Bumper Stickers vs Open Carry

[shafter]

These threads amaze me. I find it distressing how may people are willing to forgo their 1st Amendment right to express their opinion because of imagined threats from low-life thugs or "activists".

What does this bode for the 2nd Amendment when it comes time to put up or shut up?

It has nothing to do with being afraid of anybody. I think stickers of any sort look tacky on cars. The same goes for my clothes, very rarely will I wear anything with writing on it. This isn't second grade anymore.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

These threads amaze me. I find it distressing how may people are willing to forgo their 1st Amendment right to express their opinion because of imagined threats from low-life thugs or "activists".

What does this bode for the 2nd Amendment when it comes time to put up or shut up?

Your comment makes no sense at all.

The imagined threat from low life thugs is the exact reason most of us choose to carry. So why would I advertise that I have valuables in my vehicle? Guess what, there is a locking cover over the bed of my truck, and a lock on my tailgate also, because it's no one's business what I have in there, and if it is valuable, I don't want thieves to be made aware. I also don't have a neon sign over my house that says "guns inside", because I feel it invites unwanted attention from a variety of people.

I have the right to free speech. I also have the right to keep my thoughts, opinions, and ideas to myself. I'm giving up nothing. I also don't feel bumper stickers are effective at changing people's opinions or ideas, so why would I choose to do something that I find more annoying than anything?

 

[Red Wind]

It has nothing to do with being afraid of anybody. I think stickers of any sort look tacky on cars. The same goes for my clothes, very rarely will I wear anything with writing on it. This isn't second grade anymore.

Nonsense! Right this moment I'm wearing this T-Shirt. I'm a horse racing fan. This makes me a schoolboy? Lighten up, Francis.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have a lot of tee shirts with writing on them. Mostly they are traditional archery related and allow me to promote my other hobby.

"Lighten up Francis."

Good one, I always did like Stripes...

 

[CDW4ME]

If you are going to open carry may as well wear a pro gun shirt to go with it.

I do not open carry, wear pro gun shirts or have stickers on vehicle.

 

[Warp]

It has nothing to do with being afraid of anybody. I think stickers of any sort look tacky on cars. The same goes for my clothes, very rarely will I wear anything with writing on it. This isn't second grade anymore.

Because only second graders wear clothing that has writing or logos on it lol.

If you personally don't want to ever wear anything with writing or logos, don't! If you don't like it, don't do it. But there is no need to imply anybody else who chooses differently is immature or acting like a second grader, that's just, well

 

[jamesjames]

Look, the thing that distinguishes open carry from a bumper sticker is that you can defend yourself with the firearm you are carrying and you are expressing yourself through both 1A and 2A when you are visually, openly carrying.

Meanwhile, your unoccupied vehicle has no defense when you are not there ("protected by S&W" sticker notwithstanding). You can exercise your 1A right to expression and your support for 2A with a bumper sticker, but it does make the vehicle less secure and more attractive as a break-in target for a criminal looking for a stored gun.

I find bumper sticker politics to be distasteful and passive aggressive. We put a strident, obnoxious, or threatening message on the outside of our urban assault vehicle and then can't understand why someone might key our door or flip us an obscene gesture.

When you are present to express your opinion in-person, you are owning your free speech in the moment. When you leave the expression posted on your unattended vehicle you leave yourself open to retaliation, break-in, and theft.

 

[PowerG]

Open carry occasionally, no stickers of any kind on any vehicle.

 

[V-fib]

open carry only on my property CC when I leave the compound. bumper sticker collection on the inside of my garage door never on my vehicles. I like to keep a low profile and not draw attention to myself.

v-fib

 

[phil dirt]

I live in Seattle, so I don't put any stickers on my car, gun related or otherwise. There are too many people living here who wet their panties at the mere mention of the word g-u-n, but will scratch the bejesus out of your car if they think no one is watching.

 

[dbmjr1]

NRA sticker on my truck. No other gun related.

My trash can, however, . . .

 

[P5 Guy]

Florida License Tag

There was a push back when for a "SECOND AMENDMENT" special vanity plate. From the responders here I can see why this plate/tag failed.
Florida does have the "IMAGINE" vanity plate. A rather poor line drawing of John Lennon by OkoOno.
I wonder if this draws the attention of police and drug seekers?

 

[Old Dog]

The same goes for my clothes, very rarely will I wear anything with writing on it. This isn't second grade anymore.

So much for the 1st Amendment. Anyway, do you also tear the little orange tab off the back pocket of your Levi's, then?

 

[19-3Ben]

Florida does have the "IMAGINE" vanity plate. A rather poor line drawing of John Lennon by OkoOno.

It was licensed by Yoko. It was a self portrait by John Lennon.

As for stickers, I kind of see things a little differently, but perhaps it's because I'm deep behind enemy lines here in CT. I know how lonely it can be to be a gun owner here and know that the majority of the people in the state would support completely removing our rights. I wanted to send up a flag to those "in the know," the people who feel like I do, but I also didn't want to draw all the negative attention for all the reasons people here have already mentioned.

My solution was to get a MOLON LABE window sticker, but in Greek characters. Only those in the know, the "gun guys" know what it is or what it means. Most of the public just sees Greek letters and assumes it has something to do with a college fraternity or something.

I've gotten thumbs up, and it's been a conversation starter, but it's also never gotten the bad press that i'd get with an 'NRA Stand and Fight' sticker, because those who are anti, don't have any idea what it is.
I also highly doubt that 99% of crooks are sophisticated enough to know what that sticker means.

It's my way to advertise but only to the select group I would trust to know that I have a gun.

 

[Red Wind]

As for stickers, I kind of see things a little differently, but perhaps it's because I'm deep behind enemy lines here in CT. I know how lonely it can be to be a gun owner here and know that the majority of the people in the state would support completely removing our rights. I wanted to send up a flag to those "in the know," the people who feel like I do, but I also didn't want to draw all the negative attention for all the reasons people here have already mentioned.

This is the saddest post I have read in awhile. To think that your state is, or was, the home of so many of Americas first firearms manufacturers, and also the birthplace of so many Revolutionary and Civil War patriots.

And it has now come down to this? The mind reels and the heart weeps for Connecticut and the future of the United States.

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

The perspective left out of these discussions has to do with location, in my opinion. I can understand the fears of those who reside in the occupied territories about providing identification as an "enemy" as bullies tend to only operate where they feel safe. I do not open carry, except when hiking in the mountains, as I believe that the unseen defense is superior to the obvious as it is better to be the second target than the first. I have a lot of political oriented bumper stickers in the back windows of my work van and my personal Jeep Cherokee, including some that would be construed as "pro gun" including one which proudly states in the shape of a peace symbol with "Peace through Superior Firepower" wrapped around it. I also have one which proudly states "Ask not what your country can force others to do for you" which has gotten me a lot of comments at gas stations. The leftists do get excited at some of my Obama comment stickers but it keeps them healthy. I have been threatened often by those members of the tolerance and diversity crowd who are very brave on the telephone but shrink to their Lilliputian selves when offered the chance for a face to face discussion of the facts over a cup of coffee or ice tea. I was brought up to stand up for the things you believe in so I do not alter my behavior in order to avoid "offending" those who wish for tyranny. I had better quit now or I will get suspended again by the powerful......

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

In all of the recent "sticker" threads there are references to thieves recognizing that pro gun stickers means loot for the taking.
Now, if a thief is as smart as all that, could they not also figure out that the anti gun stickers on a car mean easy, and unarmed, pickings...

 

[GEM]

Stickers on your house or garbage can mean - here's a house to burgle when no one is home.

Similar fun happens when you get a gun safe delivered. That info is sold to thieves.

Would you put a sign on your house - Gold bullion depository?

Where I live we have had cars followed from matches and broken into when the fierce armed dudes (as you all are) were hitting pancakes.

 

[JTHunter]

My old p/u had a wide assortment of bumper stickers all over the shell prior for the '08 election but it got traded in 2011.
Now I wear my thoughts on my back.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I don't even have a dealer label on my car (I make them remove it if I buy a car at a dealership).

I'm retired Navy, and proud as a peacock about it...but don't have any Navy stickers on my car, either.

I've just never been one to clutter up my cars with stickers. And in today's world, I'm even less interested in doing so with some of the fruitcakes out there.

 

[GAF]

How about I chose to exercise my first amendment right by not putting tacky bumper stickers all over my car. Its not only a bumper sticker that can get you into trouble.

Once upon at time my future wife (from Minnesota) was driving on Clairmont ave in Eau Claire Wisconsin with Minnesota license plates on her car. At a stop light some guy in an El Camino started yelling Viking go home at her. He they pulled in behind here , tailgating her then pulling up beside her and yelling vulgar insults at her and the guy was doing all of this with his girl friend in the seat next to him. He even followed future into the Kmart parking lot to continue the harassment . Threatening to call the police was what it took to make this very angry guy go away.

As you can see all it take is one disturbed person and an out of state license plate to cause you trouble.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That's a good point. I recommend removing your license plate before engaging in interstate travel to avoid such situations.

 

[Red Wind]

As you can see all it take is one disturbed person and an out of state license plate to cause you trouble.

That guy was beyond disturbed. A serious mental case. I've traveled in 47 states with out of state plates, all but Alaska and Hawaii,traveled over 1.5 million miles in 56 years and have never run into a single lunatic, hassling my wife or myself, over our tag.

Other road rage problems ,yes. But never over a tag or a sticker. That Eau Claire character should have been certified on the spot. A one in 200 million shot. And all over the hapless Vikings who have never won an NFL Title in their 55 year existence?! While the Green Bay Boys have run up 13 rings since 1929!

Like Dave Barry says, "You can't make this stuff up."

 

[acdodd]

That's a good point. I recommend removing your license plate before engaging in interstate travel to avoid such situations.

Especially if you're from California and going to Washington or Oregon.

 

[redbullitt]

I feel like bumper stickers make excellent target indicators.... I avoid them personally...

However, they could be excellent misinformation. How about some vegan ones maybe?