So I feel pretty confident saying that I'm the youngest member here. I turned 18 in January and got my License less than a month ago. I've noticed that whenever I go into a gunshop or look around in the gun section of the local Dick's sporting goods I get eyed up. I'm sure I'm not the usual fair (I'm 5'11'' 225 pounds, white, and i wear plaid shirts, jeans that are worn/faded and skate shoes or Timberlands) but I always feel out of place. I mean I know I'm young but I know my stuff, my grandads been teaching me how to handle, identify, break down, build and work on just about every gun I've come across in any shop in the state (he was however a pro gunsmith).
Whenever I ask for a specific model (ussually a surplus rifle like a Mosin) their eyes widen and ask me "what in God's good name would you know about them?" said in an almost threatening tone like I'm a child. I remember I was in Tip's Hardware near Tuckerton Seaport (New Jersey) and the owner, the on site gunsmith and a customer were trying to figure out how to break down a springfield xd. I walked over and kindly said that I'd be happy to show them (I am NOT allowed to own handguns in NJ but my dad owns a few xd's and i've cleaned them and even duracoated one for him). All three looked like theyd seen a ghost and said "If we can't open it up you sure as hell can't" and he handed me the pistol. I dropped the mag, locked the slide back, flipped the takedown lever, pulled the trigger and let down the slide and took the whole thing apart right in front of them and set the pieces on the table for them. The customer was impressed, the shop owner laughing at the smith and the smith was in shock. Mind you the customer was in his forties and both men behind the counter were mid 70's.
So why is it that when a young man such as myself walks into a shop are we automatically assumed to be ignorant, video game playin, atheist mall ninjas and armchair commandos? If I'm interested enough and possess as much knowledge as the older folks why can't I be treated equally? I am an ADULT, I've been entrusted with the ownership of firearms by the state of New Jersey, I do NOT present myself as some young punk, gang-banger thug and always am polite and respectful to everyone regardless of their outward appearance and even treatment of me. I just don't understand, does anyone else feel my pain?