Recently I returned from a business trip to Germany. After a few rounds of drinks, a co-worker I trusted and had shared with my passion for hunting, target shooting, and ownership of land with several shooting ranges recounted this in front of a more diverse crowd. Immediately, another employee living in Germany aggressively questioned me on the need to be armed and own guns. Being a work encounter with all of the potential fallouts, I put off as much as I could on it being a different culture in the US etc etc.
But really, I'm getting this question from someone residing in a country which was systematically disarmed by the Nazis prior to their undertaking the most lethal war ever known to mankind. It was almost too much to sit there and take.
It was striking to me how little value someone in such a country would recognize the importance of individual rights. But in their mind, I was clearly some sort or dangerous pariah for my lifestyle. Kind of a disturbing preview of what may be to come here in our own country.
But really, I'm getting this question from someone residing in a country which was systematically disarmed by the Nazis prior to their undertaking the most lethal war ever known to mankind. It was almost too much to sit there and take.
It was striking to me how little value someone in such a country would recognize the importance of individual rights. But in their mind, I was clearly some sort or dangerous pariah for my lifestyle. Kind of a disturbing preview of what may be to come here in our own country.