Coworkers

[grady]

Coworker previously thought to be an anti
Out of the blue, a seemingly anti-gun coworker asked a pro-gun coworker to teach her about guns. She's 50, a Marine sistah, lives alone, never had a gun before. She just decided it was time.

She talked to me about it next, and I volunteered to accompany her to our coworker's farm to shoot. Between his and my guns we brought for her to try, she shot 10 handguns of 6 different calibers and 6 different manufacturers. Plus a shotgun, but she didn't like the shotgun.

She's right-handed, but left-eye dominant. She had trouble racking the slide with her LH, so she switched hands and shot LH. She's a good shot RH, but an even better shot LH.

Geds was taking some pictures, she was shooting, and I was holding the umbrella over her. Yep, it rained off and on, but we had waited over a month for all our schedules to coincide, and we weren't going to let a little rain stop us.

A good time was had by all. Then we went to the nearby little town and had lunch. We may have gotten a few stares: this town is a couple hours south of St. Louis, in an area where some still fly the Confederate flag. Yup. But there were no unkind comments. As usual, Geds out-ate me.

The next week I took her to 6 gunshops, she picked out the gun she wanted, and put down a deposit. She's serious. She's also decided she won't tell her adult children she purchased a gun because she's afraid they might search the house looking for it. She asked about a gun safe, so we went shopping for one and found a small combo safe with a key option. Man, I love spending other people's money on guns!

So at that job, due to some behind-the-scenes discussion by others, I now know about 80% are armed.

Aggressive coworker
This guy has been very aggressive, and threatened a coworker in full hearing of the boss and 4 other coworkers. The boss didn't do anything because his vacation was upcoming and he didn't want to be delayed. This coworker has often been extremely aggressive toward others. It became known to him (not by me) that a number of his coworkers were familiar with guns and might be found carrying depending on the time and place.

He has had no outbursts since coming to that realization. Imagine that.

He senses things are changing, both in our workplace and in society. He now senses the need to be armed at home, and has recently purchased a handgun. With his history of explosive anger, it wouldn't surprise me to hear about him on the news someday.

Sleeper coworker
Different job, I've discussed guns with this officer for a couple years only when we are alone. He had said he owned a few weapons, but mostly he talked about antiques, plus an old mouse gun or two. He told me years ago he carried a small .32 in his pocket when he was threatened at work, long before CCW became legal. By his stories, I estimated he had 5 or 6 guns.

The other day, after knowing him a couple years, he confessed he counted his guns: 50+. Wow. Talk about keeping things close to the chest.

Armed grandmother coworker
She's had a 9mm for years. Divorced, lives alone. Recently she picked up a Lavender Lady Charter Arms .38. When the talk turns to guns, her eyes light up and she gets a big smile on her face.

Extreme condition-white coworker
African-American, several of us moved him out to the county a few years ago. He's the one who owns a .32 with a missing front sight, perhaps the most inaccurate gun I've ever fired. The gun also has a questionable history. We have offered to destroy it for him once he buys a modern gun. But he balks.

When I first inspected his gun a couple years ago, I opened the cylinder and found 3 rounds and 2 empty holes. I asked him today how many rounds he had in it. "Three." Probably the same 3.

We've been trying to get him to take safety precautions, but all our advice seems to all on deaf ears. Well, about 6 weeks ago he found himself in deep downtown St. Louis for a wedding. It was a neighborhood he'd never go to otherwise. Not good, even for an African-American. Keep in mind he lives totally condition white/clear. We've tried for years to get him to increase his SA.

Anyway, as he pulls into the church's parking lot, he hits the curb. He parks, gets out, and hears a hissing sound. He's almost late for the wedding, so he decides he'll look at the tire later.

The wedding ends, he forgets about his tire, spend time chatting with others until it's time for everyone to leave. As luck (fate) would have it, he's the last one in the parking lot. His tire is completely flat. He is unable to change the tire (that's another story).

So he drives 1/2 block to the only business open, an auto parts store. His words: "There was a pack of young, black guys, and they were circling me like a pack of wild animals!" They kept watching him. One guy stood about 15 feet away and just stared, fully focused on mr. condition white, the one I'd been trying to get to up his game for years.

So he calls his road service company. They say they'll call him back. He calls again. And again. And again. Finally, the operator tells him straight: "Sir, they aren't going to respond to the neighborhood you're in. It's too dangerous. I'm sorry. They're not coming."

Sooooo, the chickens are comin' home to roost. All those conversations I and others have had with him, trying to get him to take some precautions, are all of a sudden taking on new importance to him. This is what he said, "I didn't even have a pen on me to stab anyone with if they came up to me. I had nothing!" Except a cell phone. And an auto service that told him he was on his own.

Night was coming. Business was slowing. The pack was still there, some still staring point-blank, some now walking by leering and making comments. Now he's REALLY wishing he had listened to me. I have placed quality handguns in his hand, and told him he could get one for $300. But he never would commit. Always had something else he wanted to buy.

Finally, some guy sees his peril and offers to change the tire for him. It's done, the pack is disappointed, and he finally gets to safer pastures.

It was his "come to Jesus" moment. But too bad, a week later and he'd already pushed it to the back of his mind. So, no new gun, no taking his old one when he goes to the old neighborhood, no buying at least 2 more rounds, no nothing.

Now he's back in the county where he thinks he's safe.

We live in a "good" county. Not near as much crime as St. Louis city, although we have our moments. He lives in an apartment complex surrounded by middle-class neighborhoods.

Monday morning he doesn't show up for work. I log on to the local newspaper and read about a home invasion with shots fired at an apartment complex. I don't recognize the address, but I'm intrigued enough to mapquest it. Sure enough, it is his complex.

He finally makes it in Tuesday. First thing I say is "What's your address?" He replies, "You saw it, too?!" A friend of his saw the news report on t.v., and said the cops were standing around my coworker's car on the news clip.

His neighbor. Home invasion. Shots fired. It seems my coworker had taken some pain meds and may have slept through the entire event. Either that or he had his porn turned up too loud to hear anything else.

For the umpteenth time, I've given up on him. I just told him, "Your house is next." Of course that probably isn't true, but it might be... and I'm still trying to reach him. Probably wasting my time, but if he becomes a victim, his blood won't be on my hands.

Move or die, Marine
He's still there, still loves his 1911 and S&W .357's. If there is ever gunfire at work, he's heading for the sound. Perhaps one quick stop first. I've offered him an alternate stop as well, on the other side of the compound.

A quiet one
Found out another coworker likes Sigs and AK's, and has been armed for as long as I've known him.

Another quiet one
He is very reserved, and talks to almost no one about his off-duty life. He takes a lot of drives down to Louisianna. I've been assured, by one who would know, that he is most certainly armed on his trips.

Another
Found out he owns Glocks and a PPK. I helped him find some Glock mags and a good pocket holster for his PPK.


The gun stores have picked up again here recently. Business is flowing, people are still buying, and by my observation they are buying more than they were a few months ago. I say the folks here are still concerned about what may be coming our way, and we are getting ready.


A special note to those in any form of government who don't want us citizens armed: eat crap. then expire.

I'm an American. I can talk to the government that way. I'm a citizen, not a subject. If they don't get in line, I'm going to fire them.

Then I'll continue to buy and shoot guns.

I understand the concept of never telling anyone you have an interest in guns. For some, that is the needed approach. The other side of the coin is that one may find like-minded people to converse with on subjects of guns, self-defense, etc.

It depends on the work environment. I work 2 jobs, in several different offices and several counties, and the situation differs depending on who is around. Sometimes not a word is said, sometimes it's 8 hours of gun talk.

There is a time to talk, and a time to keep quiet. Talking aids in preparation for our ultimate goal, to be prepared when our time comes.

It's also good to know whom you can count on when it comes time to do more than talk.

We are getting ready in the heartland.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[athos76]

Makes ya wonder sometimes about the quiet ones... I know one lady at the business next to me who loves her kitty cats and soap operas and reminds me of Lucille Ball alot... don't try and break into her house... she can have a weapon in her hands within seconds... shes trained with any weapon you can name for years (her husband was a weaponsmith at White Sands, NM) and she is a 4th degree black belt in Aikido.... and bakes a mean set of cupcakes.

[Bark'n]

Grady... Very good post! I enjoyed reading it!

[PastorPack]

Grady... Very good post! I enjoyed reading it!

+1, thanks!

[BikerRN]

Grady,

I would hate to see how you would describe me if we worked together.

Great read man, thank you.

Biker

[DM2]

Great post Grady. I really enjoyed reading it.

[dukalmighty]

Agressive coworker just realised an armed society is a polite society....or else

[teccles]

[QUOTE]We are getting ready in the heartland./QUOTE]

Fantastic post Grady....Were getting ready to just a little south of you....I wish some of the guys I worked with agreed with me.....One guy does but he is more into the fact that he wants to look Gangsta....Unfortunatly he's my boss....

[tex45acp]

Grady,
Great post....thanks!!

I run a business down on the Texas Gulf Coast and employ 5 women. One is the wife of a Federal Cop and she carries a .380 in her purse. Her husband is a Texas CHL instructor and I have helped him as his Range Officer during the shooting qualification of the CHL class many times. One of my bookkeepers has her CHL but feels that she does not need to carry at work so her gun is locked in a gunsafe under the seat of her car. The other two know that I carry in the office and feel that since I do they done need to......sheeple, sheesh!!! I have two LEO's that work for me part time as instructors that carry and know I do as well. I also keep a riot shotgun hidden in a corner behind my desk loaded with 8 shells of 00 Buck. In my business we constantly stay in condition Orange.

[retsupt99]

Hey Grady, I really enjoy your posts. You have an interesting, but probably pretty typical, group of co-workers. I can see each of those personalities at my school.
Thanks for posting your thoughts...

Keep us updated on the 'Condition White' guy, things happen in three's don't they?

[MoMike]

Grady, one of these days, I think you and I need to meet for a cup of coffee.

[gunthorp]

Thanks Grady. Fun read. Nice to see how many of your co-workers "get it."

[Rugergirl]

Awesome post Grady!!!
I see a few people I know in your story and I still worry about a few people I know. Those in the permanent white may never learn, we can only hope they have enough luck to survive.
And I would love to hear your description of me.

[archer51]

Grady, as usual a well written post. Lots of information as well as food for thought. Some people (Mr Condition White) never learn.

[Rock and Glock]

Grady:

Thank you for a well written, fun, informative post! Excellent analysis. Fun to find what is and is not known! You're a great "story teller".

Thanks!