Talking excitedly to family about a gun purchase or deals on bulk purchases led to my kids as pre-schoolers talking to others. I had one parent come by asking to confirm if we had a gun, then freaking out when I showed her the “protected by glock” sign we had. Explaining that I work in downtown of a big city or could protect my family from a late night intruder was irrelevant. “Guns bad, you have gun, no more play dates.”
I’ve shifted our “play dates” to focus on friends from church, people who home school and have similar values and those at the private school the oldest now attends. There are neighborhood children on the street my kids now see only driving past and trick or treating. But I no longer have neighbors asking why I have a gun (or more) or why I bought so much of something.
It’s too bad they know.
Maybe you should consider moving.
I get that reaction too once in a while, usually from family.
I just point out that I’m effectively mute (I can whisper, but it hurts, and it’s not loud enough to be heard over the phone), thus, I can’t scream, I can’t talk my way out of a situation, and I can’t call 911. On top of that, I have asthma and can’t run.
And then I share the story of a girl I used to go to Sunday school with when I was a kid. A lot of FReepers have probably heard of her. Her name was Brittany Zimmerman.
Usually by the time I get to the end of that story, they’re too stunned to say much else.