Gun Cultures

On the day of President Obama’s last State of the Union speech with expectations of a reference to needless gun deaths, I visited an example of America’s gun culture. On our way home from a peaceful walk on the beach collecting seashells, I introduced Christl to a Florida gun shop. The young owner buzzed us through a heavily fortified doorway saying he gets many German tourists, eagerly looking but prohibited from buying. We were immediately amazed at the gun store’s display of pistols and what looked like assault rifles. Such stores are unheard of in Bavaria. There is a hunting and sport shooting shop in our summertime village where licensed hunters and shooters purchase guns and ammunition, but it is nothing like the array of military-styled weapons and handguns displayed in a Florida shop.

There is a big difference in ownership and license requirements between Bavaria and Florida. According to the owner―armed with a serious handgun in his belt holster―Florida recognizes that adult citizens of the state retain their constitutional right to keep and bear firearms for hunting and sporting activities and for defense of self, family, home, and business and as collectibles. He pointed out that the store does an instant background check through FBI files to verify the identity of the purchaser including the absence of indictments or conviction of crimes, record of drug and alcohol addiction, fugitive from justice, mental deficiencies, dishonorable discharge from the military, etc. Then there is a three-day cool-down period between purchase and delivery to avoid any heat of passion purchases. However, no license is required as well as no registration, no restriction on assault weapons, and no magazine capacity limit (for bullets). However, there is a permit required in Florida for carrying a handgun.

Accentuating this right, a NYTimes column by T. Edsall points out that “Under Federal law there is no basis to automatically prohibit a person from possessing firearms or explosives because they appear on the [FBI] terrorist watch list. Rather, there must be a disqualifying factor such as a felony conviction or illegal immigration status.” Congress has not taken action to prevent those on the FBI list from buying guns or explosives. It suggests a large potential loophole for bad guys.

The Bavarian and Federal German gun rules are considerably tighter, especially with regards to required police permits and registrations. To purchase a gun, persons must be eighteen or older, cleared of any police record, provide a medical statement of no mental disorder, and a medical statement of no drug or alcohol addiction. A big difference is that buyers must demonstrate a necessity for owning a firearm and knowledge of its use. The necessity, or proof of need, requirement is met by having a hunting or sport shooting license and membership in hunting or shooting clubs. In the case of a handgun a special permit is required for owners to protect valuables in a jewelry store for example or large cash handlings. All guns, including collectables, also require proof of special locked storage facilities and liability insurance.

Obama has actively campaigned against gun violence with little to show for his efforts and only a passing mention in the State of the Union speech. The constitutional right to bear arms versus the needless proliferation of guns leading to violence will be left to future presidents and legislators. It is surprising that cultural difference is such a vexing political problem in the United States and more easily dealt with in Germany. Both countries have violent histories under rulers who turned against their own citizens including the American Revolution and recent World Wars. Yet Americans are staunchly opposed to any form of gun ownership restrictions or registration; and Bavarians seem nonplussed by police checks, permits, and the lack of assault rifles or handguns except in special circumstances.

My own experience with guns ended in my teens when I shot at paper targets and tin cans with a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. More recently, I was at the receiving end of a lucky and somewhat humorous shooting incident.

I was minding my business riding in the designated biking lane on my way from the marina to a local mall. I felt a sharp sting on my left butt. I thought I was hit by roadside gravel from a passing grey SUV making a high-speed left turn. While continuing my ride, I reached back inside my pants feeling for blood. There was none and I kept riding.

The next day over morning breakfast at Starbucks my friends showed me a newspaper article about joy-riding teenagers in an SUV and targeting pedestrians with a gas powered pellet gun. The police reported 12 people hit along the waterfront district, not far from the start of my ride. 
 
 Realizing that I was probably the 13th person hit by a pellet given the coincidence of time, place, and the silver Ford Expedition vehicle probably meant that I confused a rifle pellet for roadside gravel. I tried taking a “selfie” of my butt wound but it was very out of focus. A veterinarian on a neighboring boat took a more professional picture of the welt and agreed that the perfect circle was consistent with a pellet shot. I took the picture to the police station to add my name to the carnage. They were not very interested since they had already rounded up the three teen-aged drive-by shooters and arrested them.

Now when I return to Germany and friends ask me how I deal with alligators and pythons in Florida, I can add pellet guns to the list of threats in Florida.