Gun Owner/Shooter Public Identification

I have an NRA Endowment Member sticker on my vehicle and a couple NRA jackets.

Immediately after Sandy Hook, I did think about storing the jackets and removing the sticker in order to go "under the radar." I finally decided that no, I'm going to make a stand and show the world that here's a responsible and law abiding gun owner who doesn't feel the need to hide. I channeled my energy into contacting my legislators, and it appears to have paid off (one Senator has tempered support for a ban).

I have not once had anybody even look askance at me for my NRA sticker or jackets. This tends to be a more conservative area, but even in the more left leaning pockets I haven't seen any blowback.

I don't think we need to hide. The majority of Americans know that we aren't to blame for the acts of a madman.
 
My car and clothing is plain but if I have to go to Madison and mingle with the UW student body and UW staff I wear my NRA hat. They all get a good look at my hat but I doubt if many could tell you what my face looks like. Only negative comment from the public was a little old lady about my age or a few years older who remarked on the hunting magazine I was reading in my car while waiting for my sister to get done shopping because it had a picture of a gun on the cover. Cashier at Menards looked at my hat smiled and winked at me. I was old enough to be her grandfather so I have to assume it was my hat that tickled her and not my cute beard.
 
if all responsible gun owners were silent about guns then anti-gun and irresponsible gun owners would own the conversation.

People say they would risk their lives to protect the second amendment, but keep quite over fear of their car getting keyed. :(
 
For 40+ years my vehicles have had NRA decals. Our current vehicles have NRA decals and decals from my colleges. Since 1992 i have worked in 19 different states including CA, MD, NY, NJ and MA. Never been stopped by a policeman or hassled by anyone because of my NRA decals.

i don't do political stickers.
 
No stickers on my car, load and unload guns in and out of the car in a closed garage.. A few close neighbors and friends know where to go if the SHTF and that's about it other than family members.

I also keep my company parking pass hidden from view when I'm not at work. This precaution was proven valid when a co-worker lost his high end company laptop recently to a break in after clearly displaying our (well known) employer's name on his windshield for all to see, despite training that tells us to hide it.

No need to advertise who I work for or whether I own firearms or not.

I have been known to wear a camo or NRA hat from time to time...

I just try to be sensible.

If I lived in Montana or Wyoming I might put an NRA sticker on my car, but in the peoples republic of Seattle it's probably better not to. Lots of antis and those who would break a window to have a look/see. They've been known to ruin the paint job on an SUV around here because they use too much gas.

Besides, I like a clean looking ride....
 
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People say they would risk their lives to protect the second amendment, but keep quite over fear of their car getting keyed.
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This would seen backwards except that you need a longer and more realistic view of things.

We do need to protect the 2A, now and probably forever, but the situation has not arisen where physically protecting your rights requires actual armed intervention.

Unless we get to that point, it's only reasonable prudence to protect our rights through the political process and through organizations and your dealings with the average Joe.

"Average Joe" is actually printed on the back of my shirt :cool:


The best way to protect our freedoms is to use your freedoms to help the other guy, to be a better person, a better husband, father, friend.

If you look down from heaven on your own funeral and other men say, "He was the kind of guy I wish I could be", you'll know you got it right ;)
 
To the OP:

I would not ever be afraid to be honest in my freedom of expression. When we Censor ourselves, we are admitting guilt of a moral crime we haven't committed.
 
No way. Just because you feel or believe something doesn't mean you need to run around broadcasting it all the time. And just because you hold back from voicing an opinion doesn't mean you feel guilty about expressing it. Sometimes it's just not the right place, time, or audience.
 
I think the more we speak up the better. Obviously at the right time and place but the people that don't own guns (and the anti's) need to see that there are perfectly normal people that own guns and that they are all around them. They need to see that not all gun owners are redneck anti-gubment hicks intent on shooting up a crowd whenever we feel like it.

That is why I'll occasionally post on facebook that "boy it's crowded at the range today" or "good day to take my daughter to the range" or similar benign comments. I think the more people know we are out there and are not a threat to them, the better.
 
I voice opinions all the time.

That's why so many people think I'm so controversial.

Just look at my signature, creative maladjustment.
 
Other than an American flag I had on a bumper two cars back, I don't put anything on my car. I get enough scratches, dings, (and recently collisions with animals and the uninsured) and other wear without some wierdo getting uppity. Now the wife has various soccer mom stuff, but thats harmless.
 
I think this is why the so called silent majority is being shipped down the politically correctness railroad by the radical leftist minority. There is a time to be silent and a time to stand up and be counted. I believe we need to be much more outspoken and open instead of laying low. I refuse to feel guilty for enjoying my God given and constitutionally recognized rights. I for one, will not go quietly into the night. If this means I have to put up with some crap from officials and policeman who think the constitution is just an old piece of paper, then so be it. I guess I'm more like JOHN HANCOCK! I think it is time to make some noise. If they rattle the cages the lions should roar, not slink into the shadows. On the other hand, my mother said life would be much easier if I didn't always do things the hard way.:rolleyes:
 
I'm in the camp of "no advertising" on my car. I don't want to make myself more of a target than needed. I'm more worried about the antigun nutjob that decides to key or break a window or something. It's the same mentality that I never leave anything of value in plain sight. No packages, backpacks, parking passes, etc.
 
I also do not keep any firearm or hunting stickers on my car or truck, don't need any problems. I also have a holster attached to my front seat but I keep
it covered with a shirt or jacket, even when empty. I also keep a FOP card blocking the VIN#'s on my vehicles.
 
I'm an NRA member, but do not display the NRA (or any other gun related) sticker on my car. My reason has more to do with advertising that I may have a gun locked up in my car. I might as well put a sticker on there that says: "I have lots of silver bars locked up inside".

When appropriate, I let people know that I am a member of the NRA and that I like to collect and shoot guns. But, this really isn't a big deal in the South.
 
I don't have gun-related stickers on my car, because to an anti who doesn't know me, it just serves to reinforce their stereotype of "all the gun nuts out there".

Likewise, I wouldn't wear an NRA lapel pin to a job interview, because I don't see the point of making my shooting/carrying practices the very first thing someone knows about me. I'm also a photographer, motorcycle rider and naval officer, but I don't wear a helmet, carry an SLR and have my ID card on a lanyard around my neck 24/7 either.

Plus, as mentioned before, there's the whole theft aspect. I had a very expensive stereo setup stolen out of my car once, and I'm pretty sure the big "Precision Power" and "Linear Power" amp manufacturer decals had something to do with it. While I don't leave guns unattended in my car, I'd have to have a thief break in "just to check".
 
I don't discuss sex, politics or religion with strangers. Since the world is mostly strangers, I don't advertise my views on my car, clothing or otherwise.

Among the people I know, I gently teach and work to encourage them to come around to my points of view on political issues (I consider sex and religion to be essentially private). I've taken all my siblings and their spouses and kids shooting. As far as I know, they are still for gun control, but at least they don't hate guns or gun owners.
 
I have my NRA sticker and my Thin Blue Line sticker on my vehicle I drive to work. Since I work in a prison the majority of us are pro gun. Thier are no stickers on our family car, because of my wife. I am proud of my beliefs and am not afrade to let people know when asked. If I had a NRA hat I would wear it. I wear my DOC Academy Sweatshirt all over the place, even before I got my ccw. I say be proud of what you beleive, those are our rights be proud of them.
 
Stickers Galor.

NRA stickers on my truck and my house. I used to wear my NRA hat at the range. Now I wear it every where. I've had only positive reactions. I also have stickers from my other hobbies on my truck too; SCUBA diving, and treasure hunting (Metal detecting). If it offends their eyes, let them pluck them out.
 
I don't put any stickers on my vehicles, in fact I even remove the dealer name off the back if it has one.

I do however occasionally wear items of clothing that are firearms related, and I don't feel the need to downplay the fact that I am something of a gun nut. :D

Where I live now (Montana) the majority of the people have no problem with firearms and their owners. When I lived in California, I would occasionally run across someone who tried to give me grief about owning guns. I generally just smiled and tried to stay civil while not backing down one iota.

I simply don't feel the need to hide my beliefs from the anti's and the uninformed.
 
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