Decals and logo wear - good or bad?

[JLawson]

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?

[Dakotaranger]

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.

[ronlarimer]

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.

[dipisc]

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.

[tombogan03884]

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.

[Sponsor]

[Frosty]

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

[Magoo541]

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. 

[twyacht]

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.

[Timothy]

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.

[Solus]

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.