Guns and black people

[JimC]

FBM wrote:

That's just it. They don't. When you grow up in a certain culture, you don't see that culture as weird. Do you think it's weird to be an Aussie Rules Football or cricket fan? But if an American in America were to be a fan of either of those sports, people would think he was some kinda freak.

I get the general point, but relatively minor differences in sporting codes are minor compared to the whole gun thing, IMO. Mind you, in rural Australia, teenage boys going off shooting bunnies with .22s was pretty standard, and would fit into rural US, I suspect, but would be foreign to much of the UK, for example.

It's the self defence thing with guns, and the intransigent fixation on an armed citizenry as a defence against unspeakable government evils that is bizarre to most of us...

[FBM]

FBM wrote:

That's just it. They don't. When you grow up in a certain culture, you don't see that culture as weird. Do you think it's weird to be an Aussie Rules Football or cricket fan? But if an American in America were to be a fan of either of those sports, people would think he was some kinda freak.

I get the general point, but relatively minor differences in sporting codes are minor compared to the whole gun thing, IMO. Mind you, in rural Australia, teenage boys going off shooting bunnies with .22s was pretty standard, and would fit into rural US, I suspect, but would be foreign to much of the UK, for example.

It's the self defence thing with guns, and the intransigent fixation on an armed citizenry as a defence against unspeakable government evils that is bizarre to most of us...

Yeah, I don't really go there. Instead, I focus on the legality wrt the Constitution. Which I think should be amended in this respect, by the way.

[Gallstones]

Minority Gun Owners Face Balancing Act, Weighing Isolation and Stigma of Violence

INDIANAPOLIS — Standing in a small booth surrounded by displays for rifles, pistols, holsters and other firearm accouterments, the Rev. Kenn Blanchard signed copies of his book “Black Man With a Gun: Reloaded.” Amid the sea of thousands of white faces that descended on this city for the National Rifle Association convention in late April, Mr. Blanchard, an N.R.A. member since 1991, offered his reasoning for why he was one of the few black visitors.

“We still culturally have a fear that we’re going to be that lone guy out, and you don’t want to be the lone guy out,” he said, estimating that one in 100 people at the convention was black. “The exposed nail gets hammered.”
...
At a time when gun issues are volatile nationally and sales are increasing, minority gun owners — whether black, Asian or Latino — may feel that their weighing of the practical pros and cons of gun ownership comes up against the conservatism and unyielding stances of the N.R.A. and some other gun advocates. Mr. Blanchard said it could be a difficult balancing act.
...
Eric Morris, an African-American who runs Black Wolf Hunting Club, an organization based in Killeen, Tex., said he got the “deer-in-the-headlights look all the time” when he told people that he was a hunter. He said his goal in founding the group was to get more blacks and other members of minorities interested in hunting. “When have you ever seen a picture of a black father and son or a black father and daughter out shooting cans?” he asked.

Lots more at the link.

[Tero]

Gun sales should pick up now. Since the cops can now freely use deadly force when a black man comes at them with arms patly raised.

[Tero]

There will be some Darwin Awaards, however
http://wgntv.com/2014/11/24/woman-sayin ... head-dies/

[Seth]

On the other hand:

As an Australian, that is utterly bizarre to watch. Not anything to do with colour, but just casually wandering around in nice neighbourhoods with a gun and ammo strapped to you. It's just utterly alien.

Dude's carrying a useless piece of metal and plastic. Note in the final moments that the magazine well is empty, which means the gun is not loaded, which of course is the law (an unconstitutional one by the way) in California. You can openly carry a handgun, but it cannot be loaded, which makes it useless for it's legally authorized (and constitutionally protected) purpose of self-defense.

[piscator]

"Yes Ma'am, that's a pistol. But it ain't loaded."