Interesting bus ride this AM

[ejfalvo]

I take the bus to/from NJ into NY each weekday. I sit in the front row opposite the driver because I like the view (or to see what we are going to hit). I usually sleep on the way in, read on the way out. Mine is the first stop the bus makes.

Anyway, today I was reading the latest copy of Guns and Ammo, minding my own business when a middle-aged women got on the bus and sat next to me (I'm 52). She took one look at what I was reading and said loud enough for all to hear "oh, your one of those gun nuts! You should be put away because you all are dangerous." Needless to say she changed seats while everyone stared at me.

Quite honestly I didn't know what to say and just went back to my reading. Next time I'll read the NY Times.

Any thoughts?

 

[y5e06]

take a copy of the bill of rights, and hand it to her next time

 

[GoodKat]

I think whether a person is a gun nut just because they read a gun magazine, and whether gun nuts are dangerous depends entirely on the definition of gun nut.

 

[Radagast]

"You are one of those nosy old bats that should be locked up for malicious slander". Then continue reading.

 

[2ndwind]

Liberal "tolerance" is a oxymoron... but to be fair, I think anyone who reads the NYT for "news" is a fool... go figure

 

[General Geoff]

I'd have loudly replied,

"Freedom is dangerous. Perhaps we should all be put away, for our own safety."

 

[Lightninstrike]

"You are one of those nosy old bats that should be locked up for malicious slander". Then continue reading.

LOL

Harsh but true. Read what you want regardless. That is yet another thing protected by the BOR.

 

[Tiomoid]

"Oh, you're one of those people who gets involved in the business of strangers. You should all be shot."

Maybe not the smartest reply, but I'd be tempted...

 

[Kleanbore]

"Madam, you have a psychological problem!"

 

[NavyLCDR]

take a copy of the bill of rights, and hand it to her next time

So she can highlight the FIRST ammendment?

 

[benderx4]

I like what the General said! Here! Here!

"Madam, your slanderous words only highlight your own ignorance."

 

[WillDe83]

truthfully, there is no good way to handle that situation without making yourself look bad. but i think the way you handled it and just went back to reading was the best thing to do. let her look like the unstable irrational vile creature and you has the stable collected rational individual defusing the situation.

 

[Rellian]

Laugh it off and move on.
Realize she will be food for the zombies and you will not.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Yeah, just laugh at them to yourself and move on.

 

[Foofles]

Hmmm... if someone believes that someone else is a gun crazed lunatic on the fringe, is it really wise to call them up on it and slander them in public? lol

All jokes aside, she's just as free to express her opinion as you are to read the mag. As long as nobody got violent or harassed you. I just hope future rides on that bus won't be uncomfortable for you.

 

[mcdonl]

All jokes aside, she's just as free to express her opinion as you are to read the mag. As long as nobody got violent or harassed you.

Maybe. But I would say she was harrasing him. Not enough that he should have done any other then what he did, but I do not think that insulting someone is covered by the 1st, not when insluting him was the intent.

 

[WoofersInc]

I had a similar incident in the supermarket the other day. I had on a Kimber T-shirt that had a picture of the SIS pistol on the back. While in line the woman behind me wanted to know what gave me the right to go around advertising tools of death. My response was "the same little piece of paper that allows idiots to spout off what ever misinformed thought that pops into their head".
I know it was not very high road but it shut her down completely. The cashier who was listening almost fell down she was laughing so hard at the response.

 

[metallic]

"oh, your one of those gun nuts! You should be put away because you all are dangerous."

You should have replied back, "Yes, we are dangerous. We've been convicted of massacring paper targets in all 50 states. If you were a paper target, then you would have to worry"

 

[BP Hunter]

Us gun owners need show that we also are responsible and polite citizesn. I would have responded nicely saying, "Thank you for your opinion and you have a nice day". Then continue reading your magazine.

 

[xbox360]

...........

 

[Neocode]

Ejfalvo, as a NJ escapee, I understand what you are dealing with there. You did the best thing, and did nothing. Considering she felt you were "a dangerous gun nut" anything you did that might be construed as threatening would have been reason for her to call the police or something.

Insanity, yes. Wrong reaction, yes. But she would have done it and said you were threatening her.

You did good ignoring her, even if it was because you were caught off-guard.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Next time, ask her if she is really enjoying the Koolaid.

Woody

 

[mcdonl]

You did the best thing you could do.

 

[sherman123]

I was thinking the same thing that if she thought you were some dangerous gun nut she wouldn't have started bugging you. Best to ignore these people and just laugh because they obviously need a counselor. I was at my friend's yesterday and his mom had an article on the fridge about a repo man who shot and killed another guy in self defense when the perp started firing upon him. Next to the repo man's name were the words "murderer". I knew this lady was kooky, and I have mixed feelings about repo men, but the logic that you're a murderer for killing a guy who was actively shooting at you blows me away. Good thing she doesn't know her son shoots with me often, she'd probably self combust.

 

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Or, next time tell her you are doing some homework for an article you are writing for the New York Times.

Woody