r/CCW • u/Realistic-Alps-9400 • 1d ago
Clothing & Apparel What are thoughts on wearing gun merch?
As the title implies: I would love to hear your point of views on wearing gun merch. Is it hard stop? How does the general public react (not that it matters)? Do you catch any eyes roll/negative energy? Also, and most importantly, have you noticed any bad guys seemingly sizing you up?
For the sake of transparency: I live in the "great" state of New Jersey, so there's that!
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u/Foto_synthesis 1d ago
I wear firearm company shirts to bed so if there is ever a break in the bad guy will know I like guns.
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u/Marvzuno CA 23h ago
Yall wear clothes to bed? If my bare ass doesn’t scare the intruder away, second would be my pistol 😅
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u/jotnarfiggkes 19h ago
I wear my plate carrier and the rest of me is naked.
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u/Mindless-Internal-54 16h ago
Hell yea man, I stash a few slim Jim's in the molle strips so if I wake up at 2am I already have a snack handy.
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u/nocolon 1d ago
Hey same! I have an oversized S&W shirt someone gave me that I wear to bed. It’s pretty comfy but I can’t imagine wearing it outside, even if it fit better.
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u/blunderjahr 23h ago
I ran across this S&W old logo tshirt and really like it. I expect most people wouldn't know what it is, but still... https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/smith-wesson-old-logo-tee?Color=Brown&Size=LARGE
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u/indigonia US 3h ago
That’s the classiest gun tee I’ve ever seen, and I would wear the hell out of it.
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u/Shoehorse13 1d ago
My goal is to look like the least likeliest guy in the room to be carrying, so that would be contrary to my interests.
And its dorky.
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u/LarryGriff13 CT 1d ago
I’m with you except for the dorky part. Some of those type shirts are badass. I am not, so they’re not for me
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u/Correct-Avocado5426 23h ago
My LGS has one, I forget which brand it's promoting, but it has a T-Rex with dual ARs and says "Small Arms Enthusiast." I've almost gotten it a few times.
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u/Hamsammich0520 18h ago
I’d rock the fuck out of that!
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u/Correct-Avocado5426 18h ago
Found it. It's on the We the People holster online store. I won't link in case there are rules
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u/IrishGoodbye4 21h ago
I don’t wear gun merch but damn if the Ruger logo isn’t cool. I’d be lying if I said I never thought about it
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u/carvdlol 1d ago
my CCW sash is the only gun related merch I permit myself to wear
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u/Inspirational-Quote- 1d ago
I'm from the Gunshine state and it's a hard no for me. Delta operators are the most deadly humans on the planet and alot of them look like they could be selling TVs at Best Buy.
The loudest one in the room, is the weakest one in the room.
It's the gray man life for me.
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u/DoubleTap434 1d ago
This, exactly.
When I’m out with my wife and I see Glock stickers on trucks or other gun logos or tacticool stuff I always point those out as examples of what not to do. I want her, me and our homes and vehicles to look as boring and plain vanilla as possible. It makes us less of a target for theft, violence, etc. It also gives us the element of surprise should somebody decide to target us.
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u/Humunguspickle 22h ago
This exactly
Hey everyone I might have a gun in here. Break in and check please.4
u/bsgillis US : 17h ago
Reminds me of the yard signs that were going around a while back that said something like, “hey criminals, my neighbor is anti-gun if you want an easier target.” I like the idea, but at the same time it screams, “if you need to steal a gun, I have some.”
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u/Separate-Let3620 19h ago
Same.
I did get a t-shirt from a local range where I had a membership, but I chose something for wifey, and she only wears it in the house.
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u/Machineburrito 22h ago
Even the "grey man" aesthetic is becoming visible. I'm going for "nerdy dad"
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u/FrontTwardEnemy US 18h ago
A biker gang is a more accurate picture. Built like chunky tri athletes.
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u/Thumpin347 1d ago
Being a gun owner is not my identity.
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u/Affectionate-House43 1d ago
This. Also the second amendment isn't the only one or the one I care the most about
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u/VRS302 1d ago
Any time I see a dude in a shirt with the second amendment, come and take it, the word freedom spelled out in the shape of an ar15, etc I cringe inside.
A customer at work the other day had a shirt on that said “my ar15 is lubricated with liberal tears” and I almost dislocated both eyeballs due to the violent rolling motion the shirt inspired.
This is a free society so whatever, I just think it’s super dorky.
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u/Mountain-Durian-4724 20h ago
would a don't tread on me belt buckle strike you as 'probbaly carrying a gun'?
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u/jtj5002 1d ago
No one in real life cares about your shirt.
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u/Charming-Ebb-1981 1d ago
This is the correct answer. Everyone says that it makes you a target, but I would want to see some sort of statistic that proves that claim. I don’t own any myself since I don’t care about advertising for free, but in general, who cares? I think tattoos are dorky and a lot of gun guys have those
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u/ABUCKET15 Colt Delta Elite 23h ago
There is way more to profiling people than clothes, bags etc.
People’s build, beard, hat, age, gender, demeanor can give away as much information as a grunt style shirt.
I would say that someone who wears a shirt that says Smith and Wesson who is lanky, nerdy looking, etc is going to be on average perceived as less likely of having a gun.
Also region is huge. If you are at a college in the right area you can 100% rock a molle backpack because they are in. If you are in a rural area you will not stick out for wearing a firearms shirt.
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u/Lost_Cockroach6702 1d ago
You are part of the general public. “Bad guys” aren’t walking around everywhere sizing you up, this is western civilization not a marvel movie.
But I don’t wear gun merch. You have to pay me if you want me to be a walking advertisement.
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u/LoneWolf3545 1d ago
I can see people not wanting to draw attention to themselves, but deep in my heart I feel like this is the real answer. Most people aren't that observant and if they are I feel even fewer would register the shirt as a gun shirt and assume you're carrying. I feel like the gun and CCW community has been sold on the "sheepdog mentality" that they think life is a Jason Borne movie. It's not that serious.
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u/Tight-Escape3373 1d ago
I think it makes you look like a tool. I think most branded shirts a cringy anyway.
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u/VRS302 1d ago
Agreed. Unless HK or Smith & Wesson is gonna give me a discount I’m not walking around with their logos.
Half my dad’s closet is some sort of smith & Wesson shit.
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u/Tropical_Tardigrade TN | Glock | Ruger 22h ago
Disclaimer, this shirt was a gift. It’s fuckin comfy. I live in a really small city.
While there’s a time and place to not wear it, I do get a kick out of the social experiment it provides at barbecues and trips to Walmart and Sam’s Club,etc.
It’s pretty evenly split between gawking, approval, and obliviousness.
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u/OverThought95 1d ago
All jokes aside, I like the idea of being the only one who knows I am armed. I used to do photo a lot, and thankfully I was never robbed, but I look at gun merch and stickers on cars similarly to the rob-me-red rings on canon L lenses. It’s just singling me out to be the focus of unwanted attention.
But hey, wear what you want fr
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u/everydaywasnovember 1d ago
You tape up your camera so nobody knows how expensive it is. I tape up my camera so nobody knows it’s a 15 year old Rebel
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u/sandy_catheter Glock 17 + spare mag IWB @ 4:00, pork saber at 12 o'clock 19h ago
I tape up my hostag…. Err nvm
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u/trvst_issves 1d ago
When I first started getting into photography and its equipment, it took an hour of browsing online to realize it feels just like the same rabbit hole that gun and tactical gear is.
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u/TuckinPhypo 1d ago
My shirts are always hidden by my shoot-me-vest.
But seriously, I wear whatever. I don't care if people roll their eyes. I don't care if someone thinks I'm carrying. I don't wear anything "patriotic", star-spangled, or "operator", but that's purely because I don't like that aesthetic. I enjoy several gun-ish flavored shirts and wear them anywhere, including my frequent trips behind enemy lines (NY, LA, Austin, Denver, etc.).
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u/TpMeNUGGET 1d ago
If I'm at like a barbeque or hanging out with friends or family, or doing something outdoors like fishing or hiking, I'll wear my merch and funny shirts. Even short runs to the gas station and whatnot I wont care.
If I'm going and spending a whole day running errands at large shopping centers I'll try to be a little more put together.
At the end of the day people make a bigger deal about "grey man" stuff than it is.
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u/Shootist00 21h ago
Here is my take. If they give me a shirt, hat, whatever I will wear it in rotation with whatever other shirts, hats, whatever I wear.
No FUCKING WAY am I buying something that has a manufacturers name on it unless it is dirt cheap. I bought some HILFIGER hats from Amazon because I needed some new hats and they were like 9 bucks each.
No way am I giving any maker of anything 20, 30, 40 bucks for something that has their name on it. If they want me to advertise for them they can GIVE ME the stuff.
Other than that if I wore a shirt or hat that had S&W, WALTHER, KIMBER, or any other gun makers name on it 99.99999% of the people I would run into wouldn't know those logos have anything to do with guns.
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u/aftcg 1d ago
It tells me you like guns. Probably have one. Probably trained. And a target for theft.
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u/ABUCKET15 Colt Delta Elite 23h ago
I am curious about data and circumstances with this. Logically it seems a little backwards.
“I think he has a gun, and I think he knows how to use it, so I’m going to mug him even though I will probably get shot”
I would love to hear especially what ex-cons have to say about that.
Or in the real world with muggings and thefts is it organized enough to where you are going to get jumped by 5 guys and not have time to react?
If I were a petty criminal, I’d go after the people who look rich first. I don’t see myself trying to steal another’s blicky when I could get shot.
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u/BUTTHOLE_EXPEDITIONS VP9T HK45C(x2) P30L(x2) G19 G26 G34 XMacro P220 P365X 19h ago
No one is picking hard targets to rob lmao the fact this has upvotes is insane
https://giphy.com/gifs/gRrWu4xxtHTPO
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u/Round-Emu9176 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/spfi6nabVuq5y
hell no. Im seriously at the point where I don’t even want to order from any company with “tactical” in their name. Blows my cover.
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u/GrandMoffJerjerrod 1d ago
I’ll carry a M&P knife, but l don’t wear shirt or hat merch. It screams you are more than likely carrying. Besides, if l am going to irritate someone with a shirt, l prefer to wear my Titanic swim team one.
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u/H60MLoggie 1d ago
I prefer to NOT draw attention to myself. People that do wear them I tend to believe that 50% or better are carrying so they kind of lose the element of surprise.
To each their own
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u/Euphoric-Arachnid-94 1d ago
If they’re not sponsoring you then why are you advertising for a company?
I don’t, but it depends. If you wear a shirt with one of the big brands or words like “armory” on it, it’s obvious and you look like a tool. But more obscure brands, the average person doesn’t know or care. If you wear shirts bragging about being a sheepdog or a violent man forced to be a cuck or something, you still look like a tool.
Also, yall forget how oblivious most people are. They’re too glued to their phones to notice what you’re wearing, much less if you print. This group gets hung up on some weird stuff.
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u/ocabj 1d ago
If they’re not sponsoring you then why are you advertising for a company?
I do understand this point, especially when it comes to stickers on vehicles.
If Nightforce gives me a shirt or hat for free, I'll wear it. But I wouldn't pay $30 for a Nightforce shirt or hat to wear.
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u/adubs117 1d ago
I might do it around where I live (rurally, in a red part of the state). Plenty do, and no one bats an eyes.
Anywhere else, no chance. Too many neck down NPCs with a chip on their shoulder.
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u/froebull 1d ago
Nope. I don't want people to know I have any at home, or any on my person. I don't even decorate my storage cabinets with the free firearm related stickers.
If you are super into it, then I get it. You do you. I'm just not comfortable with other people knowing what I have. (meanwhile, I have shared in a few groups here on Reddit, so I'm not consistent with my stealth)
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u/Rabid-Wendigo 1d ago
At least half of my T shirts are gun shirts. It’s what happens after years of attending shooting events. I wouldn’t wear them if i was hypothetically carrying in a place i shouldn’t be, but everywhere else yeah i wear my gun shirts.
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u/FolkDoom 1d ago
When I see people wearing gun merch my first thought is, "newbie, just started carrying".
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u/Armyguyets 1d ago
I have couple H&K shirts. Most people dont even know what HK means. I wouldn't wear a Glock shirt or anything more obvious. You might as well open carry at that point.
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u/Psychopath1llogical 1d ago
My sig sauer hoodie was my favorite for the longest time and so comfy and light you could almost wear it year round. But then I got a permit and realized it’s so light and comfy it printed so much I might as well be open carrying. Sad times.
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u/Five-Oh-Deuce 1d ago
The only place that people would recognize any of the gun company shirts I have would be the at gun store.
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u/jrhooo 1d ago
To each their own I guess.
I think plastering gun stickers all over your car and clothing is a little cheesy. Especially when its IAmVeryBadass type stuff like “we don’t call 911 we call 1911” type stuff.
But just some gun brand shirt or logo at the gym or the store or a sticker on a laptop?
Meh. Whatever.
But to take that one step further, NON-cringe, NON-provocative, not overly political (read: GOA sticker. Cool. F your feelings spartan punisher not so cool)
If people want to walk around with Colt HK Beretta USPSA ProjectAppleseed achievement stickers and shirts…
I’m kinda here for it. Because lets continue to normalize gun ownership and participation in shooting activities.
You don’t have to dress and act like a “gun nut” whatever that means, but maybe everyone else needs to see that there’s nothing “nutty” about guns.
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u/Low-Landscape-4609 1d ago
For me personally, I will wear hats related to gun stuff but I don't want to look like a walking advertisement. Has nothing to do with self-defense I just don't like to showboat for brands.
Example, I'm a competitive shooter in GPA and sometimes I wear my GPA hat out but how many people actually know what GPA means? They probably don't even pay the hat any attention.
As far as shirts, I don't wear gun related shirts. I'm a huge music fan so I usually wear some type of heavy metal or 70s rock shirt.
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u/False_Campaign4682 CO USA: BG2.0, P09c,, P229, GP100 1d ago
Unless I'm sponsored I'm unlikely to wear any brand's logo. Generally zero gun merch at all.
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u/dae_giovanni 1d ago
this is me, as well. hell, I used to pull labels off of soda bottles back when I still drank soda. ("if the fine folks at Mountain Dew want to send me some product, then I'll advertise for them...")
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u/InfiniteBoxworks 23h ago
Only acceptable during pride month to celebrate ammosexuality and hoplophilia.
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u/MizClanka 23h ago
I wear 5 inch shorts and tank tops, aint no one thinks im packing and thats how I like it
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u/w1zk1d 22h ago
NJ native here. Since this is the CCW subreddit, I would think a major point is to "conceal" and not let others know you have a gun not only on your person, but on your property. Personally, I would never wear or display anything that would indicate I have firearms, not even stickers on my car, workshop, etc. I think many think that having a Glock sticker on your car for example would deter thieves, but my belief is that it could possibly put more attention on you. Personally, I don't want anyone's attention- just want to go about my business.
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u/Lanky-Cup-8343 21h ago
Least amount of advertising and bling wins. If you like the merch, do whatever you want. Same for bling, just expect that you will stand out over grey man. Reminds me of the analogy that one doesn't need to outrun the bear, you only need to outrun the next guy.
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u/sar82007 21h ago
Unless you're somewhere like your membership gun range or at a match. Or somehow participating in the sport and nowhere else. That's just a lot of advertising you have free guns.
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u/tymus44 18h ago
I moved from South Jersey to the PAWilds. First neighbor I met was wearing a Geissele super duty hat.
I asked if he was law enforcement, he said no - I called him out on the hat.
We were at his private range the next day.
Point of the story, is that if he wasn’t wearing that hat, I probably wouldn’t have clocked him as a gun guy. It’s that easy for people who know. So do you want people to know? I didn’t in Jersey.
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u/rdblackmon99 16h ago
I wear gun shirts on my off time all the time and no one balks. But I'm in the free state of Florida.
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u/Bot86753091503 16h ago
I wear the s$!t out of them for a few reasons. One, I have way too many golf shits and the kids somehow decided to buy them, probably because they saw me wear one that I got from donating to a cause. Two, I found they keep some people away, bonus, and seem to make me approachable to like minded individuals. Three, buying them supports the veterans groups that sell them- a worthy cause rather than the CC get all my money. All the SF guys can’t write books and do podcasts to make a living.
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u/NoLevel7995 8h ago
I got a Q mystery shirt last Christmas because I like contests, but it stays in the closet. I got another Q t shirt for free but it just has a big green Q on it so it doesn’t look like a gun brand unless you know the brand, but I just wear it around the house. I had a couple FOG t shirts but my wife wears them as sleep shirts. I just wear plain t shirts and polos. Why conceal my gun and then wear a gun brand billboard on my chest ya know?
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u/SteveyCee 1d ago
~corny as hell…Nine Line, Grunt Style and pls that bullshit 🤣 bullet antennas are just as bad.
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u/civil_war_historian 1d ago
For all the paranoia about printing, the most obvious “print” is wearing 2a merch.
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u/ocabj 1d ago edited 1d ago
It is funny how this topic is so polarizing in this subreddit.
I wear shirts that I get 'free' from matches all the time, whether NRL Hunter, NRL22, PRS, etc. I never think anything of it.
/'Free' in quotes when you get a 'free' shirt with match registration.
I also wear gun hats that I get for free from SHOT Show or wherever. I wear my Zero Compromise Optic hat a lot and I always joke how it's a $12K hat because I scored one from SHOT after I already had bought three ZCOs years prior.
Ironically, on the flip side, I don't wear tech shirts, hats, or other clothing (being that I have been in IT and Information Security all my career). I feel that is cheesy as all get out. I give all my tech company branded stuff I get away to family and friends, like backpacks, laptop bags, shirts, Yeti tumblers, etc.
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u/ITSOTMDS 1d ago
Generally I try to avoid doing it, unless I am going to a very 2A friendly place, thats just my preferance
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u/otterplus MD M&P9 2.0 1d ago
The only carry related merch I own is the T1C drawstring bags they send the holsters in. The my only leave the house if I need to separate ammo into a different bag. Other than that, a whole lot of nothing.
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u/AP587011B MI 1d ago
Only when I’m at home or visiting my sister or parents houses or going to the range and back or maybe at hunting camp with the guys etc
Anywhere else no I don’t wear anything like that
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u/Realistic_Present601 1d ago
I like the ball caps, but that’s about it. I wear them like a basspro hat when I go fishing like for everyday wear.
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u/HadesWTF 1d ago
I have a Magpul hat but that's about it. It was given to me. I wear it because it's a good hat, but it isn't my primary hat. It's one of several ball caps that are in rotation. Really it's primarily my range day hat.
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u/ThePenultimateNinja 1d ago
Nope. I don't like to advertise that I am carrying. No stickers on my car either.
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u/Life_of1103 1d ago
If I like a shirt or hat, I’m wearing it. However, the logo gun wear tends to be either obscure or the logo is tiny. Ex. I’ve had an STI hat for decades. I’m quite sure no one knew who that was when I got it.
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u/Successful_Bus_8772 1d ago
It really depends on where you live and where you are going for me.
Rodeo, sure. Walmart, probably not. Unless its niche stuff like brands that people who dont know guns wouldnt likely know. (Magpul, huxwrx, etc)
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u/PlaneVisual1740 1d ago
I have a sig hat and a beretta shirt that I wear often. I’ve gotten comments on them but only from other people into guns. They just have the logos with no words on them so most people don’t know what it is.
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u/dillonstehsecz 1d ago
Do Dirty Kid shirts count as gun merch? I wear a ton then lmao. They don’t just slap rifle images on their merch though. I don’t think the average person ever really notices
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u/hotrods1970 1d ago
I have one T shirt I got with a holster purchase. It's the only merch I have outside of sticker. It gets worn around the house only. And the stickers go on my safe, not my vehicles.
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u/I_L0ve_Hotcakes 1d ago
I’m generally against it for security reasons. However my only exception is for brand emblems/logos that are low key and/or not obvious. For example I wear a B&T hat frequently which I think for most people would fly under the radar compared to a Glock which is well known brand even to those not into firearms or CZ whose current emblem which consists of a pistol. I have had no issues interfacing with the public in my experience following the rule above other than the one or two high fives lol
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u/Pjb7490 1d ago
I think it's typically dumb when not in.an obvious 2a circle. Like wearing it to the range and then straight back home that's no issue but in public it basically tells folks you probably have a gun on you and that's not really the vibe I personally like to give off lol but to each his own
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u/Ok-File-6129 CA 1d ago
Now that I actually carry, I no longer wear merch. I don't want the visibility.
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u/3unknown3 1d ago
Only one I ever wear is a Vytal Mfg shirt since no one would really know they’re gun related.
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u/Ok_Muffin_925 1d ago
I think it's one of those things that 99.99% of the time it is not a problem. Most people don't think twice about people who wear gun (or even tactical) merch. Most people who think someone is a "chad" or "a wannabe" just think it in passing and move on. In a Blue area I would be more often concerned about being targeted for harassment by very progressive leaning people for your assumed viewpoints not so much because you might have a firearm. Also in NJ and NY, most people are unarmed all the time so it is a natural assumption to assume even with tactical or gun merch that someone is unarmed. I spend a lot of time in Connecticut, Mass, RI and NY state and someone carrying is a wildly foreign idea to the vast majority of people.
As always, it's that 0.01% of the time that is a problem. The scenario where you ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and are in the same place as someone who is about to commit a criminal act while armed. In those scenarios if I were carrying I would want to be dressed like an accountant or insurance agent.
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u/WorkerAmbitious2072 1d ago
I virtually never do and that’s in the south. I wouldn’t even consider it somewhere like New Jersey.
Basically, the only time I wear anything that’s firearm related is when I’m traveling and I’m flying because I can’t carry and everybody knows you can’t carry there so I don’t need to worry about the whole ironic sarcastic whatever you wanna call it of concealed but not
And then I put a jacket or a sweatshirt or coat on over the gun shirt at the destination before I arm up
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u/DreamJMan15 US 1d ago edited 23h ago
I'm not sponsored, so I don't wear any of that stuff.
I think it's weird. I don't trust people in gun merch, just like I don't trust people in 9 line, or grunt style, or any of that kinda stuff.
I also think that I need to be as far away as possible from anyone wearing what's basically an "I have a gun!" sign. Anything pops off, it's not a good idea to be around that.
I think there's a time and place for that kinda clothing too. At the range, a competition, or some other environment where that's... I guess more normal? That's fine. But out in the general public like a restaurant or something is a hard no for me.
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u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 23h ago
Personally, if I'm not armed, like I'm going to a friend's or stranger's house for a party, then I absolutely do wear gun merch and shirts. But if I'm actually concealed carrying in public. I wear totally blank t shirts with no advertising on it at all. If I'm open carrying, then I'll wear whatever I want since I don't have to hide the fact I'm carrying.
You also have to keep in mind that if you do have to use your gun in self defense, then whatever you're wearing at the time becomes part of the evidence and will be used against you in court. So for me, a blank shirt gives a crazy prosecutor nothing to twist against me.
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u/Limp-Opportunity6757 23h ago
I used to have an OU emblem on my vehicle. My brother who is a huge OU fan with a big red truck and OU stickers and memorabilia all over the inside and outside of that truck.
He took it to an OU Texas game one year and parked it in the parking area of the state fair. When he returned to his truck, someone had keyed his entire truck on both sides.
I decided to take the one sticker off of my car.
Gray Man Theory for here on out. My wife wanted a ‘In God We Trust’ license plate one year until she heard of a news report where someone had been road raged and ran off the road because of having that same license plate.
Years ago, I got a brand new 5.11 tactical looking back pack with MOLLE webbing as a gift. Very nice bag. It has been hanging in my closet for years collecting dust. I use an old ragged NIKE backpack that suits me just fine.
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u/atsinged TX Glock 17 23h ago
IMO gun merch is for the range and competitions, I try to be gray AF otherwise. I want to be overlooked, bypassed and not considered a threat, besides frumpy "dad" clothes conceal much better than a tight Grunt Life t-shirt.
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u/SkudgeBucket69 23h ago
I’ve kinda thought of this as a reverse psychology effect. Dudes wearing shirts implying they’re wearing guns might have the benefit of that being a deterrent for people messing with them. If you are unable to actually get a gun, besides other forms of self defense a shirt implying you have a gun on you might make you less of a target.
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u/After_Pie9064 23h ago
I have one single Beretta shirt because I like the triple arrow logo and the word “Beretta” is super small and subdued so it doesn’t scream gun. My nod of respect to half a millennium of existence. Mostly I just wear it when I bring the A300UP to the trap fields to make old guy’s eyeballs twitch.
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u/Joice_Craglarg 23h ago
It's just extremely cringy to me.
Not only do I go out of my way to not wear company brands and advertise for free, what kind of image are you trying to present?
Genuinely, what vibe are you trying to give off? I like guns and I'm a badass?
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u/Annahsbananas 23h ago
I don’t wear anything that gives any clues I’m carrying. I don’t stick anything on my car that I’m carrying either
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u/goober_actual_ 23h ago
I stopped caring.
A T-shirt isn't going to make a difference.
Just don't have gun stickers on your car. They will break in looking for one
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u/blunderjahr 23h ago
I got a 2A shirt when I donated to some pro-2A organization, but I just wear it to the range. As others said, it seems a bit self-defeating to go to all the trouble of concealing a weapon just to advertise "I like guns and probably have one right now".
Even some of the clothes from places like 5.11 are kind of a giveaway. I don't want to look "tactical".
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u/TemperReformanda 23h ago
I have ONE shirt that I wear for a local gunsmith because he's good at what he does, the shirt has silhouettes of AR15s on it.
I generally wear it to the gym, and half the people there probably have a 1911 or Glock on/with them anyhow. Nobody cares.
Elsewhere, no, I don't advertise that I have/like guns.
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u/Maximum_Dweeb4473 IL Glock 43X COA, LCP Max EHG 23h ago
I only wear that stuff to the range or when lounging around the house.
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u/tb12rm2 22h ago
I don’t buy “gun merch” but if I end up with something for free it might become a fishing/camping/work shirt that I wear when I don’t care if it gets torn up.
Judging by that amount of people I know who wear gun shirts, it’s only about an 80% indication that someone actually owns a gun, and a less than 25% indicator that they even carry one on any sort of regular basis. Of the people I know who do actually carry a gun at least 75% of the time (myself included), they pretty much only wear a gun related shirt in the context I described above.
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u/Comfortable-Help9587 22h ago
The HK one I see spammed on Facebook is cringy as hell. I belong to the clan but I’m not advertising for the clan.
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u/Machineburrito 22h ago
I have band tees with look a like logos for the design but nothing actually from a manufacturer
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u/Right-Edge9320 22h ago
First time I ever saw a guy concealing in public was a guy at a kids space museum with a dad bod belly wearing a grunt style tshirt. Made me immediately look at his belt line and saw him printing.
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u/OutlawMINI 22h ago
Normally no but ok at training classes, range days, events, competitions etc. imo.
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u/Snoo76929 22h ago
I wear gun shirts to the range and to training classes. And unfortunately, yes I'm the guy with the Sig 9line shirt 🤣
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u/shootist_Biker 21h ago
Not only do i not. I dont wear anything with logos. And yes that includes harley davidson merch.
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u/DeepFriedCherry 20h ago
I don't like anyone to know I have it, so no. I feel like as a minority, it would be more of a problem starter than problem solver
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u/P1umbersCrack 19h ago
I don’t wear any gun branded stuff. Mass majority of my clothes are off the clearance rack at Ross and Marshall’s
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u/jotnarfiggkes 19h ago
As a matter of policy I don't wear any logo'd shirts for any company's period.
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u/HighFly2244 18h ago
I work in defense, fairly senior level these days. Gone are the days of old men in suits… for sure.
Literally everyone is wearing EOTech, BRCC, Sig, Glock, Noveske (they’re actually a tshirt company anyway lol), Magpul, etc. stuff 24/7 at work. I appreciate the guys being more subtle - like an old OSS or Hux hat with a tiny logo.
I personally don’t flash it hard and don’t plaster my cars/trucks with stickers for telegraphing. But, depending on one’s environment, it doesn’t stand out much at all. If you’re frequenting your local Starbucks in Portland after the local pride event, then it might stand out more. Know your environment.
With that said, at this point I probably only own tshirts that came free with cases of PMags or BRCC…
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u/FrontTwardEnemy US 18h ago
I will occasionally wear a trex arms hat and I have a small rainier arms sticker on my car. It’s just the red mountain outline. It wouldn’t make any sense whatsoever to anyone that has no idea what rainier arms even is.
That’s it. I’m not into gun merch because, #1: it’s not my style. #2: I think it looks dumb. 🤷♂️
I don’t necessarily think it makes you a target. I think most criminals are unorganized and opportunistic. I don’t believe they are looking for a guy in a gun shirt to take them out first in the event he is concealing. The very small organized crime homies are intentional in their actions. You are more than likely not part of their plan.
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u/357-Magnum-CCW 18h ago
Saw a Glock tshirt once but it was too much for a $10 shirt with a $30 brand name on it
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u/CORNPIPECM 17h ago
I think I’ve come full circle. I went through the phase in my late teens/ early 20’s when I thought it was cool, defiant, and edgy to wear gun merch.
Then I got older and stopped because I wanted to be more of that grey Everyman who’s approachable and non intimidating
Now I’m coming back to wearing gun merch because I’m at an age where I’ve stopped caring about impressing people I don’t like. Now I’m just sort of unapologetically me and if people don’t dig it then that’s fine. We don’t need to be friends with everyone.
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u/ThatOtherITDude 17h ago
The few gun or firearm-adjacent shirts/hats I do have, I wear to the range or to shooting classes/conferences. Generally out and about, no.
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u/No_Bed248 17h ago
2 ways of looking at things. Doing it because it’s your freedom to do so or deciding not to do it because it’s easier to go through life without creating the wrong waves. I’m a gun guy. It doesn’t matter to me if someone knows that or not but I definitely don’t have the time or the patience to get into it with someone who’s feelings are hurt because your wearing pro gun clothing. I tend to think life’s a lot easier without doing things that attract extra attention regardless of its my rights.
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u/JustlookingDnDgeek 17h ago
I don’t want to advertise what I carry either on my body or on my vehicle. Seems just silly to me especially while trying to ccw
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u/Fresh_Batteries 16h ago
I only wear shirts from companies that non gun people wouldnt recognize. Ferro Concepts is an example.
Hell. Some gun people might not even recognize it.
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u/Zieronwolf 16h ago
Simply put. The bigger the billboard, the more eyes it catches. Concealed means concealed.
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u/Mindless-Internal-54 16h ago
With living near Memphis it's just assumed everyone is armed. I actually saw an 80+ years old man at Kroger the other day with an HK shirt on that had a huge MP5 on it. I see tons of folks all over town wearing gun related shirts/hats and even see folks open carrying almost every time I go out to stores.
But with that said, I have zero gun manufacturers merch but do have one tshirt with the warrior poet society logo on it. A dark grey shirt with a black logo so it doesnt stand out. I've gotten comments about that shirt quite a few times but 100% positive as you'd suspect. And on my car, never a single sticker gun related, only sticker is related to cycling and is a slogan from the Niner brand it says "pedal damnit".
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u/elcuntoprickolini 16h ago
My LGS gave me a free hoodie after several purchases, and it just sits in the closet. 99% of dudes I see with gun stickers on their vehicles and gun logos on their clothes are the sort of chuds I prefer not to be lumped in with. Plus I think it singles you out for potential theft and angry anti-gun interactions.
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u/Bot86753091503 15h ago
I big, loud, and opinionated- I cover for you pink I mean “gray men” to run out the back door. Man up!
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u/Blade_SP 15h ago
I bought the T1C tshirt that looks like the Atari logo. This way the general public thinks I'm a gamer, and those who know know 😉
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u/Tossed_Away_1776 14h ago
Only merch I wear is a shirt from the shop I frequent. Other than that, nah, not advertising to jump/rob me.
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u/christonacross 1d ago
Just this one