Nitrogen
Member
I have talked about guns at my current workplace. I feel now that's a mistake.
As I posted on another forum:
As I posted on another forum:
nitrogen said:
Discussing guns at work.
- Thread starter TheArchDuke
- Start date
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Thrash1982
Member
Working Man
Ditto!
A lot of people in my office are shooters and a lot of those who don't shoot as a hobby have expressed interest in learning. And I'm more than happy to help. We regularly talk guns at the office.
Ditto!
A lot of people in my office are shooters and a lot of those who don't shoot as a hobby have expressed interest in learning. And I'm more than happy to help. We regularly talk guns at the office.
.45man
Member
Yea,
I am the gun-guy at work when it comes to the law and firearms. Although I have a personal policy that I dont bring up the subject, unless someone else initiates the conversation or asks for my opinion. I am never afraid of offering it when asked....and I will state it as such
. If someone is asking me something that I dont know for sure (legal or technical), I just tell them I am not sure but, this is what I know and I try to follow up and get back in touch with them
I have a few gun pictures, and a few nice screen savers, but that is about it......
Religion and politics........I have to be very careful I dont crap where I work....I like it here
I am the gun-guy at work when it comes to the law and firearms. Although I have a personal policy that I dont bring up the subject, unless someone else initiates the conversation or asks for my opinion. I am never afraid of offering it when asked....and I will state it as such
. If someone is asking me something that I dont know for sure (legal or technical), I just tell them I am not sure but, this is what I know and I try to follow up and get back in touch with themI have a few gun pictures, and a few nice screen savers, but that is about it......
Religion and politics........I have to be very careful I dont crap where I work....I like it here
mbs357
Member
"Those numbers reflect shootings by drug dealers who 'knew' their victims."
Have you ever used that against someone and got a:
"Oh, so criminals aren't people [and therfore don't matter]?"
My jaw nearly dropped.
Have you ever used that against someone and got a:
"Oh, so criminals aren't people [and therfore don't matter]?"
My jaw nearly dropped.
crazed_ss
Member
Exactly the problem I have... see my post.
Comments like that are meant to be jokes, but there arent funny.
Doc Lukens
Member
jonnyc said:
Agreed. I teach at a small college where I am the only one in my field (HIS/POS), and share a division with a police academy, psychology, anthro, soc and education. The police academy guy is very pro-rkba. The soc guy is a retired AF Major. They ed/psych ladies are all liberals. I thought the anthro lady was, too, until she took the college's CCW class (yea, we actually teach that here, for college credit!) When she and us men in the division talk guns, the ed/psych ladies all roll their eyes, but don't say anything. All of the Deans are gunnies. I wonder how many potentially good teaching/research positions I passed up because I wouldn't even consider jobs in places like CA, MA, NY, etc.....
Get a job in the media.
I work for a major, mainstream newspaper.
Recently a young lady, a reporter who had just started working here, came by to ask one of my colleagues something. She looked at me and said: "Do you teach pistol shooting? Remember me, I was in one of your classes a couple of years ago."
This week one of my colleagues offered to work my shift so I could go shooting. We trade shifts all the time, but this time she made the offer, I didn't ask - and she knows which days I usually have shooting practice.
A lot of the people I work with know I shoot. A few times reporters have actually called me at home to ask firearms related questions (I'm not a reporter myself).
Anyway, I have a number of colleagues who are shooters and hunters. Maybe Europeans are just less uptight about this type of thing.
BTW, we have this in the basement:
I work for a major, mainstream newspaper.
Recently a young lady, a reporter who had just started working here, came by to ask one of my colleagues something. She looked at me and said: "Do you teach pistol shooting? Remember me, I was in one of your classes a couple of years ago."
This week one of my colleagues offered to work my shift so I could go shooting. We trade shifts all the time, but this time she made the offer, I didn't ask - and she knows which days I usually have shooting practice.
A lot of the people I work with know I shoot. A few times reporters have actually called me at home to ask firearms related questions (I'm not a reporter myself).
Anyway, I have a number of colleagues who are shooters and hunters. Maybe Europeans are just less uptight about this type of thing.
BTW, we have this in the basement:
Darn, I wish we had basements in LA!
I work at a Hospital and they tend to be very liberal, PC places - lots of sheeple.
One year at an off-site restraunt where we were having a Christmas Party lunch (now it would be a Holiday Season lunch so you can tell how long ago that was) a co-worker who had my name in the gift exchange gave me a box of speer .45 acp. It was one of those gift exchanges where everyone takes a turn opening their package - it got totally quiet, then a girl in the office says "my boyfriend got killed by one of those" MAN, the few of us who were into guns were thinking Oh-Oh. WHat the !?!?! Her boyfriend had been killed a few months earlier in a drive-by (he was most likely a banger) and she thought it was a .45. Anyway, I tucked it out of sight and a lot of people started talking at once. Everyone (well most of us) decided it was time for a drink and life went on.
I now where a glock badge holder (shoelace thing with a clip) at work. My boss and a couple mgr's gave me some attitude about it. I told them it was Glock Plastics and sure they make guns too. They wanted me to take it off but I refused unless it was made a hospital policy and said if I can't wear something with a gun products name - nobody better be allowed to show brand loyalty or email prayers or political msg's, etc. They pretty much leave me alone now but every once in awhile someone will talk to me in the hallway and ask - is that glock! like in glock guns?
Funny thing is after Katrina/New Orleans a few people did come up and ask me if I thought they should get a shotgun in case anything like that ever happens here (LA earthquake, riot, Lakers Championship). Amazing how the evilness of owning a gun goes away in the darkness of a lonely night!
I work at a Hospital and they tend to be very liberal, PC places - lots of sheeple.
One year at an off-site restraunt where we were having a Christmas Party lunch (now it would be a Holiday Season lunch so you can tell how long ago that was) a co-worker who had my name in the gift exchange gave me a box of speer .45 acp. It was one of those gift exchanges where everyone takes a turn opening their package - it got totally quiet, then a girl in the office says "my boyfriend got killed by one of those" MAN, the few of us who were into guns were thinking Oh-Oh. WHat the !?!?! Her boyfriend had been killed a few months earlier in a drive-by (he was most likely a banger) and she thought it was a .45. Anyway, I tucked it out of sight and a lot of people started talking at once. Everyone (well most of us) decided it was time for a drink and life went on.
I now where a glock badge holder (shoelace thing with a clip) at work. My boss and a couple mgr's gave me some attitude about it. I told them it was Glock Plastics and sure they make guns too. They wanted me to take it off but I refused unless it was made a hospital policy and said if I can't wear something with a gun products name - nobody better be allowed to show brand loyalty or email prayers or political msg's, etc. They pretty much leave me alone now but every once in awhile someone will talk to me in the hallway and ask - is that glock! like in glock guns?
Funny thing is after Katrina/New Orleans a few people did come up and ask me if I thought they should get a shotgun in case anything like that ever happens here (LA earthquake, riot, Lakers Championship). Amazing how the evilness of owning a gun goes away in the darkness of a lonely night!
Mannlicher
Member
Work consists of just my Son and I. Since we share the contents of the various gun safes, and we hunt together, yeah, we talk guns a lot at work.
rab357
Member
Not worth it...
To me, talking about guns at work is like talking about sex, religion, race and politics at work. You are just asking for trouble where you don't need it. I once worked at a Company where the maintenance guy was ex-military and used to talk about his guns, non-threatenly. Well one day he was terminated for attendance and the HR Manager actually contacted the police about him prior to giving him his 2 paychecks to ask the police about handling the termination based on his guns conversations. The police actually went to his home after his termination to let him know the Company contacted them about his previous conversations about guns and that it made the HR Manager nervous.
To me, talking about guns at work is like talking about sex, religion, race and politics at work. You are just asking for trouble where you don't need it. I once worked at a Company where the maintenance guy was ex-military and used to talk about his guns, non-threatenly. Well one day he was terminated for attendance and the HR Manager actually contacted the police about him prior to giving him his 2 paychecks to ask the police about handling the termination based on his guns conversations. The police actually went to his home after his termination to let him know the Company contacted them about his previous conversations about guns and that it made the HR Manager nervous.
cracked butt
Member
I hear you, I had the same problem at my last job. At least Iwasn't the poor kid who let his coworkers know that he owned 4 AKs- He took a little of the 'crazy gun nut' image away from me.
It's all about guns
I have two jobs. The first is a firefighter/paramedic. At that job, there are quite a few people who are into guns of one type or another. It's a pretty open place (it has to be when you live with someone 1 out of 3 days). Talk is fine. Going out after work is great. Bringing guns to work is really, really bad. Fair enough.
My other job is as a ski patroller. It is company policy to not allow employees to bring weapons to work. Again, fair enough. It's private land and it's the company's choice. I did have one enjoyable experince there:
I was sitting in our patrol shack talking to a friend about guns. I mentioned that I had just bought a second gun. A female patroller from Australia piped up and said, "I can't believe you bought another gun! Do you really want your son to grow up (he's 10 months now) knowing that his dad owns guns?"
Keep in mind that in owning a gun in Australia is like owning a fully automatic weapon in...say...California.
To which I answered, "Are you kidding me? He already has one of his own."
After a little more conversation about the two guns (one is a SIG p239, the other is a Beretta 92FS), we started discussing the SIG. She asked why I needed it.
I responded, "Make no mistake. The sole pupose of that weapon is to put holes in anyone who threatens my wife, my son or me."
She was a little shocked at that.
Shortening this story a little bit...
We continued to talk for a while and about a week later, I took her and her husband to the range. After serious talks about safety, they both shot handguns for the first time in their life - AND LOVED IT!
I'd say that was a success for talking about guns at work.
Mike
I have two jobs. The first is a firefighter/paramedic. At that job, there are quite a few people who are into guns of one type or another. It's a pretty open place (it has to be when you live with someone 1 out of 3 days). Talk is fine. Going out after work is great. Bringing guns to work is really, really bad. Fair enough.
My other job is as a ski patroller. It is company policy to not allow employees to bring weapons to work. Again, fair enough. It's private land and it's the company's choice. I did have one enjoyable experince there:
I was sitting in our patrol shack talking to a friend about guns. I mentioned that I had just bought a second gun. A female patroller from Australia piped up and said, "I can't believe you bought another gun! Do you really want your son to grow up (he's 10 months now) knowing that his dad owns guns?"
Keep in mind that in owning a gun in Australia is like owning a fully automatic weapon in...say...California.
To which I answered, "Are you kidding me? He already has one of his own."
After a little more conversation about the two guns (one is a SIG p239, the other is a Beretta 92FS), we started discussing the SIG. She asked why I needed it.
I responded, "Make no mistake. The sole pupose of that weapon is to put holes in anyone who threatens my wife, my son or me."
She was a little shocked at that.
Shortening this story a little bit...
We continued to talk for a while and about a week later, I took her and her husband to the range. After serious talks about safety, they both shot handguns for the first time in their life - AND LOVED IT!
I'd say that was a success for talking about guns at work.
Mike
Rock45
Member
Lots of good stuff here!
I work in a VA Hospital, and our office is a hangout/gathering point for a very eclectic group. There is a large double-wide workbench in the middle of the shop, golf magazines and catalogs on one side and gun mags and such on the other. It is not uncommon to see a dozen or so copies of Shotgun News and various gun magazines at any given time.
This allows conversations to take place the same as a pile of Hot Rod magazines or anything else would, so it's a good thing.
I work in a VA Hospital, and our office is a hangout/gathering point for a very eclectic group. There is a large double-wide workbench in the middle of the shop, golf magazines and catalogs on one side and gun mags and such on the other. It is not uncommon to see a dozen or so copies of Shotgun News and various gun magazines at any given time.
This allows conversations to take place the same as a pile of Hot Rod magazines or anything else would, so it's a good thing.
neil minor
Member
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2006
- Messages
- 75
I wish I knew someone where I work at who enjoys guns. The company displays a "No Weapons on Company Property" sign. And most folks there are so uptight and unfriendly. I had a gun magazine on my desk the other day (I brought it to work with me one morning in the hopes of having a couple of minutes to read an article which interested me). I received some strange looks from people who came to see me that day - one of those, "Oh My Gosh_I wonder if he is the going postal type kind of guy."
I also have a Bible on my desk. No, I don't leave it there in an attempt to try to show people I am "better than thou." I leave it there to look at it numerous times during the day. Just seeing it gives me inspiration to get through the day. I feel it helps reduce my stress.
Perhaps I got off track a bit, but not by much. Anyway,
I wish my company was more gun friendly. I would think it could be safer there. But the company seems more interested in keeping things "pc". It's a shame.
Where I live (in a nice subdivision) a couple of the neighbors are gun enthusiasts. The rest of the neighbors are snobs. Story: I got several weird looks the other Saturday afternoon. My six year old daughter and I were planting flowers in the front yard. I guess I did look a little strange, holding my daughters hand with one hand and holding a box of petunias with the other hand. And a Glock in a holster on my belt. But hey, those petunias can get a little wild sometimes….I wish I knew someone where I work at who enjoys guns. The company displays a "No Weapons on Company Property" sign. And most folks there are so uptight and unfriendly. I had a gun magazine on my desk the other day (I brought it to work with me one morning in the hopes of having a couple of minutes to read an article which interested me). I received some strange looks from people who came to see me that day - one of those, "Oh My Gosh_I wonder if he is the going postal type kind of guy."
I also have a Bible on my desk. No, I don't leave it there in an attempt to try to show people I am "better than thou." I leave it there to look at it numerous times during the day. Just seeing it gives me inspiration to get through the day. I feel it helps reduce my stress.
Perhaps I got off track a bit, but not by much. Anyway,
I wish my company was more gun friendly. I would think it could be safer there. But the company seems more interested in keeping things "pc". It's a shame.
Where I live (in a nice subdivision) a couple of the neighbors are gun enthusiasts. The rest of the neighbors are snobs. Story: I got several weird looks from the yuppie jogging neighbors the other Saturday afternoon. My six year old daughter and I were planting flowers in the front yard. I guess I did look a little strange, holding my daughters hand with one hand and holding a box of petunias with the other hand. And a Glock in a holster on my belt. But hey, those petunias can get a little wild sometimes….
nm
I also have a Bible on my desk. No, I don't leave it there in an attempt to try to show people I am "better than thou." I leave it there to look at it numerous times during the day. Just seeing it gives me inspiration to get through the day. I feel it helps reduce my stress.
Perhaps I got off track a bit, but not by much. Anyway,
I wish my company was more gun friendly. I would think it could be safer there. But the company seems more interested in keeping things "pc". It's a shame.
Where I live (in a nice subdivision) a couple of the neighbors are gun enthusiasts. The rest of the neighbors are snobs. Story: I got several weird looks the other Saturday afternoon. My six year old daughter and I were planting flowers in the front yard. I guess I did look a little strange, holding my daughters hand with one hand and holding a box of petunias with the other hand. And a Glock in a holster on my belt. But hey, those petunias can get a little wild sometimes….I wish I knew someone where I work at who enjoys guns. The company displays a "No Weapons on Company Property" sign. And most folks there are so uptight and unfriendly. I had a gun magazine on my desk the other day (I brought it to work with me one morning in the hopes of having a couple of minutes to read an article which interested me). I received some strange looks from people who came to see me that day - one of those, "Oh My Gosh_I wonder if he is the going postal type kind of guy."
I also have a Bible on my desk. No, I don't leave it there in an attempt to try to show people I am "better than thou." I leave it there to look at it numerous times during the day. Just seeing it gives me inspiration to get through the day. I feel it helps reduce my stress.
Perhaps I got off track a bit, but not by much. Anyway,
I wish my company was more gun friendly. I would think it could be safer there. But the company seems more interested in keeping things "pc". It's a shame.
Where I live (in a nice subdivision) a couple of the neighbors are gun enthusiasts. The rest of the neighbors are snobs. Story: I got several weird looks from the yuppie jogging neighbors the other Saturday afternoon. My six year old daughter and I were planting flowers in the front yard. I guess I did look a little strange, holding my daughters hand with one hand and holding a box of petunias with the other hand. And a Glock in a holster on my belt. But hey, those petunias can get a little wild sometimes….
nm
StuckInMA
Member
Couldn't agree more with this statement.
I'm curious as to whether I'm alone on this next rule of thumb though.
3. If the topic of guns/concealed carry does somehow end up being talked about, never show or offer up the exact model of the weapon(s) you carry unless you're at the range. Otherwise you run the risk of someone (anti/freaked out co-worker) being able to tell HR or the Police that you just pulled a "insert brand/model/finish" on them out of spite without ever actually seeing your gun.
M2 Carbine
member
TheArchDuke
"Gun and work situations don't always turn out bad. Unless you actually BRING your gun. I can imagine how that might cause a stir."
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm retired now but guns used to be a much discussed topic at work.
Even years before TX had legal carry many people carried a pistol in the car (loaded long guns were legal).
One day there were 7 or 8 pilots and a couple mechanics sitting around talking about guns and the question was asked how many carry handguns and have their guns with them (in their car). All but two .
It wasn't unusual to be sitting around on a slow weekend cleaning your gun in the office.
My mechanic friend had some reloading equipment set up in the hanger and I had a spare Dillon press set up in the company apartment.
"Gun and work situations don't always turn out bad. Unless you actually BRING your gun. I can imagine how that might cause a stir."
--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm retired now but guns used to be a much discussed topic at work.
Even years before TX had legal carry many people carried a pistol in the car (loaded long guns were legal).
One day there were 7 or 8 pilots and a couple mechanics sitting around talking about guns and the question was asked how many carry handguns and have their guns with them (in their car). All but two
.It wasn't unusual to be sitting around on a slow weekend cleaning your gun in the office.
My mechanic friend had some reloading equipment set up in the hanger and I had a spare Dillon press set up in the company apartment.
bumm
Member
I can understand those who never talk guns at work if their workplace is so PC that they might lose their jobs. We all have to eat and support our families.
However, unless there are severe, official penalties, I can't understand keeping quiet about a perfectly reasonable, legal, hobby, just because others are phobic, misinformed, or otherwise unreasonable. The anti's never hesitate to hurt YOUR feelings. Why be so delicate about theirs? Of course we have to be considerate and polite, but we are IN THE RIGHT. If we want to preserve our 2nd amendment rights, the best thing we can do is responsibly promote our position. We are normal, productive members of our society. Let the public know we exist!
Marty
However, unless there are severe, official penalties, I can't understand keeping quiet about a perfectly reasonable, legal, hobby, just because others are phobic, misinformed, or otherwise unreasonable. The anti's never hesitate to hurt YOUR feelings. Why be so delicate about theirs? Of course we have to be considerate and polite, but we are IN THE RIGHT. If we want to preserve our 2nd amendment rights, the best thing we can do is responsibly promote our position. We are normal, productive members of our society. Let the public know we exist!
Marty
30-06 lover
Member
My workplace used to be a PD, but now I am a full time student. I mentioned guns at the PD once, only to be bombarded with questions from a lot of cops, and a few guys asked me to go with, or take them hunting. At school, it is another story. My teachers have done some things that have turned my stomach. I have been able to get some really good points across and change some peoples minds, but not many. My favorite thing teachers do to me when talking about guns is to say "Why not keep an open mind about this? Can you please consider what I am saying?" I think to myself "I would if you hadn't cut me of jerk off!" The funny thing about people telling you keep an open mind, is that theirs is usually closed.:banghead: I am very open about my love for guns and hunting, but I don't usually bring it up on my own. I never lie about it though. If someone asks me what I do for fun I usually say shoot and hunt. If they tell me it is sick to kill, or wrong to own guns, I just say they are entitled to their opinion. If they keep nagging I usually say "Lets just be happy we live in a place that we have different opinions and still be friends." They don't know where to go after that and usually drop it. Am I the "Gun Nut" in class? Yes, but I don't care. I would rather be hated for what I am than loved for something I am not.
-Mike
-Mike
I work for one of the biggest corporations....
And likeminded folks talk guns all the time, where ever they want. I mean right in the cubicle hallways and all. Some liberal folks (portland, Oregon) frown on it, but we don't stop them talking about their wild gay lovefest weekends or the like, so they don't complain about a few dead groundhogs, or deer, or elk, etc.
But it also depends, one person that chooses to be an HR PITA, can pretty much put that kind of stuff to a halt. But generally, they are told simply "go back to work."
But ironically, in Portlands liberal climate, they issue CCW permits like candy, so there's a balance in my opinion. The fact that I can discuss this openly at my place of employment has recently made me a batch of new friends that I hope to share many a happy hunting ground(s) with.
jeepmor
And likeminded folks talk guns all the time, where ever they want. I mean right in the cubicle hallways and all. Some liberal folks (portland, Oregon) frown on it, but we don't stop them talking about their wild gay lovefest weekends or the like, so they don't complain about a few dead groundhogs, or deer, or elk, etc.
But it also depends, one person that chooses to be an HR PITA, can pretty much put that kind of stuff to a halt. But generally, they are told simply "go back to work."
But ironically, in Portlands liberal climate, they issue CCW permits like candy, so there's a balance in my opinion. The fact that I can discuss this openly at my place of employment has recently made me a batch of new friends that I hope to share many a happy hunting ground(s) with.
jeepmor
FPrice
Member
Before I retired I worked on the largest Air Force Reserve base in the country. Many of the people I dealt with were either neutral or anti-gun. But there were also quite a few active shooters on base. The head of my club's hi-power team worked across the street. The head of civilian personnel was a gun enthusiast. I bought my first EBR from the (now long-retired) gym director. I could go many places and talk guns whenever I wanted to. But being that it was Federal property, my guns never came on base except for some very rare times they opened the pistol range to civilian participation.
Offwhite
member
The husband of one of the girls I work with has been deployed & we talk all the time about guns, firearms, Glocks, blowin' stuff up and nobody seems too bothered by it. Plus I dont really care what other people have to say or think about me. I know who I am. But she goes with me & my fiancee to the gun range pretty often.
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