The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: JLawson on October 30, 2011, 12:25:31 PM
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In a recent thread, someone mentioned a cop's positive reaction to a NRA sticker. This brought to mind a topic that I thought might lead to some good discussion. A quick topic search revealed that it has been covered, only briefly though, a few years ago. And the topic is...
Are organizational decals (NRA, SAF, CCRKBA, etc.) and company logo decals a bad idea on your car? What about apparel with the same things... will you be noticed more, targeted, or ignored?
I have never applied any decals to my vehicle for two reasons. First, I don't want to deal with any vandalism that may result from my car being targeted. While I enjoy a civil exchange of opinions in any face-to-face discussion, it's really not much of a statement in support of the 2A for me to walk out to smashed windows or slashed tires... that's just money that I could spend on guns and ammo. Secondly, I don't want my driving habits or mistakes to reflect negatively on the organizations or companies represented by those decals. I consider myself to be a safe and cautious driver, but I am just human. Sometimes I may stop too suddenly, turn too quickly, fail to signal, etc. I don't want my driving mistakes to cause another driver to draw some false conclusion about gun ownership and carelessness or recklessness. I want my words and actions to reflect positively on gun ownership and the shooting sports.
Am I over-thinking this?
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On normal day to day life I'll limit myself to MAYBE a 5.11 baseball cap. Only LEOs and other shooters would probably recognize it.
I don't want to advertise I may have something on my hip. I do a NRA sticker on my pickup but that's pretty much standard in ND.
When I fly I'll wear my Blackhawk T-shirt and my 5.11 9/11 commerative cap again because the TSA asked my about the T-shirt and I said, "Yep, they make good gear." The TSA was searching right at the gate and I walked past no problem.
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I attempt to wear camo everywhere, which means I dress like the people around me. If I am going to the range I may grab a BCM hat, if I am going to the mall it will likely be a college team hat.
I have 1 NRA t-shirt and 1 Blackwater tee shirt and I wear them when I am around friends mostly.
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Hi;
I also restrict what decals I put on my vehicle. The only decals I have on the truck is a South Carolina palmetto w/moon decal. I do enjoy reading the various decals that I see on the backs of cars but they can give the indication of a far right or far left thinking person that could agitate some people.
If I see a decal that has someting that I object to, I dont get P'd , I just try to figure out how that "nut" could support that issue. We all have our views - so I dont try to change anyone because they wont change me ! Some people just go with the flow and never stand for anything.
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Decals, the only ones I put on my cars were a 3" Marine Corps emblem, that was just a matter of my personal taste.
Clothes with gun related logo's ? If I have them, I wear them.
My reasoning is that the only people who will get it are the ones in the culture.
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I too limit the # of decals on my 2 vehicles. I have an F.D. decal (really helps if stopped by PD) and a family member serving in the military USMC (1 blue star sticker) as does my wifes car. I don't have NRA or RMGO (Rocky Mtn. Gun Owners) stickers as I feel this gives punks the idea that I may have a gun in my vehicle and they may want it more than me and they break in when it's parked somewhere just to see. I just don't want to advertise that I do, oh - I mean may have one in the vehicle. I do wear the gun range that I belong to T-shirt every so often.
When my kids were young and living at home I wouldn't put their school or team sticker on my cars either - that lets some dip stick know where your kid can be found should they ever want to for what ever reason and I wasn't about to let that happen, especially since schools now-a-days are gun free zones :'( as well as peace, love & brain washing let's all be P/C places, not the institutes of higher learning they should be.
Sorry got carried away.
Take care & watch your back - Frosty
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I've had a change in philosophy over the last few years, thanks in part to my wife. I don't have any decals on my vehicle except during election time when we have bumper stickers of the candidates we support. I was going to put an Infadel decal on my window last year and my wife objected (to put it mildly) and that got me thinking along the lines stated here.
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I too had a change of thinking regarding my vehicle after the 2008 election.
I removed everything. Criminals get a bit more clever, and seeing a vehicle in a driveway with NRA, Pro 2nd Amend. etc,...
BG goes: "Gee I wonder if there are guns in "that" house...For me, bad idea...
I also removed some conservative stickers...My NOBAMA, had to go....I don't want any zombies targeting my vehicle based on a political party if it comes to the streets....
For fashion, I do wear my TAPCO, M1 Garand, my local Dixie Guns & Ammo, and a couple NRA shirts from time to time. No Hats/Caps.
Generally, I just try to stay under the radar.
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I have Veteran plates on my car. That's all I need to advertise and I tend not to buy firearms related clothing because it's generally made from cheap, light cotton and I prefer a heavier shirt.
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The hot choice for a decal to have on your bumper is one for the local/state FOP.
The organization does a lot to take care of the officers dependents so, no matter what you might think of an individual cop, they are put in a position of taking one for us and supporting their dependents is a nice idea.
Contribute to them and you will receive a wallet card which you can carry ahead of your DL in your wallet, so it is pulled out with it, and a decal or two which you can put on your car(s) bumper.
I've had cops give me a warning and then thank me for supporting the FOP.
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I have 1 MIA, 2 Army, 3 flag, and 3 NRA stickers. I don't know if that's good or bad but my next vehicle probably won't have any stickers.
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The hot choice for a decal to have on your bumper is one for the local/state FOP.
The organization does a lot to take care of the officers dependents so, no matter what you might think of an individual cop, they are put in a position of taking one for us and supporting their dependents is a nice idea.
Contribute to them and you will receive a wallet card which you can carry ahead of your DL in your wallet, so it is pulled out with it, and a decal or two which you can put on your car(s) bumper.
I've had cops give me a warning and then thank me for supporting the FOP.
I've given every year for the last five and I never got a card or a sticker....
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I have 1 MIA, 2 Army, 3 flag, and 3 NRA stickers. I don't know if that's good or bad but my next vehicle probably won't have any stickers.
That's about par for Michigan from my experience!
;)
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I don't have anything on my car, but then I grew up with a Dad who made the car dealership put a heat lamp on their sticker and remove it from the car my Dad was buying. He had it in the purchase contract that they would not apply the sticker. And then he made them knock the price down because the mechanic chipped the paint doing it! ;D
I did have an NRA sticker on my S-10 once upon a time back in the uber-liberal town of Evanston, IL. Mine was a political statement (Evanston hated guns, you see), as was the asshole coward's actions who defaced it in the HS parking lot one night while I was in dog training class.
I do try to be gray when I am out an about - the Oldsmobile I drive helps reinforce that!!! The F-350? Not so much. ;D
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I don't have anything on my car, but then I grew up with a Dad who made the car dealership put a heat lamp on their sticker and remove it from the car my Dad was buying. He had it in the purchase contract that they would not apply the sticker. And then he made them knock the price down because the mechanic chipped the paint doing it! ;D
I did have an NRA sticker on my S-10 once upon a time back in the uber-liberal town of Evanston, IL. Mine was a political statement (Evanston hated guns, you see), as was the asshole coward's actions who defaced it in the HS parking lot one night while I was in dog training class.
I do try to be gray when I am out an about - the Oldsmobile I drive helps reinforce that!!! The F-350? Not so much. ;D
I don't have the option of being grey most of the time. SHOOT, even when I'm wearing blaze orange riding bike motorists somehow don't see me. So wearing Scheels cap isn't that big of a deal, but you know good and well being a Dakotan grey does mean boots and a hat hahaha
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Although I understand and support the First Amend.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/cachebordomnet.jpg)
;D
The $3.69 per gallon price is just icing.... ;)
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I work on a miltary base and work related logo shirts are the norm in the area. I slide an occasional NRA or shooting shirt here and there, especially if I have to go by one of the kid's schools ;D
I have an IDPA and USPSA sticker on one side of the car and a Tailhook sticker on the other.
If I'm headed into DC or B'More I'm in an "unmarked" shirt.
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I've given every year for the last five and I never got a card or a sticker....
Hmm..maybe it's just Ohio.
Might not be a bad idea to contribute to the Ohio FOP. The sticker will be recognized everywhere.
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Right now, I only have a parking decal, university sticker, and a wildlife organization sticker in my back window. I've got a few more stickers (fishing gear, university, other organization stickers) that will likely end up on my window once the parking decal is gone. My newly acquired Glock sticker likely won't ever get put on it because I don't want to advertise too much. I don't really have any other clothing or stickers.
I'm glad you started this because I often wonder how much what I drive makes me more or less of a target. Does my F250 make potential bad guys think that I'm a harder target or does it matter? I know it's going to vary depending on the region. I would think a pro-gun sticker would be a partial deterent if you're with your car, but I think it would make it more of a target when alone. I think many people could look at my truck and stickers and infer a few things without me putting definitive labels on it. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know; I could be giving people more credit than they deserve.
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I save the offensive political statements for T shirts.
And I make a point of making eye contact with the ones who look offended. ;D
I don't stick my tongue out at them or raspberry them, but the thought is there. ;D
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I think all of this depends on where in the nation you live. Here in Arizona NRA and pro gun stickers are commonplace on vehicles. In Massachusetts or Illinois, not so much so. Too many liberals in any given area can, and will screw up anything.
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I don't have anything on my car, but then I grew up with a Dad who made the car dealership put a heat lamp on their sticker and remove it from the car my Dad was buying. He had it in the purchase contract that they would not apply the sticker. And then he made them knock the price down because the mechanic chipped the paint doing it! ;D
I did have an NRA sticker on my S-10 once upon a time back in the uber-liberal town of Evanston, IL. Mine was a political statement (Evanston hated guns, you see), as was the asshole coward's actions who defaced it in the HS parking lot one night while I was in dog training class.
I do try to be gray when I am out an about - the Oldsmobile I drive helps reinforce that!!! The F-350? Not so much. ;D
I've always done that with new vehicles myself....(unless they wanted to pay the $1000 advertising fee I asked for....no takers ? ). ;D
As to the OP, I wear gun-related caps a lot of the time, particularly Browning logo caps, as they are a popular trend in the area (as are the logo stickers on vehicles) and I own several Browning firearms. I used to wear a shooting jacket with multiple patches from manufacturers and shooting awards on it when going to the range....but it doesn't fit any longer and I haven't transferred the patches.
I do have my NRA Life Member sticker on my rear truck window and the aforementioned 'obligatory-to-south-Georgia' Browning sticker, along with K&N filter and Hypertech Engineering stickers. All-in-all, pretty bland and very common in my area for most trucks.
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I don't have anything on my car, but then I grew up with a Dad who made the car dealership put a heat lamp on their sticker and remove it from the car my Dad was buying.
I bought a new Ford in April. When I got home I pealed the dealer sticker off the rear boot and blacked out the dealers name with a sharpie on the plate frames.
I took the car in a week later for some services they'd given me on the deal and low an behold they'd re-applied the decal and replaced the plate frames which I promptly removed again! I refuse to advertise for dealers.
And, how silly would it look for a good Irish boy to have "Valenti" on the back end of his car? It ain't no f*@king Fiat or Ferrari anyway...
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Hi;
Since I have seen some mention on car dealer sticker/plates on vehicles, I have noticed that if you see a dealer sticker from a so-called upscale dealership, the drivers tend to be more aggressive and/or road hog-ish. I guess people think that if they go to a dealership for self important people, they have the right to have right of way demands.
Since I drive for a living, I see no reason why a car from an upscale dealer will not go crunch any differently from that of lesser known dealership. So why the snobishness ?
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Take drive in North Scottsdale sometime. Other people on this planet besides them are just a rumor....
The only stickers on my truck are an IAFF logo and a 100 Club (police/fire org.) sticker.
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Take drive in North Scottsdale sometime. Other people on this planet besides them are just a rumor....
The only stickers on my truck are an IAFF logo and a 100 Club (police/fire org.) sticker.
Hey Brother!
IAFF 1309 here, I had to say hey to another brother F/F ;D. As for the FOP, most of the cops around here (Colo.) pay no attention to that sticker as most people display them in hopes they won't get a ticket, it doesn't work.
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Hey Brother!
IAFF 1309 here, I had to say hey to another brother F/F ;D. As for the FOP, most of the cops around here (Colo.) pay no attention to that sticker as most people that them in hopes they won't get a ticket, it doesn't work.
That's why I show Veterans plates, I had to prove I was a Vet, not just make a donation.
The donation was 50 bucks to the damn DMV for the plates. Most are free but since I don't have any valor medals, mine are fifty bucks more.
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That's why I show Veterans plates, I had to prove I was a Vet, not just make a donation.
The donation was 50 bucks to the damn DMV for the plates. Most are free but since I don't have any valor medals, mine are fifty bucks more.
Thanks for your service to our Nation!
Stay safe & watch your back - Frosty
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Thanks for your service to our Nation!
Stay safe & watch your back - Frosty
My pleasure, thanks!
Wish I had stayed....I'd have retired in 2005 with a big fat E-9 pension, maybe more! A buddy went in as an E-1 and retired 34 years later as a full bird Captain! (Colonel in the Army). Somehow he morphed into a progressive liberal but it makes for some interesting emails!
;)
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I don't put an NRA sticker on my truck, simply because I don't want somebody breaking in looking for a gun. I also elected to use the handicap parking permit mirror tag (BTW, those are only supposed to be displayed when you're actually parked in a handicap space) instead of getting handicap permit license plates, simply because I don't want plates that scream, "Victim Here!!"
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I don't put an NRA sticker on my truck, simply because I don't want somebody breaking in looking for a gun. I also elected to use the handicap parking permit mirror tag (BTW, those are only supposed to be displayed when you're actually parked in a handicap space) instead of getting handicap permit license plates, simply because I don't want plates that scream, "Victim Here!!"
People will break in for the Handicap tag.
It's happened a couple times around here.
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Hey Brother!
IAFF 1309 here, I had to say hey to another brother F/F ;D.
Right back at ya, Frosty!
Local 493 - City of Phx - was what I retired from in May of 2010. They actually pay me to go out and shoot now! ;D
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I have one sticker in my back window. It's a company logo (Black Diamond Equipment) that I have a ton of gear from. (They are probably THE biggest manufacturer of climbing equipment) Very small, maybe 1.5" X 4" I refuse to put anything political on my vehicle since that just makes you a target.
On a side note, I did see a really cool and tasteful one. Just small lettering on the back window of a car in front of me that read "TEA Party on Dude."
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I have one sticker in my back window. It's a company logo (Black Diamond Equipment) that I have a ton of gear from. (They are probably THE biggest manufacturer of climbing equipment) Very small, maybe 1.5" X 4" I refuse to put anything political on my vehicle since that just makes you a target.
On a side note, I did see a really cool and tasteful one. Just small lettering on the back window of a car in front of me that read "TEA Party on Dude."
Indeed, the political stuff makes you a target.
Funny story. When I was in college I was very active in the pro-choice movement. I had two pro-choice stickers on my truck. One was a simple no coat hangers one, the other read "I'm pro-choice and I shoot back" (a response tothe clinic bombings that were going on in the '90s). Anyway, I was living in a really sweet Victorian house, who's owner's paid the mortgage by taking on a few room mates. One was a retired Army sergeant who was the least political guy I've ever met. He asked to borrow my truck to go the grocery store. I gave him the keys. He came back to find himself parked in. He went to every store in the five store strip mall and asked that they announce that the owner of the car come and move it. He waited. Fifteen minutes later, this woman (think the Church Lady from SNL) said that it was her car that had blocked him in and that she'd only move her car when he took the baby killing stickers off "his" truck. ::)
He tried to explain that he'd just borrowed it, and only wanted to go home. Her response? "I see you've been to the liquor store. One sin begets another". He walked away and called the cops. When they arrived, she'd just finished ripping one sticker off and dropped it on the ground. She got ticked for littering and her car was towed. ;D
Even at 21, I learned that sometimes its just not worth it. I'm supporting a cause, not looking to pick a fight. I have been sticker free since then. I only wear the colors when I want to make a point. Then I wear them proudly (NRA, pro-choice, anti-drug war etc.). When I just want to go to the store? I leave that stuff at home. YMMV.
FQ13
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Living in NJ I have been advised NOT to display my NRA stickers because they are a magnet for cops hoping to catch people voilating some small part of our convoluted and repressive gun regulations. I have spoken to a number of LE that are glad to see that we are willing to put up with so much crap to be responsible gun owners, so I really don't know what to believe.
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Living in NJ I have been advised NOT to display my NRA stickers because they are a magnet for cops hoping to catch people voilating some small part of our convoluted and repressive gun regulations. I have spoken to a number of LE that are glad to see that we are willing to put up with so much crap to be responsible gun owners, so I really don't know what to believe.
My take is this. Will a bumper sticker change someones mind? Probably not. Still, it might make you feel better, and that's reason enough to put it on. But if it invites unnecessary hassles and/or invites someone to break into your car its not worth it. YMMV.
FQ13 who has been sticker free since '92 ;)
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One thing I notice around here, the cars with the most bumper stickers are either flaming liberals, or else the vehicle is an overloaded sh!tbox wagon with less intelligent fat people with several dirty screaming undisciplined children.
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One thing I notice around here, the cars with the most bumper stickers are either flaming liberals, or else the vehicle is an overloaded sh!tbox wagon with less intelligent fat people with several dirty screaming undisciplined children.
Sometimes when I see an overpriced Mercedes or BMW or whatever with a "Hope and Change" bumper sticker, I want to paste it with a few NRA stickers I have leftover from my renewals.
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You know the ones I mean ?
The 6 "This car climbed mount Washington" and 4 "Santa's Village " stickers are covering a rust hole and the bumper fell off years ago.
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You know the ones I mean ?
The 6 "This car climbed mount Washington" and 4 "Santa's Village " stickers are covering a rust hole and the bumper fell off years ago.
Y'all have those too? ;D ;D ;D
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You know the ones I mean ?
The 6 "This car climbed mount Washington" and 4 "Santa's Village " stickers are covering a rust hole and the bumper fell off years ago.
Climbing Mt. Washington isn't the hard part. Coming down with a rusted old pile with no brakes can be problematic!
I've never bothered, I can appreciate the mountain from a distance. Almost skied Tuckermans once though...I always considered myself to be an advanced/expert skier but that's just f*@king nuts!
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The ultimate sticker, though, is SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
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The ultimate sticker, though, is SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
Been there, and not to be missed. If they'd put in a Krispy Kreme, a gun shop, and a Pep Boys across the street it would be the redneck Mecca. ;D
FQ13
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Climbing Mt. Washington isn't the hard part. Coming down with a rusted old pile with no brakes can be problematic!
I've never bothered, I can appreciate the mountain from a distance. Almost skied Tuckermans once though...I always considered myself to be an advanced/expert skier but that's just f*@king nuts!
They used to charge $25 toll on the Mount Washington Auto Road, I refused to pay that much to go up and freeze my ass off. (It's probably more now )
The ultimate sticker, though, is SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
That's usually what is right under the "Mount Washington" sticker.
If it's a real sh!t box it will have "Red Power" and "Official Indian Car" as well.
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They used to charge $25 toll on the Mount Washington Auto Road, I refused to pay that much to go up and freeze my ass off. (It's probably more now )
This is why you Yankees are idiots. If a Southern boy were running the joint it would be free to drive up, $50 to drive down. Pay as you exit. ;D
FQ13
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On the vehicles I have chosen to take the low key approach. Not that I fear break ins or reprisals, but I tend to see so many stickered up vehicles that are driven by idiots.
On clothing I go with the minimal logo approach. Shooting logos will take away the element of surprise and negate the advantage of carrying weapons; fancy electronics and photo logos make you a potential target; and stores charge me too much for the clothing to get me to advertise for them.
While we are on the subject: There are people that say a fanny pack or carry vest screams "GUN!", so they put photo equipment patches on everything. My belief is that it is only us idiots here, the gun culture, that think gun - the average bad guy thinks queer or dork when they see a fanny pack or carry vest. All a logo patch does is say "I've got high priced electronics or something, and I might have it with me."
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the average bad guy thinks queer or dork when they see a fanny pack or carry vest.
And here I thought I'd put my high school days behind me. :o You mean a pair of relaxed fit dockers with an untucked Guayabera shirt isn't the height of fashion? Say it ain't so M58. ;D
FQ13
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And here I thought I'd put my high school days behind me. :o You mean a pair of relaxed fit dockers with an untucked Guayabera shirt isn't the height of fashion? Say it ain't so M58. ;D
FQ13
I ain't the fashion police, and I really don't care what you wear. Just don't mess with me unless you want another piercing ... Did you want that in .357 or .452?
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I ain't the fashion police, and I really don't care what you wear. Just don't mess with me unless you want another piercing ... Did you want that in .357 or .452?
Typical Republican, no sense of style OR finesse. Its .357 or 9mm. Its what all the cool kids are wearing. ;D
FQ13
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It's .45acp, and it will give you a new a$$hole!
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Typical Republican, no sense of style OR finesse. Its .357 or 9mm. Its what all the cool kids are wearing. ;D
FQ13
Most of the cool kids I went to school with are wearing handcuffs.
Or badges.
Or both ;D
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It's .45acp, and it will give you two new a$$holes!
FIFY - one one each side! ;)
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Typical Republican, no sense of style OR finesse. Its .357 or 9mm. Its what all the cool kids are wearing. ;D
FQ13
I thought they were wearing gages (12 or 20?), pants around the bottom of their bottom, pumped up kicks and their hats on sideways? ???
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One thing I notice around here, the cars with the most bumper stickers are either flaming liberals, or else the vehicle is an overloaded sh!tbox wagon with less intelligent fat people with several dirty screaming undisciplined children.
Good thing I'm not around there then Tom. Not fat, couple Bachelors, and no kids HAHAHAHA
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What I have on my pick up. one NRA, 5.11's 9/11 tribute sticker, 9/11 sticker, God Bless America, Fred (Thompson), Patriot Post, Gadsen Flag, Buffalo Skull, Mickleson Bike Trail Sticker from completing the 110 miles in two days. The Mickleson Trail Sticker probably distracts from the political ones it's just that big.
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What I have on my pick up. one NRA, 5.11's 9/11 tribute sticker, 9/11 sticker, God Bless America, Fred (Thompson), Patriot Post, Gadsen Flag, Buffalo Skull, Mickleson Bike Trail Sticker from completing the 110 miles in two days. The Mickleson Trail Sticker probably distracts from the political ones it's just that big.
I'd suggest that its just that more important as well. Any idiot can buy a bumper sticker. How many can do two back to back half centurys off road? I think its a much smaller number. Me, I'd keep the NRA and the bike stickers. It'll make liberal mountain bike folks wonder. ;)
FQ13
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I'd suggest that its just that more important as well. Any idiot can buy a bumper sticker. How many can do two back to back half centurys off road? I think its a much smaller number. Me, I'd keep the NRA and the bike stickers. It'll make liberal mountain bike folks wonder. ;)
FQ13
The weather is cold enough I'm wearing my 5.11 pants and ATACS. I had to stop at the local sporting goods store because my handle bars slipped and somehow my allen wrench wasn't in my pack. As I was leaving a goof ball looked at me. His jaw, I swear dropped to the floor I wanted to ask him, "What do you think all cyclists are of the nut and berry crowd?" I kinda noticed this summer I don't fit in the bike culture because I don't dress like I'm a Frenchman in the Tour de France. I have WAAAYYYY too much fun passing those guys with a 30 lb pack.
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American flag decal, and a LaRue "God bless our troops, especially our snipers" along with Trijicon decal on the car... I try to support the sponsors of the 3 gun sport, and typically wear a LaRue Tactical or SureFire hat ....Florida is a right to carry state, and I'm one of the original 5000 applicants
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It's .45acp, and it will give you a new a$$hole!
because shooting twice is just silly. ;D
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Neither good or bad. Just is. I have had folks ask me about my USSA shirt and my Ruger jacket and the Molan Labe pin on my hat. Don't care if I "offended" anyone else.
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Neither good or bad. Just is. I have had folks ask me about my USSA shirt and my Ruger jacket and the Molan Labe pin on my hat. Don't care if I "offended" anyone else.
Well, cats ARE pretty indifferent. ;D