Proud advertising or Invitation to thieves?

[SKS Ray]

I've got an 4x4 S10 pick up truck with extra cab. Its pretty beat but its convenient for New England winters, carrying a boat for fishing, and transporting rifles and gear in the extra cab when its raining after coming home from the shooting range. Plus I can keep a bag with a jacket, targets, and the usual handy "guy stuff" behind the seat and out of the way. Like most of you i've got the GOAL sticker and NRA sticker and have thought about adding maybe a nice Ruger rear window decal, etc. Nothing big and overboard but something to show suport for a favorite firearm manufacturer.
Then as I look at the decals I realize the sliding rear window (which I keep some wire looped around the latch inside for extra security), and the small extra cab vent windows, and I wonder if i'm just inviting thieves to try and break in with the thought that there may be a gun in the truck. Now of course i'd never leave a gun in there unless I was stopping in a convenience store for a soda on my way to the range, or running in to pick up a pizza on the way home, and even then the doors are locked, but face it... thieves are usually stupid people. Say i'm parked at a movie theater for hours or even in my driveway overnight. Seeing window decals for firearms, the NRA, etc. might make them think they'll find something good if they break in. Next thing I know I come out to a broken window. Flashbacks of Full Metal Jacket with R. Lee Ermey saying "If it weren't for dickheads like you there'd be no thievery in this world".
I know an alarm is a good investment, but in my experience repairing cars theres usually always damage to the vehicle before a thief realizes it has an alarm.
So what about the rest of you? Think its just being proud, or is it advertising for thievery?

 

[Len-2A Training]

I do not advertise.

I did have a PD sticker on my car and they (employees) "tossed it" when I had some repair work done at Sears in W. Roxbury (Dedham Mall) many years ago (last time I ever had Sears work on one of my cars). It was a very valuable lesson about advertising and what you can expect in "dividends" for your "investment" (stickers)!

 

[KMaurer]

Since I never leave anything worth taking in my car, I usually don't bother to lock it. Anybody who can hot wire a car can open a locked door.

Ken

 

[Admin]

I have my USMC, Distinguished Rifleman, and the NES Sticker on my truck. The inside is always empty when I leave it. The only time I've had a car broken in to was when I had an expensive stereo in it.

Bad guys don't want to break in to a car unless there is a good chance it will be worth while. If I left a range bag and other large items in the cab all the time the likelyhood of a break in would go up. But an empty vehicle is not a good target regardless of what stickers on the window.

 

[JonJ]

No offense but if I were looking for cars to toss, I'd probably bypass your truck and go for something more worthwhile, like a BMW, Mercedes etc. People leave all kinds of good stuff in their cars, laptops, Ipods, watches, expensive sunglasses, wallets, checkbooks, the "emergency" credit card.
I wouldn't bother your old truck for the pocket change in the glovie or CC.
As far as stickers go, what car get hit are just targets of opportunity.

If shitheads are looking for guns to steal, they know where their likely to be and it's not in your truck.

Put your stickers on and be proud.

 

[LoginName]

I'm not that concerned about the stickers (only 3... NRA, IAFF and MA terrorist Hunting Permit ), on my vehicle as an invitation to theft.

I'm more concerned about the mail I get. I live in a 3 family home and the mailboxes are open and not secured; meaning anyone can see what's in my mail box. At least once or twice a week that means everything from American Rifleman,The Outdoor Message, Blue Press, and just about every other gun related catalog that you can think of.

It's not uncommon for me to come home and find several gun related mailings and gun related mailings only.

I can only imagine what my poor mailman must think about me.

 

[USMA-82]

I'm with Len on this one...

I don't put any stickers on the pickup or the house, don't wear NRA jackets around in public, and only wear my "Glock" or "Bushmaster" hats when going to the range or a match.

It's not that I'm ashamed to be part of these organizations, but I've always considered it safer to lead more of a stealth existence - both from the standpoint of being targeted, as well as being judged before being heard.

I'd rather keep an element of surprise on my side in the event of a self-defense scenario, or in discussion of the politics of the day. Maybe I've read too many of Boston T. Party's books, or taken to heart the lessons of John Farnam, but it just makes sense to me.

 

[Cross-X]

I don't know about you, but I take all my pro-gun stickers and put 'em on Derek's truck.

 

[jhrosier]

I'm with Len on this one.
It puts "CCW" in an interesting perspective, if you advertise with stickers.
Kinda like walking around saying "I've got a gun.", to everyone.
Jack

 

[ArmedMainer]

I try to keep the inside of my truck as clean as possible. That way if someone looks inside to see if there's anything worth stealing they see nothing. I have a NES window decal that I intend to install in the near future. IMHO its important to people other than gun owners to see gun owners are normal ,hard working,and respectable citizens. Of the three decals I have on my truck right now two of them are pro-gun ones. Have those two decals kept my truck from getting broken into? I think the common sense practice of keeping the inside of my cab clean has more to do with it. Remember criminals prefer unarmed victims. If you display a pro-gun window decal they are more worried about you coming around the corner and catching them than they think you stashed a gun under your seat. I would never let the fear of vandalism stop me from expressing my RKBA beliefs. Imagine if every gun owner in America put just one pro-gun decal on their vehicle? The anti's would quickly see they are grossly outnumbered. A guy can dream...can't he??

 

[Twigg]

No big deal for me

I have a few stickers, the NRA, GOAL and some bow hunting stuff. I've got a gunrack (Wish I could actually use it for my shotgun!) in the back window for a cheap fishing rod. Yeah, my truck has a sliding rear window. Haven't had any problems, mostly because I live out in the sticks.

Now if I lived in a more urban area, I would do things a bit differently.

 

[FalArAk]

Or you can throw off the attempted thieves with a "Celebrate Diversity" rainbow bumperstcker right next to your NE Shooters sticker,kind of like what Derek has on his truck.

 

[JonJ]

Or you can throw of the attempted thieves with a "Celebrate Diversity" rainbow bumperstcker right next to your NE Shooters sticker,kind of like what Derek has on his truck.

Oh really????