The Gun Guy @ Work

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Aaryq

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Howdy, folks
(assumption): Like many of you, I am the gun guy at work. While this is a good thing most of the time, sometimes I get really frustrated. I understand that different people have different points of views, and sometimes I have to climb down from my high horse, but let me share with you an experience.

My supervisor is a Texan with a love for hunting rifles and also a love for handguns. He has no problem with EBR's, it's just not his thing. Anyway, I seem to find it impossible to explain things like super bullets. Examples would be your typical Hollywood Myths, like a .45 ACP being able to instantly kill anyone even if you shoot them in the hand or racking a shotgun/pointing a really big revolver will instantly cause your opponent to loose all bowel control, turn around and run 20 feet before suffering a heart attack and dying on the spot.

Can you give me any words of wisdom to explain stuff like that to him?

Another problem I run into is the fact that while I'm a well armed individual and have an interest in firearms, everyone thinks I'm either
A: Assumes that since I have an interest in firearms, I'm somehow involved in illegal activities that would get my house raided.
B: Going to end up like the Montana Freemen or Ruby Ridge, or Branch Davidians in a standoff of epic porportions with the .gov.
C: Believe that I will shoot anyone that comes into my house (or when I'm back home, my property).
D: Walk around my house with belts of ammunition strapped on me like Rambo and at least 10 guns somewhere on my person.

On the flip side of the coin, it's also fun too. I get to share knowledge with people and give them what I see as good advice.

Do you have any stories about being "The Gun Guy" at work?
 
I would rather not be known as "the gun guy", but it's way too late now. I've read a number of posts about how it's better to have 'em and not have people around you know you have 'em. But again, that horse is long out of the barn.

I have had a number of encouraging things happen where I work though, that maybe wouldn't have happened had I not been "the gun guy". I can think of several people who may chuckle when my name and guns are brought up in conversation, yet who privately wanted to talk to me to get advice on how to properly get a gun and some training on it.
A woman who I work with was mugged in a local supermarket parking lot a few months back and had some injuries from the attack. Afterwards, one guy in our office came and told me he decided CCW'ing WASN'T such a nutty idea after all, and now he has a CWP. Another woman privately sought me out to find out about getting a 12 gauge for her house, just in case. Got her hooked up with some instructors and now she's another person who hopefully will perk her ears up the next time some pol talks about the 2A being about hunters rights.

Other people chuckle at my "hobby", but once when they brought it up I said "well, you can laugh, but when the zombies come we KNOW whose house you'll coming running to!"
 
I enjoy being the gun guy. I've actually taken more than a few neutral or fence sitting types and turned them into card carrying members of the CCW fraternity.

This was done by being an example and answering A LOT of questions. Some of which were snide, designed to iriate me. Answered with patience and care, folks usually walk away thinking.......then they return a couple days later and want to have a one-on-one Q&A session. You know the rest-

Next thing you know, they want advice on a firearm purchase. And who do they see about getting some training and a CCW permit?
 
I am one of the gun guys, there are a couple of us.

Over the years it has paid off, ran into many people with guns for sale, and they wanted absolutely nothing to do with them, so I picked up a few nice deals.

I always try to be calm, cool and collected when it comes to any of the debates or politics that seem to come up. It is hard though to dispell the myths of the "crazy gun guy"....the programmers do the brainwashing well in this country.....takes a lot of work to get folks to see things rationally and factually sometimes.
 
Yeah, I’m the “Gun Guy” at work, even though I know of several others here that own them too (usually “in a shoe box in the closet”). Being interviewed for local TV news buying a handgun kind of “outted” me to a lot of people, although I’ve never tried to hide my interest in firearms.

I always make sure I speak responsibly about ownership of firearms and I don’t get into the “latest school/college/office shooting” discussions. Too much emotion and too little reasonable thought with those. It doesn’t bother me, but I don’t offer an unsolicited opinion. I’m always open to questions and have a standing offer to teach anyone about guns/how to shoot, stressing safety first. I don’t much tolerate the “gun nut” type of comments though. I tell folks it’s the people that have guns you don’t know about that concern me.

I came home from the range (IDPA match) recently and my Wife’s cousin (I’ve known her since she was 8 years old) was there with her 11 year old daughter. The cousin is a part-time EMT. My Wife asked how the match was and her cousin chimes in with “I don’t believe in guns.” I told her that “I don’t believe in ugly people, but I see them everywhere. :D Ignorance will hurt you.” No comeback from her. I did offer to teach her about gun safety and shooting anytime she’s ready.

Matt
 
I agree with you should keep to yourself at work. Some people just dont get it and they never will. Folks I work with know I am into BP cartrige guns but no one knows I shoot idpa. Bp for some reason seems less threatening to most folks. I keep my gun books and such concealed so as not to raise suspicions. In your case where it is too late they already know I think it is likely if you quit talking about it then they will also. In time all will be forgoten and you should just sit back and watch and listen as the ignorance of guns and shooters flow. It will be good laughs for you.
 
I think until I get orders to a new unit, it probably won't be forgotten about. My shop is only 11 strong and I doubt they'll forget that I'm the gun guy.
 
Well, living where I do, I am one of several "Gun Guys" at work. It is a role I really enjoy. It has had some nice benefits. I have had the opportunity to take a couple of extremely attractive 20 something women to the range to learn to shoot a handgun during an extended lunch (I'm old enough to be their father, so no hanky panky). I constantly have folks bringing some gun or other for me to take a look at, and I enjoy that immensely. Now we are getting a group together to do some lunch time skeet shoots (there is a very nice 400+ acre facility 15 minutes away from my office. So...I really like being one of the gun guys.
 
Hey arnt you getting moved to Norfolk soon any way? Well there you go just come out here and keep under the radar until you know who the fellow shooters are. Give me a pm maybe we could hook up when you get out here and I can show you around.
 
The secret is to "selectively acknowledge" your firearm ownership. Let them know about your 1911 and Wingmaster...and leave the AK, AR, FAL, USP, Hi-Power, three P-3ATs, Python, 686...six hunting rifles...PLR-16, Mac 10...and so on out of the conversation.
 
Another "gun guy at work". :)

It can be frustrating. Others think I know it all because I know more than they do, I do not. They spout off the crap they hear on TV and I have to try to stay calm and give good answers. Being the "gun guy at work" puts you on the front line, like it or not. :scrutiny:

The secret is to "selectively acknowledge" your firearm ownership. Let them know about your 1911 and Wingmaster...and leave the AK, AR, FAL, USP, Hi-Power, three P-3ATs, Python, 686...six hunting rifles...PLR-16, Mac 10...and so on out of the conversation.
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Amen. Don't scare them right off the bat. Ease in to it over time.
 
I work at a university and like many universities it is very much an anti-gun environment. That being said, a few of my co-workers are ex-military so they do not fear guns. It’s kind of interesting actually because we have 2 gun guys, 1 gun gal, and 1 sword guy who is also a martial arts guy.

The best way to deal with gun myths is information, but you don’t want to be his personal encyclopedia. You will either have to learn to let it slide, I have given up correcting people on the differences between clip and magazine, or send him some bookmarks of “cool” but informative gun related websites so he can research this himself. If you get along with him maybe suggest going to range to try out some new ammo or something and provide some info lessons while your there. I do that with new gun users in the safety lecture.
 
I'm not too worried about scaring them. We all carry around M16's on a daily basis out here...but that is a good idea, especially with my next big purchases I have planned. I am in the process of trying to help one of my Marines get a CA CCL. It's an uphill battle, but I'm trying.
 
I'm definitely the Gun Guy at work.
My Boss and his wife are Democrats! They tow the party line -!
They are in there 40s and The wife likes to go camping--with 2 small children .One day she said Maby I should get my Pistol permit so I can have a small gun with me when I go camping ![ NY state.]
I said Wonderful=IF you like Ill take several handguns to the range and you can Try shooting them see what you like => I neglected to tell her OUR county JUDGE wont allow you to carry a gun for PROTECTION -Only hunting and target shooting -[Lets see if she becomes a repub when her right to self defense is denied ] Grampa is sooo anti gun -Thats where the kids got it from Hes openly antagonistic,And has many anti repub bumper stickers -Hes 78 so he wont be around toooo many more years.
One of the guys said to me -DO you think people should be allowed to own Machine guns .?? Knowing hes a Nam Vet I asked him You carried an M-16 for years did you want to go on a killing spree -or do some criminal act just because you had a machine gun-NO he replied -So If you had one home now would It be safe with you--He nodded His head and answered his own question!
This place is a small town Old fashioned hardware store,,We should have AMMO-Hunting knives -Hunting supplies-we even have a great spot to cage in a gun section -BUT that will never happen and I dont ever see ammo coming to the shelves !
 
I am considered the gun guy by my fellow employees but my boss has a collection that would blow mine away. I have already gotten 1 other employee to get his license which made me proud.

Lucky its a pro-2nd work place so discussion is open but at times heated.
 
Pretty much everyone in my office knows I'm the "gun guy", but since there are only eight of us, and everyone knows me personally, and trusts that I'm not about to go postal on the lot of them, it's pretty much a non-issue. I have had some interesting discussion, though. One lady got a gun in her divorce, because her ex is now a convicted felon and can't own it. She doesn't know what kind it is or how to operate it, so I have a standing offer on the table to teach her.

Another lady told me once that she just doesn't understand guns, can't see why anybody would own one, and thinks they should all be confiscated. I replied, "Look - I don't want to force anybody to own a gun. I'm all for freedom. If you choose to NOT own a gun, that's your choice. But don't deny me the right to own a gun for self-defense, or sport, or any other reason." This led to a conversation on self-defense, where I raised the 5' - 2" woman defending herself against the 6' - 2" rapist analogy. Turns out that was something she could understand. I also brought out the points that 1)even if you could make all guns illegal, criminals don't obey the law, so they'll still have them, and 2) even if you could make all guns disappear instantly, criminals will still have access to knives, bricks, bats, pool cues, tree branches... Even though she still doesn't want to own a gun, she's willing to admit that they do have their place in society.
 
I am the gun guy

At first I wasn't so sure that it was a good idea but it's worked out. It turns out most people in my office are either friendly or indifferent.

On a positive note I just had a conversation with my new boss yesterday about his new Bersa .380. He's just bought it, didn't know squat, and came to me because I'm "The Gun Guy." It was a good thing he did too because some of his question were like this:

1. If I pull the trigger with a full magazine in that will load the first round right?
2. I couldn't figure out how to decock it until I watched a western and saw them pull the trigger and lower the hammer. That's okay right?
3. How do you know if it's unloaded?

Thankfully I was there and answered all his questions with a completely straight face and advised that he unload the gun (I told him how) and put it away until he had a chance to take a beginner handgun class. He's decided to do that and I'm now very thankful I'm "The Gun Guy" because I might have just stopped an ND in the making.
 
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I find it interesting that, while I'm a semi-known gun enthusiast among my social & business circles, I've never been debated or harassed by a rabid anti-gunner. If I am approached with a firearms-related question it's usually by someone asking my opinion about CCW selection, permit requirements, home defense or where to get training. Admittedly, my location (a rural area of a generally pro-gun state) makes running into the no-guns-no way crowd a lot less likely. I think "we" all have a responsibility to handle ourselves (and our pro-gun opinions) as ambassadors of EVERYONE'S Right to Keep & Bear Arms. The media is so quick to represent us as kooks & blood-thirsty extremists that it's important we indeed exercise the upmost caution to be viewed as level-headed, clear-thinking, law-abiding citizens...who simply take our Constitutional Rights very seriously.
 
It seems unfortunate that there isn't some kind of standardized certification test to ensure one is qualified to be "the gun guy" at work.
 
We all would like to see a movement in a positive direction toward guns, carrying, and self protection. Generally speaking, we feel this would make a big difference in the way people react to each other and the way that bad guys perceive the general population.

In order to do this we must do our part in breaking the stereotype and false information that has taken over our society about guns so yeah, I hold my head high about being known as the "gun guy" and found as time went on, more people came to accept this and many have begun to ask some serious questions about firearms without my prodding.
 
A: Assumes that since I have an interest in firearms, I'm somehow involved in illegal activities that would get my house raided.
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I get this more often than I'd like! how do people make this link, but dont say the same thing about the "car guy"?
 
I would suggest just letting it go. People do not go to work to learn about guns. There is a time and a place for everything and your workplace isn't the time to teach people about firearms.


I am one of the gun guys at work. For Christmas we had a mocked award presentation. People got thigs like "Lunch Mooch" or "Bosses daughter award" with a short explanation designed to poke fun at all of us. I recieved the "Most likely to go Postal...for owning an excess of camo, ammo, guns, and underground bunkers in the midwest."
 
One of the downsides to being the gun guy at work is that you tend to attract the gun guy wannabes, the mall ninjas, the guys who are just praying that someone tries to break into their house, the rabidly anti-government types, and so on. Associating with certain 'fringe' people at work may not be the best career move.

Also, I just found out last week that my boss has close family ties to a well known local shooting, so out of respect for him, because I'm sure he doesn't want to hear about guns all the time, I'm trying to downplay my gunguyness.
 
I seem to find it impossible to explain things like super bullets. Examples would be your typical Hollywood Myths, like a .45 ACP being able to instantly kill anyone even if you shoot them in the hand...
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This isn't the whole story, but it does speak to the issue.

There used to be a youtube clip showing a crash test dummy with a steel plate in its chest being shot with a 50BMG on Mythbusters (removed due to copywright issues). The steel plate was put there to insure the bullet stopped in the dummy--the bullet went through the steel plate but stopped in the steel "spine" of the dummy.

The dummy was suspended in a standing position in such a way that it could be easily dislodged by an impact. It was shot from a distance of about feet, IIRC.

The impact of the bullet dislodged the dummy and caused it to fall, but there was no significant rearward movement (at most 2" or so).
 
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