TULSA, Okla. — An African-American gun owners group held its first meeting in Tulsa. Their chapter leader said their work is more important now than ever.
In 2020 ,firearms sold in record numbers, some first time owners and others adding to their collection.
Vanessa Hall-Harper, Tulsa Chapter President of the National African-American Gun Association, said "black people are law-abiding citizens and we can own guns.”
Hall-Harper is also the Tulsa City Councilor for District one and she applied a year-and-a-half ago to create a NAAGA chapter here in Tulsa.
“Focused on the African-American community to learn about gun safety, to be able to arm yourself, and be safe to protect your households," Hall-Harper said.
Hall-Harper told 2 Works for You that she hatched the idea after noticing a lack of representation for African-American gun owners in Oklahoma.
“That hatred that was shown on last Wednesday is something that the African-American community and disenfranchised communities in America experience every day," Hall-Harper said.
Hall-Harper said it's important to teach first time African-American gun owners how to safely operate a firearm and ways to properly protect themselves from potential danger.
All while normalizing the African-American gun owner.
“There is this stigma that if you are black and that you have a gun then you are a criminal," Hall-Harper said.
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