Could be the geographic area. Attitudes differ in different places.

I speak from experience- there was a lady co-worker in a different job that picked up on my "survivalist" tendencies (initially because I had a (tiny) flashlight in my pouch when needed, then she noticed that I carred a lighter though I don't smoke, and so on). Once, having brought a paper cup of hot tea back to my desk and finding I had nothing to stir it with, I pulled out a Ka-Bar "Hobo" set (folding knife, fork and spoon that clip together). She immediately focused on the knife component, and from then on made repeaded remarks about my being "armed", pretended to be afraid of me, told co-workers to be careful not to get me angry, and on and on... eventually, the boss came by and asked me to take it home.

The lady in question was not appeased. Later, when she overheard a conversation I was having with another shooter, and realized I was insane enough to actually OWN firearms, she redoubled her efforts to get everyone in the office to regard me as some sort of latent sociopath, and warned them that I might "go postal" at any time.

In a personal setting, I can ignore such idiots. Professionally, I don't need the grief.