Immigrants and the 2nd Amendment

[El Toro]

If you have an opportunity to speak to an immigrant who comes from a despotic country, they usually have a very strong affinity for America's Constitution. Because getting to America is so difficult, they know the price of freedom and individual sovereignty, first hand. I'll venture to say that most immigrants have a far better appreciation for this country than many that were born here because they've experienced the other side. The idea of individual firearm ownership as we have here is unknown in the majority of countries, especially the type of countries many immigrants flee.

With Washington poised to approve between 11 million and 35 million new "Americans" through some kind of amnesty, I think we need to develop a strategy for ensuring these new "Americans" are strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment. I'm certain that Democratic Party operatives are hedging that amnesty will result in millions of new party members. Even Texas, a state where RKBA is strong, is now being discussed as eventually going "Blue" which means Texans could be in for some very interesting times. What Democrats can't count on is that new immigrants and those illegals who get amnesty will automatically be Anti-gun. The gun-control crowd will certainly try to assimilate the newest "Americans" so we should be smart and beat them to it.

What are your ideas on how to reach out to immigrants before they get "assimilated" by the left? I am really interested in hearing from those that are ethnically similar to those immigrant groups.

POLL INFO: I cannot claim recent immigration status as my ancestors came over after the Civil War. I am curious however how many CalGuns members are 1st or 2nd generation immigrants and if you were legally born here. It would be interesting to also know about your spouse/partner but maybe a future poll can assess that. The poll is anonymous so be honest.

[speedrrracer]

I think this is a brilliant idea but "I don't count".

[1681]

I agree there's a need to have better outreach to "legal" immigrants from Asia and Latin America, where the 2A is a total foreign concept to many of them.

Most Asians are raised to trust/obey "authority", whether it's government, teachers, parents, etc..., which conflict with 2A as a mean of self defense against the "authority"...

[5.6mm_Gw_Pat_90]

Most Asians are raised to trust/obey "authority", whether it's government, teachers, parents, etc..., which conflict with 2A as a mean of self defense against the "authority"...

I'm afraid I have to agree with you there. I'm a first generation Chinese/Vietnamese American. The majority of my family can't trust anyone who isn't of authoritarian status and believes that the only way to live is to live neutrally without any thought to changing things to benefit them. For example, if the tax is increased, they won't complain and will just pay the tax. If a law is passed making building wooden decks in the backyard illegal or something, they'll tear down their decks and not care. If, and I hope this will never happen, my family were to be sent to an intern camp, they would go and not think twice.

[SilverTauron]

I find that many international students I meet are from countries where just speaking against the government earns you-and your entire family-an unexpected stay in a prison,or worse.Thus the idea of opposing the government in ANY respect does not come naturally to most immigrants as it does to us "natives".Unfortunately,teaching hundreds of millions of people to abandon their cultural habits and survival skills is a task beyond anyone except the mass media-and they're in favor of establishing a MORE authoritarian US government,not less.

[El Toro]

If, and I hope this will never happen, my family were to be sent to an intern camp, they would go and not think twice.

Just so you know, I'd have your back on this one. Japanese internment, particularly at Manzanar, only benefitted wealthy Southern California developers. Post-war findings showed most Japanese Americans were not a national security threat.

[fizux]

Just so you know, I'd have your back on this one. Japanese internment, particularly at Manzanar, only benefitted wealthy Southern California developers. Post-war findings showed most Japanese Americans were not a national security threat.

Most Iranians and North Koreans aren't a national security threat either, but it only takes a few blowhards to ruin everyone's day.

[RED (Y)]

I immigrated here and am awaiting citizenship.

and i do support 2nd A.Because in country i'm from, government afraid of citizens having FA.

[chainsaw]

There are a few categories you are missing: People who are in the country legally on a long-term visa but are not permanent residents (those can own guns by having a hunting license). And people who are permanent residents but are not applying for citizenship.

With Washington poised to approve between 11 million and 35 million new "Americans" through some kind of amnesty, ...

Where do you get the 35 million number from? I've not heard it before; the number I always hear is 11 million.

[El Toro]

I'm quoting the range as reported by those that support and oppose amnesty. I heard 35 million on a TV show but this Link to a Limbaugh broadcast references a group that opposes amnesty as having calculated over 33 million due to the new laws.

Whatever the number, I remember back in the 1980s when amnesty was offered. The result was about 3 million by official govt numbers but critics rightly contended that for everyone that came forward and obtained citizenship, there were at least 2-3 family members who did not. The result is that a more recent government analysis says there are at least 10,000 more people here who are eligible for the 1986 amnesty. So, I don't doubt that "official" numbers are underestimating the illegals here. I don't know what the true number is but isn't 11 million new potential 2nd Amendment supporters a cool idea?

[Oldmandan]

I am really interested in hearing from those that are ethnically similar to those immigrant groups.

Both my mother and father immigrated here legally many years ago.

They both voted along Democrat lines for many, many years due to ignorance. My father passed away years ago, but my mother now votes along Republican party lines.

Unfortunately, I think it is true that amnesty at any level will result in eventual Democrat votes(anti-gun). There is alot of misinformation out there, mainly put out by the media, and people just tend to go with whatever they hear on the news.. no matter how biased it may be.

The gods honest truth, about the whole thing is; The vast majority of Central and South American immigrants coming to our country are Roman Catholic and "extremely" conservative. They are voting for the opposite of what they believe in because they are ignorant. Until somebody decides to spend some serious money on the education of millions of people, nothing will change.

If you want to reach these people, they need to be educated. It'll take money and lots of it, it'll have to led by someone they can trust (not a politician), latino sports stars & celebrities will need to get on board, they'll need to start doing 30 second TV spots in primetime.

We've all seen the pro-gun ads, the problem is, the people who need to see them, are not seeing them.

I think the NAACP also needs a reminder about Jim Crow, so they can take their heads out of their *****, and start bringing some of the Dems money across the aisle for some of the education I wrote about.

[G-Town]

I agree with a lot thats being said. My father who came here from Mexico is a strong suppporter of 2a rights. He has told me on many occasions when only the police and criminals have guns....you really just get a lot more criminals.

I took him to see a Micheal Moore movie once and he was very impressed. He said "if someone made a move like this in Mexico critizing the Goverment they would dissapear your entire family

I think we can make a lot of 2a supporters out of them

[CCWFacts]

Say whatever you like, but the bulk of non-European immigrants coming to this country strongly favor bigger government and less individual freedom.

I know, logically, immigrants from totalitarian countries should be yearning for freedom and loving the Constitution, but it doesn't work that way. Totalitarian countries happen because the people in those countries tolerate it, and therefore must at some level think that is a normal way for a government to be. When they come here, they don't suddenly turn pro-freedom. Instead they bring their attitudes with them.

I know there will also be individual exceptions, and I'm sure we'll hear from this in the thread. There are always individual exceptions and outliers to every pattern.

As this country is flooded with third world immigrants, we will end up with a third world style government. Every third world country has a big, powerful government that selectively enforces laws but is not able to provide basic security or governmental services. I have a Zimbabwe visa in my passport. It's got a beautiful hologram and warnings that I must exit the country in 60 days, I'm not allowed to work, I can't export currency, and I must obey all Zimbabwean laws while I'm there. Sounds like a well-organized place! And it's total chaos with no functioning economy, nothing in the stores, no usable currency, no property rights, no control over its borders.... But should I step out of line there, even a little bit, like taking a photo without the proper photography permit, or trying to export a cultural artifact, or doing some work, or (worst of all) criticizing Mr. Robert Mugabe, I will find out that parts of their government are all-powerful and speedy.

[G-Town]

Not true the majority of immigrants are leaving there countries because of Big Goverment control and corruption. Take from the child of immigrants.
Catholic law has no sway in Mexico (why priests are not allowed to walk in public with there uniform)

[G-Town]

And they don't tolerate anything they are controlled. (Look up Mexicos dirty war). It's fear, fear moves some to leave everything to go into another country