Hoplophile
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2007
- Messages
- 238
One group I rarely see gun owners talk about is immigrants, except to say that the illegal ones should leave. Immigrants, upon the consideration of the author, seem to be a very good group to take shooting. I met a young lady from Bulgaria the other day, and her comments and ignorance as to American culture and gun ownership enlightened me as to why we should take them shooting. After telling her that it was legal in America to criticize the government (tell this to a foreigner and watch their eyes light up, listen to them giggle as you shout that the ATF/Bush/Obama sucks, it's quite enchanting to see someone truly realize freedom), I mentioned that we could also purchase firearms legally and with some degree of immediacy. She replied that "must be why you have all those school shootings!". I quickly (and politely, and flirtatiously) corrected her, telling her that the reason we have school shootings is because of school shooters, not firearms. I rattled off a few more reasons why private ownership of firearms was a good thing, and an interesting thing happened.
She didn't say "well, once, I saw a man get shot...". She didn't say that "you're more likely to shoot a family member...", or that there was no use for assault weapons or why do you need a gun, or anything else antis usually ask or respond with.
She asked to know more. With an honest curiosity, she quizzed me about why you'd want a gun, if it was fun to shoot guns, if she could buy a gun, what sort of different guns there were, if guns were safe, etc. By the end of the conversation, she was interested. Unfortunately, she only has a six-month visa, after which she goes home. However, now, when she goes back to Bulgaria, she can tell her friends about the place where you can say anything you want and own guns.
In short, this opened up my mind to the reasons we should take immigrants shooting:
1) Many immigrants are open-minded.
Many cultures are very "innocent", and will listen to just about anyone with an open mind. Many of them have limited exposure to anti-gun media, or simply know guns by what they see in the movies. They basically have no outright bias against firearms (UK immigrants not included).
2) Many immigrants are intelligent.
Consider the more rigorous standards of schooling in many other countries, where a student that ends up in America is often a straight A student. Many of them come from parts of the world where intellect isn't just a requirement for job candidacy, it's a survival trait. If you give them a good reason for something, they're unlikely to object on emotional grounds.
3) Many immigrants are attractive.
Need I say more?
4) Because we need to get to them before the anti-firearm media does.
Firstly, immigrants need to protect themselves too. Often, they're the first victimized, unused to dealing with American criminals. A few poor Africans I've met are just the sweetest people imaginable, and really can't think of anyone who'd want to hurt or rob them. While endearing, this tends to get them victimized, as they're just more willing to open their doors for a stranger. They're already vulnerable, why make them more vulnerable by disarming them? Secondly, they may end up voting one day.
5) Because it makes us look good.
What your friends say when they go home for a visit reflects upon America. If they correct their friends who say that Americans are silly for owning firearms, perhaps the culture will take in other parts of the world. Who knows, maybe your friend has powerful family in government back home, you could really help a lot of people protect themselves.
6) Because other cultures are interesting.
Take the opportunity to learn their language, their customs, their culture. And hey, let's face it, the AK-47 is as American as apple pie and moral panics. A lot of Eastern Bloc countries produced it, maybe your friend knows something about your AK, or your Czechoslovakian pistol, or your Yugoslavian SKS, or etc. Maybe they grew up near the armory and can relay interesting info about it.
7) Because they may one day help pick our leaders.
They may one day vote. Let's get them voting for the right candidates.
8) Because they're going to fill important roles.
I'm a scientist, a student in school. I can tell you that I have about two American colleagues. The rest of the Americans are business and communications majors. Most of the academic, engineering, and scientific folk are foreign. They will one day be designing our circuits, vaccines, and vehicles. So, they're likely to be important. Important people who like guns generally help our cause.
9) Because it breaks a stereotype.
We're not all racist, NASCAR-loving, beer-swilling, shotgun-toting, uneducated yokels (obviously). The way we're very quick to criticize anyone who might try to disarm, specifically, our fellow black Americans, should show people that. We all know that gun control is an intrinsically racist thing. Show both the immigrants and the antis that we're an open-minded group and that we have no issues with other cultures.
10) Because it's a High Road sort of thing.
It's not much different than taking a kid shooting. They smile, they thank you, they always want to know if you want to go shooting today, and above all, it's the sensation of learning something new. It makes friends really quick, trust me.
Anyway, those are my ten reasons. What do you think?
She didn't say "well, once, I saw a man get shot...". She didn't say that "you're more likely to shoot a family member...", or that there was no use for assault weapons or why do you need a gun, or anything else antis usually ask or respond with.
She asked to know more. With an honest curiosity, she quizzed me about why you'd want a gun, if it was fun to shoot guns, if she could buy a gun, what sort of different guns there were, if guns were safe, etc. By the end of the conversation, she was interested. Unfortunately, she only has a six-month visa, after which she goes home. However, now, when she goes back to Bulgaria, she can tell her friends about the place where you can say anything you want and own guns.
In short, this opened up my mind to the reasons we should take immigrants shooting:
1) Many immigrants are open-minded.
Many cultures are very "innocent", and will listen to just about anyone with an open mind. Many of them have limited exposure to anti-gun media, or simply know guns by what they see in the movies. They basically have no outright bias against firearms (UK immigrants not included).
2) Many immigrants are intelligent.
Consider the more rigorous standards of schooling in many other countries, where a student that ends up in America is often a straight A student. Many of them come from parts of the world where intellect isn't just a requirement for job candidacy, it's a survival trait. If you give them a good reason for something, they're unlikely to object on emotional grounds.
3) Many immigrants are attractive.
Need I say more?
4) Because we need to get to them before the anti-firearm media does.
Firstly, immigrants need to protect themselves too. Often, they're the first victimized, unused to dealing with American criminals. A few poor Africans I've met are just the sweetest people imaginable, and really can't think of anyone who'd want to hurt or rob them. While endearing, this tends to get them victimized, as they're just more willing to open their doors for a stranger. They're already vulnerable, why make them more vulnerable by disarming them? Secondly, they may end up voting one day.
5) Because it makes us look good.
What your friends say when they go home for a visit reflects upon America. If they correct their friends who say that Americans are silly for owning firearms, perhaps the culture will take in other parts of the world. Who knows, maybe your friend has powerful family in government back home, you could really help a lot of people protect themselves.
6) Because other cultures are interesting.
Take the opportunity to learn their language, their customs, their culture. And hey, let's face it, the AK-47 is as American as apple pie and moral panics. A lot of Eastern Bloc countries produced it, maybe your friend knows something about your AK, or your Czechoslovakian pistol, or your Yugoslavian SKS, or etc. Maybe they grew up near the armory and can relay interesting info about it.
7) Because they may one day help pick our leaders.
They may one day vote. Let's get them voting for the right candidates.
8) Because they're going to fill important roles.
I'm a scientist, a student in school. I can tell you that I have about two American colleagues. The rest of the Americans are business and communications majors. Most of the academic, engineering, and scientific folk are foreign. They will one day be designing our circuits, vaccines, and vehicles. So, they're likely to be important. Important people who like guns generally help our cause.
9) Because it breaks a stereotype.
We're not all racist, NASCAR-loving, beer-swilling, shotgun-toting, uneducated yokels (obviously). The way we're very quick to criticize anyone who might try to disarm, specifically, our fellow black Americans, should show people that. We all know that gun control is an intrinsically racist thing. Show both the immigrants and the antis that we're an open-minded group and that we have no issues with other cultures.
10) Because it's a High Road sort of thing.
It's not much different than taking a kid shooting. They smile, they thank you, they always want to know if you want to go shooting today, and above all, it's the sensation of learning something new. It makes friends really quick, trust me.
Anyway, those are my ten reasons. What do you think?
