How open are you at work?

[JesseL]

I was reading the "Got Made (Kind of) While CCWing at Work" thread and wondered just how open most THRers are about their realtionship with firearms. I know some people seem to go to all kind of lengths to avoid letting anyone know that they have any interest in guns at all, and there is probably someone here who open-carries at work.

Where do you fit into the spectrum?

BTW this is my desk:

 

[MikeH]

One of my co-workers has an inert .50 BMG cartridge on his office desk. That got me started to talk about shooting with him. Turned out he is not currently involved, but did join the equivalent of the ROTC in India and spent some time with Lee Enfields.

He wasn't happy when I told him live 50-cal costs about $2.00 each if you know where to find.

 

[Remington788]

Everybody knows I hunt due to the fact that part of my job requires me to "hunt" during work to alleviate wildlife hazards on the airport. Most people also know that I am a gun collector just from casual conversation regarding hobbies and such. Heck, thats how I ended up with a free shotgun, free ammunition and a free guncase. I almost got a free 9mm but the guy gave it to his brother instead.

 

[History Prof]

Very open. Even one of the liberals who works in my division has a CCW. Unfortunately, idiotic laws prohibit any of us from actually having firearms on campus. I regularly talk about shooting with the AJS/Police Academy prof, the Sociology prof, a couple of math profs, the physics prof and two of the deans. The only people I keep quiet around are the English profs, who, around here, are almost all the whiney liberal types. Unfortanately, Social Sciences division shares a building with them.

 

[grislyatoms]

I don't talk about it much, though all my co-workers and boss know. Cuz I have invited them all shooting!

I work in an ultra leftist environment, so for the most part I keep my mouth shut.

Met one other gunny at work, I picked him out because he was wearing a Gunsite "Raven" cap. Been shooting with him once.

 

[30-06 lover]

I talk guns when guns are on my mind. Why hide a passion for something? Do people get offended or freaked out because I state I love my wife? Nope. I just don't hype up firearms, instead I talk about them with the same calmness people talk about other interests. People have asked questions, but most of the time I know if they are looking for an argument of just interested. How are we supposed to get youth and friends involved if we hide our love? There is no shame in enjoying your passion.
-Mike

 

[mp510]

I try not to tell people that I am into guns, unless I know that they are not 'out there'. I have my ways of testing people, to see if they are able to recognize that guns are as legitimate as bowling (or are a gunny themself). Then I'll maybe mention something from the newspaper, or somethin (especially if there was a pro-hunting article or story), and if they stay cool, i may mention something about the range or hunting.

 

[Ezekiel]

I'm not open at all, but it is not a "gun thing," per se: folks don't know where I live, what other interests I enjoy or my political/religious/social views unless I desire them to.

Unless I ask, "I don't wish to know theirs, either."

Work is work. Activities are activities. Have political views? "Run for office."

 

[neoncowboy]

I work at an airport, for an aviation small business (flight school/charter/aircraft management). There's a great deal of crossover between the pilot and gunny communities.

I am pretty sure my employer and most of the people I work with know that I carry, but I try to avoid the subject. Guns in the workplace is a topic that tends to make business owners a little bit nervous.

I don't ever bring it up, but coworkers are constantly asking my opinion about gun related matters. When asked, I offer whatever info I have or try to direct them to a better source.

I can't imagine working in a gun-unfriendly environment. That would be horrible to have to be disarmed while at work (statistically one of the more dangerous places to which I regularly go).

 

[Stiletto Null]

So far, it's come up in passing where I work (a pretty "scene" coffeeshop, these days). Nobody's freaked out or anything. *shrug*

 

[rbernie]

I have a Sika deerskin draped over the back of my office chair and a Corsicana horn on my credenza..... That pretty much sets the stage for anyone that cares to ask, without being 'threatening'.

 

[Soybomb]

Well being in illinois I don't have to worry about people knowing I'm carrying but I've picked up new firearms on my lunchbreak and brought them into the office and checked 'em out with one of the bosses. If I lived in a state where I could carry, I probably wouldn't have done that. It wouldn't be a stretch to guess though, I'm a loud mouth libertarian. We're also a small office and have all worked together for over 5 years now so theres alot of comfort between us.

 

[Deanimator]

I took my boss to the gunshow Saturday to help him pick out a handgun?

Is that open enough?

Of course the wallpaper on my computer is a 4" Model 29...

 

[hillbilly]

I coach a college air rifle club team. I routinely recruit all over campus for shooters, and even ask other faculty to put out the word in their classes.

hillbilly

 

[gcerbone]

I'm pretty open about it. I work for a large company, and we have a gun club at work that I am a somwhat active in. I have taken some co-workers shooting. I've even had the gun control debate at work. The only ground rule that I have: You argue any point you want, but you have to have the basis in fact, not what you feel.

I had a co-worker go toe to toe for a a few hours. At the end of the conversation, he said "I still believe in gun control, but I have to say that you know a lot about the issue." I'm still working on him.

 

[gbelleh]

I work for a fortune 500 company with "no concealed weapons" signs on all the entrances, so I never carry at work. My best friend works in my office, and we talk about guns all the time, but usually in a very technical manner so no one really knows what we're talking about. Guns have come up with quite a few co-workers who hunt. I even ran into one at a gun show. Other than that, I try to keep a relatively low profile. My co-workers are great people, but unless I'm sure of their stance on guns, I don't talk about it. One of my managers did express a pro-2A stance in a conversation once, but I didn't get into it any deeper with him. We handle a lot of business for the military, so no one should get too upset about guns, right?

 

[El Tejon]

Very open, of course my boss is a flaming gun lover and cleaning patch diaper baby from a long line of gun nuts.

 

[Ala Dan]

VERY OPEN

I work in the firearms section of a rather large "MOM & POP" sporting goods
store. I also carry daily, as that is not a problem; due too the fact that we
are in a BAD section of town.

 

[Geno]

Always Recruiting for the Cause

Strike while the steel is hot! Each time I hear people talking about how afraid they are, I show them my MCPL (CCW card) and encourage them to do two things: 1) get into martial arts for confidence-building, and 2) get a MCPL (CCW). I give them a business card for Target Sports and take them there to shoot when interested. In the past 2 years, 3 fellow, female professors have gone to get their MCPLs. Not bad for 2 years.

Doc2005

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

It is well known where I work because there is an Oleg poster of an SKS with boxes of 7.62x39mm w/ strippers on my pod cube that says,"We may look back and laugh, or we may be too busy fighting."

One of my workmates (a manager) has about 12 acres of property that I've been invited to shoot on, and I talk to the folks in the Boise office about shooting fairly regularly.

 

[CajunBass]

Doesn't matter to me if anyone knows. If they don't like it, they can move along.

 

[cambeul41]

History Prof

To what “idiotic federal law [that] prohibits any of us from actually having firearms on campus” are you referring? Michigan law prohibits concealed carry in dormitories or classrooms of community college, colleges, or universities, but that is as far as the CCW restrictions go. When I carry on campus and in some of the offices, have I been violating some other laws of which I am unaware?

I teach English in the Detroit area. Students may, if they wish, do extra credit reading. For those who express an interest, I provide materials related to the second amendment, self-defense, and CCW. I have even been known to bring students CCW application packets. If they do not guess that I carry at least some of the time, they are simply not thinking about it.

 

[Bruce333]

No guns allowed at my work, Corporate policy, and with a company this size it's not going to get changed any time soon.

There are 2 gals at work that I have seen at the local IDPA match. At least 4 of my Firends at work know I have a CCW. I've got 2 stickers on my toolbox, NRA Life and NCRPA. Other than talking guns with my friends once in a while it really doesn't come up, work is work, lots of other things to talk about.

 

[tcgeol]

I am still in grad school, so it is a little different, but anyone who knows me knows that I am into guns. It isn't really obvious by my desk, but I can't help but talk about them.

 

[Cuda]

Not a single soul at work knows and that's how I will keep it.. The only people who know are my wife and daughter...

C