All better….or at least not any worse.

 

 

I have learned an interesting lesson about wearing geek t-shirts in public.

 

I wore this shirt twice in the past 2 weeks….

 

Both times I was approached by people thinking that it was an “I *heart* Dicks” shirt.

 

The first was at the Harrisburg Brewers Festival, lots of people together to drink TONS of beer. I can kind of understand a slight misinterpretation there, most people just gave me an odd look then made some sort of “oh, sorry I thought your shirt said something totally different” comment  then they moved on.

 

Then Sunday I went to the grocery store, being the first time I left the house in a week, I was dressed comfortably, cargo pants and this shirt.   I finished my shopping and was loading the car when someone shoved me from behind. A truck had pulled in behind my car and there were 2 rather large, very redneck guys (one of whom was holding a short length of pipe) staring me down, after several threats and homophobic rants from them, I called them illiterate rednecks and told them to actually READ my shirt, since they called me “Mr. I heart dicks” they made some "you better watch yourself" comment followed by a few more slurs and they started to leave. Then a guy who was parked in front of me came over any yelled at them, calling them homophobic hicks and if they had something to say about homosexuals that they had better be willing to say it to his face.   They turned around fast, and started toward the man, I STRONGLY advised them to pack up and leave. They turned back to me and I made sure they noticed my holster this time.   (I had my t-shirt pulled over it until then) and made a very obvious motion as I unsnapped the strap.    

 

Overall, I would say that Pennsylvania is only second to Texas as far as gun ownership goes, and it is a very common sight to see a person's gun showing through  their shirt, or to see the bottom of a holster peak out at someone’s waist line…..why more people don’t notice these things is beyond me, but now that the 2 hicks noticed mine, both ran for their beat-to-hell brown ford and raced out of the lot. 

 

The other man was a bit shaken, but ok. He seemed more surprised that there were people like them in this area than to see them squeal in fear and run away like a pair of 8yr old girls.   We talked for a few minutes, did admit to wanting to get a gun for home protection, but now was debating something to carry for personal protection.  Then we talked video games (specifically NES titles) 

I made the call to the dispatcher and gave a description of the event, the man didn’t seem to care, but said he would note the incident (since what I did was technically brandishing, but only if the other party decides to report it as an unprovoked threat to their lives.)

 

I got home, and told my wife of the incident, and her only response was that I am no longer allowed to wear that t-shirt in public.

 

The statement “an armed society is a polite society” is not just some old wives’ tale. Treat everyone like they are carrying a gun and the world would be a much better place.

 

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