Thoughts on being the “Gun Guy”

[BigAlShooter]

I've worked at my company a long time and before I was a manager I worked pretty close to some of the engineers in my department. They knew I hunted and reloaded, so some of the guys, especially the guy from Antiqua, liked to call me "gun man." He couldn't possess in his home country and always talked about buying a "piece." I offered many times to go with him and help him buy and safely learn how to shoot. He never offered. I think I repaired a few guns for some of the other guys and always showed them pictures of deer or told them about my latest guns. I still work with these same guys and they will call me "gun guy" outload in front of everyone sometimes and I guess it doesn't bother me. I live in Georgia and am less than an hour from the crime of Atlanta, but it ain't too liberal here. I grew up in South Georgia, so being gun unfriendly is like being a communist.

 

[klcmschlesinger]

My family is all pro 2A, my wife's family is mostly anti. I live in a blue state in a very red county. I usually just keep my mouth shut. I have started wearing t-shirt that are obscure. Hyve Technologies, Lone Wolf, Dawson. Gun people notice and comment. Everyone else doesn't have a clue.

 

[stillquietvoice]

You should not fear your Government. They should fear you. What battle is more important than your Civil Liberties?

Exactly, many folks here in this country seem to fear the government, that's backwards thinking. The representatives in our government are supposed to represent us, protect the bill of rights, not destroy it, which is what liberals are attempting to do.
Question is why are they trying to get rid of the second amendment. It's because 2a is where the real power of the people is, the altimate power to oppose tyrany, foreign and domestic.

If we don't fight for our rights then who will.

 

[entropy]

Generational confusion:
Dirty Rotten Commie 8@$7@rd
or
Flyover-Country Conservative / Republican?

Based on my age and background, that phrase led me immediately to the first option.

Craig

I agree, who got to decide red was tied to conservatism? Since 1917, it had been associated with Communism.

Some at work know I am a 'gun guy', but most assumed that my best friend, who recently retired, was "the" gun guy.

 

[Poper]

While this was happening, another coworker walked past the open door to this client director's office and overheard a few questions. The discussion wasn't about terrorism, self defense, etc. but more along the lines of "which of these is better for upland game". The second coworker called our HR department and said she "felt threatened". The first coworker , a senior manager with about 20 years in the firm, was gone in about two weeks.

Had this event occurred in the professional firm where I worked a few years ago (I am now semi-retired), the co-worker that said she felt "threatened" would have been terminated for evesdropping on a director's office. Unless you are invited into a conversation in a conference room or officer's office, you have no business listening to the conversation occurring within. Doing so demonstrates your willingness to gather information and data that is not a part of your work description and the question in the minds of the firm owner(s) is: "What proprietary information is this person surreptitiously gathering and disseminating to our competition or taking to their next position of employment?" This would be grounds for immediate dismissal on the spot and a security escort to the person's vehicle.

 

[vintovka]

I have observed that many conservatives here now carry (one way or another). Previously outspoken liberals are suddenly silent and have a sense of fear about them. My biggest concern are attitudes that the rule of law has lost its meaning.

 

[DeepSouth]

Around here most people own guns, and a lot carry in some form, maybe not half but probably close. Being “the” gun guy isn’t really a thing, being “a” gun guy is but you want be alone. It’s pretty much assumed around here if your male you hunt and are a gun owner.

if I lived in a less gun friendly place (God forbid) I may care some, but around here being a gun guy isn’t abnormal, no one including me really cares.

 

[Old Dog]

I have observed that many conservatives here now carry (one way or another). Previously outspoken liberals are suddenly silent and have a sense of fear about them. My biggest concern are attitudes that the rule of law has lost its meaning.

The other side is now emboldened. My state legislature didn't wait (new session just started last week) to introduce several new anti-gun ("assault weapon" ban, magazine capacity limits) bill in both the state house and senate. The national DNC platform was pretty specific, and Harris' sycophants are already calling on her to carry out her anti-gun initiatives.

I have worked in the military and law enforcement -- with "gun guys" (and gals) all my adult life, and right now, I'm pretty much keeping to myself when not around those in my "circle of trust."

Being as all 2nd Amendment supporters -- and even those who fly the American flag -- and those who show "Thin Blue Line" symbology -- and those known to have supported Trump or have worn a red MAGA hat -- are now being labeled as "white supremacists" (and potential insurrectionists or terrorists) by the mainstream media, the socialists and the liberal left, we are entering uncharted territory.

Not saying we should back down, not speak up for our beliefs, but we need to tread cautiously, particularly in work and social environments. With the advent of the common red flag laws, and the prevalence of the victim mentality out there, things have changed... we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

And this isn't the USA I grew up in.

All I'm saying is, situational awareness is key... know your audience, stay calm, stay logical, don't let the stupid people around you drive the narrative.

 

[BigBL87]

At my previous place of employment (juvenile detention center), it was well known I was the gun guy. I actually took several coworkers shooting for their first time and got a couple to even get their CCLs as a result. I didn't talk about it all the time or anything but I also didn't try to hide my hobby either.

Now I work as a probation officer in a more suburban county. I'm still feeling out how my coworkers feel about firearms. I've opened up with few so far just based on conversations, but I don't talk about it openly.

I think detention leaned farther right than probation, especially in 2A issues. Even my more left leaning coworkers in my old job were pretty 2A friendly. Some of my current coworkers lean pretty far left, so still kind of feeling them out.

Between the two, I've found reactions to be mostly positive but people have also made assumptions about me (thinking I'm super conservative for example, when I'm more libertarian than anything) without asking due to it.

Among friends and family, its mostly a wash as well. I can talk pretty openly among my family and friends, and many have come to me with questions about 2A stuff at one time or another. On the flip side, the fact that tangentially acquainted people probably gather that I own firearms is a negative as it could potentially make my house a target, but that may just be a little healthy paranoia due to my line of work.

 

[JeffG]

The other side is now emboldened. My state legislature didn't wait (new session just started last week) to introduce several new anti-gun ("assault weapon" ban, magazine capacity limits) bill in both the state house and senate. The national DNC platform was pretty specific, and Harris' sycophants are already calling on her to carry out her anti-gun initiatives.

I have worked in the military and law enforcement -- with "gun guys" (and gals) all my adult life, and right now, I'm pretty much keeping to myself when not around those in my "circle of trust."

Being as all 2nd Amendment supporters -- and even those who fly the American flag -- and those who show "Thin Blue Line" symbology -- and those known to have supported Trump or have worn a red MAGA hat -- are now being labeled as "white supremacists" (and potential insurrectionists or terrorists) by the mainstream media, the socialists and the liberal left, we are entering uncharted territory.

Not saying we should back down, not speak up for our beliefs, but we need to tread cautiously, particularly in work and social environments. With the advent of the common red flag laws, and the prevalence of the victim mentality out there, things have changed... we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

And this isn't the USA I grew up in.

All I'm saying is, situational awareness is key... know your audience, stay calm, stay logical, don't let the stupid people around you drive the narrative.

And this isn't the USA I grew up in.

That's the honest truth.

 

[DustyGmt]

All I'm saying is, situational awareness is key... know your audience, stay calm, stay logical, don't let the stupid people around you drive the narrative.

Good point on the potential abuses of red flag laws concerning this topic, I hadn't really considered that. As someone else had discussed in the thread about a eavesdropping ultra turbo karen turning on her colleague because her safe place was somehow threatened at the mere mention of how to gear up properly for a hunt. Thats what we are dealing with. Patriotism/conservatism = racism, The flag of the United States = burning cross, Maga hat = klan hood, so on and so fourth. You can't even return to logic from that, because you're starting off in such an asinine place to begin with, which I think is the point. How do you fight against that? I may disagree with every single thing that happens in the next 4 years, I won't be any less of a patriot.

It is quite ironic to see the events unfolding these past few days of the new admin. The totally objective MSM look like they're all dosed with MDMA and you gotta love lectures about equality from the ruling class, where everything is either prohibited or mandatory, and where they are at this moment trying to plot the best course to completely trash our 1st and 2nd constitutional protections. Perpetual culture crisis, division, egregious censorship and constitutional infringements is antithesis to Unity, Equality, Freedom, return to normalcy.

 

[BigBore44]

Yep. I’m the consummate gun guy. Actually it’s a “gun family” (father, brother, and I). They’re both LE (dads retired Tulsa). Brother is THE gun guy for his department. Dad is the gun guy for his neighborhood that also has a few officers living there. And I’m the guy that gets the call when they, or my friends, or their friends, have questions. And we just don’t care that people know. Gadsden and Thin Blue Line flags wave proudly below the Stars and Stripes at each of our houses.

 

[DustyGmt]

Yep. I’m the consummate gun guy. Actually it’s a “gun family” (father, brother, and I). They’re both LE (dads retired Tulsa). Brother is THE gun guy for his department. Dad is the gun guy for his neighborhood that also has a few officers living there. And I’m the guy that gets the call when they, or my friends, or their friends, have questions. And we just don’t care that people know. Gadsden and Thin Blue Line flags wave proudly below the Stars and Stripes at each of our houses.

Amen. Only thing that gives me any hope. When I drive by houses like yours.....

 

[FL-NC]

I guess I am fortunate for the "bubble" I have lived in for 53 years. I grew up in a pro-gun family, in varying degrees- some were what others call "fudds" that had a rifle/shotgun or 2 to hunt with, and maybe a couple of handguns for HD/SD, while others where much more "enthusiastic". No antis. Then I spent over 2 decades in Special Operations. Weapons were actually in my MOS title for much of this period. Needless to say, it was an all-volunteer alpha male environment where our job was to be highly trained to do horrific damage to our adversaries. From there I worked at a friend's gun shop for over a year. I was then hired as a overseas US gov't contractor where I worked in security for a little over 4 years. There were some lib grass eaters in the mix (not on the security team- we were all a bunch of ex-mil meat heads- it was the clients/protectees who knew we were the only thing keeping their heads attached to their bodies and not decorating the landscape). Now I'm mostly retired and living in one of the most conservative areas of the country. With the exception of a weird and easily triggered FEDEX delivery woman who didn't like delivering packages to the gun shop because she didn't "feel safe" inside with all of the guns, I never really had to deal with "antis". That mental midget preferred to hand off the packages at the front door to avoid entering into the "danger zone" of the gun shop, where the packages (which often contained guns and ammunition- don't know if she was aware of this) were signed for. It wasn't just us- this was her procedure at all of the gun shops in the area, rain or shine, hot or cold- and she had no problem telling each shop about her fears. The funniest part of this exercise is that she was a FEDEX driver in Fayetteville, NC. That town has one of the worst crime rates in the US . Look at the stats.

 

[buck460XVR]

Clearly a case of "discretion is the better part of valor" if and when one is in a group of folks and does not know their feelings towards gun ownership. Kinda like cussing.....I always knew better than to cuss in my Momma's house, so more than not I just shut my mouth. Even tho she could cuss like a Sailor when mad. In my local, I too have no fear of folks knowing that I own guns or am well informed on firearms. But when amongst strangers, like with politics and religion, I kinda soft foot around the subject till I feel out the general consensus.

 

[Howland937]

I don't interact much with anyone outside of family, a few close friends, and some of the customers at the shop where I work.

Since customers are the most important element in my ability to provide for my family, I avoid conversation regarding anything opinionated that could make someone uncomfortable.
No politics, no religion, no current events, no guns.

 

[TJ AK-74]

Most people that have known me for a while will figure out that I am a gun owner. Most have no idea what I do or do not own. I really don't care if most people know. Most of my coworkers and supervisors know that I own guns. Everyone that knows me knows that I am a good, decent, trustworthy person and they usually know that about me before learning that I own guns. I think that I am a good representative of the gun culture to non-owners. And I have a CHL, so not like the gov doesn't already know that I probably own at least one gun. I'm also a registered Republican, NRA Life Member, and buy ammo online, so no point in hiding the fact that I own guns. I don't advertise that my house contains guns, but I live in a suburb of a rural county that is 75% R, drive a truck, and have 2 US flags in my yard, and Blue Line Flag Bumper Stickers on my cars, so anyone would reasonably surmise that my house has guns in it.

 

[NuShootr]

I guess I am fortunate for the "bubble" I have lived in for 53 years. I grew up in a pro-gun family, in varying degrees- some were what others call "fudds" that had a rifle/shotgun or 2 to hunt with, and maybe a couple of handguns for HD/SD, while others where much more "enthusiastic". No antis. Then I spent over 2 decades in Special Operations. Weapons were actually in my MOS title for much of this period. Needless to say, it was an all-volunteer alpha male environment where our job was to be highly trained to do horrific damage to our adversaries. From there I worked at a friend's gun shop for over a year. I was then hired as a overseas US gov't contractor where I worked in security for a little over 4 years. There were some lib grass eaters in the mix (not on the security team- we were all a bunch of ex-mil meat heads- it was the clients/protectees who knew we were the only thing keeping their heads attached to their bodies and not decorating the landscape). Now I'm mostly retired and living in one of the most conservative areas of the country. With the exception of a weird and easily triggered FEDEX delivery woman who didn't like delivering packages to the gun shop because she didn't "feel safe" inside with all of the guns, I never really had to deal with "antis". That mental midget preferred to hand off the packages at the front door to avoid entering into the "danger zone" of the gun shop, where the packages (which often contained guns and ammunition- don't know if she was aware of this) were signed for. It wasn't just us- this was her procedure at all of the gun shops in the area, rain or shine, hot or cold- and she had no problem telling each shop about her fears. The funniest part of this exercise is that she was a FEDEX driver in Fayetteville, NC. That town has one of the worst crime rates in the US . Look at the stats.

God bless you, sir, and thank you for your service. Your story reminds me very much of a good friend I had when living in VA Beach. He was a Spec Ops guy who now does civilian contracting for US Oil barons in Yemen.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

We live in a hoplophobic society especially nowadays and there are many, many people that not only are uncomfortable with gun owners but find the idea of gaining pleasure from owning a firearm inconceivable and replulsive, and they quietly (or not not quietly) are extremely judgmental and dismissive of gun owners, and at worse will ridicule someone as a maniac,

Such is life. Also for a security standpoint and a few others reasons I simply don’t disclose my hobby unless to the very few people who share my interests at work. I also amn’t the type to ram it down anyone’s throats and don’t believe being a gun owner makes me some kind of noble patriot or superior to anyone, and yes that included non owners.

For me, it’s just a hobby, One with implications and the 2nd must be respected and honored, but it’s not some “lifestyle” or religion that some people treat it as.

 

[GEM]

I've been watching this one and it's moved into folks announcing their political affiliations. That wasn't the purpose of the OP, it was more on being the technical gun guy. I've been there and yes, it has some social and political connotations. However, we don't do politics, thus, I'm closing it.

I recommend that one becomes a good technical gun guy or gal promoting safe handling, sport usage, hunting and self-defense (with knowledge of the legal ramifications).