What recoil? With all that weight, old slabsides doesn't recoil much. With a lighter gun, like my Witness polymer compact, .45 ACP could be a problem, but mine is ported and has less perceived recoil than my 1911. I put 5 boxes through it the first time I took it to the range, and I could have gone more if I'd had time and/or been willing to buy more at the high range prices.
BTW, one need not be an American citizen to own and shoot firearms, only a legal resident. That may have changed a bit of late. I think maybe the changes affect visitors as opposed to resident aliens, but I'm not sure.
Agreed. Heavy recoil with a .45 is pretty much myth. I have an alloy frame .45 (Taurus PT-945) and the recoil is still minimal, absolutely nothing like a .357. I don't think I'd want to have a .45 in an ultra-light polymer gun though.