Standing Wolf,
While I agree with your sentiments, in my case being discreet was, and still is best.
Has to do with the type of work I did, my daily travels, and I fired family and friends long ago. Even them blabbing about my "day job" put me in danger, to this day they do not know about other 'jobs' or activities I did.
Have a family person yell out, ____ (me) "knows how to shoot a gun" , and then shots fired, as you tackle the idiot family member and get them and yourself behind cover.
They "thought" if they yelled that out trouble would leave...
Same brilliant folks that told strangers that called where I worked, type of vehicle I drove, where I lived, and even told them the hotel in Dallas where I was staying complete with room number.
So - to survive - I fired them and I lie[d]. I went to hunt doves in TX and in reality I was in Mississippi. (just one example).
Heck some thought I went to Dallas to attend a Cisco weekend class , the weekend I went to Tulsa gun show.
Assume nothing - trust noone.
Keep your enemy close - family and friends closer. The later will get you hurt or worse.
So for me, I am as dumb as a brick, I know nothing about guns around some folks, I do not do family except for one person I keep tabs on. Old supposed friends fired long ago as well. I have declined going to shoot with some folks...
My situation is complicated.
Now with trusted folks like our mutual freinds Larry & Sandy...these two are more than trusted friends, they are family to me.
Preacherman another, Chris and some others here....
Locally, well one is not supposed to be "there" according to State Regs, so I do not park "there". I walk to "there".
What guns? What CCWs?
I have lived where my name was not on the rental agreement, nor utilities. I do not have gun cases and for sure none with logos. I do have backpacks, baseball bat carriers. Only sticker I have on my vehicle, one from a former college 1) allows me to still park in some areas when I visit, 2) folks may think I still attend regular classes there.
Hang tag for current college, only displayed when I have to use on that college property.
I was in Dallas, honest (crosses fingers behind back).
I dealt not only with the run of the mill local thugs and going on's, I had to deal with the Professional ones that came into town to bypass alarms, B&E, Burn safes, Kidnap, and other fun stuff.
It is not about guns, or CCWs to me. It about not advertising anything, to anyone that may give them reason to get too close and want what I have.
Garage door stays down, nobody's business about a ladder, garden hose, or anything else in there.
I want to be percieved as being a boring, broke, not worth anything older returning student.
My expereriences - folks reveal too much by blabbing, bragging, or advertising. Family and friends share too much that gets heard by illegal ears, seen by illegal eyes.
