Tolerance

I was recently contacted by a group in response to my brief post on the Oslo shootings. Their goal is to preach acceptance and tolerance towards different groups of Americans- specifically Muslim Americans.

As a Gun Owner, we represent a group that takes a lot of flack for our beliefs. People try to espouse false anecdote as fact against us, and generally twist and distort words in dishonest ways to make our position seem evil.

Truthfully, this happens quite often to Muslims in America.  I think it is not at all a bad show of solidarity for more groups who are victimized for their believes to stand together.

I have long been a supporter of the LGBTQ community, and also think religious tolerance is something that we need to push forward at home. Working in an academic setting it is easy to forget that many issues afflict a number of Americans that the Ivory Towers hide away.

Though I do not know much about the group, I do not think their message is a bad one. I would like to know where their funding comes from- and I could not ascertain that outside of them being registered as a 403C not for profit entity.

Anyway, here is their video:


click


 I will also tell a brief story here about the Buffalo Gun Center, and why I will not give them any business (as it is relevant). I had a good friend walk into the BGC with 2 friends from his collegiate football team. My friend was white- his 2 friends were not. They had no criminal records, were students in good standing, did not do drugs, and did not live on campus. Yet when they went to purchase a firearm, the Buffalo Gun Center refused them.

That would be fine- I support the right of private business to refuse service to anyone at their discretion. However their reasoning put up warning flags. Despite trying to purchase a long gun- and all parties being over the age of 18 and American born, thet BGC demanded they provide a hunting license to finalize the sale. They went so far as to say it was law in NYS and they could not sell a gun without it.

My white friend went back, one week later in a polo shirt, and was promptly helped and told he could purchase the same gun that previously he was 'unqualified' for.

That kind of bigotry is why I boycott that store. If you don't want to sell to someone because you think their motive is not honest, then I will support your decision heartily. However, this was not the case. The BGC saw a white kid and a couple o' niggas and didn't want to sell them a gun, cause they didn't like their color.

If they really believed them to be criminals, they should have filed a report with the local pd giving descriptions with as much information as possible about their 'perceived intent' to harm others. But this was not done- and it was not done because they knew they were just people, but ones they did not like.

Do not let the hatred of a few spoil the quality of the bunch, and treat people decently. I know this post is a bit off topic for many of mine- as I try to leave politics out of this blog because really, who gives a crap what I think?- however, sometimes things boil to the surface for me.