Would you mention firearms competition as an interest for anything work related?

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JLStorm

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I belong to several work related groups on the internet that help me network across industries. I currently work in both the encrypted communications field for a fortune 500 company and I have a small side business with my wife in private investigation / security. The problem is that any coworkers from either field can see me profile and I know my boss and many coworkers for my full time job are members of some of these groups. I dont know that any of these people are anti gun, but you never know. My gut feeling says don't mention the firearms competition (IDPA), but at the same time many people are also into firearms who may want to network. I dont know how publicly accepted firearms competition is compared to the more controversial firearms topics like defensive use, etc.

Im planning on erring on the side of caution and not saying anything, but I was wondering what you would do in the same situation?
 
I vote for putting it on there. Shoot I don't have anything to lose if you do. :)
Seriously though, I think most people respect true skill at arms. The Olympics have shooting competitions, and everybody respects those athletes, don't they?
I think there is a difference between saying something like "I love guns and shooting" and saying "I have been training and competing in local, state, national (whatever it is) level pistol competitions with International Defensive Pistol Association and etc...for x number of years etc. ..." Kind of do your best to make it sound official, interesting, and attractive.
Sure it will be easier to not hassle with it, but this may be your chance to do something to positively influence the image America has of gun owners. The more we treat gun ownership like something that is negatively looked upon, the more likely it is that it will be. Good luck. (Besides, it is a part of who you are, and you shouldn't feel like you have to hide that.)
 
I didn't have any real problems... I _did_ make it clear that I was HIGHLY offended by some of the comments that I got from some folks - competing at an international level and then I had to listen to someone equating me with a street thug?

Opportunity for activism...
 
I think it depends more on whether or not the profile should only include business related information. Ask yourself if you would include your participation in a bowling or billiards league. If you can answer yes, then go ahead and list it.
 
That's a loaded question in this forum.

Of course, I want to know who the gunnies are so we can talk guns. As for people you're not sure of, I'd refrain until their true colors are shown.

Guns are like religion and politics. Everyone wants "you" to listen to "their" views, while they simultaneously refuse to listen to your views.
 
For years I lined the walls of my office (at home office of a 5-state corporation) with my scores of plaques won shooting various handgun matches and displayed about 20 trophies too. I believe there were between 80-90 plaques at the time.

It was definately a conversation starter when folks visited home office!;)

I finally boxed 'em all up about five years ago, after my wife came to visit one day and made a comment about how "tacky" it looked.

One thing's for sure though, folks are always joking who they want around if the SHTF.

Seriously though, in our company there are lots of shooters and hunters. I live in Georgia where lots of folks grew up in the woods and we think nothing about firearms being anything but good, honest fun for good, honest folks!

If I lived in an area where folks truly don't "get it," I probably would never mention my enjoyable sport and hobby. They might freak out and not understand.

T.
 
HeHeHe when I was interviewed for the position I am in now the HR Guy asked me what I do to relieve stress. My reply was " I usually throw a bunch of guns in the truck and head for the range," and his eyes got kinda big. My boss is very pro gun and has a handgun permit, later told me after the interview that our HR guy is an "Anti-gun Yankee" I probably scared the hell out of him. I still have the job today.
 
I did but my company places an extremely high value on competitiveness, and that demonstrates competitive qualities.
 
My feeling is that the more aspects of your 'genuine' self that can be incorporated into your professional persona the better your prospects for good mental health. Shooters have especially been made to feel the need to hide their interests; as though a shooting hobby was some shameful vice or abberation that non-shooting business contacts shouldn't be exposed to.
I'm not one to rock the boat only for the sake of doing so, but match shooting of any stripe should be treated as any other sporting activity--that should be the standard and automatic response from those who DO NOT engage in the sport as much as a shooter would instantly view someone who golfs or plays tennis as engaging in a socially legitimate activity.
 
Keep it to yourself.....I don't mix too much work and pleasure....not with HR Depts the way they are these days.
 
I do not have a problem with it EXCEPT that you should keep in mind that this information is now PUBLIC... NEVER PUT ANTHING ON THE INTERNET THAT YOU WOULD NOT MIND READING ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEWSPAPER...
 
Quote:
I shoot golf balls for fun. Does that count as a sport?
That's the only good use for one of those cursed little white balls. I can hit it with a rifle but not a golf club. Go figger.
Click to expand...

But isn't that bad for the rifle? Damage the crown and all that???? :neener::D

Springmom
 
I have it on my resume :)
If someone is going to hire me they have a right to know who they are hireing IMHO.

I am very upfront about the fact that I'm into guns, self defence and martial arts. So far no problems!
-DR
 
I must be blessed in this regard. Everyone at work knows I am a gun nut, heck I have had my last few bulk orders of ammo shipped to the office.
The last gun thing at work was a co-workers Hi-Point 995 coming back from repair into the office. Just about everyone broke their necks to get a peak at it or to handle it.

The company president fully supports my interests in firearms and RKBA.

It is good to be me :)
 
I figure if my boss is UNPROFESSIONAL enough to give me a hard time, or prejudiced against me because of my interest in a perfectly legal extra-curricular activity, then I have no buisness working there. IMO it is no different than workplace discrimination or prejudice based on race, sex, or whatever else. As ZenTao has said If it would be acceptably professional to bring up personal interests, then if hunting, shooting, SD or whatever should be fair game. After the first week at my current job (auto/truck maintenence/repair consultant for a big leasing co.) my boss asked if I did anything interesting over the weekend. I told him that I took my girlfriend to the range, she shot the AK for the first time and did quite well, but she still prefers my AR, thankfully she doesn't care for the Garand, so I get to be stingy with that one. He looked upset, and as I waited nervously for the debate to come, he told me, "damn let me know the next time you go, I havent shot my FAL in ages":D If you look hard enough you will see the occasional sigarms keychain, issue of American Rifleman on someone's desk, NRA sticker on their car, hence why we are the silent majority, we just don't realize how many pro-gun people are around silently wishing for someone to bring up the subject.
 
My boss was rather shocked to find that of the 22 people that work for him, over half of us have concealed carry permits (including several of the women). It's a good thing to remind him of come annual review time.... ;)
 
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