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gsh341
Regular Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 06:16 am |
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OK, this was really odd.
Today I was going about my business and OCing as usual and was asked two separate times if I was a cop.
The first time I had stopped in a C-store to buy a Diet Dew and some gum before going to work. One of the clerks asked "Who are you hunting today?" The other clerk didn't understand why he asked me that so he pointed out my holstered gun. Then he asked. "Are you a cop?"
"No."
"A detective?"
"No."
"A sheriff's deputy?"
"Nope."
I then proceeded to explain South Dakota gun laws and the process for obtaining a Concealed Pistol Permit and that you don't need one to OC, but you need one to carry in your car. They asked many questions and the manager listened and backed up everything I told them. They had several misconceptions and were a little freaked out about it at first, but were very interested and seemed better about it by the time I left.
The second was in Hy-Vee grocery. This kid about 18-20 yrs old was looking at me funny and kept moving away from me. His mother approached me and asked the same series of questions. Her last question was "why do you have a gun if you're not a cop?" My answer was "I'm just exercising my Second Amendment rights." That's when she told me her son was autistic and she was just going to tell him I was a cop because it was easier.  I told her that was fine and moved on with my shopping.
Both were positive experiences and I'm actually glad they both happened because I got to help educate some people about guns and gun laws.
But tell me, do I really look like a cop?
I'm just curious because people have opened doors for me and said stuff like "After you, officer."
Last edited on Sat Jun 30th, 2007 06:16 am by gsh341
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SemperGumby
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Feb 7th, 2007 |
| Location: | Montpelier, VT |
| Posts: | 52 |
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Offline
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 01:34 pm |
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Yeah, just a little bit. Maybe not the crossdraw but most laymen wouldn't know that that is an unusual carry location for a cop. You're pretty stocky and the shaved head and clean cut look usually means "cop" or "military". Almost all plainclothes cops that aren't wearing a suit that I've seen, dress like you in that photo.
I get my hair cut to a high and tight once a month for my Marine Corps Reserve drills and I dress a lot like that, I bet if I OCed around town people would have the same reaction.
Edit: I think that's why it's important to dress and carry yourself well when representing anything you want to be taken seriously. That's why the military and police depts. have dress codes even when out of uniform. Your experiences are a prime example.Last edited on Sat Jun 30th, 2007 01:38 pm by SemperGumby
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Tomahawk
Regular Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 03:31 pm |
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I got mistaken for a cop once; probably more than once, but only one time that I was asked about it.
I have short hair and all that, and there was a police cruiser parked outside the burger joint. The guy behind the counter gave me a discount, and when I told him he was shorting his register, he said he thought I was a cop. I told him I was not, but he didn't want to unring the sale and let me keep the discount.
I do not like being mistaken for a policeman. There are two problems with it: First, I don't want someone to assume that I have the authority to help them if something should happen, because I don't. Second, I don't want to keep reinforcing the notion that only cops can carry guns.
Unfortunately, the Marine Corps brainwashed me into hating the feeling of hair touching my earlobes, so the haircut's not gonna change. Besides, the older I get, the stupider I look with 1980's high school hair. I also don't like facial hair, not for more than a few days, anyway. And I also don't like to get too far out of shape. Add to that my conservative dressing habits for work and jeans w/belt and t-shirt for play and it's hard to avoid the stereotype.
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Shotgun
Wisconsin Carry, Inc.
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 07:15 pm |
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If you've ever visited New York City, you'll come away believing that anyone can look like a cop. There, some of the cops look like the guys that the cops here are arresting.
Seriously, I just finished a week in South Dakota. The people were the friendliest I think I've ever encountered as a whole. I carried (mostly lightly concealed, sometimes OCing) the entire time I was there, never much of a glance from anyone.
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cato
Regular Member
| Joined: | Sun Oct 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 1933 |
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Offline
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 09:42 pm |
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gsh341 wrote:
But tell me, do I really look like a cop?
I'm just curious because people have opened doors for me and said stuff like "After you, officer."
You ever watch "The Shield"?
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cs9c1
Regular Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 10:11 pm |
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cato wrote: You ever watch "The Shield"?
I was thinking the same thing. LOL.
I have been asked several times.
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blk
Regular Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 30th, 2007 10:15 pm |
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Sorry, man, but you really look like a lot of the po po in Memphis. Shaved head, big gun...you could probably get a job with Memphis' finest just on looks alone.
I get the "Sir" thing alot too but I think that it is because I look like a crazy, angry, white man and nobody wants to tick me off. Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am a nice, gentle, kind person who happens to OC with a big .45.
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ConditionThree
Activist Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 12:39 am |
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Yeah, I agree with previous comments. The photo depicts a certain 'coppishness'. The dark polo, the khakis, the shades- all kinda say po-po.
Im not sure that there's a way to not get that first impression while adhering to certain wardrobe standards. I'm certain that a screen print t-shirt would help dispell the notion that you were 'on the job', but you would still need to be careful with the message the shirt had. Can you imagine- walking into pay for gas with your holstered sidearm and a "Git-R-Done" or "I'm with Stupid' t-shirt?
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cs9c1
Regular Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 12:49 am |
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ConditionThree wrote: Can you imagine- walking into pay for gas with your holstered sidearm and a "Git-R-Done" or "I'm with Stupid' t-shirt?
HA HA HA !!!!!
That is funny and some what tempting.
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danbus
Regular Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 02:00 am |
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ConditionThree wrote: ... Can you imagine- walking into pay for gas with your holstered sidearm and a "Git-R-Done" or "I'm with Stupid' t-shirt?
Been there done that.
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TrueBrit
Regular Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 02:45 am |
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Why not try wearing Tattersall check shirts , fawn cavalry twill trousers or tan Wranglers,polished ropers or jodphur boots topped off with a civilised haircut and an Aussie stockman's hat ?
I guarantee that you will never be mistaken for a cop!
I understand that a more casual dress code prevails here in the USA, but why look like clones? Discard the boring old blue polos and khakis once in a while, maybe?
I mean all of you good gentlemen no offence here, and you should dress as you see fit, but a little style and individualism will, I feel,prevent you from being mistaken for a LEO.
2 cents worth from Little Lord Fauntleroy!
TrueBrit.
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Tomahawk
Regular Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 03:45 am |
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TrueBrit wrote: Why not try wearing Tattersall check shirts , fawn cavalry twill trousers or tan Wranglers,polished ropers or jodphur boots topped off with a civilised haircut and an Aussie stockman's hat ?
I guarantee that you will never be mistaken for a cop!
I understand that a more casual dress code prevails here in the USA, but why look like clones? Discard the boring old blue polos and khakis once in a while, maybe?
I mean all of you good gentlemen no offence here, and you should dress as you see fit, but a little style and individualism will, I feel,prevent you from being mistaken for a LEO.
2 cents worth from Little Lord Fauntleroy!
TrueBrit.
Ha! Yeah, last weekend at the Burke Lake lovefest I was wearing a cowboy-type hat while carrying, and sure enough, the two park employee clowns who saw did not mistake me for a cop. So they called the cops, instead.
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gsh341
Regular Member
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 06:20 am |
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Thanks for the replies.
I wear what I wear because I carry at work and I need to look professional, confident and business-like. I also feel that wearing such clothes while OCing will help prevent misunderstandings by police and business owners and help put them at ease and let any bad guys know I won't be intimidated.
Think of it as a technician's power suit.
I guess I'll just have to get used to the questions and use them as an opening for gun rights education.
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cato
Regular Member
| Joined: | Sun Oct 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 1933 |
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Offline
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Posted: Sun Jul 1st, 2007 10:34 am |
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gsh341 wrote: Thanks for the replies.
I wear what I wear because I carry at work and I need to look professional, confident and business-like. I also feel that wearing such clothes while OCing will help prevent misunderstandings by police and business owners and help put them at ease and let any bad guys know I won't be intimidated.
Think of it as a technician's power suit.
I guess I'll just have to get used to the questions and use them as an opening for gun rights education.
Try walking around in black face wearing one of danbus' hats and let us know what happens.
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TrueBrit
Regular Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 2nd, 2007 01:04 am |
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Tomahawk wrote: TrueBrit wrote: Why not try wearing Tattersall check shirts , fawn cavalry twill trousers or tan Wranglers,polished ropers or jodphur boots topped off with a civilised haircut and an Aussie stockman's hat ?
I guarantee that you will never be mistaken for a cop!
I understand that a more casual dress code prevails here in the USA, but why look like clones? Discard the boring old blue polos and khakis once in a while, maybe?
I mean all of you good gentlemen no offence here, and you should dress as you see fit, but a little style and individualism will, I feel,prevent you from being mistaken for a LEO.
2 cents worth from Little Lord Fauntleroy!
TrueBrit.
Ha! Yeah, last weekend at the Burke Lake lovefest I was wearing a cowboy-type hat while carrying, and sure enough, the two park employee clowns who saw did not mistake me for a cop. So they called the cops, instead.
It distresses me that you had the cops called,I don't suppose you had on the "I support black men with guns" shirt ?
My next move is to get a "Grouchy old fart with a gun" hat, since the Aussie cattleman's hat will probably have folks mistaking me for a bushranger. Ned Kelly or something similar. But good to see that you look Western sometimes, it beats the preppy look hands down!
TrueBrit.
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