Wanded at the movie theater!

No one is allowed to wand me. I even have an ID card that says so. Seriously. I love it. Other people stand in line, and I walk by. Not!!! I have so much metal in my body following my 34 surgeries that I set off any reasonably sensitive system. Wands will screw up my electronic implant even if turned off. So, no wands on my body.

Lucky me, I get a pat-down.

I like the Abe Lincoln retort the best, have to get that one stuck in my melon for if that happens to me.

Why in the world did that woman want to see that particular movie, other than the free ticket. It's about good vs. evil, and how good people defend themselves against that evil.

She should have gone to an animated feature, since she has so much in common with Daffy Duck.

You wanna get really awkward, you should have turned around and yelled "THOU ART AN ADULTERER!"

Even better,..

lady: "Why did you bring a gun in this theater?"
You: "Because THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

My personal policy is if I am carrying concealed, unless someone somehow discovers it, I don't bring it up. Period.

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As long as they don't present or show a badge this definitely rings true

My response to her.....

"Boy, I have no doubt you're somebody's ex-wife!"

Shut her down and shut her down quick. You won't change her mind.

(OK, I can't believe no one's said it yet! Seriously!)

"Because they wouldn't let me bring my magic wand tonight."

I like how you handled it. The best thing, imo, is to keep the reply short and quiet and on the polite but assertive side.

I myself would have said something like you did: "I have it for personal protection going out to my car after the show."

It is maybe fun to think of funny things to say but I don't think saying anything insulting is the answer to one of the problems I wish we could do something about: changing some peoples ideas that because we are carrying "heat" we have an anger management problem.

Why give them any kind of alledged "proof" of this?

It is maybe fun to think of funny things to say but I don't think saying anything insulting is the answer to one of the problems I wish we could do something about: changing some peoples ideas that because we are carrying "heat" we have an anger management problem.

Why give them any kind of alledged "proof" of this?

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I'll beg to differ, please. These busybody antis have all the proof in the world that we're NOT hot-headed, shoot-'em-up maniacs and they choose to ignore it and project their gun fears on us. I'm sick to death of reasoning with mental defectives who choose to inject themselves in the personal business of others. Her and those of her ilk need to be shut down because they are incapable of reasoned logic and unwilling to keep to themselves. She set herself up for an insult. Let the chips fall where they may.

I'll beg to differ, please. These busybody antis have all the proof in the world that we're NOT hot-headed, shoot-'em-up maniacs and they choose to ignore it and project their gun fears on us. I'm sick to death of reasoning with mental defectives who choose to inject themselves in the personal business of others. Her and those of her ilk need to be shut down because they are incapable of reasoned logic and unwilling to keep to themselves. She set herself up for an insult. Let the chips fall where they may.

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Just becaue you are invited to something does not mean you need to accept the invitation.

I don't see this alledged "proof" that they already have proof. Instead I am hearing lots of comments in the public about how people with guns are dangerous and "bad guys". Why give them any more reason to think this?

Your being sick of their attitude is not going to end the attitude. What might end it is to see how level headed you are and how much of a gentleman you can be.

BTW, I am a woman, if a guy insulted me as some of you are saying you would, I would think of you as worse then dirt and unworthy to be called a "man". A real gentleman would answer as the origional poster did and would earn my respect instead of my hate.

Why in the world would I care if some long-nosed busybody thinks I'm a gentleman or not?

The alleged proof you need to see is the absence of shoot-'em-up stories and study after study reinforcing the truthful concept that CHP holders don't initiate bloodflows in the streets as the demonizers have argued for years.

Don't assume we're interested in earning your respect or troubled by your hate.

A lot of witty answers here.

I agree with the sentiment that its best not to be a "smart-@ss" or aggressive with answers.

Let's face it guys.

There are two VERY significant realities in our world:

1. EVERYONE in our society seems just itching to pop off at the mouth to someone else. I don't know if it has always been this way, but it seems that our society has gotten much more confrontational in the last decade.

2. Non-gun persons often have a underlying "belief" that anyone that carries a gun is just HOPING to shoot someone. They are fed the media image of a gun-owner and they have shallowed it hook, line, and sinker.


Now, operating from the above two "premises:"


Calmly state that criminal activity is a daily occurence and much of that activity occurs in parking lots, side-streets, parking garages, etc. Calmly state further that your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth more than hoping bad things don't happen to good people.

End that with "have a nice night," or "I hope you enjoy your movie."


You will have FAR more of an impact on such a person by NOT being the stereotype that she is carrying around in her subconscious. You will likely knock her off balance. And what you WILL do is show that you are a respectable, and just as important- respectful person. This is nothing like she NEEDS you to be in order to reinforce her anti-gun (probably) beliefs.

Who knows. Once a person is presented with an uncomfortable reality such as how dangerous a parking garage or lot can be, it isn't much of a mental leap to her internalizing it and considering the possiblity that she could be robbed, killed, or raped on the way from the theater to her car. That seed could grow to make a pro-gun person out of her-- and maybe save her life.

Yes, I know that is unlikely.

What I DO know it will do is help the image of gun owners by showing one more person that we aren't what they WANT us to be in order to define us, characterize us, stereotype us, and then destroy us.

And you will have shown everyone listening to that conversation as well.



And yes... on the spot, I may well have done much different than I outlined above. However, I've learned from my wife that sometimes not being as "assertive" as I tend to be and being more accomidating can often win battles that I didn't even know I was fighting.

Thanks for bringing up this event. It's a good idea for us all to consider how we address those we must consider as our advesaries and how NOT to play into their hands.


-- John

I know I lost my cool and shouldn't have

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. I think you handled it almost perfectly

Personally I would have skipped comment two and moved straight to the criminal comment (which I fully intend to steal) after the reasonable answer did not shut her up

I'm not going to argue with people I don't care about

If you find your self in this situation again, you can borrow my planned response... adapted from the movie Billy Madison: Here is how it could of been used in your situation...

"No I will not make out with you! Did ya hear that? This lady wants to make out with me in the middle of the line. You got Wand Guy up there talking about God knows what and all she can talk about is making out with me. I'm here to watch the movie, everybody! Not to make out with you. Go on with the Wanding."

Never had to use it, but it would be fun to try out and somewhat appropriate for a movie theater.

Seriously, I would find her comments very rude and respond to her with an equal level of disrespect. Or just cut to the chase and request she mind her own dang business. Some causes start out lost and don't warrant our time or effort in attempting to 'save' them - especially at the expense of others in line waiting and having to listen...

I think the OP did a great job as well. She persisted and needed to be shut down.

This topic reminds me of the "new tone in Washington" theory that claims "if we can just get them to like us everything will be fine."

This also applies to terrorism. We've heard politician after politician say, "We've got to try to understand them and show them we mean them no harm."

Enemies are for defeating, not for reasoning. Time after time Americans have proven themselves worthy of the trust and capable of the responsibility that accompanies gun ownership. Yet time after time we take hit after hit from Congress and the anti-gun public as they try to steamroll our rights while we engage in a 2nd Amendment version of the "new tone." Reasoning with these folks gets us nowhere. That lady in the theatre will have to endure a life-changing event in order to have her mind changed about guns. In the meantime, she'll utilize the public square in an attempt to embarrass or humiliate the OP and anyone else she sees carrying a gun. She certainly could have asked to engage in a gun debate in a private corner of the lobby, but instead she chose to make a public scene. She KNEW the OP was a non-threat or else she never would have engaged him at all. She was out to embarrass and deride him in a public spectacle.

I've seen her kind a thousand times and I've got chunks of people like her in my stool!

My universal answer to all questions regarding why I carry or am carrying a gun:

"Because it suits me to do so."

I owe no explanation to anybody and will only give one if I believe the person to be truly interested in engaging me in an intelligent dialogue. In other words, rarely.

Why in the world would I care if some long-nosed busybody thinks I'm a gentleman or not?

The alleged proof you need to see is the absence of shoot-'em-up stories and study after study reinforcing the truthful concept that CHP holders don't initiate bloodflows in the streets as the demonizers have argued for years.

Don't assume we're interested in earning your respect or troubled by your hate.

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NO problem. i will never trouble you. Stay clear of me. Since you are not interested in what i think kindly put me on your ignore list. But I will never give you the satisfaction of hating you! You are not worth the effort.

By the way! I am a CCW holder. So don't assume that becuase I think a man should be a real man and a gentleman with some degree of honor means I am anti gun. I am just anti-jerks.

There is 0 (zero) chance of you ever earning my respect with an anti woman attitude like that!

Another witty one...

"Why do you have a gun?!?"

"Because it goes with my underpants. Wanna see?"

Before the security folks wanded me I let them know that I was carrying a handgun and if they wanted my permit I'd be more than happy to provide it to them.

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Why would you volunteer any information to "security"? It does not matter that they were "cool". You have no obligation to tell them anything. Let them find it, then tell them if you feel you must.

Remember, security officers are just ordinary citizens with no special authority.

The Second Amendment grants no rights to anyone.

It's true!

The Second Amendment tells the fed gov't (and the state govt's indirectly) that they cannot hinder, prevent, or otherwise interfere with the specific God-given, natural, inherent right for an individual to keep "arms", weapons of war, with or about them, any time, anywhere.

The Constitution grants We the People no rights at all. It doesn't need to, for we already have those rights.

... that said, the movie theatre isn't a gov't entity.

I'd have just turned and looked at her, with a look that said 'you are a moron', rolled my eyes at her, shook my head, and gone about my business w/o saying a word to her.

Nothing pisses off a self-important busybody like being summarily dismissed as an idiot.

" pssst, it's not really a gun,lady, it's a cleverly camoflaged digital video recorder......hey, lemme take yer picture !! "

Since you are not interested in what i think kindly put me on your ignore list.

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No, there's no way I'd put you on my ignore list because I'm going to slam you every time you come on here and disparage and malign someone's character as less than honorable or less than a man. There is more honor and character among the men and women on this forum than you're capable of comprehending.

You are not worth the effort.

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Oh, I see. YOU are the ONLY one permitted to deem someone not worthy of the effort. We're not permitted to shut down a busybody FEMALE anti because doing so automatically deems us as anti-woman irrespective of the fact that you do NOT know any of us personally.

There is 0 (zero) chance of you ever earning my respect with an anti woman attitude like that!

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Again, you wrongly assume we wish to earn your respect. You are a character assassin spouting off at some of the most honorable folks in American society, and you managed to do so within your first ten posts. A CHP is a license to carry a concealed handgun; not a license to play male character police on a gun forum.

Fella's;

Elkhunting, I think you did just fine. A modification of an earlier reply: Madam you continue to harass me & I have witnesses. What's your lawyer's name? Might slow her down some.

900F

Again, you wrongly assume we wish to earn your respect. You are a character assassin spouting off at some of the most honorable folks in American society, and you managed to do so within your first ten posts. A CHP is a license to carry a concealed handgun; not a license to play male character police on a gun forum.

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Xenia Biography:
"I own one gun, a S&W MP9c. I will eventually be divorced from my husband having been seperated for over 3 yrs".

Well, we now know why this newbie is a bitter man basher.