What would you say if asked?

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firearms_instructor

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Here's the scenario:

You live in an apartment complex and you're on your way to the range. You might pass by some of your neighbors or their kids while walking to your car with your rifle or shotgun in its case, which is obviously a gun case.

One of the kids is a precocious 7-8 year old girl, and she asks you what's in the case. You don't want to be rude, but you don't want to alarm anyone, either. What would you say if asked? What if it was one of the adults?

Cheers in advance to the best answers.
 
Depends upon the neighborhood ofcourse and if you know the childs parents ofcourse. If i were in a neighborhood where I beleved my guns could possibly be stolen i would tell no one what it was unless i trusted them, even better its good to not have any one see you with it if at all possible if you dont trust your neighborhood. On the otherhand i have lived at my residence all my life and know all of my neighbors fairly well so I dont mind, carrying my firearms with or with out a case to my car. However if I were suspious of any one around I would back up my car to my drive way and reduce the ablity of allowing them to see what I got.

If a unsuspicous kid asked, I would tell them it is a AR-15 or a rifle and I would let them know I was going to the range. I would only explain my self this way to a little kid though any one else I wouldnt tell them jack, how ever kids can have parents that sent them to ask such questions, so beware at your discresion. I have taught hundred's of kids how to shoot, threw nra classes and if they seemed intrested i would offer to teach them if it was okay with there folks, and toss them a card and have the parents give me a call if they were intrested in discussing the class.

All in all the responce would truely depend upon the eviornment.
 
ive been asked that and i replied just tools. glad they didnt ask why i was carrying hearing protection.
 
My friend has two kids. She said tell them the truth.

When asked say, "They're rifles. I'm going target shooting."

If kids come up and ask you, they're probably open minded enough to think that's pretty darn cool.
 
It's a special type of paper punch :D
Click to expand...
Add 1 vote for this answer. :D

Seriously, having lived in a # of Apt Complexes, I did not adverstise having Guns at All. Too many folks have access with Master Keys to Apts. Exterminators and everyone else have walked in without knocking on folks during the day. Folks work Graveyard / Sleep during the day and get -"surprised".

One never knows what someone hears will be repeated to illegal ears.

What is a gun case I can concur with as well. I used backpacks for handguns, being an older returning student - they just figured I was headed to class . I also use the Baseball Bat carriers , to transport shotguns/ longuns.

Folks figured this old fart might be doing batting practice - or "I might have" mentioned I had a neice that played "ball" - "Uncle must be helping with practice.

NO gun stickers on vehicle, no gun stuff laying around apt. I don't own camo, and refuse to own and wear it. Baseball bat and ball was in the open. Books and College stuff about the place.

I know a lady that totes her own folding chair , in its carry bag for kids soccer games, the yellow one fires .223, the blue is a .22lr, she sits in a green one.

I had too seen folks "advertise" too many things and get robbed. I had customers that couldn't figure how they got hit. A Bull-horn and Spot light would have drqwn LESS attention than the way they carried themselves.

I believe in being honest with kids.

Times have changed. Kids are sometimes used to gain information. One really has to think outside the box and really know / trust folks before they start blabbing.

What guns? I'm an older guy taking College Classses <adjusts backpack> , Wish I could get caught up and the weather would cooperate - I need to hit a few grounders to my neice...
 
(paraphrased)

"Whats that?"
"A ram."
"Ram? Whats that?"
"A hydrolic ram. Its used for lifting, pushing, bending, that sort of stuff."
"What are they used in?"
"Ever been in a shop that fixes cars?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there are two to four of these in the lift they put the cars on. Another in the bender for exhasut pipes, if its a body shop they use them for frame straightening, fabrication shops use them in brake presses. A brake press is-"
"I think Mama just hollered for me, I gotta go!"

Give them details, sound like a teacher, they'll probably lose interest;)
 
a musical instument,tools,fishing equipment.


sooner or later a small kid will tell another small kid and so on till it is overheard by a adult and maybe the story they tell wont be anywhere near what they saw..hopefully not one to someone thats interested in what else you have at home-be they a sheeple, deviant or someone that could care less.youre setting yourself up if you dont know who your neighbors are


We have a state trooper living across the street and a corrections officer living in another home nearby.I have met them and havent run into any problems,they are nice folks.its a good idea to know who your neighbors are.
 
When I lived in an apartment, I stored my FN LAR in a small safe, broken down. I transported it, still broken down, in as short a duffel bag as possible, specifically because I didn't want to have that question asked.

If it were asked anyway, I probably would have said something like, "A small elephant. A rather skinny one. I'm taking him to the vet. He's not feeling well." Obviously, if she asked to see him, I would have to explain that he was sleeping, and I didn't want to wake him up. If she accused me of kidding, I would admit that I was, that it was really a giraffe, not an elephant.

Although I would like to stand up straight and advertise, and do when I am not advertising my address as well, I basically follow what sm said above.
 
Kikilee

To Quote a marine from the 60's............"Curtain Rods"
Any old timers remember who said this?
Click to expand...

Lee Harvey Oswald. But, at just about 44, I don't think that I qualify as an old timer (except maybe to those who were peeing in their diapers when I was in college).
 
i'm kind of surprised at some of the answers. why not just tell the kid the truth? what good does lying to them do? why not just let them know that its a rifle, you're going target shooting, hunting, whatever and let them know that this is a normal thing that normal people do? maybe tell them to ask their parents if they'd like to go shooting with the kid and you someday. being Secret-Squirrel about it just keeps the kid in the dark. take the opportunity to explain what a nice relaxing hobby shooting can be.

now i can see if you live in certain areas why you wouldn't want to tell a kid if you think their parents or friends might use that information to break into your place and rob you blind, but if you think the risk of something like that is minimal, jump on the chance to educate a kid and normalize firearms for them. of course, all this assumes that you remain within the laws of brandishing/displaying firearms and such.

just my opinion.

Bobby
 
I carry my revolver out to my truck in my range bag. So far no one has asked me what it is. If they do, I'll tell them it's a gun. I'm not doing anything illegal, or immoral, and I won't be one of the people who feeds the gun paranoia.
 
In my neigborhood

I guess I am lucky to live where I know most of the neighbors (house not appartment) so my response would probably be something like

"You want to come with?"
 
I lived in a "rampaging soccer mom" zone for a while in California, and one woman actually crossed the street to ask me that question one Saturday morning while I was loading a couple cases in the truck.

"Are those guns?!!? :what: "

:scrutiny:

Don't recall exactly what I said, but she left in a bit of a huff... :eek:

If a kid asks, though, I'll probably say golf clubs. Or rattlesnakes... :evil:
 
This one made me think. It's never come up with me. I like the "tools" answer. And would probably use that if asked.

I'm a fan of camoflage. When I go to the range my carry weapon is well concealed and my other "stuff" is in a gym bag I got with a hard knee brace. I like the idea of a bat bag and may get one.

The best way to answer that question may be to avoid being asked.
 
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