Does it make you uncomfortable?

[Rosereader]

Thanks guys. It's something for me to think about-
Most of the time I'm around firearms I'm with fellow fanatics, so the "it's part of the uniform" bit just doesn't always click. I mean, it's not news but it's not something I think about when I see you on break.

And as for Lorax3 thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to broach the subject in a better manner in the future (assuming I find myself asking again in the future of course). I do try to be friendly but I have a problem with either being too ambiguous and standoffish or far too direct. I like people just fine it's just rare I communicate with them correctly

[Just-in]

I was in a store and a kid was acting up. His mother looked at us and told the kid to behave or we would take him to jail. I looked at the kid and said we're not police, see, no guns. We're the paramedics. The lady didn't miss a beat telling the kid we would give him a shot. I'd never heard that one before.

My aunt used to threaten her kids with that. They are demons... Anyone remember the Bernie Mac skit about his sisters kids?

Being a gun guy sometimes I glance at what different officers carry but never thought to ask. I always figured it was best to MYOB.

[yzErnie]

I never minded because we issue Glocks and I carried a Sig so I had an obviously different look in the holster.

[deadcoyote]

I have had better results asking LEOs in a more specific manner like, "Does your department allow you to carry something besides your Glock 23?". In contrast to, "Hey, what kind of gun do you carry?".

The former lets them know you're a firearms person and not just a random guy asking about their gun.

This is pretty spot on. If some guy comes up and asks why don't you use a desert eagle, that's what i'd carry, I immediately want to distance myself from the mouth breather as soon as possible. If a guy comes up and says "who did your grip reduction, Robar or Cold bore?" I pretty much assume he's a normal human with a good working knowledge of guns.

[ak_in_ca]

I was surprised entering LE how few cops were "gun guys" unfortunately the majority of cops you ask probably don't even know a whole lot about their own weapon. I never mind when someone asks questions of what we have and what we do with it, I always think back to when I was a kid seeing a cop and all the cool stuff and its nice to be in that position now to give something back so I'm generally cool with all questions as long as it doesn't involve personal life and the questions aren't while Im tied up on a call or eating (I really don't like that one) Other than that ask away.

[Petro6golf]

I was surprised entering LE how few cops were "gun guys" unfortunately the majority of cops you ask probably don't even know a whole lot about their own weapon. I never mind when someone asks questions of what we have and what we do with it, I always think back to when I was a kid seeing a cop and all the cool stuff and its nice to be in that position now to give something back so I'm generally cool with all questions as long as it doesn't involve personal life and the questions aren't while Im tied up on a call or eating (I really don't like that one) Other than that ask away.

Diddo. Im more than happy to explain the job, answer a random theoretical legal question, show someone my gear or answer a gun question. Just dont come up to me while im obviously on a call with my pen and paper out engaged in my work and ask me to sign your ticket, give you directions somewhere or any other random question.

[Wee Gussie]

I hate when you're sitting down at chow and a dips**t Dad comes up and says "Now Billy be good cause this man will arrest you". Then you wonder why kids are scared of the cops and you got to talk them down when you show up on a barking dog call or some accidental 911.

I'm a gun guy. I'll talk guns all day with the public.

OMG.

I used the opposite with my oldest son. Since he was very young, he has always wanted to be a policeman. We were in a local eatery and he was misbehaving (in the extreme I might add) and I motioned to some Sheriff's Deputies eating at a table and told him, "If you don't behave, they won't let you be a policeman. They don't take citizens like that on the Force." And I had not had problem one with him in public since.

And next year he will finally be old enough to participate in our local city's Police Youth Academy.

My views may be old and antiquated, but Law Enforcement is something that should be held to a higher regard and respected as such.

[LocalsOnly]

I was surprised entering LE how few cops were "gun guys" unfortunately the majority of cops you ask probably don't even know a whole lot about their own weapon.

This. When I brought in my Kimber Warrior to qualify to carry it off duty (be covered by policy) my Sgt looked at it and said, "That's not some Saturday Night Special right?"

I respectfully told him no and he said, "I don't get the big deal about owning different guns. We have our two issued firearms, what else do you need."

I get not being a "gun guy" but I have an issue with LE that look at range day as a pain in the *** and LE that don't carry a back up.

[SDDAVE56]

It never bothered me. It sure beats "I didn't do it".

[1CavScout]

^^^ That's the worst one. Everyone thinks they are a comedian...

[18sam2011]

Or points to their friend "he did it!"

Oh boy you're so funny, I've never heard that one before.

[micro911]

I have never had an issue with it. I don't mind talking about guns.. As long as you don't try to touch it.

[Tallship]

I get asked all the time and I usually don't mind as long as the dude doesn't look like a hoodlum gang banger.

I get asked a lot, even by other Deputies/officers I work with. I guess I bring it upon myself for carrying a sig p226 tac ops with hogue g10 grey/black magwell grips. It definately stands out.

Getting upset about being asked about carrying a gun is like the girl who gets the DD implants and then *****es at you for looking at her chest.

[JM2012]

Doesn't bother me. Like most cops on here, I'll talk guns all day. If it's another shooter, great. If not, it's a great chance to educate someone.

[SkyStorm82]

I'd have no problems talking with a fellow gun guy, but not every cop is into guns.

If you were to come up and start asking about whats under the hood of my radio car, then the conversation is going to be very short since I'm not a car guy.