anyone else feel uncomfy around people who look like "gun nuts?"

[Carlos Cabeza]

Don't be so judgemental. One of the biggest criminals in U.S. history wears a suit and tie and smiled to your face as he Madoff with your retirement investments.

I occasionally wear some Ft. Lewis' because they are the best shoe for the required work. Ankle problems begone !

I am all about comfort unless a dress code is in order.

You'll never catch me in boat shoes, polo shirt and khaki shorts swingin' a big bertha !

Small ball is fore pansies !

 

[cbrgator]

I just think all the camo attire and the big boots and all that play right into their view of us as crazy wannabe paramilitary waiting to shoot somebody type people. But, it's your constitutional right to dress how you please as much as it is your RKBA, so go for it!!

 

[maksim]

Sam hit the nail on the head.

it depends on whom you are. Personally, I dress professionaly in the daytime with a suit, or business casual. on the weekends or shooting, jeans/shirt.

While wearing camo to walmart is anyone's right, it only enforces the image that people have of gunowners, that they are nuts or anyone can go postal. What they dont see, is the millions of gun owners who are ccw in jeans, and part of their communities. Often, those owners dont do anything to promote the safety of the hobby and defense.

It probly matters where you are located, but in Jersey, if someone came into a store in camo, I would be a little cautious. If it was a walmart to grab ammo, or an army/navy store to get gear before going hunting, perfectly fine.

I equate wearing camo or preparing for war/ type of gear when you do not need it, or even practicing, the same as those wangsta kids who wear pants below their butts.

 

[Sam1911]

Today I guess I try my best to look like a nut, long hair 8 inch beard, raggedy clothes and an NRA, SCV, Glock, Barnes Bullets take your choice ball cap.

Why, I don't want to make anyone comfortable around me, if you aren't family stay away, no telling what this nut case might do.

And that's everyone's right.

Remember the "I'm the NRA" campaign that always depicts grandpa and grandma, or some young professional looking types, or other safe and non-threatening images in order to show gun owners in a responsible, respectable, positive light? In order to reinforce in the minds of the public that we're not only "the good guys" but that we're just like them -- and maybe they should join us too... You know the images I'm talking about right?


Yeah, well, there's no law that says you have to be like that.

Heck, maybe you can scare them into voting our way!

Who knows, just maybe you'll be off-putting enough that the local soccer moms will take a look at you and go sign up for their carry permits!

I suppose we each contribute in our own little way, eh?
-Sam

 

[JWF III]

we gun nuts favor shorts, tee shirt and either sandels or tennis shoes.

+1, I know this one does. Comfort is the way I dress day-in day-out. It's not that I feel uncomfortable around the people described, or the Mall Ninjas. They just make me chuckle to myself, and shack my head in disbelief. It's that I hate stereotypes of any kind.

I hunt, I fish, I shoot, and I love guns. But most people probably look at me and say he's got a gun or two. Wow, are they wrong!

After hunting or fishing, if I'm going to a restaurant (even a McDonalds) I clean myself up before I go. I don't go out "in public" with blood up to my elbows, in full camo acting to be treated normal. I'll strip out of all my camo, and wear decent slacks/jeans, and a decent shirt. At most I might wear a DU hat, or something to that effect.

We are the representatives of our sport, I try to leave a good impression of myself wherever I go. It is very difficult to change a first impression.

Wyman

 

[61chalk]

Above thread of Carlos Cabeza,..."..look at Madoff..." BULLSEYE!!!!! Some people are just inthused about their passion, next time, see if you can strike up a conversation with them, they might be weird, they may be some really good people that will surprize you...I had a friend that got a punk hairdo, tatto of the grim reaper...he didn't smoke, do drugs an only once did I see him drink a beer....he was harmless an a very good human being.

 

[Karl Hungus]

This reminds me of the thread where the guy talked about putting on a three piece suit when he went to the local gun shop. I think that's the same guy who moved to a different neighborhood because he saw a kid in a Metallica shirt walking down the street.

Metallica are cold-blooded Satan worshippers, arent they?

They sure look scawy to me!

If some of you guys knew what I looked like you'd probably go to a different message board.

 

[CoRoMo]

I assume most of us on here are very unassuming.

Have you ever browsed through the 'Faces of THR' thread!!??!!
Now that's a freak show!!

 

[66912]

I am currently residing in Portland Oregon. The motto around here is "Keep Portland weird". If I was concerned about everyone who fit the OP's description well then I would probably never leave my house.

I was in Montana (Frenchtown to be exact) for the previous 4 years, Freeman anyone? and then Northwestern Washington before that, You just described anyone I have really trusted for the last 15 years of my life.

Environmental awareness is one thing, stereotyping is another bird all together brother.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

Hetfield '09 doesn't qualify

Hetfield '85 much more scary looking.

 

[Rockwell1]

Interesting choice of words

Rockwell said

I have a "professional" job I'm required to at least dress business casual at work and I tend to carry that out of the office. Loafers, Dockers, Polo shirt, full size 1911 and most people don't look twice

carlos cabeza said

You'll never catch me in boat shoes, polo shirt and khaki shorts swingin' a big bertha !

Was this merely unfortunate coincidence or is there some issue here that I am unaware of?

 

[INMY01TA]

This thread is freakin hilarious. Since when are kids in black with combat boots "mall ninjas"? In my day we called em metal heads or goth. Usually nothing to do with guns. I wore black tac pants, boots, and had long hair when I was a drummer prolly a decade before I ever thought about buying my first gun. And lots of people wear camo now. They sell camo cargo shorts at every Abercrombie, American Eagle, JC Pennies, etc.I'm clean cut looking now but I've always been around people like that, don't bother me.

 

[bearmgc]

To answer your original question....ah, no.

 

[shiftyer1]

polo, kswiss and versace, sounds kinda gangster to me. lol maybe you make folks nervous also. Looks are very often deceiving. Also in many areas cammo is the norm and versace is wierd.

 

[JWF III]

Metallica are cold-blooded Satan worshippers, arent they?

Don't know about that, but James Hetfield is a gun guy, and a hunter.

Makes me wonder what (if any) kind of music he listens to while at the range.

Wyman

 

[maxxwilde]

Loop Said:

Around here, in rural AZ, seeing open carry is not unusual. But, if you are on the up and up it's a quality gun in a rig you don't mind being seen wearing.

When I first moved here from Ca, I wasnt used to seeing it and it freaked me out a little. Now, it just makes me proud of the state I live in LOL
You get used to things...


M

 

[Neverwinter]

Around here, in rural AZ, seeing open carry is not unusual. But, if you are on the up and up it's a quality gun in a rig you don't mind being seen wearing.

Otherwise it is CCW.

Barbecue guns make me feel comfortable. Cheap, trying to look macho triggers my self-preservation mechanism.

The more invested someone looks in their firearms, the more I feel reassured that they aren't going to risk it by doing something reckless.

 

[CoRoMo]

James Hetfield is a gun guy, and a hunter.

Really? Where did you hear that?

 

[Rockwell1]

Originally posted by Lee Lapin

The following quote, from a thread in strategies pretty much sums up my feelings on the issue.

It's part of a larger piece orginally written by John Farnhamand deals with different ways of avoiding confrontation or being selected as a victim.

Layer Two: Functional invisibility. We all need to practice to art of "being invisible." It is in our best interest to go our way unnoticed, both by potential predators and by the criminal justice system alike.

Whenever I travel, particularly to foreign countries, I endeavor to be the one that no one notices; no one recalls; no one remembers. I silently slip through the radar, leaving no trace, a nameless, faceless tourist. When in any public place, I try to be clean and well groomed, but I never wear bright colors, any kind of jewelry, or anything shiny. I smile a lot, but talk softly and as little as possible. As we say in the law enforcement business, "Courteous to everyone. Friendly to no one."

Loud talking, bright colors, Rolex watches, etc will consistently accumulate unwanted attention. On the other end of the spectrum, tattoos, poor grooming, loud and offensive language, a slovenly appearance, etc will also garner unwelcome notice.

 

[JohnBT]

"Since when are kids in black with combat boots "mall ninjas"? "

Around here they're art school dropouts from VCU.

I'm not afraid of gun nuts, I'm afraid of the little guy at the bar drinking his 13th beer who used to be a SEAL.

John

 

[Cannonball888]

I sometimes wear a white buttoned up Ralph Lauren polo shirt, dress slacks and shoes, and a beat-up tiger stripe boonie hat. I like to keep'em guessing.

 

[texas bulldog]

uncomfortable? no.

amused? yes.

 

[newbie4help]

Did Portland steal their Motto from us in Austin?

 

[lesterg3]

Sam 1911,

I am not really that bad, I was just trying to make a point. A lot depends on where you live, If I were still in the San Francisco, Detroit, Houston, Chicargo, or Charlotte areas I would dress differtly.

But, I now live in a small city in SC where no one is known for their dress, no one in this town can afford Brooks Brothers.

I do not go out of my way to draw attention to myself, since I've lived in this little city I have been attack twice, that may be because I need a 4 footed cane to get around now and I may look like an easy mark, both have found out that it an't so. I have never been attacked anywhere else in 60 years.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Yes, people that dress like they are homeless and are operating a weapon next to me make me feel nervous. I think the amount of respect you have for yourself is also evidenced in your respect for others.