Some Japanese students want to know your attitudes on gun ownership.
Tell 'em.
Be nice on the questions that allow you to elaborate. This could be a great opportunity to educate across a cultural divide.
Years back, a Japanese friend's brother visited the US--he was a mucky-muck with one of the car companies. I took him to a shooting range, taught him all the basics, brought a variety of handguns to give him a diverse experience--and he LOVED it. The guy was grinning like a kid in a candy store.
There's a hunger on the-part of foreign nationals to try "American" things--particularly if their own culture represses them. Travel agencies should take note of this, and put together vacation packages that incorporate shooting sports. While it probably won't be enough to turn someone around politically, it at least opens a door.
I think "Take a Foreigner Shooting" ought to be part of America's diplomacy efforts--who hasn't found it a great way to make friends?
[Thanks to Dennis Walker]
O.K., I filled out the survey. I wonder if we'll be able to go back and look at the results?
ReplyDeleteWell, apparently they had enough of our answers, as the link no longer works.
ReplyDeleteThis is how I answered their 'Questionaire';
Japanese student survey, and the answers -
Do you agree with private gun ownership?
"Yes"
Why do you agree/ disagree with the previous question?
Because I believe gun ownership an intregal part in maintaining freedom against tyranny in government. As well as having the ability to thwart any attack on myself or loved ones. Not to mention the ability of defending my country against foreign invaders.
(Like the Dec. 7th, 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor for instance - interjected here, for your viewing pleasure, not on the survey;)
Do you think it is possible to co-exsist with guns?
"Yes"
Why did you think so?
Please tell your opinion.
"The gun is merely an inanimate object. If you use the same type training, as involved in learning to drive a vehicle, you lose the 'fear of the unknown' and see it for what it really is - a tool. Granted, the main intent of implementation of the 'tool' is to repel attack, (inflicting harm on an invader to keep them from advancing their attack). But a tool is what it is nonetheless. Even though the 'main intent' of its use has been oft perverted and used for offensive purposes.
To advocate the removal of the gun as a tool, somewhat has the odor of 'control'. Gun Control has been used by every megalomaniacal 'dictator' in the last century. As a means of pursuing their evil intent with less internal damage to their 'cause'. Chairman Mao, Hitler and Stalin alone used 'Gun Control' as a means to murder over FIFTY MILLION PEOPLE.
This spells out clear enough for me, personally, as to the reason WHY a citizen should ALWAYS be armed!
People have always used weapons as a means of inflicting harm or death on one another. If you take away guns, they will revert to swords. Take away swords, they'll revert to arrows. Take away arrows, they'll revert to fire. Take away fire, they'll revert to rocks.
Where does the list end?
Shall we be left with a world that is completely stripped bare of the possible source of anything that may cause harm?"
They probably signed up for the free version of Survey Monkey that only allows 100 responses.
ReplyDeleteHopefully they learned something from them.
It's working again. I just finished taking it. I thought I came up with a pretty good answer to the one about "why have you thought about owning a gun." I said, "To add another caliber to my collectiion." Heh.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I have a regular daily visitor to my blog from Tokyo.
What a novel idea! Some years back, I took (gasp!) high school foreign exchange students shooting. I didn't have ready access to a range, but a big country back yard. I owned a nice selection of semi-autos, a revolver, and a borrowed 9mm submachinegun.
ReplyDeleteI took it beyond "foreigners" and took friends shooting who have never had the opportunity.