What would you have done?

[wildhawker]

I'd smile and say, "I could tell, but then I'd have to kill you."

Tell him you'd like a freight elevator installed so it will be easier to get the pallets of ammo into your place.

I would invite him over, tell him you've got a surprise for him. Stand real close to him and touch him softly too.

[Ladyfox]

He looked at the hardcase, then asked me, "I hope that's not a firearm, is it?"

My answer to that would have to be:

Why?...

This would pretty much be my response as well. If the person persisted I would state it really is none of their concern and stop answering questions after said point.

I'm not going to lie to anyone but I'm also not going to share my affairs with them either regardless of whom they are without legal counsel present.

[Experimentalist]

At that, he looked agog at me and after a brief moment of silence, he said, with a look of worried disdain, "... is there something we should know about?", in a tone that implied I was somehow mentally unstable.

I honestly don't know what I would've said at that point. I tend to fly below the radar so I probably would've simply smiled politely and said "Nope".

But I would've liked to have said "Yeah. You're an idiot".

Maybe once I'm older and more cantankerous. Something to look forward to, I suppose.

[Experimentalist]

Actually, this reminds me of when I had an appointment with my Insurer, and wanted to hit the range afterwards. I had my Remington 700 in a hard case but didn't want to leave it in the car, so I brought it up with me.

The agent gave it a moderately long look when I first showed up at his cubicle, then we did our business. At the end he asked me what's in the case. I replied "Valuable personal property that I didn't want to leave in the car". He replied it was probably a wise decision.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I wouldn't stoop to lying. There's no need to lie about your lawful business... and no need to explain yourself to a prying homeowners' association officer, either.

My response to the initial question would be, "Are you inquiring on behalf of the homeowners' association, or out of personal curiosity?"

No matter what the answer is, my reply would be, "You don't have any right to know what's in this case. Have a nice day!"

BTW, for the record, I hate homeowners' associations. Case after case in court, and each time the homeowners' association reps were idiots.

[Spearo]

I would have screamed RAPE!

[tankerman]

Why not try the direct approach?....and respond with "It's none of your f---in business".

It's a telescope!!!!

My condo's HOA is very unfriendly to firearms, every time I get asked by someone in the building I always answer telescope. They are a bunch of nit-picking douches but they have the power to take my home away (or at least make life much more difficult). It's not exactly untrue, and no one asks more questions cause telescopes are boring =) So far no one has asked why it says "Daniel Defense" on the side either.

[DeanW66]

3) Run for HOA president next year and turn this condo complex into the first pro-gun haven in LA, complete with wild boar cookouts, ammo swap nights and sponsored range shoots.

That is the best idea in the whole thread! "You Can Do It"

[nagorb]

When I think of HOAs I always remember the x-files episode where they had some monster to make everyone follow their rules.

[Fate]

Why not try the direct approach?....and respond with "It's none of your f---in business".

That's what I would say, but I'm getting old and cranky.

Another option to the "Is there something WE should know about?" question...

"Yeah, should the big one hit and anarchy rules the streets....You, my friend, are on your own."

[SJgunguy24]

This is kinda funny

I worked the calguns booth at the gun show in San Jose this weekend. I don't drive so I get around by means of a Mt. bike.
I had a Saiga conversion with me for the show.On Saturday morning I rode my bike with it strapped (cased) to my backpack about 6 miles. I had some lady who was about to make a hard right turn, look over and jumped on the brakes and let me go. I don't know why it took a rifle to keep her from trying to kill me but hey, it works.

So after two days of the gunshow I gotta go home. Well I needed to swing by the store.
I lock up my bike and walk into Lucky's, with the cased rifle strapped to my pack.

Nobody said a word to me about my case. Not a question at all. I did get a few looks while waiting in line but it was very cool.

If I was asked I wouldn't lie about it. I think I would pose a question of my own.
What would scare you more, Me walking while carrying a cased rifle? Or a couple of Gang Banger types walking around like they have nothing to fear?

I know one guy has a rifle and is most likely a responsible person. The other, what is with the attitude and what the hell do they have that gives them the confidence?

[rabagley]

I'm on the board of my HOA, I have no idea if anyone else in the complex has a gun, and I'm not going to ask.

To be honest, however, there are two completely loose nuts who own condo's in the complex (the HOA board is considering getting restraining orders against them) and I'd be apprehensive if it turned out they owned guns.

Come to mind, because these two hate me with a deep and abiding passion (apparently for supporting everyone else in the complex when the vote went against them and their fruit-bar demands), if they found out that I own guns, they would probably begin a new campaign of provocation to attempt to get a TRO against me, which would suck.

I gotta get out of this state.

[GoodEyeSniper]

"Is this a firearm? Of course not, it's just a black case! Haven't you ever seen an action movie?"

[gewgaw]

I'm on the board of my HOA, I have no idea if anyone else in the complex has a gun, and I'm not going to ask.

To be honest, however, there are two completely loose nuts who own condo's in the complex (the HOA board is considering getting restraining orders against them) and I'd be apprehensive if it turned out they owned guns.

Come to mind, because these two hate me with a deep and abiding passion (apparently for supporting everyone else in the complex when the vote went against them and their fruit-bar demands), if they found out that I own guns, they would probably begin a new campaign of provocation to attempt to get a TRO against me, which would suck.

I gotta get out of this state.

Man, I am sorry about your situation. I gotta say, at least in my complex, the main problem is nosy neighbors. I don't know what I'd do if I had CRAZY, belligerent neighbors.

I think I'd almost rather lie to the crazy neighbors about the gun in my case, and call it a keyboard. At least the nosy ones wouldn't try to break into my place to steal my guns.

[Adonlude]

Tell the truth. I am very nonchalant about my firearm ownership with most people that don't appear criminal. I may be increasing my chances of getting robbed but if we want firearms to become more accepted by the masses we can't go around hiding them like they are our secret evil addiction.