Is the Nazi memorabilia guy at the gun show really a Nazi?

[raftman]

Those of us that have been to the expo center's gun show probably know who I am talking about. The older guy in the ugly hat that sells almost exclusively Nazi memorabilia. I don't want to make assumptions, after all, not everyone who owns a "Nazi item" is a Nazi. There are people who find that particular time and part of the world a fascinating part of history. And of course it's possible and logical in some cases to separate an inanimate object from the ideas of the nation that produced the object. For example, certainly those of us that own AK's, Mosins, 9x18 pistols, etc aren't communists ( in fact bugeye hates Mosins ).

But this guy, I dunno. Not only does he sell what appear to genuine articles, but also a lot of Nazi-themed, modern-made stuff that has nothing to do with the history. For example, various knick-knacks like Zippo lighters which are neither historically accurate, nor even really mimicking genuine articles but decorated with Nazi insignia, and there's also a ton of pro-Nazi literature. So the question that it begs is, if he's selling modern-made Nazi-themed paraphernalia, who exactly is buying it and why? Are there people other than neo-Nazis and Nazi sympathizers that would actually want modern-day, modern-made knick-knacks decorated swastikas, SS symbols, and the like?

Not that I'm saying he shouldn't have the right to any of that, freedom of expression shouldn't be applied selectively after all, but as someone who is an enthusiast of militaria, I guess I was wondering if I am right to deprive the guy of any profit from me because he promotes an ideology that (decades before I was even born) my country sacrificed a great deal to defeat? Or am I completely misjudging the guy?

Read More

 

[spikedzombies]

Well there are a few white supremecist groups that are prominant in wa and or

 

[marty8587]

I find it interesting to look at, but I don't want it. Some people must or he wouldn't be there. Now if someone was to give me an old Luger with a swashtica on it I would be proud to have in my collection. Some folks collect Civil War stuff as well. I think / hope it's just a history thing.

 

[mcathcart]

"I guess I was wondering if I am right to deprive the guy of any profit from me because he promotes an ideology that (decades before I was even born) my country sacrificed a great deal to defeat? "

Even if he IS a Nazi, how is it you want him treated? He can sell(or not) to anyone. You can buy(or not) from anyone. This country has fought for all FOS, even if it IS r3tarded(like Nazism).

 

[The B]

i'm all for people being what they want, thinking what they want.. but there's something that really bugs me about people participating in groups or activities that stem from a group of people who used to kill my countrymen.

this includes:

rising son flags
anything involving natsee'ism
KKK stuff
rebel flags
communist symbolism

and when i see these things, it makes me want to start fights.

glad i have no idea what the OP is talking about.

 

[lowly monk]

My grandfather fought against them, So go home pal.

 

[raftman]

Now if someone was to give me an old Luger with a swashtica on it I would be proud to have in my collection. Some folks collect Civil War stuff as well.

But an old Luger would be a genuine article, something that is in fact a piece of history. The part that makes me wary is the modern-made, Nazi-themed goods that don't even mimick something that would have been true to that particular place and time in history (and this guy has a fair amount of that sort of thing). I think there's a difference between an old Luger and something like an Adolf Hitler t-shirt or an SS zippo lighter.

"I guess I was wondering if I am right to deprive the guy of any profit from me because he promotes an ideology that (decades before I was even born) my country sacrificed a great deal to defeat? "

Even if he IS a Nazi, how is it you want him treated? He can sell(or not) to anyone. You can buy(or not) from anyone. This country has fought for all FOS, even if it IS r3tarded(like Nazism).

In the original post, I did say the guy has the right to believe whatever it is that he believes, and to collect and sell his Nazi knick-knacks. Just like it is my right to not give any money to a neo-Nazi/white supremacist, even if he does have a (small) assortment of possibly desirable Allied militaria of which I am enthusiast. My question was simply whether someone has more intimate knowledge that would suggest that I am potentially misjudging and mislabeling the guy

 

[2Z4]

i'm all for people being what they want, thinking what they want.. but there's something that really bugs me about people participating in groups or activities that stem from a group of people who used to kill my countrymen.

this includes:

rising son flags
anything involving natsee'ism
KKK stuff
rebel flags
communist symbolism

and when i see these things, it makes me want to start fights.

glad i have no idea what the OP is talking about.

If you're referring to the confederate flag "stars and bars", the battle flag etc., you need to understand it means something different to us in the north than it means to most people in the south.

 

[saxon]

raftman,
i had a grand father in the USA who helped build liberty ships in WWII
and i had a grandfather in germany in WWII who made sure all the ME109's were in tip top shape to
attac the B17s etc etc and no he was not a part of the nazi party,
as i use to collect WWII stuff i have had at times swastica pieces
and while i do not condone what the nazi party taught
i have no real issue with the swastica as before the party took it over
the chinese and even some american indians used it as a sign for peace
now if soem jack wagon is going to make fake zippo lighter and add hitler or say an ss or swastica
then yea i would not buy from him

 

[saxon]

i'm all for people being what they want, thinking what they want.. but there's something that really bugs me about people participating in groups or activities that stem from a group of people who used to kill my countrymen.

this includes:

rising son flags
anything involving natsee'ism
KKK stuff
rebel flags
communist symbolism

and when i see these things, it makes me want to start fights.

glad i have no idea what the OP is talking about.

then by all means stay out of wallmart because you would be suporting all of them

 

[The B]

If you're referring to the confederate flag "stars and bars", the battle flag etc., you need to understand it means something different to us in the north than it means to most people in the south.

it's a representation of their heritage. or whatever BS they want to tell you it represents. to me, it represents the saddest time in our nation's history.. where the process my ancestor's ancestors fought and died for fell apart and failed everyone, resulting in American blood spilled on American soil, and brother killing brother, over an imaginary line in the dirt. over half a million American dead.

personally, i think the south should have been allowed to leave without bloodshed. but that's not how it went down, and responsibility lies with both parties for not preventing it. you can chose to believe people who claim it just represents the "old way," of southern grace and hospitality... to me, its nothing other than a symbol of a desire to resume that awful conflict- a rally call to spill more American blood over that stupid imaginary line in the dirt. it was a symbol of bloody rebellion before and during the war- how can it be anything different now? that would be no different than me flying a black red and white swastika and claiming it represented democracy.

bubblegum the "stars and bars."

 

[PDXSparky]

glad i have no idea what the OP is talking about.

Then I'm glad too.

 

[The B]

then by all means stay out of wallmart because you would be suporting all of them

walmart supports imperial japanese aggression, natseeism, the KKK, American rebellion, and communism? they certainly profit from communism, but i don't think they support it.

 

[MA Duce]

The Nazis were a historical aberration that is worth remembering, but for the life of me I can't see the allure of their artifacts. In addition to their completely whacko philosophy, their hubris in thinking one nation could conquer the world was almost comic. People think of the blitzkrieg with awe, but forget that the vast majority of the German supply train was horse drawn. If not for Hitler, who was the best ally the Allies had, they might have held Europe for a while, but never really had a chance once they attacked Russia. But I say hey if some guy wants to sell the stuff and there is a market, more power to him.

 

[HollisOR]

Who buys modern made nazi nick nacks. Look at the reenactment community. There are memorabilia collectors, who cannot afford the real deal, so knocks off works. I would not worry about the modern day nazis, the real nazis would have shot them if they live back then. They are so few and far in between, if anything they are rumor in their own minds.

You can talk to the guy, if he seems like a fruit cake you don't have to deal with him.

 

[marty8587]

About 3 years ago I wating in the E-room at Kaiser SS and was this head shaved dude with Nazi deal tatooed to his dome!! He was not rude and I didn't ask. There are people out ther who are really out there!!!!

 

[saxon]

walmart supports imperial japanese aggression, natseeism, the KKK, American rebellion, and communism? they certainly profit from communism, but i don't think they support it.

about at the least 75% of the product they have is chinese last i looked they are still ccommunist

 

[saxon]

it's a representation of their heritage. or whatever BS they want to tell you it represents. to me, it represents the saddest time in our nation's history.. where the process my ancestor's ancestors fought and died for fell apart and failed everyone, resulting in American blood spilled on American soil, and brother killing brother, over an imaginary line in the dirt. over half a million American dead.

personally, i think the south should have been allowed to leave without bloodshed. but that's not how it went down, and responsibility lies with both parties for not preventing it. you can chose to believe people who claim it just represents the "old way," of southern grace and hospitality... to me, its nothing other than a symbol of a desire to resume that awful conflict- a rally call to spill more American blood over that stupid imaginary line in the dirt. it was a symbol of bloody rebellion before and during the war- how can it be anything different now? that would be no different than me flying a black red and white swastika and claiming it represented democracy.

bubblegum the "stars and bars."

then you know nothing about the civil war it was about the states rights as givin by the constituion OVER RULE the power givin to the fed government by that same document

 

[Joker97701]

Welcome to WAL-MART......oooppppsss I mean AMERICA....

 

[akula]

about at the least 75% of the product they have is chinese last i looked they are still ccommunist

No, at one point China was Socialist not Communist, current day China is Capitalist.

As far as the Nazi selling guy is concerned, it’s one thing to collect Nazi memorabilia is another to make money on it. If he isn’t a Nazi then he obviously doesn’t mind catering to them since I assume that’s the majority of his suppliers and customers.

Its people like that that give gun shows a bad name. Any time the media does a story on gun rights and gun shows they show guys like him.