3 ms·

I'm a Norwegian citizen and a Texan and I can tell you that at least in my own personal contact with this phrase I feel it was way more influenced by the popula

I'm a Norwegian citizen and a Texan and I can tell you that at least in my own personal contact with this phrase I feel it was way more influenced by the popular "cowboys and indians" western imagery than it does with contemporary modern Texas politics itself.

matsemann 5y ago
That's correct. But the etymology is kinda "people riding around on horses and shooting wildly in the air", and allowing easier access to guns kinda reminded me about that.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- larsiusprime 5y ago
  Indeed. And I have certainly on occasion myself heard Norwegians use the phrase in this sort of way. My main point is that although the linked article describes the phrase more or less accurately, I can't tell you how many times I've come across articles (typically written by Americans, not uncommonly writers based in Austin) that assume that the phrase's entire origin is contemporary political commentary on modern Texas (despite the phrase predating e.g. George W. Bush's administration -- the first time I saw a wave of these articles -- by decades). In truth the average Norwegian (unless they're in the oil business and have made frequent trips to Houston) doesn't know a whole lot about Texas, just as the average American doesn't know a whole lot about Norway. RE: Gun control laws themselves, Norway is an interesting place. The laws themselves are strict compared to the USA, and in particular Texas, but there's also a LOT of what we would call "Gun Nuts" (such as my cousin, who is a speed-shooter). I would say Norway -- at least among my more rural relatives -- has a pretty big "Gun Culture", but it manifests pretty differently from how it plays out in the USA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Norway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Norway

3 ms·

I'm a Norwegian citizen and a Texan and I can tell you that at least in my own personal contact with this phrase I feel it was way more influenced by the popula

by larsiusprime 5y ago

matsemann 5y ago
That's correct. But the etymology is kinda "people riding around on horses and shooting wildly in the air", and allowing easier access to guns kinda reminded me about that.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- larsiusprime 5y ago
  Indeed. And I have certainly on occasion myself heard Norwegians use the phrase in this sort of way. My main point is that although the linked article describes the phrase more or less accurately, I can't tell you how many times I've come across articles (typically written by Americans, not uncommonly writers based in Austin) that assume that the phrase's entire origin is contemporary political commentary on modern Texas (despite the phrase predating e.g. George W. Bush's administration -- the first time I saw a wave of these articles -- by decades). In truth the average Norwegian (unless they're in the oil business and have made frequent trips to Houston) doesn't know a whole lot about Texas, just as the average American doesn't know a whole lot about Norway. RE: Gun control laws themselves, Norway is an interesting place. The laws themselves are strict compared to the USA, and in particular Texas, but there's also a LOT of what we would call "Gun Nuts" (such as my cousin, who is a speed-shooter). I would say Norway -- at least among my more rural relatives -- has a pretty big "Gun Culture", but it manifests pretty differently from how it plays out in the USA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Norway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Norway