[twoblink]

Was listening to CNN (trust me, just happened to be on in the restaurant, I don't even own a TV) and it was talking about the war, etc.. and then interviewed some Japanese and Taiwanese, who said they were "facinated by the facination Americans have with guns.... and violence".

Leave it to CNN to report only the information they want to...

They only interviewed those who are against the war...

Also, the CNN talking head said straight out, America is in it for oil only.

with America's CNN ruining America's image around the world, who needs enemies?? :fire: :cuss:

[ahadams]

I think we're seeing a lot of the anti-americans in the media coming out of their closets now...

they're terrified of Fox News Channel and the other conservative outlets, and they seem to have figured out that the time for nicey nice is over.

[PATH]

I watch FOX. The coverage is not perfect but it sure is better than the other fellas!

[SIGarmed]

That is totally hypocritical. Have you ever seen their anime?

[PATH]

Cool isn't it?:D

[geekWithA.45]

True story, happened to me, late 80's.

I land in Japan, and present my bags for customs inspections.

The inspector looks over my bags, and politely asks he he can open one of them. In the back of my mind, I wonder briefly what would happen if I shout, "No! Not THAT one! Try THIS one", but momma always tought me not to tease the guys with badges.

He opens it, pulls out a pair of pants and says, "These are....pants", and cocks an eye towards me to verify.

"Yes, those are pants."

He rummages through a bit, and finds my 2 cartons of cigs. (2 cartons is the max you're allowed) "OOOH. WHAT IS THIS?"

"Those are my cigarettes."

"And what are you going to do with these?"

"I'm going to smoke them".

"Uh, OK."

He digs around some more, and then, casually, trying to catch me off guard..."Do you have....MARIJUANA?"

"No."

"Uh, OK. Do you have.....MACHINE GUN?"

"Uh, no. I left my guns at home".

His eyes went WIDE, WIDE, WIDE.

"OK, you pass. Welcome to Japan. Enjoy your stay".

[Bahadur]

The Japanese Customs inspectors at Narita will sometimes show you a picture book containing banned items, including knives and guns.

I was asked, once, whether I had anyone of the items. Since I interpreted that to mean "do you have any ON YOU," I said "No" and moved on.

Then afterwards, my wife, who was travelling with me, said "We have everyone of those items!"

[jmbg29]

Then afterwards, my wife, who was travelling with me, said "We have everyone of those items!" :evil: :cool:

[Travis McGee]

I spent two years living on Guam, which is a short jet ride from Japan and a major tourist destination. It's actually cheaper for a Japanese to fly to Guam, stay in a luxury hotel, and play golf all weekend on one of the ten or so courses than it is to play golf ONCE (just the golf, no hotel, no jet, no beaches) back in Nippon!

Anyway, to the point. All over Guam there are indoor target ranges, where Japanese eagerly pay a dollar a bullet to shoot .45s, .44 mags etc!! A dollar a bullet, and they LOVE it!! If they have the $$$, they can even rip off full-auto mags from Tommyguns, MP5s etc. Actually handling and shooting a real live firearm is a MAJOR thrill for many Japanese, who have never seen any kind of real gun, much less shoot one.

[Oleg Volk]

I suppose saying that, historically, most American guns are used to shoot paper targets and small game, whereas most Japanese guns have been used to shoot Chiense civilians...wouldn't make you popular with the locals there. ;)

[geekWithA.45]

I suppose saying that, historically, most American guns are used to shoot paper targets and small game, whereas most Japanese guns have been used to shoot Chiense civilians...wouldn't make you popular with the locals there.


No, telling them that would not make you popular.

Not at all.


To the point though, I've seen it time and again that folks from countries that don't recognize the right to arms tend to be somewhat fascinated, both with the tools themselves, and the folks who own them.

I took a Hungarian friend to the range...coupla times. Sadly, except for an upcoming stint in the army, that'll be his only chance to shoot.

[Skunkabilly]

I suppose saying that, historically, most American guns are used to shoot paper targets and small game, whereas most Japanese guns have been used to shoot Chiense civilians...wouldn't make you popular with the locals there.

Don't forget bayonet practice :fire:

[NewShooter78]

That is totally hypocritical. Have you ever seen their anime?

No kidding, its some of the most violent (and odd) stuff out there.

[Gnull]

Kinda funny.. Japanese anime has some of the coolest(and violent) gun fights around... that and Japan has been fascinated with cowboy style anime like Trigun and Cowboy Bebop(both of which I have :p ) Seems to me like a lot of people become fascinated with guns after firing them. Most people who hate them have never had they joy of going to the range for some relaxation(at least in my experience).

[12.7x99mm]

asian women with guns?

OMG I dont think you can beat that.

[twoblink]

This from a culture that has a monopoly on violent anime, binding-gagging-raping little school girls in sailor suits...:rolleyes:

All the japanese exchange students I know in America, when they here that I have guns, ALL of them scream for me to take them shooting.... (Especially the women).

Irony and hypocracy does not even begin to understate the Japanese love affair with guns.

[Skunkabilly]

Many Asians I know esp the boys are fascinated with them. They just haven't recognized the difference between bad guys getting guns illegally and committing crime and good guys owning them to protect themselves from crime, and otherwise.

I can't say I know much about Asians, most of my contacts in Hong Kong are...well...will kowtow to whoever is dictator du jour. Not to say Cantonese people are that way, just my small circle, I wouldn't call them liberty loving people.

[4v50 Gary]

Concur that Japanese also have a fascination with firearms but because of their wonderfully draconian laws, can't have 'em. So, when they visit here, they go hog wild to hold, pose and shoot the real thing.

[Skunkabilly]

Man I gotta take all my exchange student friends shootin!

[Bahadur]

BTW, Westerns (films) are very popular in Asia. I saw Asian children wearing plastic silver badges playing with "six shooters" at times when I lived in East Asia.

Surprisingly enough (as of early 1990s), I found that some Asian kids were more familiar with John Wayne than many American kids of the same age group ("John who?").

[Standing Wolf]

I used to shoot at the National Shooting Club in Silicon Valley, the People's Republic of California. The most dangerous shooters there were large groups of Asians on vacation in the U.S. Many seemed to have been waiting all their lives for the opportunity to shoot real firearms—and were so excited, the simplest safety principles eluded them.

[Dave R]

In my previous job we had a lot of Japanese visitors to our site in Idaho. Almost all loved going to the indoor range. They always kept their targets as souvenirs.

[CZ-75]

I took a Hungarian friend to the range...coupla times. Sadly, except for an upcoming stint in the army, that'll be his only chance to shoot.


It wasn't always so. After they gained independence from the Soviet Bloc, firearms ownership was possible, even desireable, with all the redfellas and petty criminals moving in. Sadly, the crims are still there, but the gun laws were massively tightened to meet EU eligibility criteria.

[Skunkabilly]

Gunhead is a Hungarian member and has some pretty interesting toys....

[sixgun_symphony]

There is a tourist marked for American shooting ranges. Some even advertise in Japan for tourists.

[twoblink]

The problem is that they come to the states after watching too many Chow Young Fat movies; and they think shooting "gansta" style is the way to go. Safety? What safety? They only get to own airsofts (just like in Taiwan) and their airsofts costs more then real guns!

I always leave the range when a large group of overly excited asian tourists walk into the range as well... Don't want to get shot!

[Skunkabilly]

Twoblink, why not teach them safely? None of them had the opportunity to learn safe handling back home.

[Bahadur]

I always leave the range when a large group of overly excited asian tourists walk into the range as well... Don't want to get shot!Actually, that seems to apply to all kinds of tourists from countries that do not allow firearm ownership, not just Asian tourists.

Come to think of it, that seems to apply to some Americans who never touched a gun as well.

Come to think of it again, that seems to apply to some Americans who own lots of guns (the type who brings a six-pack, drink it all and then proceeds to blast the bottles or try anyway).