30mag
Member
I call BS on the cat thing. Unless he has a suppressed rifle, I think the shots would have been reported... particularly if he lives in a 'dense urban' area and he has made a habit of it.
How do you deal with "the gun guy" at work?
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mljdeckard
Member
There's a bit of a fine line to keep your eye on.
I was younger and louder-mouthed once too. I wasn't as bad as the guy you describe, but I definitely went too far more than once. Hanging out with more mature people helped me learn the difference between being a gun person to look too cool, and doing it as a person who is serious about rights and personal safety.
On the other hand, if he is showing real tendencies to do illegal things and brag about them, I would let someone else wear off the rough edges before I got involved in his life in any significant way.
I was younger and louder-mouthed once too. I wasn't as bad as the guy you describe, but I definitely went too far more than once. Hanging out with more mature people helped me learn the difference between being a gun person to look too cool, and doing it as a person who is serious about rights and personal safety.
On the other hand, if he is showing real tendencies to do illegal things and brag about them, I would let someone else wear off the rough edges before I got involved in his life in any significant way.
I'm the gun guy at work- though the good kind. To my surprise (in Baltimore, MD especially), I have been well received. I dont preach about it and only provide my opinion/insight when asked or if I feel that I have something useful to add.
I organized a work shoot and let everyone who wanted to "play" with my toys - didnt even make them pay for ammo. Most had never shot before so they went from the .22, to the 9mm P99, to the Kimber 1911 and then to the 9mm AR-15 (indoor range - no rifles). Everyone had a good time. Some have recently asked when we will be doing it again.
Since then, 3 of my co-workers have bought their first firearm. I gave advice to all 3 of them on what to buy based on what they wanted (1 Glock 17, 1 XD and 1 Ruger SR9). While I'm sure there were other factors influencing their decision, I like to think I may have played a small role.
I organized a work shoot and let everyone who wanted to "play" with my toys - didnt even make them pay for ammo. Most had never shot before so they went from the .22, to the 9mm P99, to the Kimber 1911 and then to the 9mm AR-15 (indoor range - no rifles). Everyone had a good time. Some have recently asked when we will be doing it again.
Since then, 3 of my co-workers have bought their first firearm. I gave advice to all 3 of them on what to buy based on what they wanted (1 Glock 17, 1 XD and 1 Ruger SR9). While I'm sure there were other factors influencing their decision, I like to think I may have played a small role.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I think mljdeckard hits pretty close to the heart of why the whole thing bugs me.
We were all young once. Some of us were young and stupid! Some of us were young, stupid, and boorish, all at the same time -- at least on some days. But with the right influences, maybe we were encouraged to become less so, sooner.
I'll admit that I spent a fair bit of highschool dressed like an A-Team extra (wore combat boots to the prom...several times) and probably would have bought every tacticool bolt-on I could have afforded if those things had existed back then. And I'd had an AR to hang 'em on. (Didn't have the heart to shoot cats, though.) I know that "me, now," would have little patience with "me, then."
If I'd (me, now) have given up on me, then, I'd (me, now) have missed out on seeing me (then) becoming a better me and that would have made me (now) pretty disappointed in myself (both)! (Or something like that.)
How do you draw that line between someone who is best kept at a distance and someone who really could use a grounding influence, but will shape up just fine?
We tend to talk about "that kind" of gun guy who wears cammo to a wedding, brags about his finely honed killing skills, downs a 6-pack of Old Milwaukee while on the firing line, tortures small animals, shoots road signs, buys a Mossberg "road blocker"
p), and files down the disconnector on his SKS -- vs. -- "our kind" of gun guy, as though there were, literally two kinds of shooters, good and bad. To be fair, my "pal" was not well-adjusted but most of us knew at least some of the reasons he was so (big chip on his shoulder about his Daddy whom he didn't get on well with...but was employed by). He was obviously lonely as he!!. He talked a big game about his AR, but it was all newbie fluff -- nothing that couldn't have been tempered or quieted had I put forth some effort. As several have said, the whole cat thing was almost certainly a lie to get more reaction/attention. Who knows, maybe he was not such a bad dude, and I just needed a huge dose of patience.
Or maybe attention would have brought out even more outlandish braggadocio and created a monster.
I'm sure I'll never know. Still don't feel like I did right, back then.
Thanks again for all the thoughts.
-Sam
well, i kinda appreciate the "gun" guy at my work place because he initiated "shoot day" once and now about 2-3 guys are hooked and we have been doing this for a couple of months (once a month trip). He is a bit of a "know it all" type a deal though and it gets kinda annoying. He is the kind who shoots only .40 and .45 because he thinks 9mm is "puny" and rag on my 9mm sigma (which i outshot him with on 3 different occasions).
Got too many guns for his own good and certainly on the lazy side of cleaning his guns. He's more of a flashy kind of guy and you can tell from his collection; an HK USP.40, Sig P220 .45(?), Taurus PT1911, Rock River Arms AR-15 (can't zero his scope).
One time i brought my tacticool 10/22 (Tapco T-6, bull barrel, red dot, 50 rd mag) to sight in my red dot and i let him shot it. After the trip he commented on how it has no kick, no practical use, etc. Basically he won't admit how fun little gun it is because it's not of the "macho" caliber size. Well, to each his own but after i "burn" him at the range, he never rags on my sigma anymore.
Got too many guns for his own good and certainly on the lazy side of cleaning his guns. He's more of a flashy kind of guy and you can tell from his collection; an HK USP.40, Sig P220 .45(?), Taurus PT1911, Rock River Arms AR-15 (can't zero his scope).
One time i brought my tacticool 10/22 (Tapco T-6, bull barrel, red dot, 50 rd mag) to sight in my red dot and i let him shot it. After the trip he commented on how it has no kick, no practical use, etc. Basically he won't admit how fun little gun it is because it's not of the "macho" caliber size. Well, to each his own but after i "burn" him at the range, he never rags on my sigma anymore.
Duke of Doubt
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Guns are like a lot of things. When the blowhard starts to tell dubious stories or play up rather unimpressive accomplishments, ask him for specifics while granting him temporary credulity:
"Oh, really? A cat? How much did you have to lead him? What load did you use?"
"Three hundred rounds only? Were they hot loads? What load do you shoot out of your AR most?"
Eventually he'll back off or even correct himself, and start to knock off the bull.
A sense of humor can go a long way to disarm the office gossip:
"Kill any cats lately?"
"Say, what's the season on California Condors?"
"Oh, really? A cat? How much did you have to lead him? What load did you use?"
"Three hundred rounds only? Were they hot loads? What load do you shoot out of your AR most?"
Eventually he'll back off or even correct himself, and start to knock off the bull.
A sense of humor can go a long way to disarm the office gossip:
"Kill any cats lately?"
"Say, what's the season on California Condors?"
yooper_sjd
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wow, bruised for 300 rds out of a AR-15. guess this gent would not like to go to the range with me and shoot a 100 or so rds of 45/70, might get a dislocated shoulder or throw his back out working the lever 
I don't want to say i got big bore just to beef up my attitude, I was raised around .308, shot m-14 20 yrs in the navy, and shot the m-16. Prefer to feel the recoil, and like the feel of wood furniture compared to plastic. just my own personal preference. But I do like to break out the .22 and shoot up a brick in a day no problem. Like many of you have stated, normaly just give an input when the subject is broken. other than that, I do not broadcast on my vehicle with the black out stickers and logo's on bumber and rear window. But if you did see the 'bunker" you might raise an eyebrow and ask what is this or what is that. I have found a new interest in mil surplus weapons. any age, any country and fund my purchases as able on a good price.
So already beyond my car, bike and lady stage. Now it is just old weapons for an old weaponeer
I don't want to say i got big bore just to beef up my attitude, I was raised around .308, shot m-14 20 yrs in the navy, and shot the m-16. Prefer to feel the recoil, and like the feel of wood furniture compared to plastic. just my own personal preference. But I do like to break out the .22 and shoot up a brick in a day no problem. Like many of you have stated, normaly just give an input when the subject is broken. other than that, I do not broadcast on my vehicle with the black out stickers and logo's on bumber and rear window. But if you did see the 'bunker" you might raise an eyebrow and ask what is this or what is that. I have found a new interest in mil surplus weapons. any age, any country and fund my purchases as able on a good price.
So already beyond my car, bike and lady stage. Now it is just old weapons for an old weaponeer
MachIVshooter
Member
If you're going to regurgitate psychobabble, at least get it right. The studies that you want to quote show that people who later become sadistic killers are often guilty of torturing small animals to death in their younger years. They do it not for the kill, but for the feeling of power and control as they look that small animal (and later person) in the face and see the terror. It's erotic for that kind of sick person. Kind of the same way that rape isn't really about sex for most offenders.
I have shot a few feral cats, and hundreds of other varmints, as have many others on this board. There is a big difference between killing a pest and tormenting a small animal. While I enjoy the heck out of varmint shooting, it turns my stomach to see any animal suffer, and I will go out of my way to minimize the time an animal is alive and wounded as the result of an imperfect shot.
So as it pertains to the OP, the dude's behavior isn't particularly alarming in this respect unless he starts talking about killing the cats in ways that are intended to inflict pain and fear on the animal. The discharging of a firearm in prohibited places is an issue of poor judgement and violation of law, not one of immoral behavior.
Hungry Seagull
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Ive learned to keep big mouth shut.
One previous job was full of gun users. And a mix of different reasons of these guns. An agreement among the whole workgroup was impossible.
One previous job was full of gun users. And a mix of different reasons of these guns. An agreement among the whole workgroup was impossible.
CoRoMo
Member
I have a brother that is a lot like this, however, he is not so much of a gunny. He is a blowhard, annoying loudmouth. He is not young, and I can't imagine that any amount of age will mature him out of his ways.
There is not a whole lot that can be done with his type. You could try the 'helping to mature' approach, but he'll just argue and speak over you and tell you the sky is orange and never blink. It is always best to just ignore and avoid.
I tend to be quite reserved and slow to speak (except on THR).
There is not a whole lot that can be done with his type. You could try the 'helping to mature' approach, but he'll just argue and speak over you and tell you the sky is orange and never blink. It is always best to just ignore and avoid.
I tend to be quite reserved and slow to speak (except on THR
).There’s a security guard where I work that not only loves to tell tall tales he has an absolute knack for telling the worst possible person. He’s told another guard (who writes for several bow hunting magazines) about his friend who went hunting with a 110# pull bow and had an arrow bounce off a deer at thirty paces. He’s come back to my office on rounds to regale me with stories about how he did so well in basic training (to be a 71L) that they made him a junior MP and he accompanied “the Sergeant Major” to arrest Majors and Colonels at Ft Jackson.
I generally handle him by acting interested but asking questions he really can’t answer. For instance the time he told me how he threatened to beat the snot out of a Drill Sergeant for talking smack about his mother, I asked him why they didn’t give him an article fifteen on the spot. Or the time he told me how one of his guards had his weapon confiscated because it had a 1&1/2# trigger pull and I asked “Really? 1&1/2 pounds on a double action trigger?” “Well no it was single action.” Now the reason he even told me this was because he was telling me how the guard had an epileptic seizure and managed to empty the gun during the fit. So I asked “oh really he was able to cock and fire the pistol while having a grand mal? Six times, that’s somebody I’d like to meet.” About that time he decided it was time to go patrol the donut shop.
I generally handle him by acting interested but asking questions he really can’t answer. For instance the time he told me how he threatened to beat the snot out of a Drill Sergeant for talking smack about his mother, I asked him why they didn’t give him an article fifteen on the spot. Or the time he told me how one of his guards had his weapon confiscated because it had a 1&1/2# trigger pull and I asked “Really? 1&1/2 pounds on a double action trigger?” “Well no it was single action.” Now the reason he even told me this was because he was telling me how the guard had an epileptic seizure and managed to empty the gun during the fit. So I asked “oh really he was able to cock and fire the pistol while having a grand mal? Six times, that’s somebody I’d like to meet.” About that time he decided it was time to go patrol the donut shop.
Enginetech88
Member
I work with a few mall ninjas. Try to ignore them, call them out on their BS if it involves someones safety. Its very annoying and he gives us all a bad name. They are pretty much blowhards on everything, so noone really listens. I also work with "one of us". Hes been working there for almost a year and I just found out he does alot of shooting and reloading. Him venting about the mall ninjas, and him not knowing I knew what a "mall ninja" was. So it works.
So it works.Norinco982lover
Member
I'm the "stealth" gun guy but once you get me started...I won't shut up! Stealth is good.
~Norinco
~Norinco
mordechaianiliewicz
Member
I used to be the resident mall ninja. I wasn't the complete vision (never wore camo to a wedding, that's amazing) but I was known for gun stuff and iritated the crap out of people concerning this.
Then, I got older, understood that virtually everyone doesn't care. That the other gunnies at a place will like me much more if I'm not so apparent, and that people in general will like me better if I don't talk incesantly about it. (Actually, it took me long enough, but I try to listen to others quite a bit now. People would far rather talk about themselves than hear about you anyway).
Being more low key has led me to take more than a few folks to the range. (The local range finds the people that I bring in very amusing, mainly because they are a strange assemblage of races, genders, ages, etc.). People know I'm a shooter, they get an interest and they ask me if I could take them shooting. It tends to work out pretty well.
Then, I got older, understood that virtually everyone doesn't care. That the other gunnies at a place will like me much more if I'm not so apparent, and that people in general will like me better if I don't talk incesantly about it. (Actually, it took me long enough, but I try to listen to others quite a bit now. People would far rather talk about themselves than hear about you anyway).
Being more low key has led me to take more than a few folks to the range. (The local range finds the people that I bring in very amusing, mainly because they are a strange assemblage of races, genders, ages, etc.). People know I'm a shooter, they get an interest and they ask me if I could take them shooting. It tends to work out pretty well.
USASA
Member
Gun Talk Ban at Work Place
I cannot cite the source but, just within the last week I read somewhere a company put a policy in place that, "no gun discussions were allowed in the workplace."
If I can find the source again...I will post it.
I cannot cite the source but, just within the last week I read somewhere a company put a policy in place that, "no gun discussions were allowed in the workplace."
If I can find the source again...I will post it.
Rezin
Member
Not very many people know I am a gunny. I prefer it that way. I don't brag about it, I don't talk about it very often, and if I do, it's low key and only to certain people. I laugh at the big bragging gun guys, most don't know half of what they think.
...as for the cat killing comment, I think that shows mental problems. Unless the cat is a real issue, *** is the use of killing it? I know so many "tough guys" that brag about killing cats.... I don't get it......
But this is a touchy subject for me, as I have had a person I know brag about shooting at a "stray" that turned out to be MY cat that got out one day while bringing in groceries. Shoot MY cat, you have a problem.
Like any group, there are way too many idiots. Car guys, bike guys, gun guys, there's ALWAYS a loudmouth idiot or two.
I generally shut up and talk to my wife and a couple good friends, cause I swear, there are only a few good folks left on this earth.
...as for the cat killing comment, I think that shows mental problems. Unless the cat is a real issue, *** is the use of killing it? I know so many "tough guys" that brag about killing cats.... I don't get it......
But this is a touchy subject for me, as I have had a person I know brag about shooting at a "stray" that turned out to be MY cat that got out one day while bringing in groceries. Shoot MY cat, you have a problem.
Like any group, there are way too many idiots. Car guys, bike guys, gun guys, there's ALWAYS a loudmouth idiot or two.
I generally shut up and talk to my wife and a couple good friends, cause I swear, there are only a few good folks left on this earth.
kentucky bucky
Member
They must be an extension of his "manhood". There are always Bozos in any activity. Many will mature and change, and some stay stupid.
Sixtigers
Member
I am that guy. Sigh.
I love cats, though.
I love cats, though.
moooose102
Member
i guess i am rather consevative also. my wife just says i am paranoid. anyway, yes, i have had to deal with one or two people like that over the years. like you said, mostly young kids, who really do not know themselves yet for who they are. so they try to impress others by telling them what a man he is. other than pulling him aside, and telling him what he is really doing (bragging to look good, which may or may not work) and you do not want every one else knowing about your hobby, there really isnt much you can do about it. just keep your anwers short, and to the point, and tell him if he wants advice, you will gladly give him assistance if he does so discretely. of course, if he starts telling everyone that you said this or that, you will have to quit helping him. sometimes, it feels pretty nice to be a mentor. if he is smart enough to accept it.
deadin
Member
Introduce him to the gun boards on the internet.
On second thought, DON'T! We have enough blowhards and "experts" here already.
Redneck with a 40
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I work in an automotive shop, 9 out of 10 of these guys are gun owners/shooters. I'm very open about my interest in guns/shooting, we talk about it all the time. I've got targets posted on my locker, no one has said anything about it, other than "great shooting", or "are those you're reloads"?
I've got targets posted on my locker, no one has said anything about it, other than "great shooting", or "are those you're reloads"?bottom shelf
Member
Heh heh. Some of these experiences are pretty good.
I work in an office where gun are generally considered to be verboten, but there was one feller who was very open about his exploits with guns, hunting, SD, etc. Whenever he learned that someone has a gun; had a gun; ever went hunting, has fired a gun, has touched a gun or knows what a gun is, his first questions to them: "How many deer you kilt?"
He didn't survive many staff "house-cleanings" around here.
I work in an office where gun are generally considered to be verboten, but there was one feller who was very open about his exploits with guns, hunting, SD, etc. Whenever he learned that someone has a gun; had a gun; ever went hunting, has fired a gun, has touched a gun or knows what a gun is, his first questions to them: "How many deer you kilt?"
He didn't survive many staff "house-cleanings" around here.
stiletto raggio
Member
Things are a little different for me because I'm an Army officer. Strangely, there aren't as many gun people in the Army as I thought there would be. My problem at work is when my NCOs, who learned to shoot from their old NCOs, who learned from theirs, etc., often don't want to listen when I have some specifics on technique for them to teach the Soldiers. I am an officer, and officers don't know how to shoot, right? Yeah. It is hard for a young officer to put his NCOs in their place, even when the officer KNOWS he is right.
Anyhow, I find the biggest issues with the "gun guy" are in social settings. Mostly, I don't like it when people get mouthy about guns in my presence. Because I live and do business near an Army installation, a lot of the local dealers will try to BS people. They figured out pretty quick that I A) was not going to be sold a $700 Glock because "that's what the Navy SEALs use" and B) that I wasn't going to let some soldier get screwed in my presence. The bad guys are the ones I warn everyone I talk to about.
Guns are great. I like guns and am confortable around them. Some people don't and aren't. Being aggressive about it doesn't make them more comfortable, it just reinforces the negative stereotype that every dimwit in Hollywood or on Capitol Hill has propogated. If another gun owner is making a fool of US (because non-gunners WILL lump all of us together) I make a point of telling him to tone it down. If he doesn't, I'll tell him to shut up. I'll then do some damage control. We can't afford to sit there and let the idiot Mall Ninjas represent us any more. Otherwise, I'll talk guns socially but only if someone else brings it up and it is an appropriate venue.
Anyhow, I find the biggest issues with the "gun guy" are in social settings. Mostly, I don't like it when people get mouthy about guns in my presence. Because I live and do business near an Army installation, a lot of the local dealers will try to BS people. They figured out pretty quick that I A) was not going to be sold a $700 Glock because "that's what the Navy SEALs use" and B) that I wasn't going to let some soldier get screwed in my presence. The bad guys are the ones I warn everyone I talk to about.
Guns are great. I like guns and am confortable around them. Some people don't and aren't. Being aggressive about it doesn't make them more comfortable, it just reinforces the negative stereotype that every dimwit in Hollywood or on Capitol Hill has propogated. If another gun owner is making a fool of US (because non-gunners WILL lump all of us together) I make a point of telling him to tone it down. If he doesn't, I'll tell him to shut up. I'll then do some damage control. We can't afford to sit there and let the idiot Mall Ninjas represent us any more. Otherwise, I'll talk guns socially but only if someone else brings it up and it is an appropriate venue.
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