any people of color?

[allaroundhunter]

Dilbo, I am sincerely sorry for how you are treated. I am not in the exact same boat as you in the sense that I am a white male, but being young (relatively compared to most gun owners at 20), I feel as if I am constantly having to prove myself.

Just as an example, at the last range I was at, in order to shoot at the 200 yrd line you had to show the RO your 100 yard target. This worked for everyone but me. When I tried to show the RO mine he didn't believe me and made me shoot another 10 shot group with him watching...

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[CAVHOOAH]

There are some that say firearms are "Barbaric"...something like "are we not more civilized than this" ?

These feelings shouldnt be fought, but understood. As someone stated, body language...movements....attitudes...eye contact....the way you stand, sound and basically appear are all clues that will tell you about someone. These are not traights we should tamper down.... these are common sense, sixth sense if you will.... such as the "fight or flight" ect....


As said prior... if you perceive yourself as being out of place.... you will appear to be out of place.

Trust your instincts, thousands upon thousands of years have ingrained them in us and they are no more barbaric then adrenaline or the shivers.

 

[NoirFan]

Person of color here, yellow to be specific. Grew up in the 80s in the Midwest, and I have not noticed that the shooting community is more racist than any other segment of society, probably much less so in fact.

I do think racial and religious minorities have more reason than most to be armed, because all throughout history they have existed at the sufferance of the majority. It's like floating in a small rowboat on a calm ocean under a clear sky; there's no danger at present, but you're always aware that the huge forces at work under and around you could rise up at any second and wipe you out.

Where I live, people of all races take care of their neighbors and pull together in the face of trouble, but will that last if there's ever a major societal breakdown? Or will people revert to violence and hatred among tribal lines? If the latter is the case, numbers will tell and minorities of all kinds will be in big trouble. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

 

[Nushif]

I guess I am just ranting a bit that we should not just so easily let go of this ideal, just because it is idealistic, because damn it, America *is* founded upon the bright shining beacon of idealism, and how great a thing that is in the world.

Naaaw. Now shave your face and get a haircut, you hippie. 8)

 

[DefiantDad]

Duuuuude...

 

[barnbwt]

Do people from the PNW even have "accents" per se?

Valley Girls and Surfers sure do, brah! I do also have a hint of my parents' Midwest ("roof" rhymes with "woof," not "poof") and Southern (grew up saying "ya'll" much to the delight of the natives).

As far as newscasters, I'm pretty sure the old fast-talking "This Week in the World" news-reel guy didn't sound like he had an accent to the folks of that era, either

TCB

dude with a horn implanted in his skull

*Archie* "Edith, I'm mortifried!"

 

[DefiantDad]

Here ya go, all the discriminatory things lumped together (horns, female, Asian, poor, elderly, etc.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1256398/Chinese-grandmother-grows-devil-horns.html

Real life is stranger than fiction!

 

[Alaska444]

I'm a Native American and I do in fact carry for fear of hate crimes. Mostly I carry for the general protection of myself and mine, but I was reminded last year of what can transpire when you wander into where you are not welcome. I had an emergency appendectomy and had to visit my surgeon once before he would pronounce me fit for anything. His office was in Dearborn Michigan and I couldn't believe the bigotry I saw and heard coming from the Arab community, from what I understand, the largest in North America. I will never again willingly set foot in Dearborn, certainly not that part of it. I likened it to a white man walking down 12th street in Detroit in 1967. I am certainly not going to spend as much time there as possible, simply because "it's their problem, not mine." That sort of "in your face" attitude is fighting bigotry with bigotry.

It is a two way street for sure.

I have been the victim of racial slurs myself. I am as white as a lilly, but my first wife was Asian and her family was not at all happy about her marrying a white boy.

In fact, you should have heard the racial slurs against my brother in law's fiance. He was "Vietnamese" and she was Chinese. Both dentists by profession. His older sister on many occasions called her parents telling them to keep their daughter away from her brother.

Funny thing is that her grandfathers on both sides were also Chinese who married Vietnamese wives. That makes her genetically 50% Chinese and 50% Vietnamese.

What many Americans are completely ignorant is the incredible racism that exists in Asian cultures against other Asians and likewise who can forget Rwanda between the Tutsi's and the Hutu's who were actually all from the same background. Over 500,000 people died in that genocide.

Racism makes no sense anywhere in the world it is encountered. What we have in America pales in comparison to many other nations. In general, Americans are very tolerant. What of the Asian babies born to native women and American GI's who were killed or abandoned by their mothers and families? All of my children are "half-breeds" and have experienced racial discrimination especially when I took them back east to visit their grandparents. The south is not the only place where racism exists in this nation.

Yes, it is sad that racism exists in America, but most Americans truly don't understand the extent that racism exists throughout the world. Our history is not pretty, but neither are many of the nations across this world when it comes to racism. I don't believe whether you own a gun or not has any bearing on this issue nor have I heard racial slurs more commonly in gun stores.

 

[jdh]

I have had business in an area known as "Little Tehran". It was made clear to me that because of what I was I was not welcome. Yes I was concerned about a hate crime being committed by certain members of the community if I lingered.

The company informed the customer next time he would have to bring his equipment to the shop for service.

 

[9mmepiphany]

That makes her genetically 50% Chinese and 50% Vietnamese.

Actually it makes her Viet-Ching

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I'm not but my Fiancee is Cambodian and dark skinned. We're both young and haven't seen much of it and New Hampshire/Maine is quite friendly towards Asians.

 

[Kynoch]

Valley Girls and Surfers sure do, brah! I do also have a hint of my parents' Midwest ("roof" rhymes with "woof," not "poof") and Southern (grew up saying "ya'll" much to the delight of the natives).

As far as newscasters, I'm pretty sure the old fast-talking "This Week in the World" news-reel guy didn't sound like he had an accent to the folks of that era, either

TCB



*Archie* "Edith, I'm mortifried!"

Is that honestly the best you can do? What TV shows did you get those stereotypes from?

"Valley girls?" Are you living in 1978? "Surfers" don't speak differently than others -- at least the adult surfers. "Brah?" Are you thinking of Hawaii?

 

[clem]

I’m sort of beige, that’s a color.

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, it is sad that racism exists in America, but most Americans truly don't understand the extent that racism exists throughout the world.

Exactly. People are people, all over the world and through out time. How one deals with racism/bigotry/alienation is most important. Be someone who helps smooth the differences, not fan the flames. We have enough folks fanning the flame in America. We need strong people like MLK who fought for justice and equality in strong non violent way, stressing proper behavior on both sides. We need leaders of color to step up to the plate to help solve problems, not perpetuate them. It is not going to be easy. We need so called "white" leaders to step up to the plate who want to help the problem, not advance their career by it.

I do not believe the problem in gun owner circles to be any worse, and perhaps better than other areas. Especially those who understand how we are discriminated against by the media, anti politicians, folks ignorant about guns, etc. We have been fighting that fight for a long time.

I work with ten people in our department, and hundreds in the company. We have one bigot in our dept. He is a decent enough, somewhat ognorant fellow who was just raised that way. I do not know if he will ever change, but I have made progress with him on race and politics, two very touchy subjects which are difficult to deal with, and can get you in trouble at work in a New York minute.

 

[bikerdoc]

Another Italian here, living in the south.
At 63 with a beard pony tail and perpetual scowl, I get comments on my 9 letter last name heavy with vowels. My response is "Dude we all come from someplace else. "

Jerks come in all colors and manner of dress.

My senior center group is conglomeration of some crusty old guys who have BTDT.
White, black, hispanic, phillipino, most shoot, basic rule is we dont care, a good guy is a good guy, jerks will be dealt with accordingly.

OP, seems to me you need to develop a core group of friends in the 2A community.

 

[kimbershot]

white guy here moved to sc last year and i live only a few miles from palmetto state armory. i shop there and shoot at the indoor range 1-3x week. place is multicultural. many military folks of all shapes (good shape), sizes and color are in the area (marine corps @ parris island etc). never saw a case of any bias towards anyone. many people carry concealed. fences make for good neighbors, concealed carry makes for civility.

 

[Mp7]

Anyone got the pic of that colored Gentleman in the suit wearing
an AR-15 to an OC event at starbucks?

The looks on the average white persons face tells you about
how deep paranoia and prejudice is rooted in most people.


Racism is terrible. I doubt you can as a white person only fathom
its extent to about 60%.

Speak out, speak loud ... whatever your heritage.
And never do business with any shop, where they think
racist jokes are okay.

 

[7.62 Nato]

"I often feel alone, I am talked down to, or ignored

I feel I constantly have to prove that I am "one of the good ones" which is just as insulting as overt racism.

Dose anyone have similar experiences?
Have you witnessed someone mistreated?"



Hmmm, I've experienced this many times in my life. I guess it doesn't rate being "racism" since I'm a "white" male. Life's not fair, get over it.

I think the "victims" can be just as guilty of perpetuating "racism". How many special interest groups do you see constantly demanding being treated "equal" ? But what they are demanding is to be "more equal" because what they are demanding is only for members of their group. They don't want to be treated equal, they want special treatment.

 

[ol' scratch]

I wonder if your lacation in the south has to do with the attitude some also?? I live where i grew up in southwest michigan very close to a high crime town. But in that town there is a very nice shooting range that i have gone to many of times. Never thought twice about who i am standing or shooting next to myself. And i would say 90% or better are non white members and visitors. I always look at the fact that if they have a ccw in michigan they gotta be good people no matter race or religion cus you just cant walk in a get a permit in michigan. Pretty timely and costly process...but with that same note i also snowmoblie and a friend from work wanted to try it ( someone that i have shot with for years) so i said come on lets go for a weekend. Once we crossed that bridge to the upper i could see the attitude towards him was " why dont ya just go home where you belong" he brushed it off but after a day of seeing it I said even though you r taking this better then me I am ready to go cus I dont need or want to hear this any longer.

I grew up in Northern Michigan, actually Cheboygan County. I am white. Even people from the Tip of the Mit are treated like that by SOME Yoopers. We are all trolls in their eyes (we live under da' bridge). I have met some amazing people in the U.P. and I have also experence what you are talking about. Actually, people in Cheboygan County can be the same way. To them you are just from "down below." It doesn't matter what race you are. Very close nit communities up there and they view outsiders with suspicion. If you go from one town to another in some cases people are the same way. I remember walking down the street in Onaway (small town 40 minutes away) and feeling like everybody was watching me. Please give the U.P. and Northern Michigan another chance. That area is truely one of my favorite places on the planet.

 

[sniperlongshot]

you know, i'm not a rich man, but i do pull a decent pay check......i don't dress for success as they say and niether do most of my friends, i am a white male pushing 50 and when i go to the gun shop/show i usually take cash because i don't like credite cards and paying interest, anyway if i'm blown off by the guy behind the counter or treated less than what i thought i should be, i'll still buy something from him if there's somthing i really want but i charge 10% for putting up for the rudness, i figure that's his life lesson and if he doesn't agree,........well he needs it more than i do and i'll let him keep it............my point is "don't judge a book by it's cover, and even though i've been know to read a lable out loud somtimes, i never stick them on a person, i let them do that on their own. "looks like a duck, walks like a duck, qacks like a duck....must be a duck"

 

[tarosean]

Racism is terrible. I doubt you can as a white person only fathom
its extent to about 60%.

There is a whole world out there that dislikes Americans. Even white boys get the brunt end of it depending on where they are at.

As the say "ignorance begets ignorance".

I travel the world for business, for the most part people of all colors and nationality's are nice. However, there are a few rotten apples everywhere...

 

[Snag]

I don't get racism. Doesn't make any sense. That coming from a white guy of Dutch persuasion that grew up in a town of 200.

I didn't meet any racist people until I left my home town. Makes me think location is everything. What kills me is how most of the time it seems that the people normally associated with being targets of racism are the ones that "keep the ball rolling".

Have you witnessed someone mistreated?

I have. There's a Ford dealer I used to work at in Virginia, not gonna say the name of the town, where the two back counter parts guy were hella racist. They would do things like post kkk meeting flyers on the bulletin board at the back counter. Or call our tranny tech, a black guy, to the parts counter to pick up something and when he'd show up they would be wearing cone hats they had made from those paper car floor mats.

That's the only thing I'd call blatant racism I've ever seen. Sure in the places I've been I've run in to others that talk smack behind closed doors, but that's all they ever do.

 

[hso]

It is shameful how shallow and narrow minded we can be in this country.
It is even worse that the firearms community can be so self-defeating as to treat anyone interested in being part of the community badly. We so desperately need people to be an active part of the community and it doesn't matter what they look like.

Yes, I've had friends of mine of eastern Mediterranean and Indian decent that have experienced this particular form of prejudice. If it has occurred in a shop or show while I'm around I usually ask for the owner and explain how destructive in the face of all the Antis working to destroy his business and our freedom. If they've experienced it on their own I've made a point of recommending them to shops and clubs and ranges that won't make us all look like idiots.

 

[CommanderCrusty]

An Iranian-American Sikh? Really? If you are a Persian Sikh, maybe you can tell us how much racism and religious intolerance a Sikh face in modern day Iran? (Just a review: Iran=State Ruled by Extremist Muslims. Sikh Faith=Nothing Like Islam.)

I know racism happens here every single day, but how are we doing compared to the rest of the world? Like, say, Saudi Arabia, where you can go to jail for carrying a Christian bible in your luggage. I'd say Americans do alright.

 

[freyasman]

Where are you?

Dilbo, I am traveling to NC from TN in a week or two to visit my son; we are going to go shooting and you are more than welcome to join us. Any activity is hard to get started in if you don't know anyone to do it with. I sure wouldn't go to a golf course by myself; I'd be too self-conscious.