I scared an anti...

[Vermont]

(or at least I assume he was an anti)

I wrote a courteous email to someone regarding carrying a concealed weapon in a certain area of Burlington, VT. I wanted to know if the place was public or private property, because someone had told me that carrying a firearm there was prohibited.

My email:

As I'm sure you know, the right to carry a firearm either openly or concealed is cherished in Vermont.

I have heard that carrying a firearm on Church Street is not allowed and I am hoping that you could confirm or deny this rumor for me. I would like to know so that I do not have to avoid Church Street when I am carrying. I have not seen any signs indicating that it is not allowed, nor did I find any information on your website. Obviously, individual shopkeepers have the right to deny me the privilege of buying from them or entering their store based on my choice of protection, but can I walk down Church Street while carrying?


Thank you for the clarification.

The response:

Hi Hector: Why are you asking us this question and not the Burlington Police? Church Street is a public street. The state of Vermont's gun laws are crystal clear. I'm not sure what your concern is or what's motivating this email, sent to a general information box on our website. Call me on my cell. (name and phone number omitted)

Fair enough...the police would have been a good spot to start, but this guy was able to answer my question, too. I sent a thank you email:

Actually you answered my question perfectly. I am aware of Vermont's gun laws. I was unclear whether Church Street (the street itself) was public or private real estate.

Thanks for the response.

And his response:

You're scarin' me. Don't do that!

I don't know quite what to say to that. He's kind of scaring ME now!


Did any of my emails sound scary to you guys? I'm half worried he'll call the police and they'll be knocking on my door tonight.

 

[HK G3]

Guns are skeery, and the guy lives/works on church street, so now he knows that people with skeery guns may be heading his way.

 

[DrewH]

Your e-mails don't sound scary to me, and you are very polite in them (although I would not assume gun rights are understood or cherished by the average Vermonter) but to non gun enthusiasts, which is most people and most gun owners, I suspect they come of as strange, even a little threatening. They don't have to be an hard core anti to feel that way.

Why are you writing anyway? Default reaction is most likely going to be to deny you can carry, whether that is true or not. I would just (or find out) ask if this place is public or private. Actually I would assume that and just carry, frankly.

 

[Keegan]

He sounds like a loony.

 

[Shung]

lookin at his answers, I wonder who should be scared..

 

[NG VI]

Many people for some reason find it threatening whenever anyone even brings up firearms, that is how powerful a job our media/school systems have done on impressing that not only are guns bad, but simply talking about them is just as bad as owning or carrying one. Many people really can't wrap their head around the fact that guns exist for people other than officers.

 

[Cougfan2]

My wife's Aunt would damn near go into hysterics if you even said the word gun, but it was mostly because she was very insecure and needed to be the center of attention. Found out that If Carolyn and I wanted any time alone while she was still living at her Aunts house all I had to do was start talking about hunting and shooting and she would leave.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think these things are best asked in person. Keep the gun in the car until you are sure it's okay. I'm not into rubbing people's face in their fears if they have a fear of firearms in general. Concealed is concealed. They would never know.

 

[Boomerang]

I wrote a courteous email to someone regarding carrying a concealed weapon in a certain area...

We don't know who you asked.

I don't think you scared them really. Maybe they just thought it was a bizarre question for them because you asked someone who wouldn't know. I think they pointed you in the right direction for getting your question answered properly.

 

[anarchris]

I showed my guns to an aquaintance once

He came to a party & I thought I was being friendly, he told my room-mate I was trying to intimidate him!

 

[cmidkiff]

all I had to do was start talking about hunting and shooting and she would leave

Quite handy sometimes, isn't it? I have a similar relative, though luckily I've never had to live with her. My wife's cousins and I normally start talking about various firearms related subjects within the first hour or so of any family get-together. We can typically count on several people leaving the area.

On the original subject... Guy seems like an idiot. I don't know if I would believe any of his responses without further verification. If I were you, I'd call the police department and ask if this street is in fact public property. There really isn't any reason to bring firearms into the discussion at all, just ask if the street is public or private property.

Chris

 

[Triphammer]

My take on these e-mails is a lttle different. I'm assuming you addressed your first e-mail to some sort of Church St merchants association. In your response to him you alluded to the STREET being private property, making the maintenance, repair, security and numerous other aspects his/their responsibility. THAT's scary.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have been known to make a big deal out of nothing if the right buttons get pushed ahead of time. I try to keep these reactions to an absolute minimum. I don't even know why you started this thread in the first place?

 

[v35]

I think you may be reading a bit much into this response. VT law is crystal clear, no doubt. So was his response indicating Church St is public property.

The only "scary" thing might have been your apparent lack of knowledge of those facts. A pro-RKBA person might have responded in that manner. From what you related here, I wouldn't have reason to assume the guy is an "anti".

He gave you his cell number. A call might clear up any misunderstanding.

 

[Josh Aston]

Sarcasm? Yeah, I think it was sarcasm.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

In your response to him you alluded to the STREET being private property, making the maintenance, repair, security and numerous other aspects his/their responsibility. THAT's scary.

+1. Or he himself carries (mentioned carry laws are crystal clear) and thought you were trying to tell him carry might not be allowed there. He must not have been scared enough to give you his cell phone number and name.
It might sound different if it was phrased: "You were scarin' me. Don't do that!"

 

[chubbmann]

If I got a random email like that I would feel like I was being set up. He has every right to feel suspicious. Hell, I might even see that as a veiled threat if I did not know the person sending it...

 

[NG VI]

I showed my guns to an aquaintance once

------------------------------------

He came to a party & I thought I was being friendly, he told my room-mate I was trying to intimidate him!

Well parties aren't the best place to show or even really talk about anything. I know what you mean though, I think I have had a very similiar thing happen to me, it's ridiculous and makes me question how someone could possibly take it that out of context.

 

[Vermont]

It wasn't addressed to some random guy. It was addressed to an info email address for the Church Street Marketplace. It may seem a little weird that I wouldn't know that the street was public (I always assumed it was, until someone told me it wasn't), but the street is closed to vehicle traffic and is somewhat like an open air mall, not like a typical street.

So anyway, he sent me another email just now and said he was yanking my chain, so my faith in humanity is restored.

 

[nalioth]

but the street is closed to vehicle traffic and is somewhat like an open air mall, not like a typical street.

Some wise soul on the Houston City Council thought it'd be a good idea to close off a section of Main street for a similar purpose, too.

It is still public property, but no vehicle traffic can get through there any more.

 

[Cosmoline]

My take on it is the individual had never heard this rumor about guns being banned and was scared by IT.
Not by the OP's question.

 

[stevelyn]

He sounds like a loony.

Aren't most antis?

 

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I have a sister in law that thinks guns are bad, bad, bad. Irrational fear is more like it. One evening, the in-laws & family were at our house visiting. We were having the "Gun discussion" and I was in the middle of talking about all of the bad stuff that can happen, using all of my memorized stastics, quotes, personal experience, etc. You know the "Convert the Anti Speach" we all do... (That never seems to work) and there was a strange noise at the window. I know it was a gust of wind / abranch. She absolutly went NUTS. No one else in the room was scared, but she literally jumped out of her seat and was yelling for me to do something. The noise had already stopped; It didnt sound suspicious to me, or anybody else. She was all about me going and checking it out, I got a shotgun and I waited there for few minutes just incase before going out. To be honest, I waited a little longer than I would have otherwise to help build the drama. She still won't discuss guns BUT she doesn't make any little comments about it anymore either. I did take the opportunity to point out to her that if that was really something to worry about, even if we called the police, they wouldnt get here right away. It was a very RARE, see I told you so moment. It will probably never work out that way again, but once is good enough. I'll never for get the sheer PANIC she had, and I hope she never forgets the sheer comfort of seeing my shotgun.

My wife was PURE ANTI when I married her. I have not converted her to the point of going shooting with me, but I have been able to grow the collection with minimal problems.

 

[makarovnik]

I wish I could make some of my relatives leave. I'll try that.

 

[Leif Runenritzer]

I wouldn't assume he's taking a stance. I think this is simple unkindness. I think, in essence, he's calling you a creep because he thinks carrying a gun is odd and obsessive.