Gun Owners Don't Always Fit The Stereotypes In 'Purple State' Virginia

[Kang Colby]

http://wamu.org/programs/metro_connection/15/10/30/in_purple_state_virginia_gun_owners_dont_always_fit_the_stereotypes

“My experiences as a minority gun owner initially started pretty nervous,” he says. “I was very intimidated initially because I had the stereotypes in my head that guns were the white, male Republican thing to have.” He says he now feels fully accepted by the gun community. “All gun owners just want to share their passion. That’s really all it is.”

Among his more liberal or vegan friends, Subramanian still feels like the minority. “I do not mention guns around them at all. I have before once or twice, and it’s usually ended with me being looked down upon for owning guns.”

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“A gun is the ultimate equalizer,” he says. Though he does not feel particularly targeted for being a minority, he mentioned self defense as a motivation to own guns for everyone, including more marginalized groups. “Minorities, LGBTQ, women, and all of those fringe communities you’re talking about can really benefit from firearms because they’re communities where, when they are attacked, no one’s going in there with a fair fight.”

Excellent article I think many of you will enjoy. Gun ownership is important to a diverse group of people as is often expressed right here on DU.

[HassleCat]

1. I like guns

I have several, all handguns. I don't hunt, and I don't feel I need a firearm to defend myself, so they're just for target shooting. I used to shoot frequently, reloaded my own ammo, etc. Now I just shoot at tin cans. My wife's cousins want me to go deer hunting with them, so I might use them for that, except I don't want to actually kill a deer.

[Kang Colby]

2. Nothing wrong with that.

Go hunting with them. There is nothing wrong with just going for the experience and camaraderie.

[beemer27]

5. I can understand your position.

All of my life I have owned and used firearms. As a youth we hunted and went plinking for recreation. In the military a firearm was with me constantly. After I left the military, I still enjoyed firearms, but gave up hunting. There is nothing wrong with harvesting game. I just lost interest in it. I still own and use firearms, I just do not hunt. There are many of us in the firearms community with the same attitude. There are many different kinds of gun owners. It is a large group, and there is room for all of us.

[Eleanors38]

7. Just over 80% of gun-owners do not hunt.

[beevul]

3. What a sad commentary...

Among his more liberal or vegan friends, Subramanian still feels like the minority. “I do not mention guns around them at all. I have before once or twice, and it’s usually ended with me being looked down upon for owning guns.”

What a sad (yet brutally honest) commentary, on the tolerance and inclusiveness of anti-gun folks.

[bluestateguy]

4. I know several gay people who have guns

For them it's a matter of self-defense in the homophobic red state communities they live in.

[Eleanors38]

6. A liberal, gay, black Democrat owns Central Texas Gun Works in Austin.