Tonight at Academy

Euclidean · December 13th, 2005, 02:39 AM

I can’t decide if I should laugh or cry.

Earlier tonight, I was searching for a shotgun sling unsuccessfully at a local Academy.

Anyway, there were, of all things, Chinese tourists in this relatively small Texas town. I don’t mean to say in some politically incorrect way they were Asian and I’m too stupid to know what to properly call them, I mean they were from China.

Do you know what they were in awe of?

The gun counter.

I couldn’t help but watch with a mixture of amusement and other feelings as they stared at what I have to admit is a pretty decent assortment of all things that go bang. Academy does have a pretty decent stock for a chain store.

They were taking pictures, and asking so many questions. They’d never seen anything like this before.

They asked us if people fought on the streets in America often. No.

Can anybody buy one? Well technically no.

Could I buy one? Sure.

Right now? Yep.

I could even carry guns on my person, concealed? Yep.

I even showed them my permit.

They took dozens of photographs and stared in awe when a man approached the counter and asked for a Marlin 336 and bought it in less than 5 minutes.

I couldn’t tear myself away from them. Only one of the three spoke good English, and they asked what’s that, what’s that, what’s that…

They didn’t know the difference between a Glock 27 and a Beretta 92, much less the difference between a rifle and a shotgun.

I felt a strange obligation to tell these people as best I knew. They took pictures of everything as I identified it.

The lies they had been told… they were told that only rich Americans with special government permission had firearms. That America was a rough and wild place, much less advanced than China. That guns kill people by the millions when left to the masses. Every wild lie you can imagine… I can’t recall all the things they told me.

I asked to see an XD40 Service. I wanted something I knew well enough so as not to mess up of course. I field stripped it and put it back together in front of their awestruck eyes. They asked me if I was a police officer, or a soldier, or a government employee. I told them I taught math. They looked at me like I was an alien from outer space.

They left, laughing and pointing.

I wasn’t political, the only political thing I told them was “Fear the government that fears your gun.” And that’s only because she asked.

I hope they go back to China, and tell their people the truth.

Most of all, I hope they think a little differently now, for the truth shall set you free.

Miggy · December 13th, 2005, 04:06 AM

Euc:
I can tell you more or less what were they thinking. My first Gunshow was way back in the very early 80's when I was young and fresh from the boat (airplane actually) and a friend took me to the Nashville Fairgrounds. My fist shock came before I even got inside: People with military rifles slung on their shoulders.... and civilians to boot! Is this a revolution? I was actually a bit afraid. I thought that maybe these people were them Klukkers I've seen in movies and, if I said or did the wrong thing, I'd end up swinging from a tree or with a cross burning in front of my apartment building.
I got in and I think I dragged my jaw for a good 30 minutes. Guns of all types and shapes everywhere We are talking major sensory overload. I did not know where even to start walking or what to say or do. My friend, smart as hell, just told me to look around and ask if I had questions. Hell I was even too ignorant to ask them but walk I did. I do not know how long I stayed inside, but I do remember people being very friendly, informative and even funny. I loosened up and started to ask questions which I know most were dumb as old bricks, but I did not get any sore looks or desperate sighs, just answers and advice. I specially cherish this very old guy, dressed in full WWI Doughboy uniform and weapons who was having an improvised storytelling session about life way back then. It was like watching history live.
I felt amazement, envy, hope and light. It was an awakening that such a culture existed and I craved it.

P95Carry · December 13th, 2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

They looked at me like I was an alien from outer space.

Hahaa! To their misguided eyes Euc - I guess so!

Fascinating encounter tho and I would hazard a guess that by your taking time to fill them in on certain facts - just maybe enough myths were dispelled so that when they get back, they can in a small way even - put a few other folks right on what actually is.

Many people totally remote from US of A, I think still have this mental picture of the ongoing ''Gunfight at the OK Coral'' - over the whole nation.

Rob72 · December 13th, 2005, 11:51 AM

One of the ranges I used to frequent, in Wichita, had a flood of Asian students, from WSU, every week-end. I don't know what the "end-result"was, but, each semester, you'd see some regular faces accompanied by new ones.

rstickle · December 13th, 2005, 12:57 PM

Great story, kind of reminds you that we have a lot of freedom.

Kompact9 · December 13th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Great story Euc...as they say "ya done good". With all the pictures they took, maybe they'll be worth more than a thousand words when they get back home to China.

Euclidean · December 13th, 2005, 03:37 PM

I've often wondered what will happen first.

The Chinese government will meet one of two ends imho:

#1. It will be crushed by a rebellion when the people finally realize the truth or just plain get fed up with it. Eventually those people could figure out their country has lots of SKSes and the like for the taking and start them a rebellion. So much of authority is an illusion no matter where you are. Our own government is 90% smoke and mirrors.

#2. The first scenario will begin to happen, but the powers that be will instead pursue a war probably with the U.S. so they can rally the support of the people behind them again.

Betty · December 13th, 2005, 06:12 PM

China is one scary place. What goes on there serves as a harsh reminder that the freedom we have here is worth fighting tooth and nail for, and we need to preserve the means to protect it. Our Second Amendment is the one that protects all the other Amendments, and without our right to bear arms, we are toothless dogs.

I hope those tourists take back with them that little taste of freedom and spread it around.

For me, one of the most moving pictures of all time is the student standing on front of the tanks in Tienanmen Square.

CombatEffective · December 13th, 2005, 08:35 PM

Now if you can just get started on the American public.

Team American · December 13th, 2005, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P95Carry

Many people totally remote from US of A, I think still have this mental picture of the ongoing ''Gunfight at the OK Coral'' - over the whole nation.

One more thing to thank Hollywood for....

December 13th, 2005, 12:57 PM	#5
rstickle Senior Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Laurel, MD Posts: 9,872	Great story, kind of reminds you that we have a lot of freedom. __________________ Rick EOD - Initial success or total failure

December 13th, 2005, 01:37 PM	#6
Kompact9 Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 427	Great story Euc...as they say "ya done good". With all the pictures they took, maybe they'll be worth more than a thousand words when they get back home to China. __________________ noli nothis permittere te terere...

December 13th, 2005, 03:37 PM	#7
Euclidean VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 3,213	I've often wondered what will happen first. The Chinese government will meet one of two ends imho: #1. It will be crushed by a rebellion when the people finally realize the truth or just plain get fed up with it. Eventually those people could figure out their country has lots of SKSes and the like for the taking and start them a rebellion. So much of authority is an illusion no matter where you are. Our own government is 90% smoke and mirrors. #2. The first scenario will begin to happen, but the powers that be will instead pursue a war probably with the U.S. so they can rally the support of the people behind them again. __________________ I am The Armed Educator.

December 13th, 2005, 08:35 PM	#9
CombatEffective Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,000	Now if you can just get started on the American public. __________________ Shooters' Legacy Special sections for S&W and Ruger

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December 13th, 2005, 02:39 AM	#1
Euclidean VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 3,213	Tonight at Academy I can’t decide if I should laugh or cry. Earlier tonight, I was searching for a shotgun sling unsuccessfully at a local Academy. Anyway, there were, of all things, Chinese tourists in this relatively small Texas town. I don’t mean to say in some politically incorrect way they were Asian and I’m too stupid to know what to properly call them, I mean they were from China. Do you know what they were in awe of? The gun counter. I couldn’t help but watch with a mixture of amusement and other feelings as they stared at what I have to admit is a pretty decent assortment of all things that go bang. Academy does have a pretty decent stock for a chain store. They were taking pictures, and asking so many questions. They’d never seen anything like this before. They asked us if people fought on the streets in America often. No. Can anybody buy one? Well technically no. Could I buy one? Sure. Right now? Yep. I could even carry guns on my person, concealed? Yep. I even showed them my permit. They took dozens of photographs and stared in awe when a man approached the counter and asked for a Marlin 336 and bought it in less than 5 minutes. I couldn’t tear myself away from them. Only one of the three spoke good English, and they asked what’s that, what’s that, what’s that… They didn’t know the difference between a Glock 27 and a Beretta 92, much less the difference between a rifle and a shotgun. I felt a strange obligation to tell these people as best I knew. They took pictures of everything as I identified it. The lies they had been told… they were told that only rich Americans with special government permission had firearms. That America was a rough and wild place, much less advanced than China. That guns kill people by the millions when left to the masses. Every wild lie you can imagine… I can’t recall all the things they told me. I asked to see an XD40 Service. I wanted something I knew well enough so as not to mess up of course. I field stripped it and put it back together in front of their awestruck eyes. They asked me if I was a police officer, or a soldier, or a government employee. I told them I taught math. They looked at me like I was an alien from outer space. They left, laughing and pointing. I wasn’t political, the only political thing I told them was “Fear the government that fears your gun.” And that’s only because she asked. I hope they go back to China, and tell their people the truth. Most of all, I hope they think a little differently now, for the truth shall set you free. __________________ I am The Armed Educator.

December 13th, 2005, 04:06 AM	#2
Miggy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami-Dade, FL Posts: 4,380	Euc: I can tell you more or less what were they thinking. My first Gunshow was way back in the very early 80's when I was young and fresh from the boat (airplane actually) and a friend took me to the Nashville Fairgrounds. My fist shock came before I even got inside: People with military rifles slung on their shoulders.... and civilians to boot! Is this a revolution? I was actually a bit afraid. I thought that maybe these people were them Klukkers I've seen in movies and, if I said or did the wrong thing, I'd end up swinging from a tree or with a cross burning in front of my apartment building. I got in and I think I dragged my jaw for a good 30 minutes. Guns of all types and shapes everywhere We are talking major sensory overload. I did not know where even to start walking or what to say or do. My friend, smart as hell, just told me to look around and ask if I had questions. Hell I was even too ignorant to ask them but walk I did. I do not know how long I stayed inside, but I do remember people being very friendly, informative and even funny. I loosened up and started to ask questions which I know most were dumb as old bricks, but I did not get any sore looks or desperate sighs, just answers and advice. I specially cherish this very old guy, dressed in full WWI Doughboy uniform and weapons who was having an improvised storytelling session about life way back then. It was like watching history live. I felt amazement, envy, hope and light. It was an awakening that such a culture existed and I craved it. __________________ You have to make the shot when fire is smoking, people are screaming, dogs are barking, kids are crying and sirens are coming. Randy Cain. GunFreeZone.net

December 13th, 2005, 11:51 AM	#4
Rob72 VIP Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,998	One of the ranges I used to frequent, in Wichita, had a flood of Asian students, from WSU, every week-end. I don't know what the "end-result"was, but, each semester, you'd see some regular faces accompanied by new ones.