Minorities buying guns

[Guy B. Meredith]

A while back an article from CNN was posted on trends in new black gun owners. Here's a similar article from Fox sans the CNN political tunnel vision.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/03/1...-sales-except-among-some-minority-groups.html

 

[Proinsias]

Link is broken, but it's easy to fix by removing the spaces between "some-" and "minority".

That map though... Firearms Registered by State? Do they mean possessed, because I'm pretty sure the number registered in many of those states is zero. NFA items maybe?

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The map is bogus. I suspect it is from an old article circulated on either CNN or CBS. Some jerko did a list of what was touted as generic arms ownership based on NFA firearms, not realizing that the vast majority of firearms are not registered.

 

[equin]

I guess I'm considered a "minority" (Puerto Rican). I'm still relatively new to the shooting sports, but I've bought a few firearms way before the last election. I'm not any more fearful or paranoid than before the election, but that's just me.

I've noticed I'm usually one of a few minorities at any of the local ranges I go to here in Texas. Don't know why that is. But at the CHL class I took a few years ago, the majority in my class were actually minorities (African Americans and Hispanics, both men and women). Based on the demographic of that class, I'm wondering if, at least here in Texas, a state with a very large Hispanic and African American population, minorities have historically bought firearms. I just haven't seen hardly any at the few outdoor ranges I've visited in the Dallas area for some reason, but I admit I haven't had a chance to go to the range as much as I'd like since the election.

My wife is a proud, naturalized American citizen born in Mexico but raised in Texas. Despite her US citizenship, though, she's become more afraid since the election, as have some of her other Hispanic lady friends.

Part of that fear stems from a negative comment she personally received since the election, which makes one wonder whether its timing was just a coincidence or whether the insulter felt emboldened as a result of the election. The other part is from increased media reports of racial/ethnic tensions. Again, we don't know if it's just the media sensationalizing tensions that aren't any more prevalent than they've been in the past, or if those tensions have, in fact, increased because of the election result. Based on that fear, however valid or misperceived as it may be, she's expressed a greater desire to learn how to handle and shoot a gun and to get her concealed handgun license. I think it's great that she now wants to exercise her 2nd Amendment rights, but it's a shame that it's due to her fear.

It makes me wonder if other American minorities have also grown more fearful since the election and as a result have resorted to buying firearms for protection as that Foxnews article seems to suggest. If so, then at least those minorities who now lawfully own firearms, where once they hadn't, can better appreciate their 2nd Amendment rights and can hopefully be added to the rolls of those of us who've supported and defended the 2nd Amendment.

 

[Water-Man]

Racial tensions have increased dramatically during the Obama years. I'm not sure if turning back is a possibility any longer. I believe a race war is a distinct possibility in the coming years.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I disagree. Though there are some morons around, most of the tension is race baiting and demagoguery.

To keep on point, though, I am glad to see minority groups that the anti gun crowd consider reliable constituents breaking from the party line on firearms. They'll find out we are them and don't eat children. If this move is big enough it could be the end of arbitrary and bigoted restrictions on firearms. Should definitely throw a kink into efforts to restrict carry.

Equin, issues your wife may have come from demagogues who absolutely refuse to acknowledge the difference between immigrants and aliens living here illegally. My wife is a Permanent Resident immigrant and disgusted with politicians' doublespeak.

 

[equin]

You make a great point, Guy Meredith. The more minority groups that get involved, the more our shooting sport grows and the more protected our 2nd Amendment rights become.

 

[azrocks]

It's no different from the gun run that was spawned by Obama's election. The only difference is the demographic who thinks the S is about to HTF.

And I'm in total agreement with Guy & Equin. I'm down with every American citizen exercising their constitutional rights. If some people get nervous because a minority group is getting on board with gun rights, then they really need to re-evaluate their definition of freedom.

One of the really cool things I've seen with my own eyes is how - through shooting - people of diverse cultures come to understand that they're really not as diverse as they went in thinking they were. New gun owners learn that we're all not a bunch of blue-eyed devils looking to re-enact slavery. Old gun owners learn that pop-culture fashion trends don't indicate gang affiliation.

Just reviewing my own post - it is interesting to note that when I think of 'gun owners', the first image that pops in my head is someone who looks like me.

 

[.308 Norma]

Just reviewing my own post - it is interesting to note that when I think of 'gun owners', the first image that pops in my head is someone who looks like me.

Ha! You make some very good points azrocks. But my goodness - I'm sure glad that neither my wife nor my daughter look like me!
Just kidding. I know what you're saying.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Heck, I don't even look like me.

 

[JO JO]

And I'm in total agreement with Guy & Equin. I'm down with every American citizen exercising their constitutional rights. If some people get nervous because a minority group is getting on board with gun rights, then they really need to re-evaluate their definition of freedom.

I agree with you and the more of us shooting including minority's keyword "American citizen" the better the second amendment will stay cemented in all our views and values , as more new shooters and minority groups enjoy shooting they will pass it along to their kids to continue the sport, and perhaps Vote for gun friendly folk's instead of the one who want to take away our rights ,
the ones that carry a gun that I fear would do harm did not buy the gun legally,
I too support legal firearm ownership to any LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZEN that is legally allowed to own one,
besides Minority's getting into legal firearm ownership and pro gun is a liberals nightmare,

 

[Ed Ames]

I too support legal firearm ownership to any LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZEN that is legally

So my legal permanent resident friend who owns a house has a job pays her taxes ETC. In the US just like you do doesn't deserve effective tools to defend herself because she is a Canadian citizen?

I'm glad the law disagrees with you.

 

[JO JO]

I said I support legal American citizen minority or not to own a firearm it is their right as a citizen to do so, as far as I know a legal permanent resident can own/buy a firearm I know my wife was able to buy one as a legal permanent resident she is now a citizen, I think you misunderstood my comment I am saying being a minority should have no bearing on a citizen owning a firearm.

 

[C5rider]

I still scratch my head every time I fill out a 4473 and they ask your ethnicity AND race. Guess it "doesn't matter" everywhere else.

 

[Ed Ames]

... I think you misunderstood my comment I am saying being a minority should have no bearing on a citizen owning a firearm.

I must have misunderstood. It seemed like you were saying that being a minority should have no bearing on a citizen owning a firearm. I think it would be better to say that being a minority should have no bearing on a person owning a firearm.

Whether being an active lawbreaker (e.g. an illegal alien) should have a bearing I can argue either way. There are dangers to prohibitions and the unintended consequences (creation of a black market, increasing theft, etc.) of prohibiting certain people may well outweigh any benefit, but that's a pragmatic issue. In principle human rights shouldn't be tied to citizenship, race, religion, gender, etc..

 

[Dog Soldier]

The fact that the Mexican government is spending 50 million dollars to protect the rights of illegals in America is wrong. In Mexico you have no rights as a foreign born.
These moves by Mexico is going to cause serious problems.

 

[Walkalong]

Not really on topic.