***He mentions that his father also owned a .22 rifle and a shotgun***
I remember talking to a gun dealer back in 1968 Little Rock Arkansas. His store had been broken into and the only thing stolen were .22 pistols.
He knew that blacks did it as they were only allowed .22 single shot hunting rifles.
Interesting... I'll admit I didn't know that was still happening in 1968, but I was just a small tot back then.