Imo every race has stereo types. If someone doesn't like the reputation of their race their job is to work against those stereo types. Consider how these reputations are acquired in the first place. Call me racist but IMO if you want but if you want a positive reputation you do positive things. If you do negative things you get a negative reputation. It is instinct to group things that share similar characteristics. Think about it, we are scared of ALL sharks in the ocean even if we have never seen one. Some people are afraid of ALL dogs simply because they were frightened by one as a child. The fear of guns is the same. Some people see a gun as a tool, others see it only as a child killer. We can't control our background but we can control our day to day. Over time and consistent behavior by enough people, animals or inanimate objects; positive or negative cements our reputation. Do the work.