Secretive about guns, ammo, etc.?

[peeplwtchr]

I dont hide it. I am not concerned about unloading rifles, ammo box, pack from truck in driveway after a range trip. I am in AZ. though, so if someone doesn't like it, ,..l..

 

[HPCadm17]

In my neck of the woods, I keep it quiet unless the other person is a known 2A supporter. Most people expect gun nuts to drive pickup trucks, so when I go to the range I drive an 11-year-old Corolla. I was thinking of putting a Bernie sticker on it just to throw people off. Thankfully Target Sports ships in discrete packaging so the neighbors don't have a clue.

 

[Mark1964]

Sneaking around, being secretive, hiding and lying about things just reinforces the idea that what you are doing is somehow illegitimate.

Discretion is not only the better part of valor, it's the better part of security.
I've lived in-town, in apartments since I was 19, and I've never stopped shooting, hunting or owning the associated gear. I make the appropriate adjustments and carry on.
No bigs. Not really sneaking anywhere, just understanding my environment and cruising along nicely, thank you very much.
We all don't have the same situations, so we all must do as we see fit.

 

[wally]

I order a lot of hard cast lead bullets and they usually ship USPS flat rate -- if it fits it ships up to 70 lbs. The USPS lady knocked on my door before bringing the packages, as I was helping her unload from the van she said "what do you got in here, lead?" I laughed as I said, actually yes. As if the Missouri Bullet Company label and logo weren't a give away

 

[Mark1964]

Story time:
Was living in an apartment in the southeast Cook County, Illinois, 'burbs and although not utterly wild about the locale, happy enough. There were two very nice skeet/trap/5-stand/clays clubs within a 45-minute drive of my pad, so I worked on my wingshooting skills quite a bit. My brother, a home-owning suburbanite a few towns over, owned a couple terrific little Llewellin Setters and -- to brag just a bit -- we shot well and dined well. (OK, dogs did vast majority of the work. )
But anyway ... was proceeding to my vehicle on a lovely Sunday morning outside of bird season for a trip to the club and carrying a two-gun case and a tourney bag when confronted by a grumpy dude from the same building. He apparently thought because he'd lived in the same cube for 30-some years, he had some sort of say about the lives of lesser tenured tenants.
Him: Are those guns?
Me: Nope, pool cues.
Him: I don't like guns.
Me: It's America, that's your right.
Him: I don't think that's legal.
Me: It is.
Him: I think I should call the police.
Me, holding out a cell phone: Use my phone; I'll wait.
End of story: He said nothing else and didn't do squat. Truly, I felt sort of sorry for him for his limited world view, but I honestly couldn't have given a poop otherwise.Wasn't advertising, but wasn't living any secrets, either. Just staying calm, carrying on and enjoying life.

 

[SC45-70]

I don't really advertise or hide it. I do wear a Hornady hat that was given to me as a gift.
I've lived in the same place for over 40 years,the same county my entire life and am known locally and at work as the gun guy.
Hunting and shooting in our small rural area are fairly well accepted. I give some of my neighbors fresh fish and game and they love it.

Through the years many locals also realized I am a good source of information and many have also entrusted me to "redistribute" their unwanted sporting goods.

True story- I was introduced to a man I had never met and the first words out of his mouth after hearing my name were,

"So your the guy that likes to blow things up!"

My response was to smile and say,

" I see my reputation proceeds me"

After which we had a little laugh and a normal conversation.

SC45-70

 

[buck460XVR]

Not really. If someone has a $10K+ gun collection and tries to hide the fact that they have $10K+ in assets sitting in their house all day while they are at work, does not mean that having all those guns is illegitimate, it just means the owner is being prudent and excersicing caution so that he still has a gun collection when he comes home.

10K worth of assets? I've got several times that in motorcycles sittin' in my garage, both road and dirt, but ain't secretive about riding. Been in construction most of my life, the good Lord only knows how many times that amount I have in tools in my garage. For the longest time I advertised. Got several thousand in T.V.s and have a dish out front advertising it. Got a zero turn lawn mower worth several thousand dollars, but still mow my lawn during daylight hours when the whole world can see. Rider on my insurance for my guns is several times that amount. I wonder what the odds are that most folks have 10K work of something portable and sellable inside their home/garage/shed while they are at work? Being secretive for the most part is not going to stop someone desperate from breaking into your home. The appearance and vulnerability of your of your home has more to do with it's risk than being secretive about what you own. Protecting your assets is more important also, like proper safes, locks, security and maybe even your dog. Again, I am not saying that I, or anyone else should flagrantly flaunt their assets, regardless of what they are. Common sense, reasonable observation skills, appropriate security and knowing your neighbors and surroundings is what is going to keep what is yous.......yours. I do not see being prudent and exercising caution the same as being "secretive". One reason I have asked folks to explain some of their reasons to be so secretive may very well because of where I live and the attitude the area has towards firearm ownership. I just think claiming that neighbors finding out you have firearms will need extensive therapy for years, regardless of where one lives in the U.S of A., is bordering on hysteria.

The kids were the ones who suffered.

They were neither. They were cautious. I would have done the same thing.

Both families had guns in the house--without the same safeguards.

So, it wasn't the idea of guns in the house, that kept the kids from playing together, but the idea of irresponsible parents? Or am I missing something? If those irresponsible parents had been secretive about their gun ownership, than it would have been just fine for the kids to play together? Over the years I have had to ask my kids from playing with or going into houses of parents because I suspected there were things going on in there that I did not want to expose my kids to. Many times those folks were secretive about those activities. Many times I refuse to let my kids ride with other parents because I did not feel they were responsible drivers. Neither scenario had anything to do with guns. I have friends I will not hunt with anymore, not because they own guns, but I just don't feel safe around them when they have guns in their hands. There is a difference.

.

Going out to your car with your holster showing is less than prudent. You may find your firearm gone from the car when you come back out of the Post Office.

Again goes with what I said before....."Common sense, reasonable observation skills, appropriate security and knowing your neighbors and surroundings is what is going to keep what is yous.......yours". You might have concealed your holster very well going out to your car, and still came out to find your gun missing...or maybe the car too. Again, no one is saying flaunt it inappropriately. Most of us are just saying be sensible and use common sense. This may very well be different in different areas. With anything with firearms, one has to do what makes them most comfortable ad long as it is safe and responsible. At the same time we should not chastise others for that choice. If I have done that here I apologize, that was not my intent. My intent was to see why folks feel the way they do.

 

[Kleanbore]

"Common sense, reasonable observation skills, appropriate security and knowing your neighbors and surroundings is what is going to keep what is yous.......yours"

Common sense would tend to show the importance of keeping that Rolex or that firearm from public view.

Same as keeping the garage closed if there's a Harley in it,

No matter how well you know your neighbors, and no matter how acute your observation shills may be, someone else may observe your property, recognize the car later, tell a friend about it, and help bring about a theft that would not have occurred but for your behavior.

We have had three burglaries on our street in the forty-eight years I have lived here. Two were house burglaries that occurred after a resident had discussed their vacation in public media--happened to them twice, and they had been warned about such postings.

The other involved the taking of long arms from the locked trunk of a car. Someone knew the owner had been out with them.

You might have concealed your holster very well going out to your car, and still came out to find your gun missing..

There's the little matter of the odds.

 

[bdickens]

Discretion is not only the better part of valor, it's the better part of security.
I've lived in-town, in apartments since I was 19, and I've never stopped shooting, hunting or owning the associated gear. I make the appropriate adjustments and carry on.
No bigs. Not really sneaking anywhere, just understanding my environment and cruising along nicely, thank you very much.
We all don't have the same situations, so we all must do as we see fit.

Discretion and being secretive are not the same thing. I don't flaunt my guitars or cameras around either, but neither am I secretive about them.

 

[buck460XVR]

Common sense would tend to show the importance of keeping that Rolex or that firearm from public view.

Same as keeping the garage closed if there's a Harley in it,

Maybe it just me, but I've yet to see folks that wear Rolex watches keep them hidden. Kinda why the majority of folks buy them is to show them off. Most are eager to share with anyone that will listen as to what it is. That is human nature. Does it increase the risk? Of course it does. Again I see no one here saying anyone should openly "advertise" the extent of their gun ownership, only, that the idea of keeping it a deep, dark secret, is something of a mystery to many of us.

Same can be said for Harleys. Most days when folks aren't riding, they got the bike parked out in the driveway. Like a Rolex, to many it is their identity and to a few, like a Rolex, a status symbol. No different than the fancy bass boat or sports car. In many areas, guns themselves are status symbols. Consider Texas Style Bar-B Que guns.

We have had three burglaries on our street in the forty-eight years I have lived here. Two were house burglaries that occurred after a resident had discussed their vacation in public media--happened to them twice, and they had been warned about such postings.

The other involved the taking of long arms from the locked trunk of a car. Someone knew the owner had been out with them.

Yes, the telling of being on Vacation on social media is a big no-no. Worse than letting the papers build up on your doorstep for a week. Or leaving all the lights off while you are gone. As for the long guns from the trunk and someone knew the owner had been out with them, how do you stop that? Stop shooting? How do you disguise long guns walking from the range to your car? Is doing that advertising? No, what you do is go straight home or secure them with something other than the trunk lock. Big problem around here during gun season is folks going to the bar/diner after hunting. Pretty hard to disguise the blaze orange on the truck seat or even the dead deer in the back. Odds are, if those are in the truck a hour after hunting closes for the day, so are the guns. many times these businesses are closed and vehicles are parked a ways away and smash and grabs are easy. Me, I go home.

There's the little matter of the odds.

Yes and one should try and reduce those odds as much as possible. But as in the examples above, sometimes it's easy to forget. Sometimes even being discrete is not enough. As I said, a good gun safe that is locked and secured will deter even the best burglars. Having ten "protected by S&W signs out front will not change that. But IMHO, this thread wasn't about preventing theft, but preventing your neighbors and friends from the knowledge that you even owned guns. It was the fear of repercussion from them, verbal and avoidance, not theft, that was making folks secretive.

 

[Skeptic13]

I am not secretive but I also don't advertise the fact that I shoot, own guns or conceal carry. I live in a conservative area of a liberal state. We have a lot of firearms owners as well a lot of military and retired military in this area. I don't mind if people know as long as they are like minded.

 

[Mark1964]

Discretion and being secretive are not the same thing. I don't flaunt my guitars or cameras around either, but neither am I secretive about them.

Of course.
Just saying living in, say, a mixed socioeconomic town of 100,000 outside Chicago -- which I've done a couple times -- might call for more discretion when it comes to life with guns than, say, a relatively small community in a largely pro-gun state.
As I've said, I don't sneak anywhere -- no need, grown and lawful man -- but also don't particularly care to let the world at large know about my shooting life, nor do I always want to talk guns with strangers on the street.
So, for instance, when Glock gives its volunteer GSSF match ROs a nice polo and ball cap with the Glock Professional logo -- mine don't get worn out and about in town.
Everybody's got their thing. I respect that. If some dudes want to adorn their vehicles with NRA and Molon Labe decals, I'm good. Just ain't my bag.

 

[JohnKSa]

To add to my response on page 4 which provided the reasons why I'm not a big fan of letting the neighborhood at large know that I have guns, here's why I don't mind my family, coworkers and friends knowing. I know a lot about my family and friends, and all my coworkers have undergone pretty serious background checks. I have decent confidence that they aren't criminals. I really don't know much about the whole neighborhood, and nothing at all about who the kids in the neighborhood might be inclined to tell about seeing the guy with all the guns at the house 2 doors down.

Consider Texas Style Bar-B Que guns.

Consider also that open carry was illegal until just a few years ago, so BBQ guns were only displayed at private functions, not to the public.

I don't mind if people know as long as they are like minded.

I don't even really care if they're pro- or anti-gun as long as I have a decent level of confidence that they won't view my guns as a potential income source, or talk to folks who might have that idea.

Maybe it just me, but I've yet to see folks that wear Rolex watches keep them hidden.

Well, since the whole point of a Rolex watch is displaying it, of course you wouldn't. But there's no denying that kind of display increases a person's risk of being targeted. I'm more into minimizing risk than about making sure that everyone who sees me understands what a high-roller I am.

As I said, a good gun safe that is locked and secured will deter even the best burglars.

I'm way more interested in not having them target my house in the first place. Yeah, it would be nice if they didn't get my guns (and the other stuff in the safe) if there is a break-in, but I'd much rather they didn't have any reason to single my house out from all the others in the neighborhood in the first place.

 

[bdickens]

Of course.
Just saying living in, say, a mixed socioeconomic town of 100,000 outside Chicago -- which I've done a couple times -- might call for more discretion when it comes to life with guns than, say, a relatively small community in a largely pro-gun state.
As I've said, I don't sneak anywhere -- no need, grown and lawful man -- but also don't particularly care to let the world at large know about my shooting life, nor do I always want to talk guns with strangers on the street.
So, for instance, when Glock gives its volunteer GSSF match ROs a nice polo and ball cap with the Glock Professional logo -- mine don't get worn out and about in town.
Everybody's got their thing. I respect that. If some dudes want to adorn their vehicles with NRA and Molon Labe decals, I'm good. Just ain't my bag.

I think you & I are pretty much on the same page.

 

[Howland937]

Does seem like the term "secretive" may be a little overstated for a lot of us. Guess it really comes down to each person's personality. Some are more showy than others. For the more showy, I'd ask if they try to avoid printing when they're carrying. Personally it seems pointless to avoid printing if your shirt advertises that you're a firearms aficionado.

 

[buck460XVR]

.Consider also that open carry was illegal until just a few years ago, so BBQ guns were only displayed at private functions, not to the public.

So you're saying that now that it's legal, it's gone out of style and no one does it? Funny how many threads we have here of folks showing off fancy leather that have originated since OC became legal in Texas. Then there are all those other places in the country where folks proudly OC. Of course we all know how foolish that is. My point is, it happens. Many folks have firearms and are proud of it. The biggest majority of them that are never have a problem. Yet, there are those few folks that feel the need to chastise them and tell them anecdotally, how much risk they are exposing themselves to.

I'm way more interested in not having them target my house in the first place. Yeah, it would be nice if they didn't get my guns (and the other stuff in the safe) if there is a break-in, but I'd much rather they didn't have any reason to single my house out from all the others in the neighborhood in the first place.

My point is, does being secretive about your firearms really make your house less likely to be burglarized? Is the run down trailer house with the "protected by S&W" in the front yard next to the big piles of dog poo more at risk than the Tudor Style house with a manicured lawn, in a coveted sub division? Seems that folks here want to infer that the S&W sign or the lack of it, is the major deciding factor. Again, this thread wasn't about thieves. It was about a curious neighbor and what they might think. Maybe it's where I live, but I find it hard to believe that one can live next to someone for a length of time and not know what basic kind of folks they are. I feel sorry for anyone that feels they have to hide their legal, legitimate and popular hobbies from their neighbors.

IMHO, this is all about discretion, not being secretive. This should be about being reasonable and responsible. It is about knowing the risks from what you are doing and accepting them.

 

[JohnKSa]

So you're saying that now that it's legal, it's gone out of style and no one does it?

What I'm saying is that BBQ guns were meant for display in private settings, not out in public since it was illegal to carry openly in public in TX during the era of the BBQ gun. So using BBQ guns as an example of why we shouldn't feel bad about letting the general public know about our guns isn't really accurate.

My point is, does being secretive about your firearms really make your house less likely to be burglarized?

See my post on page 4 which quotes burglary risk factors from an ASU study.

Seems that folks here want to infer that the S&W sign or the lack of it, is the major deciding factor.

Again, I don't know that it is a "major deciding factor", but it certainly is one factor. Actually, I don't think the S&W sign is really a big deal. I think that having a generic sign with a quasi-humorous motto posted is not nearly as much of a risk factor as actually having people seeing you tote multiple guns (gun cases) to and from the car on a regular basis.

IMHO, this is all about discretion, not being secretive.

What one person sees as 'discreet', another sees as 'secretive'. I would agree that 'discreet' is a less emotionally charged term, but in practice, I suspect that the implementation of one vs. the other is very difficult to observe.

 

[Ignition Override]

In this subdivision we have only become acquainted with two couples, and they are two streets away. Those guys very seldom shoot any gun.

We have lived here for fourteen years. Having no kids living with us means that there is little to chat about if we Do see nearby neighbors while walking.
We are like the "Untouchable caste" in India, oddballs in an area flooded with children, who can walk to school.

Only wore my Kalashnikov t-shirt once, has 'difficult' Cyrillic lettering, and the small "sport utility rifle" image is such dark purple (>my magic marker<) that it is difficult to notice against a black background.
It only received a quick, puzzled glance, but there is no reason to overexpose it.

 

[.308 Norma]

I guess we sometimes kinda “flaunt” the fact that we have guns. At least during deer season we’re not exactly shy about skinning out a nice buck hanging from the ridge pole extending out of the little barn-like storage shed in the back yard - which is plainly visible from the road that runs past our place.

But then again, we’ve seen places even in town with a dead deer hanging from a tree in the front yard. And not over a couple of miles from here, there’s a ranch that has 12 or 15 sets of deer and elk antlers mounted on the rail over the driveway up to the main house.

IMO, the folks that own those places are a lot worse at “flaunting” their gun ownership than we are. Of course, one could always assume that people driving by think we are bow hunters, and all of the deer and elk antlers people have on display around here are winter “sheds” that were collected in the spring.

Just kidding around - we don’t really “flaunt” or “advertise” our gun ownership, or the fact that we almost always carry. Heck, I can’t remember even having a pro-2A decal or sticker on one of our vehicles. But where I grew up, and where I live now, gun ownership is the norm. I’m not sure if I even know anyone who is “secretive” about it. On the other hand, I might. I mean, if it’s a real “secret,” how would I know?

 

[Kleanbore]

Again, this thread wasn't about thieves. It was about a curious neighbor and what they might think.

But hat's not the only reason for "keeping it semi private".

I feel sorry for anyone that feels they have to hide their legal, legitimate and popular hobbies from their neighbors.

I feel more sorry for the person who fails to exercise proper caution and conceal their firearms and other valuables from the passing lawn service guys or water company people about whom they were never concerned.

IMHO, this is all about discretion, not being secretive. This should be about being reasonable and responsible.

Yes indeed.

It is about knowing the risks from what you are doing and accepting them.

I prefer to mitigate serious risks rather than accept hem, it that is practical.

Why on Earth would anyone knowingly accept the risk of having the existence of valuables becoming known strangers, if that can be reasonably avoided? That is what leads to the majority of burglaries, automotive, residential, and business.

 

[Reeferman]

Is so sad how things have become.

 

[lightman]

I'm going to suggest that it depends on where you are located. The small town that I live in has a lot of hunters. Nearly everyone either hunts or has a family member who hunts. Many of my neighbors are my shooting or hunting buddies. No reason for me to be secretive. When the neighbors hear my jet burner they bring beer and watch me melt lead. Or help me eat Crawfish!

If I lived someplace else I would feel the situation out before I would become as visible as I am here.

 

[Trey Veston]

I guess we sometimes kinda “flaunt” the fact that we have guns. At least during deer season we’re not exactly shy about skinning out a nice buck hanging from the ridge pole extending out of the little barn-like storage shed in the back yard - which is plainly visible from the road that runs past our place.

But then again, we’ve seen places even in town with a dead deer hanging from a tree in the front yard. And not over a couple of miles from here, there’s a ranch that has 12 or 15 sets of deer and elk antlers mounted on the rail over the driveway up to the main house.

IMO, the folks that own those places are a lot worse at “flaunting” their gun ownership than we are. Of course, one could always assume that people driving by think we are bow hunters, and all of the deer and elk antlers people have on display around here are winter “sheds” that were collected in the spring.

Just kidding around - we don’t really “flaunt” or “advertise” our gun ownership, or the fact that we almost always carry. Heck, I can’t remember even having a pro-2A decal or sticker on one of our vehicles. But where I grew up, and where I live now, gun ownership is the norm. I’m not sure if I even know anyone who is “secretive” about it. On the other hand, I might. I mean, if it’s a real “secret,” how would I know?

Ahh... The great tradition of skinning deer or elk in the open garage during hunting season to show off to your neighbors that you are a capable/lucky hunter.

We did that many times when we hunted closer to town. Neighbors would walk over to get the details of the hunt. I miss those times. My folks live in the most liberal town in Idaho and has suffered greatly from the influx of "woke" individuals. The last time we hung a deer for skinning, we got a visit from the local cops responding to a call from a concerned citizen that thought it was illegal to do such barbaric things in town.

The cop and my dad had a good laugh over it, as dad was the recently retired chief of police, but it was sad that the area has become overrun with mostly useless individuals such as the complainant.

 

[Mark1964]

I think you & I are pretty much on the same page.

I believe so, too.
Shoot well.

.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

Outside of my immediate family and my close friends, I don't tell anyone about my guns nor my pro second amendment stance. I'm vocal enough about my traditional values and my love of the Constitution and my support of Trump, but I don't really talk about guns. If someone asks I'll say yes, I own guns, but I won't go into a lot of detail. Fortunately, I live in an area of the USA where there are a lot of gun enthusiasts so it's not like I feel pressured to hide my pro 2nd amendment stance, it's just that I don't make an attempt to advertise my position either. Absolutely no stickers, of any kind, on my vehicles. No signs in my yards, I don't even fly the flag during 4th of July or other patriotic holidays.

But I'm a die hard, gun loving, patriotic person who has great respect for our military, law enforcement and first responders. But no, I don't advertise my gun enthusiasm or pro 2nd amendment position