My First Rifle

Lucky bastards, aren't they? Completely immune to stereotyping.

 

They have cool music.

 

Don't go blaming me for your mistake!

 

My grade school had mandatory hunter's safety for boys in fifth grade... This was in California, not Texas...

I got a rifle when I was 11, went hunting once, hated it... I don't understand the appeal on any level, but a lot of people who I really like and respect enjoy it...

 

Which "culture" is more fascinated with guns, and more likely to use them in a crime?

But, folks here would never look down upon the entire African-American community (in Chicago or elsewhere) as a result.

The "white trash" "hillbilly" stereotype of white, rural Americans has thrived on this board for years.

I've even heard prominent folks talk of people who, "cling to their guns and religion."

 

Guns should be banned for children 10 and under.

If it saves one life, it's worth it.

 

I erred in failing to point out YF's mistaken implication ...

 

I would say that the white, rural culture is more fascinated with guns, but that the black, inner-city culture is more likely to use them in a crime.

 

Rifle Teams used to be common in American high schools:



And, of course military schools still have them:



Nothing wrong with teaching youngsters how to responsibly use a firearm.

 

I don't know. I've never heard white rural america singing about "bustin a cap" into a cop

 

This is going to seem like a really fine distinction, but I think it's a real one:

Rural, white American gun owners, generally, are interested in the guns themselves. They enjoy guns. Shooting guns. Buying guns. Collecting guns. Modifying guns. Urban, black American gun owners, and in particular those involved in the drug trade, are interested in what they can actually do with the guns - namely enforce their business interests. If they could better enforce those interests with a knife or a sling shot, they would.

 

They've become status symbols too.