Gun Gripes  

Chad looks like a rookie undercover cop.

So I bought my first gun last week, and it would have never happened without your channel and perspectives. Really appreciate y’all.

Here’s a strategy I saw the other day. It was a Prius with an ar bumper sticker. You confuse the enemy

Chad is disguised as a bong operator.

As a kid growing up in the 80's and 90's it was common to see pickup trucks with gun racks in back windows. You would get cops called on you before getting to the end of the block these days. Does anyone remember this too?

"Is this person a potential partner, or a threat?" Based on my dating history, I'd say both.

Can't wait for corona to end so Chad's grunge revival band can finally get to tour

Chad looks like he’s currently carrying a CZ

This is the "Grey Man" concept. Blend in and be nondescript. When I assess people I look at their pockets for knife clips and clothing for branding. Fanny pack: is that you Nutn

My roommate recently described me as “the kind of guy that knows a lot about guns but you’d never know it because he doesn’t ever let on how much he knows”. This is the way.

Warrior poet did a really good video like this talking about the art of war. Part of defense is never looking like a target being the most dangerous man in the room because you look like Ned Flanders

School teachers everywhere: Don't judge a book by its cover. Publishers everywhere: That is literally why we design book covers.

back when i was big into car audio we'd call all the stickers "steal me stickers". Alpine, MTX, Kicker, Precision Power, Pioneer, etc. example; hey, that car may have 2K worth of stereo gear in it...just look at all those car audio stickers. "Steal Me Stickers".

love the rabbit hole!

The Grey Man principle is my way of life. Situational awareness is rule #1.

"Open carry for attention, conceal carry for protection."

"I'm gonna keep this short", I don't think that means what you think it means.

The loudest person in the room is never someone you have to worry about, it’s the quiet guy trying to fly under the radar that you should always assume knows what he’s doing.

I've always said, "The best player in the game, is the player you never see coming."

Chad, I'll take a Pumpkin Spice Latte with a sprinkle of Madagascar cinnamon and Stevia. And make sure the coffee is organic and from a Fair Trade country.

DRESS LIKE A GEEK, BUT REACT LIKE JOHN WICK, LOL.

Honda Element is the car of many hippies, but can be kitted up to fit the urban operator

I love that when Eric goes to a "nice" restaurant he dresses up in jeans and, if you're lucky, a button up shirt, haha

My favorite bumper sticker reads "Driver only carries $20...in ammo"

Gun stickers on Vehicle = Dinner bell for thieves.

"I probably just pulled a hamstring and didn't realize it." LMFAO

concealment isnt a holster. its an artform

Yep! This is why I keep my car free of stickers, proudly wear my Grateful Dead tees and Tevas all summer long. I look about as threatening as a fluffernutter.

I don't know Chad looks really suspicious with that beanie on😂

To me, some of the most badass dudes I personally know that are “good guys” are the most unassuming, almost nerdy looking guys. Guys that almost look like prey for a bad guy. But I know for a fact that if they were ever targeted as a victim by a criminal, it would be a VERY bad day for the criminal. The guys I see that dress up in their weekend warrior tactical wannabe gear, I literally can’t help but to bust out laughing at them thinking they would be the first guys to cower under a table if shit hit the fan in a restaurant.

I love Chad. But he does look the “Soy Boy” in the AK vs AR guys lol. Love the video guys keep it up!

Imagine being with all your al-queda buddies and some Romanians blasting tina turner pull up.

Is this person single? Yep…I have a chance. …maybe next week.

I’ve more stickers now than I’ve ever had and I’m afraid to put them on my vehicle. I’ll just stack em up... love y’alls videos... keep up the great job 👍👍👍

Being the gray guy IS a tactical advantage

its nice to see a gun gripe that doesnt revolve around politics for a change 👍👍 more of this please

Lol this quarantine got me lookin like chad. One more month and I’ll put it up in a ponytail

I have been a Patreon since they’re we’re only 100 of us and a longtime viewer and through out all the different kinds of videos, gun gripes have consistently been my favorite!

"Do you even operate bro?"

This is hands-down the best gun channel on youtube . Love listening to you guys and the content you produce. Such an enjoyable and informative channel. Stay safe out there brothers! And keep up the great work.

its called the "gray man" .. this is life

I love Eric talking about “choosing” a side entrance or “choosing” to park away from others...I get the feeling parking is far more available in Georgia than west coast suburbia. Where I was raised you grab the first spot available, you’d have to wait till late to find any spots like that.

Eric shows off his pants. _James Reeves has entered the chat._

I used to have a gun rack back in the early 90's in MN. Now I carry all my range day pieces and accessories in guitar cases and light road cases. Less people hate guitars.

I've been rolling like this for years. My wife calls it wolf in a sheeps clothing. My tactical Ted buddies laugh at me and tell me that being tactical is a deterrence. If I had a dime for everytime a gun store worker confuses me for a first time gun owner buying his first gun, I would have a hi point.

The guy you're thinking of who took the grey man approach was FerFal. Great points on grey man behavior and situational awareness from parking to what you wear. I think you can get away with some tactical pants in a more worn looking neutral color, gun shirts can be avoided. Wear a button down open, this can help blending in. Camo is fine in shorts in my area with a black shirt.90% of guys in my area under 40 wear that. For me being around guys who work on tactical teams in my jobs, Merrell, Solomon and New Balance all terrain sneakers are what I and most of them wear in a simple black. Functional but not 5.11 or something similar for boots. For urban areas some Molle on bags is actually camo on a black backpack. Everyone from Antifa leftsit, to photographer's and hipsters wear those bag's in my urban area. For vehicles I try to keep it free some most stickers, I do have a small one for my business and that's all, vehicle is clean but bone stock exterior. For locking up firearms and hiding trauma gear I keep a jacket over the back of my seat hiding my trauma bag unless I'm driving. Pistol safes and cables are under the seats. No idea what I may have, visible is a cheap phone charge and glasses, in each console pocket is a tourniquet accessible but out of view. For situational awareness not only do you need this inside a store, but walking around, in your vehicle or even at home. Be aware of the same car behind you for a while turn for turn. This saved me from an attempted car jacking which I later found out was happening in that area like crazy because people would look down at their phones when they stopped at a traffic light and the attacker would shove a gun in your face while texting. I saw a door open, gun and him step around his door. I drew mine and took off. Avoided the fight by seeing it. Same with cars or people on your street who don't belong there normally. Biggest tell of a new or gun owner with a crap holster is they're touching their gun subtlety or pulling their shirt to check to see if it's showing 99% of my times seeing this I can see a low profile print, no matter what they're wearing. Every friend new to carry I tell them be aware not to keep checking to see if it's still there, it is. Even buddies in LE have said from criminals to law abiding citizens the gun check is something they all notice. Most are aware of it because it could be a pre-attack indicator from a criminal and that split second adjustment could alert them to a threat before a shot is fired. These are all 2A supporting cops who encourage people to carry.

In this video, Eric and Chad talk for over 30 minutes about being the grey man, without ever saying "grey man". 😛

I love you guys. There’s so much hatred and hypocrisy in the gun community. I really appreciate your level headed approach to these sorts of topics. You don’t b.s. with the facts but you don’t spread misinformation and “fear” either.

I consider myself to be a "smoothe operator" 🤣

I like to use the "Street Sleeper"tactic on Motorcycles ,buy them cheap & second hand but basically solid , do understated upgrades , decent suspension, braided hoses, decent brake pads , quality air filters , possibly jetted with a modded exhaust ,I use a decent lock , but I keep them rough around the edges and don't polish visible items ,they still go like stink and the thieves target the nice newer shiney machines and leave mine alone , keep it low key .

Take it easy and appreciate y’all from Texas ^^

I made a comment a few vids ago about sharing the spotlight and letting everyone talk especially guests on the show and in this video I have seen a huge improvement and implementing some tricks to let the other guy know you have something to say. great job guys! also great topic thanks!

Advertising vs greyman.

Hey guys, y’all nailed it. I’m in my 60’s now but in the Way Back Machine I worked closely with special forces, though I wasn’t special myself. I was a part of Naval Intelligence. Got out, didn’t know how to turn it off and wore some version of a uniform for decades afterward. Now that I’m gray topside, I have gone gray man. Am I still dangerous? Dunno. I remember how it’s done and I’m still willing to do but my body gets a vote too since I frequently ride a wheelchair for transportation. Thanks Uncle Silly and your damned Canoe Club! Times and things change. Gray Guy is all the rage, at least in my future. Now if I could only get some range time and a firearm.

Look into clothes for tradesmen, loads of pockets and it's all tough as hell, I personally think tactical gear goes one of two ways, cheap and made to last a bit of posing or overpriced and silly tactical looking, stuff for tradesmen needs to be affordable and survive tough use, day in day out and best of all looks normal

I used to watch all of iraqveteran8888 videos but they stopped appearing on my feed around the start of coronavirus. After searching them up in November and liking a few of their videos I now have their videos in my feed.

I had a family member who I hadn’t seen in a while say he was surprised that I was into firearms, and was way more well versed than most non-LE/Veteran people (and he was a former ranger), and a coworker was also surprised to hear that as well(he said I didn’t look the part).

hey eric . i live about ten miles south of your old job at moss . i was in the parking lot at lovejoy walmart one night walking to my car when i saw three guys standing out side by the garden center doors. about the time i noticed them they started walking towards my car . i told my wife to get in the drivers side while i kept an eye on them . when they noticed that i reached into the back of my belt and kept a constant eye on them they quickly tried to look innocent and stopped approaching. i wasnt even carrying at the time but that sure convinced me to. loose button down shirt with the bottom three buttons undone hiding a shoulder holster. best way ive found to carry so far. doesnt show when reaching up doesnt show when in a public bathroom. great retention. next to impossible for someone else to get to it.

I’ll buy an extra large moms demand action shirt with baggy pants to conceal a gold desert eagle

I had an AR-15 sticker on my truck once. Someone broke my window.

We called it being the grey man. I still carry myself as such.

It's also how law enforcement perceives you.

You can't see my 1911 or the two extra mags when I am in my long sleeve polo shirt, shirt is tucked in.

Great video guys. This is the exact reason I don't put stickers on my vehicle. Everything is low key and when I wear firearms related hats it's always very low key ones that only another avid gun lover would know what it is

What’s love gotta do gotta to do with it? Who needs a heart when a heart can be brokennnnnnn

USN vet early 80’s NAB Coronado, scuba instructor in Florida since 1999, I never put dive stickers on my vehicle for same reasons. Now I have a sprinter 4x4 (RV) that had hail damage so had entire van rhino coated......Now the Van is mistaken for FBI surveillance vehicle everywhere I go. (Now I don’t leave firearms in vehicle) I have family in Pendergrass GA. Keep up the great content and if your ever in north central Florida mi casa su casa.

Just wear a t-shirt that says " I'm not carrying a gun" nuff said😎

"You'll probably be feeling that later" "... I will" lolol you guys are great

A bumper sticker that reads, "More social distance please"

( another Atlanta guy)I've pretty much always thought along the " discretion" theme in vehicle stickers and had none. My one exception that I just couldn't resist was that I put a " Blackwater" paw print sticker in the back window of my truck camper top. I guess I only got one or two "thumbs up" acknowledgements in the year or so it was on there. I reconsidered and took it off. I usually drive a Honda Fit.. BUT... I'm also a Harley rider. I usually wear jeans, tac boots, & black shirt/ sweater, Black leather vest/ jacket depending on weather whether it's Honda car or Harley. Not trying to be a bad ass, It's just very practical. Lots of pockets easy to CC.

I will never open carry. Not only does it put everyone on edge, but if a bad actor shows up, you'll be the first target.

This is such a deep comment on how to move smoothly through society.

The sound you made getting that leg up there...

I gotta say, Chad is like a Old school New York City cop the way he carries himself and all..

"Nothing says tread on me like a don't tread on me sticker"

That's a great philosophy. Awesome video and not too long!

I want to be the guy that walks into a room and is forgotten moments after they see me.

"weirdo dr freeman glasses from half life" -IV8888 That line had me laughing

When Eric kicked his foot up to show off his pants I lost it 😂

Really good video fellas. Loved that little nugget at the end about carrying some extra cheap blankets in case you ever bump into someone who is clearly getting their butt kicked by the elements. Very nice

When I was in Afghanistan, we had some spooks with big beards and civilian cloths (they worked for different alphabet boi agencies). They were always going out on missions in gross looking toyota hilux trucks(that were up armored but you couldn't tell) and locally available motorcycles. I got to watch quite a bit of their drone footage of operations they did. Stuff was right out of Call of Duty. I think the best one was a dude went out on a motorcycle in man jams (local loose fitting cloths) with a briefcase sniper rifle. Dude climbed a tree and sniped 5 dudes sitting around a camp fire without any of them being alerted then rode right back to base.

Keeping it low key can help you, but sometimes the exact opposite can be true. Prisoners interviewed in a study, said that 40% of them had decided to look for an easier target after seeing a firearm. So sometimes the peaceful display of a firearm can protect people without it even being realized.

If your carrying a back pack in a restaurant you are sticking out like no other in my opinion

Long videos are good because you guys expand on your points and ideas, keep it up.

So you guys like Doom, half-life, what else? Didn't know you were avid gamers

Hey Eric and Chad! I am from Minnesota! I have had my CCW for the last 15 years or so. I agree with everything you guys said. Another great video!

Eric: 'nonchalant' is not the same as 'nondescript'. Check the definitions.

I think it’s a double edged sword. I like being inconspicuous while being armed, not drawing that sort of additional attention to myself. At the same time, I’m an activist, I like representing gun rights, manufacturers, and general ownership. So I do have stickers on my car, T-shirt’s, etc.

Had a huge Rockford Fosgate sticker on my car until a friend asked if I want my stereo stolen when I travel to a large city.

I would love to have you guys give an episode on normal everyday preparedness... your experiences and insight is greatly appreciated.

Keep it up Chad, nobody suspects the homeless guy jk

It’s called OPSEC being tactically grey or just simply the “Grey Man” tactics. It also can apply to preparedness. I wear a lot of firearm branded clothes and 2A stuff. I feel that being a gunsmith it’s just advertising for the cause even though I also know that it’s the tactical Ted look and appreciate the tip, I don’t want people to look at me as being a threat especially since if someone wanted to rob me they’d know that I’m armed or if a crazy person came in somewhere to do something bad I’d be the first target possibly so I have a new perspective now on that. Thanks Eric & Chad, you guys are awesome.

No need to ask...he's a smooth operator.

thank you and chad for the "mind nuggets" very much appreciated.

When I see guys open carry I keep an eye on them even though hes probably an online friend lol...Its a natural defensive thing even though some gun guys would automatically have a connection and see him as a friend I go the opposite way and consider him a possible threat...How people look might tip you off a bit as to what kind of person they are but their attitude in the moment means so much more, the aggravated dude makes me more nervous than the guy who looks like a gang member....

Situational awareness is the key to survival. Low key, armed and trained.

Being an "operator" isn't a hobby or a fad, it's a way of life. It can't be turned off like a switch or hidden by the clothes you wear. It's all how you carry yourself. OPSEC.

Just put a USCCA and a DB firearms sticker on my truck yesterday I guess I’ll take them off now. Great video to think about things.

How to be a smooth operator 😂😂

Nature is that which selects- Jordan Paterson. Great video guys