We don't know how lucky we are
 

A buddy called a few days back, a friend of his had some visiting business associates from Japan in Huntsville for a few days, (something to do with chicken genetics)when asked what they would like to do while here the subject of firearms came up immediately, two were firearm enthusiasts but had never shot a gun. I was put in the loop, introductions made, we talked a while, their English was good, so we went to my toy room. I thought we'd have to do cpr on one, the other was stunned. I really didn't think it was anything special before. They went from gun to gun, knew the names, but the highlight was the Luger and the .45. We eventually settled on a M1 Garand, a type 99 Arisaka, Mod 97 Win 12 ga, a P38, 1918 Erfurt, and a Rem 1911A1. So I loaded up guns, ammo, Japanese, and my ugly dog all in my 85 camo dodge pickup, and down the road we went. Did the safety thing, operational run thru, the last time I laughed so much was when a Vietnamese garbage truck going 60+ ran into the back of my tank outside Dautieng. A great time was had by all. They had as much fun cleaning the guns up as shooting them. Farewells and pictures with the guns and my ugly dog were taken along with some of his hair they wanted to test. It took two young men from way off to make me appreciate something I do daily,it is special. Be back Sunday night, going canoe camping again.

rk [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

RK,

I had a similar experience when I worked for Fujitsu, Inc. in Gresham Oregon for 3 years.

Once the Japanese folks knew I was a gun nut, I was always involved in shooting outings, especially when a fresh batch of guys just came in from Japan.

Most of these guys learned the gun hobby from well made plastic gun replicas...in Japan...

It was always a kick when I got my Para-Ordance .45 ACP or my 6" .357 magnum in their hands for the first time...they squealed with delight !

Regards,

Pete... <img src="graemlins/yltype.gif" border="0" alt="[typing]" />

I was so humiliated when my Japenese friends wanted to clean my house and floors and everything after they arrived. They had the same gun experience, and were super enthused. I was just a guy in an old rental house and all they did was shoot, watch old movies, shower, drink and shower and clean and shower and clean. Did I mention that they wanted to shoot and shower and clean my house?
Sometimes I might smell alittle but my house was allways clean and neat. They still will clean. And drink. <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />

Well now we've got something going that can put money in my pocket! I export about ten million pounds of chicken to Japan every year. The most challenging part of this business is "working" the customers.

It has long been known that to deal successfully with the typical Japanese businessman three things had to be brought into play; scotch, blonds and golf. Therein lays the problem...I don't play golf! Consequently I have to send one of my stalwart young fellows to play golf and they sometimes forget the order in which the three variables must fall in place. Thus, less than optimum prices.

Now I can substitute shooting for golf, remain in control, keep my lads in the office and make more money. This forum may yet prove its worth.

The banning of guns in Japan is due to the US Army, in the person of Douglas MacArthur. He wrote their current constitution and in it virtually banned the private ownership of guns. An army of occupation NEVER wants the civilians armed.

I once spent two years stationed with the Navy on the Island of Guam. A few years ago I returned to the island for a visit and found it is now a honeymoon mecca for Japanese newlyweds, who regard it as a cheap visit to the USA. There are luxury Japanese hotels all over the place, plenty of shopping, and lots to do. But what the vacationers like to do best is to visit one of the public shooting galleries and shoot everything from single action "cowboy guns" to Thompson SMGs.

Sitting at home during moose, deer and bird season for the second year in a row because I refuse to follow the new laws here in Canada. It makes me think of how rare it must be for some to get up before sunrise and sit in the woods and watch them come to life as the sun comes up. Didn't care if i saw anything to shoot; it was a pleasure to sit by the creek all day with no other sounds to bother me. Guess I'll have to break down and take the course to get ready for next year--think it's around 160 dollars plus 60 or so to register any guns I purchase. Now to go fishing this year I must get a liscence for my 12 foot aluminum boat. Maybe I'll be allowed to keep the next luger I find.

Years ago I knew a Japanese woman who was an exchange student. When she visited me I asked what she wanted to do. "Shoot pistol" was her reply. It seemed odd to me at first that a Japanese woman would want to do that! But then she explained that it was something she would never be able to do in Japan.

Too bad I didn't have a Luger then. She had to settle for a .22 Ruger.

RK and others, we do forget how nice we have it at times. We also forget that other cultures are a bit different than ours, I imagine the "cleaning" bit was their way of showing appreciation to you.

Yup, if we can expose our other world neighbors, it is good all around!

The generation that came to adulthood in the era of the '60's lost sight of the freedom that we have in the U.S. The facade of peace, civilization, and consideration that is constructed to disguise the abuse of and the fear of their citizenry by foreign governments was gullibly believed by an inexperienced, naive generation of youth. That has passed. With maturity they became much more wise. Thankfully, the echoes of disarming the 'murkin public are weak. Our immediate tragedy is the lack of familiarization of our current youth with handguns. They will eventually ban them.

I wonder how much a part the media such as tv and movies play in portraying the wrong image of gun use. It seems that every black guy on the streets has a "piece" or the drug dealers have missile launchers and are more well armed than the military. If you get an opportunity to show someone the joys of shooting sports, take it and in your way educate one more.

According to TV, there are only two types of people in the world: cops and robbers. There are so many cop shows on the 'tube' that people get the idea that the big wide world out there is a shoot-out. That is what has made the anti-gun culture.

My reply is a little bit late but as one of those 'youngsters' I feel relatively depressed when I think about doing graduate school outside of the United States (theoretically I'm doing War Studies at King's College London.) The minus is my poor Luger will be staying in my parents' home for 10 months out of a year. I have never really thought about that particular freedom honestly, I take it for granted and really shouldn't. Especially since there are many who will never have the thrill of owning and firing a P-08. [img]smile.gif[/img]

You better believe you fellas don't know how lucky you are!

On the subject of full-auto, I met an old gentleman some years ago, now sadly passed on, who during 39-45 was OIC of a section responsible for sorting captured weapons.
Anything that was brand or near new, was put aside for training our soldiers in enemy small-arms. Anything they hadn't seen before was pulled apart, reported on and a training package developed so our troops could be taught to use it. The vast majority of the stuff was taken out to sea in a trawler and dumped over the side.
Day trips on this trawler were apparently very popular for those who could arrange it. I remember this old fellow telling me the really interesting thing was, regardless of the weather every "visitor" they took out showed up on the dock wearing a greatcoat!
Let me tell you, thing old guys gun collection was "something special"
Don't think much of it was "registered" though?

&gt;I remember this old fellow telling me the really &gt;interesting thing was, regardless of the weather &gt;every "visitor" they took out showed up on the &gt;dock wearing a greatcoat!
&gt;Let me tell you, thing old guys gun collection &gt;was "something special"
&gt;Don't think much of it was "registered" though?

HAHAHA...Yes I can already see all of those biker gangs lining up at police staions around Australia to hand in all of their nasty weapons too...LOL
Funny.. I think gardening will be the hobby of choice for a lot of people over the coming months....with supplies of PVC plumbing equipment becoming scarce... [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

Gettting back to the begining of this thread. I just returned from Japan last week. This last trip was my 11th visit to Japan in 4 years.

I work for a Japanese company in the USA and I work with Japanese people all day. Also im famillar with their customs and can speak "simple use" Japanese. I have to marvel at their facination with shooting. its like totaly foreign to them and they want to experience it. Every Japanese guy I meet in the USA wants to shoot guns. It reminds me of when I was a kid and couldnt satisfy my shooting addiction. These guys love shooting!!!

I have to wonder, If the Japanese society put half as much effort into making guns as they are in making cars, I can only dream of the interesting firearms they would come up with.

Oh ya, as for Doug McCarther making guns illegale for private people to own in Japan, Im not sure if this was a good or bad thing. My opinion is that "Imperial Japan" is still alive today, it just changed its name to "Industrial Japan" and the soldiers of Japan no longer die for their "Emperor", they now die for their "Company"

Beamersquared