Topic: Jewish Guy Moving to Boise Area.. Question About Neo-Nazis

[Evergreen]

I first want to say I just got a place in the Boise area and I am very excited to move here.  I'm a Jewish guy, well Messianic Jewish actually and I have been wanting to leave ORegon for a long time to be in a place that is more affordable, has better places to shoot and perhaps the people are more enlightened and conservative.  I just kind of fell in love with Boise in a lot of ways, the nice dry weather, clean streets, light traffic, friendlier people.

Everything was going fine and dandy until today.  Well, I just finally signed a lease today and will be moving there in a couple weeks.    However, I saw a gun store near where I will be living and I decided it would be nice to stop in, say hello and check out what they have.  I like to support local gun shops and also would like to find a place for FFLs.  Anyway, the guy seemed real nice and we were hitting off well.   However, he started talking about neo-nazis.  He told me that there is a lot of neo-nazis who come in his shop and scare the shit out of him.  He says they have made threatening remarks against Jewish people , and well, other minorities too.  He says he wouldn't want to be a Jew and be around these guys.  Well, being in Oregon we have our fair share of Neo-nazis, but none of them are so bold to go into gun shops and start promoting all their crap.

This really freaked me out and I got a bit emotional in his shop.  I guess I didn't think by moving to Idaho I would have to hide my identity and worry about people trying to hurt me or humiliate me because of my religion.  I was always told Boise and Southern Idaho was a live and let live place, so when this guy who ran the gun store told me there is a lot of dangerous neo-nazis in the area, I guess I was a bit dismayed.    The guy at the gun store called himself a Christian and was not racist/bigoted and I know he was probably just giving me his honest opinion about what he thought.  He told me I need to watch myself around the area because of the neo-nazis around.  


Well, if people can tell me their honest opinions about the situation I would appreciate it.  I would like the honest opinion of people here of what they think about the validity of what the guy was saying.  Is neo-nazism a problem in Boise area?  I don't live in Boise, but on the outskirts.  I am not going to say what gun shop it was or where it was located.  I'd rather not broadcast that information.  However, I'd like the unbiased and honest opinion from people here.  I guess for now, I know not to wear my kippa or any other religious garb on Sabbath in public.    I don't have a big beard anymore and don't look overly Jewish, although maybe I do a bit.  I guess I can remain anonymous.  It kind of sucks that I have to live as a prisoner , because of scumbag neo-nazis, but I rather be low-key and not be noticed, than try to make a statement.  It's not to say that when I was in Portland I didn't have to watch my back around Mexican, Afro-American and other types gangs.  However, I never really lived around any of them.  I'm hoping that these people NS losers don't live in my neighborhood, which looks like a clean, nice middle-class suburban neighborhood.

[romo23]

YOu will get more informed answers from our LEO people who im sure will chime in later but I honestly wouldn't worry about it much. We have a few "gang" type wanna-be folks from what i have seen but they are pretty much just talk. The entire valley, not just boise, has a major crime every so often but one of our higher profile things as of late was 1 armed burglary where no one was injured and we get so little major crime that it was on the news for days. I wouldnt worry about anything if I were you.

just my opinion. I hope you enjoy living here adn welcome to the forums.

[AR10ER]

What was the name of the store? Alpha Omega perhaps?  There are not enough neo-nazis around here to worry about. It is nice that many people that do not know this area think that, as it keeps a lot of undesirable people out, liberals that is. LOL.

Seriously, those type of problems are almost non-existent.

[fj40mojo]

Sounds like something that would happen at Alpha Omega. I'm gonna call BS. I don't think you have anything to worry about but if you are really stressed about it go ahead and get your CCW, you should anyways. If some d-bag starts giving you grief over your yamaka you'll be prepared. Welcome.

[Idaho_Gun_Nut]

In the 3 years I lived in Boise I cannot recall anyone ever saying a derogitory word about Jewish people.  In fact one of the staff at the UofI that I worked with was Jewish and I would tease him about hooking me up with some of his IDF lady friends... well I was more serious than joking.   Get your CCW, hook up with the Boise Shooters gang and make some shooting buddies and you'll be ok Evergreen.

[9Shooter]

My parents were concerned about that when I moved up here 7ish years ago.  I've learned since then that the reputation that Idaho got for white supremacists was for an incident in the Coeur d'Alene area 30 years ago.  I haven't seen any evidence myself since I've been here.  fj40mojo pretty much said what I was thinking too.

Sounds like something that would happen at Alpha Omega. I'm gonna call BS. I don't think you have anything to worry about but if you are really stressed about it go ahead and get your CCW, you should anyways. If some d-bag starts giving you grief over your yamaka you'll be prepared. Welcome.

[Bill, Idaho]

Ok, here's your obligatory LE input (20 years)  ..............................The skin-head/nazi/white power thing the media has painted the state of Idaho with is, was, and always will be just that......painted.  Even in it's heyday when Butler was upright, not a lot of people know that there were only about 20 of them stirring up the pot  (this was up north) at any given time. It was the media making it sound like there were hundreds/thousands.  That was then, this is now.

In the treasure valley (and BTW welcome)  specifically Canyon county, we have a FEW, less than you can count of one hand, that are identified and recognized as some form of that idealism.  Of course there are wannabes in every political faction, but you will be more surprized at the amount of liberals in Boise than the number of skin-heads. (THOSE are who you need to be worried about!!!)
  

[Scarecrow]

So, here's my Neonazi story:

Me and the misses are at the state fair, walking around doing the fair thing.  I spot two guys sporting shaved heads.  One of them is sporting a shirt that says "Racialwar.Net"  There's no immediate concern, but I make a mental note to check the website when I get home and see what brand of yahoo I've spotted in the wild.  Turns out it's some sort of fantasy website and the guy I spotted was probably the author...

Anyways, outside of the red suspender section at Boise Army/Navy, I haven't seen anything that got my hackles up.  My wife, who's Jewish, says she's completely comfortable and hasn't had any problems.

[popsgunner]

I agree with all these guys Evergreen, The Treasure Valley is a cool place to live, come out, shoot, live , thrive and succeed. YOU HANG WITH us NOW, THERE WON'T BE ANY HASSLES.
Stop in at my shop, RK Gunsmithing, I'll buy you a cup a coffee.
Pops

[Beamncoke]

We rousted a few out of Middleton several years back.  Like Bill said, it was a very few.  I can't readily recall the last time I even saw a real skin head.  Evil and danger do exist, even here.  Keep your eyes wide, pay attention to what's happening around you and be prepared to defend yourself.   Welcome to the community.  I am sure that you will enjoy your time here.

[neby98]

From my understanding there are many more of these folks in states like Colorado and Missouri/Arkansas area. I have never seen one in Idaho. I do however know that there is a tight knit Jewish community in the Boise area.

[madsent33]

I agree with everyone else. I was born and raised here, only spent 4 years away and I'm 33 now. I've never heard ANYTHING like that here. I would assume these "Neo-Nazis" are just a bunch of punks and I wouldn't worry about it if I was you. Hearing about that sort of thing is definitely outside of the norm. Idaho isn't the most ethnically or religiously diverse place but it's been my experience that it's a pretty tolerant place.

[ponder]

I would be much more concerned about a Muslim or Islamic problem in Boise.

[birddog1989]

+1 with FJ, Beam and Bill

[Momma Sheepdog]

Welcome to Idaho. Its very diverse. The revolution hasnt started yet , but I m pretty sure you will be safe. There is religion bashing but being jewish isnt one of them. Its just more of the plan to segment us all and get us fighting each other so big brother can do what he wants to do to us. Enough politics , be welcome come shoot and enjoy Idaho!

[Evergreen]

Shalom To All 


I want to tell everyone here that I thank them very much for their responses.  All of you guys have made me feel a lot better.  Sometimes there is a lot of anxiety moving to a new place and you can get worried.  Actually, I was not worrying at all about the "nazi issue" and pretty much wrote it off as liberal propaganda.  The only reason I brought this issue up, was that the guy at the gun store tried freaking me the heck out.  Being Jewish, I have encountered some racism, here in Oregon.  Actually, it never was from neo-nazis but from other people, believe it or not.  However, it does get me a bit paranoid and worried at times.  However, I am more worried about liberals usually than I am about so called "ultra right-wing" types, IMO who are really "ultra left-wing", National Socialists.  Also, I also have lived around some of my middle-eastern neighbors in Beaverton, that made me feel threatened sometimes.  I won't name any religions or names.   Not to say I thought bad of all of them, but there was a few "fanatic" types, that I knew I was definitely not safe around.

Anyway, I want to say I feel a sigh of relief. I know there are bad types everywhere, but I do feel Boise has a lot more good than bad.  That is another reason I am moving to Boise, because I actually feel I will be freer there.  In Portland, I am always on the watch for the politically correct thought police who always seem to want to bash me.  I don't know what it is about Idaho, but there seems to be a genuine friendliness to the people and I can be more of myself and not worry about putting on some fake act, like here in Portland. 

Now with this issue out of the way, I am super excited to be moving to Idaho.  ;D;D  Oregon seems to becoming a wasteland and it breaks my heart, considering I have lived here most my life and saw it when it was such a peaceful, more relaxed place.   

I really look forward to meeting people there and hopefully finding some people to shoot with.  It is tough where I live, due to lack of shooting ranges and not a heck of lot of people who have time to shoot.  I know Idaho is more gun-friendly than Oregon.   Heck, even my future landlord was chatting with me about the various guns he has. Gosh, I am happy I can have a landlord who will not freak out that I am a gun owner.  I'm eager to check out the gun ranges and find other places to shoot.  My job gets in the way, but I am going to force myself to go shooting once a week, even if it is just with 22s.  There will never be an excuse now to not go shooting.   

Also, I just love the Sawtooth Mountains, so much more than the Columbia Gorge where I live.  I'm planning at least once a month going hiking/backpacking in that magnificent mountain range.  Seriously, I am addicted to Idaho's mountains.  IT has an amazing rugged and remote beauty I have never seen in Oregon.

Thanks again to all you who could be honest with me and help put aside my fears.  I know some gun store owners love to sensationalize things and I take everything with grain of salt.  And for everyone's information, it was not Alpha and Omega.  It was a tiny little gun store outside of Boise and I don't really want to cause any trouble, as I live in the same town as this guy.  Let's just say, I won't get bent out of shape by what the guy says.  It sounds like he was getting a bit carried away by some of the stupid punks who visit his store.  He is a California-transplant and I don't know if that has anything to do with his reaction to some of these morons.

Name the store.
Wear your garb.

As I said, I don't want to incriminate or start any trouble with the store owner.  It's a small store, I will say that.  As far as wearing my garb, I would love to!  You know many religious Orthodox Jews go to the shooting range wearing full religious garb.  They will do prayers with Torah scroll and tefillin before shooting guns, then wear their tallit katan and kippa while shooting guns.  I would love to go to the shooting range one day in my religious clothing.  Although, I never do this because, well obviously I fear I may freak people out.   Oh well, maybe one day I will do so.   Perhaps, I can feel safe wearing my kippa and Tallit Katan around Boise during Shabbat, if I am travelling around.  I generally only wear my Tallit and Kippa on Shabbat, although would like to wear it more often.  Even in Portland I fear wearing it, although the Orthodox Jews wear it in certain areas of the city.

I agree with all these guys Evergreen, The Treasure Valley is a cool place to live, come out, shoot, live , thrive and succeed. YOU HANG WITH us NOW, THERE WON'T BE ANY HASSLES.
Stop in at my shop, RK Gunsmithing, I'll buy you a cup a coffee.
Pops

Hi Pops.. I am glad to HANG with you guys..  I feel the community here is very tight-knit and people are very friendly and accommodating.  Once again, I have to thank Jaggy for helping me out at the 3-Gun match, letting me borrow his gear and helping teach me how the 3-gun matches work.  He did help me out quite a bit, despite some of the struggles he went through that day.

Pops.. I would be happy to come visit your shop and if you buy me the first cup, I'll buy you the second     You can just PM me the address of your shop and when I move to Boise I will be sure to stop by.  I am going to check out all the gun stores in the area. With one caveat, perhaps I may avoid Alpha-Omega after what everyone said  .

I want to thank everyone once again for taking their time to share their opinion about this issue.

I wish words could describe how excited I am moving to Idaho.  You know after my last trip there, I just kind of fell in love with the place.   It will be an exciting experience.  After living most of my life in ORegon, this will be quite a change, but for the better.   I hope I can get to meet more of the people here and go shooting with you.

[DCR]

Welcome, and jump into the Jewish community here in Boise.  I'm not a member of the faith, but a full supporter, and participate in many events at the various locations in the Treasure Valley.  If I'm not mistaken, Boise has the oldest continuously-used synagogue west of the Mississippi, and although the Jewish community in Boise is relatively small, there is widespread support among the entire community.  I remember when the synagogue was moved on huge trucks from downtown to its present site off Latah - it was quite a feat, and a significant event.  The location is great - on the historic Bench cemetery, with a huge field of grass and a community garden that serves many.  Rabbi Dan Fink occasionally writes thoughtful columns for the local newspaper - he's widely respected and included in community events.

Don't you worry - there are plenty of folks here, both on this board and in Boise at large - who wouldn't hesitate to expose and work to drive out any BS that some chowderhead(s) might possibly concoct and try, and I'd be a front-liner on that one. 

Again, welcome, and hope to meet you in town or on the range.

[NoviceHunter]

Sounds to me like a salesman was trying to push your fear buttons to get a sale.  Find a new gun store.

[Evergreen]

I would be very interested to visit that synagogue you mention, DCR..  I heard Boise does have one of the oldest synagogues in the West Coast.  Maybe, Rabbi Dan Fink can help me with translating my great grandfather's life story that is recorded in Yiddish.  He is a pogrom/holocaust survivor/escapee who came from Belarus (near Russia).  His entire village was wiped out by nazis right after he left.  Another reason why I get a bit emotional at times when people talk about "nazis".

I most definitely will not be visiting that gun store ever again.  Now that I have received a more rational view from people here, I can see this guy was a fearmonger.  It could be very well, he was hoping I would buy a few rifles to protect myself from the skinheads  .   Being a business kind of guy myself, I understand business tactics.  One thing I will never do though is screw with a person's head like that to get a sale.  I still don't know if that is why he made his erroneous claims, but I don't think I want to try to figure him out.

One thing I will say, is good gun stores are hard to find..  Even in Portland, we have our fair share with notorious reputations.