Someone I knew outed my gun at a coffee house.

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Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn't have said anything a year ago. It probably doesn't matter.

The issue that I see it is that the only reason you were embarrassed is because you were acting like you had something to be embarrassed about.

The guy was being obnoxious, okay. Getting a restraining order on him, though? Geez, gimme a break. Anyway, who says you shouldn't just tell the guy a big fat lie?

"So, buddy, you still CARRYING THAT GUN OF YOURS AROUND?"

"Huh? Who ever said I carried a gun around? You're whacked, dude."

"YOU said it last year in that one class remember?"

"Stop bothering me, please. No, I don't carry a gun, I think you're mistaken. Do I have to call the police here? And even if I did carry a gun, it wouldn't be any of your damn business!"

Not a friend, not a relative, just some jerk who wanted to cause you some trouble.
 
Shoulda looked him right in the eye, grabbed your crotch and said "Right here pal. You got yours with you?"

I figure that he would probably chuckle and move on to other topics, since he'll more likely think you're just making a crude joke than telling him you're carrying a gun.
 
Yeah,my Brother in law(a pot smoking hippy)never misses an oprotunity to mention me carrying....usually at family functions ,but once in a place we always go to eat(the owner is a friend and shooter,so no worries)..but it does bother me.The thing is he isn't even sure if I AM carrying.He just assumes,but unless he puts his hand in my pocket,it is impossible to tell)I usually follow it up w/ a crack about illegal drugs.All of the family knows I am a shooter,and that he is a wack job,so no family issues either.basically people need to mind there own business.For some reason people think when it comes to guns,they can say whatever they want.Of couse they'll be coming to us for protection when the SHTF.....
 
I've seen all of the chastisement for "telling" the guy in the first place.

The original poster never said he told the guy. They were in a yoga class together. Just in case no one else knows, that's a very physically intense class. I don't do yoga myself (I am thinking about it though, because of the flexibility benefits), but I know people who do, and have done it for twenty-five to thirty years. I've watched them, and I'm glad I don't have to keep up with that, and I do other martial arts.

It is entirely possible that the other person found out in the changing room, or saw the OP locking up his weapon in the instructors office. (Many people who concealed carry do lock their weapon up in the dojo rather than leave it in the car because many such classes are often held in shadier parts of town where rent is cheaper so they can keep costs down.)

Once outed in this way it's hard to spend that much time with someone who is curious and not eventually have to explain why you carry a gun. Unfortunately yoga tends to attract New Age Antis the way Taikwondo (or as the rest of the martial arts world calls it - Take your dough) attracts overly aggressive nut cases. Either art form can have benefits but dealing with the other people in class is a pain in the posterior. This is especially true with yoga because the New Agers tend to be like magpies, they home in on shiny objects and don't have a reasonable sense of personal boundaries.

It's entirely possible that the OP is innocent when it comes to outing himself. I have outed myself at Men's Warehouse. I was looking to have my suit altered and my tailor certainly needs to know to allow for the gun. There where other employees in the store, and even though I wasn't broadcasting the info over the intercom, I know several of them overheard. Since Men's Warehouse is just a couple of doors down from the Starbucks I frequent, guess who I see on a fairly regular basis. So far none fo them has "outed me" but there is one who wasn't happy when I brought the gun into the clothes store and he gives me "the look" when I see him in the coffee shop. Oh well.

It happens, then you have to deal with it. I still think the OP did just fine.
 
Unfortunately yoga tends to attract New Age Antis


Unfortunately so do coffee shops and markets like Whole Foods. I try to avoid these places, but sometimes its difficult and you end up in Occupied Territory. I always feel like I'm behind the Iron Curtain. I think the OP handled it well.
 
I'd have simply said "Yup" and changed the subject. And if you have to worry about a coffee shop telling you how to live your life, it is time you found another one anyway.
 
Interesting the differences of opinins here on not caring about being outed, or not.

Also on whether or not it's okay to let yoga class type aquaintances that you carry...
 
I think a nice simple yes would have been a good response. We do not have to live in fear of John Q Public knowing. It might be better for us if more of them did know.

Do you wear old clothes, drive the old car, and leave the good jewelry home out of fear of the criminals following you home? What is the difference in carrying a gun with public knowledge?

I see this as an unimportant happening. Unless of course the coffee shop is posted "No Guns".
 
Concealed carry is not a matter of being ashamed or afraid of what people will think. Concealed carry is a tactical advantage. Once you start telling people you carry, the gun is no longer concealed, even if it can't be seen. You can talk about guns with mere aquaintences, but don't tell them you carry.

It's more fun hiding it well, knowing people around you don't approve, than it is to go blabbing about it to strangers. (not saying the OP did that)
 
when I was going to small coffee shops I was very open about my involvement with guns. I brought, oh, 7 or 8 people that had never touched a gun shooting.

A number of them continually asked me when they could go again...

While I would conceal that you carry concealed, I wouldn't cover up that you are into guns, its a great opportunity to prosetylize. (or however that's spelled)
 
Why yes I do but have no intention to harm you, even though you were on Dateline: To catch a predator, btw is Chris Hansen as good looking in person as he is on TV.
 
I come from a lineage and strata of social interaction where vendetta and pay-back rank supreme. Personally, I never forget an unkindness.

Doing or saying anything at that moment would have been wrong.

I would have waited until he was with that "special girl" he's been trying to schmooze, or his wife, or better yet, his mother.

In a loud voice for all to hear, I would have said, "Clara says you gave her venereal warts, you b*atard...!"

He would no doubt seek you out later, giving you the perfect chance for pay-back.
 
So you support a business that supports politics you abhor with money and the ever-present propaganda at a leftie coffee house? YOUR money goes to those who work hard to destroy our liberty.
Actually, that is an excellent strategy. Get to know these people. Get them to like you. When they start frothing about gun control, indicate that you have more than passing knowledge about firearms. When someone finally asks, come clean. They will have to rethink their attitude that firearms owners are undesirable people.

I have a friend whose wife was very anti-gun. After a year or so she engaged me in a conversation about guns. Eventually, I asked her if she wanted to see one. She was aghast and asked if I had one with me. I said I did and she asked to see it. I pulled it out, unloaded it and handed it to her. When she was finally able to talk again she sputtered, “Aren’t you afraid it will go off?” I told her they don’t go off by themselves; they have to be attached to a human”. A sort time later, her husband started carrying a handgun.

I would have laughed at the man in the coffee shop and said, “Sure, in a dangerous place like this I nearly have to. How are those child molesting charges coming?”
 
I come from a lineage and strata of social interaction where vendetta and pay-back rank supreme. Personally, I never forget an unkindness.


Sicilian?
 
Honestly, you are responsible for who you decide to tell about your CCW or interest in guns. This is why I generally do not tell anyone at work about my hobby or CCW license- its a need to know basis.

If the wrong people find out- you can have bad results.

Sounds like this guy was a real jerk and flaming liberal. I would have opted for a counter-question to throw him off guard:

(loudly) "No I'm not Ted, hey by the way are you still on the megan's law list??" :evil:
 
Nobody...

....except my range buddies (or friends that live 'way up in Canada) know I carry. That includes mother, sister, work collegues....NOBODY!

If they ever find out, it will be beacuase of unpleasant circumstances, I reckon :evil:
 
In my youth I enjoyed coffee houses though they were filled with left wing whackos, they were open late, some 24 hours and one of my favorites made fresh doughnuts around the clock and your cup never went empty[no extra charge]. I could put up with the left politics but most like me with a conservative bent,couldn't and slowly they went out of business.Starbucks has attracted the yuppy and wannabe yuppy crowd,but $5 latte's arent the same!When I was 20, a quarter cup of coffee and a couple of twenty cent doughnuts was as far as my budget stretched....
 
OK, problem #1: Yoga class? YOGA? What, was the ballet class full? You seem surprised at his actions but what sort of people do you think you'll meet in a ... yoga class? How did this jerk know you pack? Why are you discussing such things with people in a ... yoga class?

2: I would have responded in a voice just as loud and clear "Damn straight."
 
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