just roll the magazine up and whap the dolt with it.

Whap the dolt about 30 times with it and tell her its one of those evil high capacity magazines.

 

[Gunpacker]

MBane, It is clear that you don't want to attract attention. I suggest that you stay away from a life in the public eye where you might become a media lightning rod.
Serioiusly, I read my firearms literature anywhere with one exception. I tend to take something unobtrusive, when going with children to participate in childhood activities. I do kind of try to prevent my children from becoming the targets of any resentment of my activities. (That's about over though. My son took the opposing side in an assignment on the anti gun message being broadcast in schools these days.)
It is a long day at a swim meet for instance, and good reading material is essential.
As a substitute I might take Stephen Hunter's "Havana", (They think it's about Robert Redford and Castro) or "Hot Springs". (They think Bill Clinton is the star of that one.)

 

[hankdatank1362]

Whap the dolt about 30 times with it and tell her its one of those evil high capacity magazines.

BAH HA HA HA HA!

 

[Manedwolf]

Whap the dolt about 30 times with it and tell her its one of those evil high capacity magazines.

I'd had a quick line like that when I was reading some with someone in the cafe. It was guns and ammo or something..and it kept dropping those stupid subscription cards out onto the table and floor. Lots of cards. So I just said "High-capacity magazine", and they snorted their coffee.

 

[GEM]

Read them anywhere. On the broader issue, I make no bones about telling people I shoot. I don't preach - but I will tell a class that I went to a match on the weekend as part of casual chatter.

The RKBA has to be inclusive rather than a secretive club of nutsos in camo.

 

[bender]

It's also fun to confuse clerks other places by buying a combination like Shotgun News, Macworld, and Conde Nast Traveler. Challenges their assumptions, if they have any.

ha ha, yeah. that reminds me of the old woody allen movie (Bananas?) where he goes to a magazine store to get some porno mags.... and he's browsing and picking up different mags... "let's see, ok I'll pick up a copy of Time... and... Newsweek... and... I'll just try one of these (porno mag)...."

 

[TonyB]

First of all Biggun 15:your sig made me laugh out loud.....
The only thing I read is gun magazines or books....
I'd say a lot of the time we are a little paranoid...I was in Borders a while back reading a bunch of gun stuff.A geeky type-used to hippy guy comes up and says"I couldn't help notice what you were reading."Right away I'm gearing up for the guns are evil conversation.....just the opposite..he was a shooter and wanted to know where to shoot in the area.It's sad that we usually think the worst case senario about how people view us and guns.

 

[Deanimator]

I manage an antiques store. It's one of the largest on the east coast. (47,000 sq. ft) I always keep a couple gun periodicals strewn across the counter. I like the ones with the realle evil guns on the cover, like SPECIAL WEAPONS FOR MILITARY AND POLICE or COMBAT HANDGUNS. I make sure to lay them all face-up. When the little old ladies come up to the counter to try and haggle with me over a freakin' $4.95 cup and saucer, they notice what I'm reading, and tend to get a little squeamish.

There used to be a discount computer store in Parma(?), OH. It was run by Russians, and they pretty much played by Russian rules. If they knew you, you could get great deals. Until they thought you were a regular customer, they'd rob you blind. They had a reputation for contesting exchanges, refunds, replacements, etc. I never had a problem with them... of course EVERY time I'd go to the service department, I'd have some kind of gun magazine or gun book. They were so polite and helpful, they made Japanese department store hostesses look rude.

 

[michaelbane]

MBane, It is clear that you don't want to attract attention. I suggest that you stay away from a life in the public eye where you might become a media lightning rod.

Darn. Just tonight I'm hoping to get renominated to the board of directors of our neighborhood civic association. No kidding. If I get up to speak, maybe I'll read an article out of one of my magazines!

 

[Pax Jordana]

Just for fun

Sure, I read 'em. All the time. And when the pile gets too big, I leave them in the magazine rack at the gym!!



....better yet, day-to-day inspection reveals they are more read than the health or politic rags!

 

[f4t9r]

I read them anyplace and anytime have not ever thought much of it

 

[ArmedBear]

The judicious carrying of Guns & Ammo and Playboy have helped me get a bit more elbow room on commercial airliners, flying coach. Doesn't work if the plane's full, and in some locales, you might need something more like Soldier of Fortune and Hustler. Still, it's worth a try.