1911
9mm
OC
Training
BUG AND Spare Mag
Leather
Don't Inform
NO Warning Shot
12 Gauge
Chambered and Full Mag
+P
Glocks Suck
00 Buck
Semi-Auto
Wood
Both Eyes
Retention
Lifetime
Railed
Remington
Weapons Light AND Handheld
AR
Shoot the Hostage
*Did I miss any?
1911
9mm
OC
Training
BUG AND Spare Mag
Leather
Don't Inform
NO Warning Shot
12 Gauge
Chambered and Full Mag
+P
Glocks Suck
00 Buck
Semi-Auto
Wood
Both Eyes
Retention
Lifetime
Railed
Remington
Weapons Light AND Handheld
AR
Shoot the Hostage
*Did I miss any?
Option one, I hang around and tell the police what I saw, but I'm sure the video will be a better witness than me.
Option two, I can try to defuse the situation, but crazy doesn't defuse very easily, and there is a firearm involved.
Option three, I go get burgers someplace else.
I took option three, but what would someone else do?
You forgot Wallet. Noob.
Minimum necessary force in all aspects of life is a good montra.
Years and years and years of being a law enforcement officer has taught me to listen to the stupidest or most incredible things that could be said, keep a straight but outwardly respectful face, and respond with a noncommittal answer, often along the lines of "that's interesting, I don't know."
Now, with all my training and education in my retirement job, I can say, with great authority, "it depends."
Did someone mention getting burgers? I could stand to get a burger. Seems like no one has made my sammich for me yet.
Minimum necessary force in all aspects of life is a good montra.
You did exactly what you should have done.
It seems that you not only want validation, but believe that your actions are what should constrain the rest of us.
I don't answer questions.
I’ll try a serious answer, what the hey. Been OC for 8 plus years, modified my responses over that time, but basically I’ve gotten three questions, besides the are you a cop?
1. Can I ask you a question?
A. You just did.
2. Why do you carry a gun/firearm?
A. I believe I’m responsible for my own safety.
3. Do you really NEED to carry a gun/firearm around here/this little town/name of place.
A. I CERTAINLY hope not.
Initially, I keep my answers short and sweet. Kinda make them pry for intel. Try to get a feel for where it’s going, plus I think it makes them think this guy has thought this through, at least I hope anyhow. After that, I either open up or leave. I actually enjoy talking to people, and if I can be a good ambassador for firearms and in particular open carry, I see that as a win. What I won’t do is hang around and be berated, but that hasn’t really happened much.
I’ve had 7 negative reactions including 911 called on me, hundreds if not thousands of positive or neutral conversations. If I can’t be the calmest person in the room, time to leave. No need for me to get mad or loud, I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m not out to change your mind or convince you of anything, if you hadn’t talked to me, I probably would have been gone by now. I’m NEVER the first one in any conversation to mention a firearm.
Depending on how the conversation goes, I might hang around and talk, if you can have a civil discussion but disagree, I have no problems with that.
I didn’t quite understand the OP mixing conversations about open carry and which gun to buy, seems like two distinct different conversations. Maybe I need to go reread first post. If you asked me what gun to buy, I’d first have to ask you about 50 questions. Who’s shooting it, where, gonna carry, how much you want to spend? etc.
When people ask questions, how do you answer?
Not only the answer, but how you act as you answer?
I watched a full volume screaming crap fight between a guy open carrying and a couple soccer moms in a fast food restaurant this weekend, and it was so stupid I can't even express it.
The soccer moms had kids with them, they got triggered, and the guy carrying triggered about 10 seconds later.
Now I know the argument about open carry, and concealed carry...
Without getting into that argument, you simply don't have these issues when you conceal.
Since the argument/screaming match happened in line in front of me, I simply left when the soccer moms called police.
----------
The absloute newbie asking what firearm ("gun") would YOU buy?
Even through I've been asked a 1,000 times, the demeanor is rehearsed... I'll admit that.
With the current crop of rabid, militant anti-gunners, *I Think* (personally) demeanor is important,
You just never know when it's a troll or ligitimate question...
SO...
I step back slightly, look deep in thought, take my time to answer...
Even though the answer is obvious, I *Try* to look like I'm in respectful thought.
When I speak, it's calmly and clearly.
I *Attempt* to correct the term 'Gun' for 'Firearm', and I usually emphasize EDUCATION.
I emphasize the responsibility of owning a firearm.
I tell them a firearms safety class will usually give them the option of firing several types and making a selection based on what fits them best.
I recommend they start with something simple that runs (emphasis on 'RUNS'), and something that is smaller caliber/cheaper to shoot so they go learn how to hit a target.
----------------
Since I actually conceal carry in town, I rarely get into the emotional, screaming confrontations.
When I'm somewhere the subject comes up, I stay as rational & calm as possible, since every militant anti-gunner is reacting on an emotional level, I *Try* to calm things down so the rational part of the brain starts to work in them.
Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't and you simply waste breath...
It's not the first time, it won't be the last time unless I drop dead today, so it's no big deal.
I at least tried, and the added benefit is anyone watching (and the militants always want an audience) sees a firearms owner as a calm, rational person under attack, while the screaming militant looks/acts like a lunatic off their meds. (Which always makes me smile when I'm away from the situation)
Don't get me wrong, I can get quite worked up, we all can...
I'm just not about to do it while I'm carrying a firearm, even with a permit.
The LAST thing I want is police showing up to TWO screaming people, one is a ARMED man, guess who the police firearms get pointed at?
Guess who's police file gets an 'Armed Contact' notation for every other police department to find on the computer from that day forward?
-----------
As for what firearm question...
The one that runs as close to 100% of the time you know of.
One that's smaller/cheaper caliber so it's fun to shoot, it doesn't break your shoulder/wrist, easily manageable recoil, your ears don't take a beating, and your wallet doesn't go inverted!
I start new shooters on pellet guns.
Cost, recoil & sound are all really small, so you can work on fundamentals like safety, sighting & trigger control.
Then it's time for actual firearms, it's a .17 HMR or .22 LR.
Again, no broken budgets, shoulders or eardrums...
I find even the smallest woman or child into double digits in age can manage a bolt rimfire, and with the cost it's not a problem cutting down the stocks for the smaller folks.
If you don't think back to plinking with a pea shooter and it still puts a grin on your face, you probably didn't grow up with BB/pellet guns and .22 LR.
Just seeing the looks on faces when they experience this takes me back, the big grins & sense of accomplishment when point of impact is point of aim is still fun to watch!
Then it's 10/22 rifles to introduce them to semi-auto.
I still stress single shot placement, but everyone gets the big grin back when they click off rounds, and a 10/22 is about as cost efficient/reliable as pea shooters come.
Once they learn SAFE HANDLING and some basics, then they can choose more powerful firearms.
-----------
How do you guys handle the newbies & trolls?
I’ll try a serious answer, what the hey. Been OC for 8 plus years, modified my responses over that time, but basically I’ve gotten three questions, besides the are you a cop?
1. Can I ask you a question?
A. You just did.
2. Why do you carry a gun/firearm?
A. I believe I’m responsible for my own safety.
3. Do you really NEED to carry a gun/firearm around here/this little town/name of place.
A. I CERTAINLY hope not.
Initially, I keep my answers short and sweet. Kinda make them pry for intel. Try to get a feel for where it’s going, plus I think it makes them think this guy has thought this through, at least I hope anyhow. After that, I either open up or leave. I actually enjoy talking to people, and if I can be a good ambassador for firearms and in particular open carry, I see that as a win. What I won’t do is hang around and be berated, but that hasn’t really happened much.
I’ve had 7 negative reactions including 911 called on me, hundreds if not thousands of positive or neutral conversations. If I can’t be the calmest person in the room, time to leave. No need for me to get mad or loud, I’m not doing anything wrong. I’m not out to change your mind or convince you of anything, if you hadn’t talked to me, I probably would have been gone by now. I’m NEVER the first one in any conversation to mention a firearm.
Depending on how the conversation goes, I might hang around and talk, if you can have a civil discussion but disagree, I have no problems with that.
I didn’t quite understand the OP mixing conversations about open carry and which gun to buy, seems like two distinct different conversations. Maybe I need to go reread first post. If you asked me what gun to buy, I’d first have to ask you about 50 questions. Who’s shooting it, where, gonna carry, how much you want to spend? etc.