bearingarms--2020-07-01--July NICS Checks At Record Highs As Americans Embrace Their 2A Rights

The country ’ s gun buying surge that began with the coronavirus closures in March soared to new heights in June , with a record 3.9-million NICS checks performed .
According to the FBI , there were a total of 3,931,607 background checks conducted last month , compared to 2,312,309 checks in June of 2019 .
This marks the third month in 2020 with more than 3,000,000 background checks , and the 3.9-million checks recorded is the highest number of background checks ever reported in a single month in the 20 year history of the NICS program .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these checks were for firearm purchases .
Some of the checks conducted were for concealed carry applications or FOID card licenses , and sales of multiple firearms will only result in one background check being performed .
In other words , the NICS numbers aren ’ t a perfect snapshot of firearm sales , but they do provide a fairly decent proxy .
To provide a more accurate snapshot of how many of these NICS checks involve actual sales of firearms , the firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting separated out codes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NICS codes for firearms transfers .
The company estimates that there were 2,3͕87,524 firearms sold across the United States last month , including 1.5-million handgun sales ( a whopping 177 % increase compared to June of 2019 ) and 690,212 sales of long guns ( a 114 % increase from JUne of 2019 ) .
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that in the first six months of 2020 , as many as 2-million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time .
Those numbers are clearly growing as people take stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp rise in violent crime seen in many cities .
Calls to defund or abolish police departments are also likely contributing to the continued surge in gun sales during what is normally the slowest months of the year for gun purchases .
The NSSF ’ s Mark Oliva says the new numbers are “ representative of Americans from all walks of life who are taking action and taking responsibility for their rights and their safety.
” “ These figures represent the highest June on record since the FBI began conducting instant background checks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp in increase in Americans buying firearms in June continues a trend we saw start in the spring .
Civil unrest , rioting , looting and calls to defund police are unquestionably motivating factors of why this trend is increasing .
Americans are right to be concerned for their personal safety .
It ’ s entirely reasonable that law-abiding citizens are exercising their Constitutional right to purchase a firearm to protect themselves .
Our nation ’ s elected representatives should take heed of where their constituents are on gun ownership today .
Politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the same ones who call for strict gun control and even outright confiscation .
These figures aren ’ t push polls .
They are representative of Americans from all walks of life who are taking action and taking responsibility for their rights and their safety.
” Typically gun sales start to decline in the summer months before picking back up in the fall .
From May to June of 2019 , for instance , the number of NICS checks fell by by about 30,000 .
In 2020 , NICS checks increased by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calendar month that sees the fewest number of NICS checks performed , but something tells me that won ’ t be the case this year .
In January of 2020 there were 2.7-million NICS checks conducted , and at the moment it seems likely that will be the low-water mark for the year .
At this point , the only thing that ’ s likely to bring down the number of guns sold is availability .
Over at the Washington Free Beacon , Stephen Gutowski has reaction from several gun store owners who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faster than they ’ re getting resupplied by distributors .
“ Obama was the best gun sales in the country they claimed , ” Brandon Wexler , owner of Wex Gunworks in Delray Beach , Fla. , told the Washington Free Beacon .
“ No , Covid19 is.
” He said sales picked up in March and have continued strong since then , with new spikes appearing over the last month .
“ Pretty much everything is out of stock , ” he said .
“ We have been doing it since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literally no supply available .
As of last week , at all major distributors you could not get any guns .
Everything was literally sold out .
Can ’ t even get hearing protection.
” Ammunition is just as hard to find as firearms are in many locations .
I was talking to a buddy of mine who works at the local gun store here in Farmville , Virginia , and last week one of their ammo shipments consisted of a single box of 9mm ammunition .
Not a case , just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers go down in July , it will be because of a lack of supply and not a lack of demand .

The country’s gun buying surge that began with the coronavirus closures in March soared to new heights in June, with a record 3.9-million NICS checks performed. According to the FBI, there were a total of 3,931,607 background checks conducted last month, compared to 2,312,309 checks in June of 2019. This marks the third month in 2020 with more than 3,000,000 background checks, and the 3.9-million checks recorded is the highest number of background checks ever reported in a single month in the 20 year history of the NICS program.
Now, a note of caution; Not all of these checks were for firearm purchases. Some of the checks conducted were for concealed carry applications or FOID card licenses, and sales of multiple firearms will only result in one background check being performed. In other words, the NICS numbers aren’t a perfect snapshot of firearm sales, but they do provide a fairly decent proxy.
To provide a more accurate snapshot of how many of these NICS checks involve actual sales of firearms, the firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting separated out codes for things like concealed carry renewals from NICS codes for firearms transfers. The company estimates that there were 2,3͕87,524 firearms sold across the United States last month, including 1.5-million handgun sales (a whopping 177% increase compared to June of 2019) and 690,212 sales of long guns (a 114% increase from JUne of 2019).
The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that in the first six months of 2020, as many as 2-million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time. Those numbers are clearly growing as people take stock of the riots, unrest, and sharp rise in violent crime seen in many cities. Calls to defund or abolish police departments are also likely contributing to the continued surge in gun sales during what is normally the slowest months of the year for gun purchases.
The NSSF’s Mark Oliva says the new numbers are “representative of Americans from all walks of life who are taking action and taking responsibility for their rights and their safety.”
“These figures represent the highest June on record since the FBI began conducting instant background checks more than 20 years ago. The sharp in increase in Americans buying firearms in June continues a trend we saw start in the spring. Civil unrest, rioting, looting and calls to defund police are unquestionably motivating factors of why this trend is increasing. Americans are right to be concerned for their personal safety. It’s entirely reasonable that law-abiding citizens are exercising their Constitutional right to purchase a firearm to protect themselves. Our nation’s elected representatives should take heed of where their constituents are on gun ownership today. Politicians who entertain notions of defunding police departments are the same ones who call for strict gun control and even outright confiscation. These figures aren’t push polls. They are representative of Americans from all walks of life who are taking action and taking responsibility for their rights and their safety.”
Typically gun sales start to decline in the summer months before picking back up in the fall. From May to June of 2019, for instance, the number of NICS checks fell by by about 30,000. In 2020, NICS checks increased by almost 900,000. July is generally the calendar month that sees the fewest number of NICS checks performed, but something tells me that won’t be the case this year. In January of 2020 there were 2.7-million NICS checks conducted, and at the moment it seems likely that will be the low-water mark for the year.
At this point, the only thing that’s likely to bring down the number of guns sold is availability. Over at the Washington Free Beacon, Stephen Gutowski has reaction from several gun store owners who say that their stock is disappearing much faster than they’re getting resupplied by distributors.
“Obama was the best gun sales in the country they claimed,” Brandon Wexler, owner of Wex Gunworks in Delray Beach, Fla., told the Washington Free Beacon. “No, Covid19 is.” He said sales picked up in March and have continued strong since then, with new spikes appearing over the last month. “Pretty much everything is out of stock,” he said. “We have been doing it since the late ’70s and have never seen literally no supply available. As of last week, at all major distributors you could not get any guns. Everything was literally sold out. Can’t even get hearing protection.”
Ammunition is just as hard to find as firearms are in many locations. I was talking to a buddy of mine who works at the local gun store here in Farmville, Virginia, and last week one of their ammo shipments consisted of a single box of 9mm ammunition. Not a case, just a box. If the NICS background check numbers go down in July, it will be because of a lack of supply and not a lack of demand.


bearingarms--2020-07-01--Facebook Deletes Hundreds Of Groups Over "Boogaloo" Meme

It ’ s funny .
The left often thinks the reason there aren ’ t many conservative comedians is that people on the right just aren ’ t funny .
Sure , there are a few who are genuinely funny who also share right-leaning politics , but not all that many , and the idea that it ’ s because people on the right aren ’ t funny may or may not explain why there are so few .
However , I ’ ll say one thing .
We can at least take a freaking joke .
The left has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boogaloo.
” Article after article has been published to tell their readers all about this troubling movement that either is expecting a war or is outright trying to start one .
None of these writers have watched the “ boogaloo ” thing grow and spread .
Instead , they ’ ve only heard about it recently and are now trying to play catch-up .
Dozens of stories in the last few weeks alone , all about how the “ boogaloo bois ” are troublemakers in the making .
It seems Facebook listened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday removed hundreds of accounts and groups associated with a network of the far-right “ boogaloo ” movement whose followers have been linked to violence that disrupted mostly peaceful protests around the United States .
Facebook said it was designating the faction of the boogaloo movement that advocates violence as a “ dangerous organization ” and had taken down 220 accounts , 28 pages , 106 groups and 95 accounts on Facebook-owned Instagram that were associated with it .
The social media platform said it also had removed 400 more Facebook accounts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or praised the violent network .
Facebook ’ s move against the boogaloo movement came after federal prosecutors charged several adherents of the movement with crimes across the U.S. , including the killing of a security officer at a federal courthouse in Oakland , Calif. , and a plot to use explosives at a Las Vegas protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
The problem is that it ’ s not a movement , it ’ s a meme .
The whole thing about Hawaiian shirts , night-vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the joke .
Now , don ’ t get me wrong , some people who were part of this have also been arrested for allegedly trying to do some horrible stuff .
I ’ m not going to defend these alleged actions .
However , I will say that 99.9 percent of the people who are part of the “ boogaloo movement ” are people who like sharing memes and jokes revolving around this whole idea .
To remove all of these groups over the actions of a relatively small number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we also know that numerous Black Lives Matter protests erupted into actual violence .
Will Facebook remove those accounts ?
Look , I ’ m not saying those guys who were looking for trouble aren ’ t bad news .
Anyone who looks for trouble is .
But any group , formal or otherwise , is going to have some bad seeds .
Especially when that “ group ” revolves around a joke that ’ s become a meme .
Facebook did nothing but feed into the hysteria .
Meanwhile , the meme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone will be back up and running in no time flat .
It ’ s just too bad Facebook won ’ t take the same action against Antifa , a group that ’ s carried out countless acts of violence .

It’s funny. The left often thinks the reason there aren’t many conservative comedians is that people on the right just aren’t funny. Sure, there are a few who are genuinely funny who also share right-leaning politics, but not all that many, and the idea that it’s because people on the right aren’t funny may or may not explain why there are so few.
However, I’ll say one thing. We can at least take a freaking joke.
The left has been on for weeks about the “boogaloo.” Article after article has been published to tell their readers all about this troubling movement that either is expecting a war or is outright trying to start one. None of these writers have watched the “boogaloo” thing grow and spread. Instead, they’ve only heard about it recently and are now trying to play catch-up.
Dozens of stories in the last few weeks alone, all about how the “boogaloo bois” are troublemakers in the making. It seems Facebook listened to those stories, too.
Facebook on Tuesday removed hundreds of accounts and groups associated with a network of the far-right “boogaloo” movement whose followers have been linked to violence that disrupted mostly peaceful protests around the United States. Facebook said it was designating the faction of the boogaloo movement that advocates violence as a “dangerous organization” and had taken down 220 accounts, 28 pages, 106 groups and 95 accounts on Facebook-owned Instagram that were associated with it. The social media platform said it also had removed 400 more Facebook accounts and more than 100 additional groups that supported or praised the violent network. Facebook’s move against the boogaloo movement came after federal prosecutors charged several adherents of the movement with crimes across the U.S., including the killing of a security officer at a federal courthouse in Oakland, Calif., and a plot to use explosives at a Las Vegas protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
The problem is that it’s not a movement, it’s a meme.
The whole thing about Hawaiian shirts, night-vision goggles, and an attitude are just part of the joke.
Now, don’t get me wrong, some people who were part of this have also been arrested for allegedly trying to do some horrible stuff. I’m not going to defend these alleged actions.
However, I will say that 99.9 percent of the people who are part of the “boogaloo movement” are people who like sharing memes and jokes revolving around this whole idea. To remove all of these groups over the actions of a relatively small number of people is troubling, especially since we also know that numerous Black Lives Matter protests erupted into actual violence. Will Facebook remove those accounts?
Probably not.
Look, I’m not saying those guys who were looking for trouble aren’t bad news. Anyone who looks for trouble is. But any group, formal or otherwise, is going to have some bad seeds. Especially when that “group” revolves around a joke that’s become a meme.
Facebook did nothing but feed into the hysteria.
Meanwhile, the meme will soon morph into something else and everyone will be back up and running in no time flat.
It’s just too bad Facebook won’t take the same action against Antifa, a group that’s carried out countless acts of violence.


bearingarms--2020-07-01--Florida Sheriff Willing To Deputize Gun Owners To Stave Off Violence

So far things have been quiet and protests have been peaceful in Clay County , Florida , and Sheriff Darryl Daniels wants to keep it that way .
In a video posted to Facebook from the account of the Clay County Sheriff ’ s Department , Daniels warns would be rioters and looters what to expect if they try to do damage in the local community .
“ Somebody has to step up in front of the camera and say ‘ enough is enough , ’ ” promises the sheriff in the video , adding “ if we can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll make special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county.
” “ In Clay County we have a great quality of life , ” argues the sheriff while standing in a line of Clay County sheriff ’ s deputies .
“ We have a great relationship with our community , but across this country not so much .
I just wanted to take a stand with these men and these women who feel the same way that I do .
Lawlessness ?
That ’ s unacceptable in this country .
Lawlessness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County .
And if you threaten to come to Clay County and think for one second that we ’ ll bend our backs to you , you ’ re sadly mistaken.
” According to the sheriff ’ s department , Clay County hasn ’ t seen any major protests , but the office has had to deal with some recent vandalism .
News4Jax reached out to the Sheriff ’ s Office for clarification on the purpose behind the post .
Assistant Chief Keith Smith said the agency saw a “ very slight increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a protest or to damage public property .
Chief Smith said he was part of the crew that cleaned up graffiti from vandals who had targeted a building next to church last week .
“ We don ’ t want this to get out of hand , ” Smith said in a phone interview with News4Jax .
“ We want people to know you have every right to protest , and we will protect that , but Clay County will not tolerate outside instigators.
” Sheriff Daniels is facing a re-election challenge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are running to replace him .
Daniels is also the subject of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into an affair with a subordinate employee when Daniels was employed by the Jacksonville Sheriff ’ s Office , and it could be that this post was “ red meat ” tossed out to voters , as the website FloridaPolitics.com alleges .
On the other hand , it could also be a genuine statement of fact : Clay County isn ’ t going to put up with the scenes that have played out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even some small towns over the past month .
I don ’ t know how much the video will help the sheriff ’ s re-election bid , but I hope it helps to keep violent agitators on their best behavior if they decide to make Clay County a target .

So far things have been quiet and protests have been peaceful in Clay County, Florida, and Sheriff Darryl Daniels wants to keep it that way. In a video posted to Facebook from the account of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Daniels warns would be rioters and looters what to expect if they try to do damage in the local community.
“Somebody has to step up in front of the camera and say ‘enough is enough,’” promises the sheriff in the video, adding “if we can’t handle you …. I’ll make special deputies of every lawful gun owner in this county.”
“In Clay County we have a great quality of life,” argues the sheriff while standing in a line of Clay County sheriff’s deputies. “We have a great relationship with our community, but across this country not so much. I just wanted to take a stand with these men and these women who feel the same way that I do. Lawlessness? That’s unacceptable in this country. Lawlessness? That’s unacceptable in Clay County. And if you threaten to come to Clay County and think for one second that we’ll bend our backs to you, you’re sadly mistaken.”
According to the sheriff’s department, Clay County hasn’t seen any major protests, but the office has had to deal with some recent vandalism.
News4Jax reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for clarification on the purpose behind the post. Assistant Chief Keith Smith said the agency saw a “very slight increase” in threats from outsiders to start a protest or to damage public property. Chief Smith said he was part of the crew that cleaned up graffiti from vandals who had targeted a building next to church last week. “We don’t want this to get out of hand,” Smith said in a phone interview with News4Jax. “We want people to know you have every right to protest, and we will protect that, but Clay County will not tolerate outside instigators.”
Sheriff Daniels is facing a re-election challenge in the August primary, with three opponents who are running to replace him. Daniels is also the subject of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into an affair with a subordinate employee when Daniels was employed by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and it could be that this post was “red meat” tossed out to voters, as the website FloridaPolitics.com alleges.
On the other hand, it could also be a genuine statement of fact: Clay County isn’t going to put up with the scenes that have played out in the streets of major American cities and even some small towns over the past month. I don’t know how much the video will help the sheriff’s re-election bid, but I hope it helps to keep violent agitators on their best behavior if they decide to make Clay County a target.


bearingarms--2020-07-01--Researcher Forced Out After Touting Study Finding Cops Aren't Racist

The left likes to call anyone to the right of them : “ anti-science.
” They say that because we don ’ t buy the hysteria on things like climate change and similar topics , of course , which is fine .
They can call us whatever they like .
After all , they ’ re going to do it anyway .
However , the truth is that they ’ re not as pro-science as they like to argue .
Take what happened to a Michigan State University researcher .
Michigan State University leaders have successfully pressured Stephen Hsu to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of research and innovation after the Graduate Employees Union launched a campaign to oust him from his role .
This came after the union , which represents teaching and research assistants , crawled through years of blog posts and interviews Hsu had conducted and criticized him for sharing content on genetic differences among different races .
But the main thrust to oust Hsu came because the professor touted Michigan State research that found police are not more likely to shoot African-Americans .
“ The victory of the Twitter mob will likely have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hsu told The College Fix via email .
Hsu will stay on as a physics professor as Michigan State , but his gig as vice president of research and innovation was gone because he touted the wrong research .
In particular , he held up research done by the university that found that police aren ’ t as racist as groups like Black Lives Matter like to pretend them to be .
More troubling , though , is that the union that called for Hsu ’ s head also thinks politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which don ’ t .
The graduate union told The Fix that administrators should not share research that runs counter to public statements by the university .
“ It is the union ’ s position that an administrator sharing such views is in opposition to MSU ’ s statements released supporting the protests and their root cause and aim , ” Ackles wrote in an e-mail to The College Fix .
That ’ s right .
It doesn ’ t matter if the study is factual or not .
It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
What matters is whether or not the studies support a given ideology or not .
And people wonder why so many gun folks aren ’ t crazy about taxpayer dollars being used for gun violence research .
It ’ s a total mystery .
The truth of the matter is that Hsu ’ s promotion of that study is important and something we can ’ t overlook .
Not because Hsu promoted it , but because the study exists .
If we ’ re going to figure out the problem with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are problems that need to be addressed–then we need to address the actual problems , not the issues that exist in the minds of the outraged and nowhere else .
If studies are finding that police don ’ t appear to be racially biased , then we need to look elsewhere .
We need to address the real issues , but it ’ s clear that he left won ’ t let us .
They ’ ve determined the problem and damn you or anyone else who tries to look elsewhere for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t have been forced to resign from anything .
Or do only Black Lives Matter while Asian jobs don ’ t ?

The left likes to call anyone to the right of them: “anti-science.” They say that because we don’t buy the hysteria on things like climate change and similar topics, of course, which is fine. They can call us whatever they like. After all, they’re going to do it anyway.
However, the truth is that they’re not as pro-science as they like to argue.
Take what happened to a Michigan State University researcher.
Michigan State University leaders have successfully pressured Stephen Hsu to resign from his position as vice president of research and innovation after the Graduate Employees Union launched a campaign to oust him from his role. This came after the union, which represents teaching and research assistants, crawled through years of blog posts and interviews Hsu had conducted and criticized him for sharing content on genetic differences among different races. But the main thrust to oust Hsu came because the professor touted Michigan State research that found police are not more likely to shoot African-Americans. “The victory of the Twitter mob will likely have a chilling effect on academic freedom on campus,” Hsu told The College Fix via email.
Hsu will stay on as a physics professor as Michigan State, but his gig as vice president of research and innovation was gone because he touted the wrong research.
In particular, he held up research done by the university that found that police aren’t as racist as groups like Black Lives Matter like to pretend them to be.
More troubling, though, is that the union that called for Hsu’s head also thinks politics should determine what studies get promoted and which don’t.
The graduate union told The Fix that administrators should not share research that runs counter to public statements by the university. “It is the union’s position that an administrator sharing such views is in opposition to MSU’s statements released supporting the protests and their root cause and aim,” Ackles wrote in an e-mail to The College Fix.
That’s right. It doesn’t matter if the study is factual or not. It doesn’t matter whether the methodology is sound or not. What matters is whether or not the studies support a given ideology or not.
And people wonder why so many gun folks aren’t crazy about taxpayer dollars being used for gun violence research. It’s a total mystery.
The truth of the matter is that Hsu’s promotion of that study is important and something we can’t overlook. Not because Hsu promoted it, but because the study exists.
If we’re going to figure out the problem with policing–and I’ll agree that there are problems that need to be addressed–then we need to address the actual problems, not the issues that exist in the minds of the outraged and nowhere else. If studies are finding that police don’t appear to be racially biased, then we need to look elsewhere.
We need to address the real issues, but it’s clear that he left won’t let us. They’ve determined the problem and damn you or anyone else who tries to look elsewhere for the issue.
The truth is that Hsu shouldn’t have been forced to resign from anything.
Or do only Black Lives Matter while Asian jobs don’t?


bearingarms--2020-07-01--The Mob Comes For The McCloskeys

The Mob Comes For The McCloskeys

St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey says when hundreds of protesters poured through a gate and into their private community on Sunday , it “ was like the storming of the Bastille “ , which is why he and his wife rushed outside their palatial home with a rifle and pistol to defend their lives and property .
While the St. Louis Circuit Attorney is investigating the case and seems to be pushing for a way to charge the McCloskeys for pointing their guns at protesters , no protester actually contacted police over the incident .
Presumably , they didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , it was the McCloskeys who filed a police report .
I ’ ve written before about the problems that the circuit attorney is going to have if she moves forward with charges , and I suspect if she does charge the McCloskeys it will be a case of political expediency versus a true attempt at seeking justice .
Even as the prosecutor weighs her options , the court of public opinion is quickly coming down in two camps .
The first says that , although the McCloskeys need to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t commit a crime .
The second camp says that the McCloskeys clearly should be prosecuted for something for pointing a gun at protesters , and in the meantime , the pair should be cancelled .
This has led to at least one case of mistaken identity .
Martin McCloskey , an attorney in Elkhart , Indiana , says he ’ s been besieged by harassing and threatening phone calls since the story of the St. Louis couple exploded on Monday .
Activists nationwide have been harassing the McCloskey Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistaken identity since a couple with the same last name was recorded pointing guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators in St. Louis .
The couple in St. Louis , Mark and Patricia McCloskey , run the McCloskey Law Center in St. Louis .
People have been leaving negative reviews on Yelp and Google and have been receiving threatening phone calls , according to an email from the law office .
On Facebook , McCloskey wrote that he is “ getting calls from people threatening to kill my staff , are vulgar and are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad reviews on Google and Yelp.
” They can ’ t even get his name right , much less the city and state .
We ’ ve got an online mob so freaking irate over the actions of Mark McCloskey of St. Louis , Missouri that they ’ re threatening him and his staff with death , yet they ’ re so lazy or inept that they end up contacting Martin McCloskey of the Elkhart , Indiana McCloskeys .
The mob isn ’ t just unthinking .
It ’ s downright dumb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad , I imagine the threats and harrassment of Mark and Patricia McCloskey are 100 times worse .
The really sad and scary part about all of this is the role that the media is playing in stoking the outrage .
I hate to say this , but I think there are many reporters working in the field and engaging on social media who want to see the storming of the McCloskey mansion .
I think they ’ re so offended by the McCloskeys that they ’ ve decided the couple should get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they won ’ t be happy until the flames lick the roof of the palatial home and everything inside is destroyed .
The McCloskeys are the current target of the Two Minute Hate , and I suspect that won ’ t change for at least a few days .
Will the national media , for example , express the same outrage over the protester who shot the driver of a car in Provo , Utah on Monday evening ?
Not a chance .
Numerous witnesses provided video footage of a white SUV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before pulling into the right turn lane in an attempt to turn onto Center Street .
Several protestors began crowding around the vehicle when a male protestor ran to the SVU on the passenger side , pointed a handgun at driver and shot one round through the window .
The driver , who was struck by the bullet , hit the gas trying to leave the situation when the same protestor ran after the vehicle and shot a second-round that went through the rear passenger window .
The video then shows that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest .
Police said the same protestor later approached another vehicle at 500 North and University Avenue striking and breaking the window with the handgun .
Seems to me like that ’ s a more egregious sin than any committed by the McCloskeys , yet something tells me the media will be strangely uninterested in this story or finding out who perpetrated such a heinous act .
The mob is focused on the McCloskeys at the moment , McCloskey may see another “ storming of the Bastille ” before all is said and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just around the corner .
What are the odds the McCloskeys increase the security around their home and get some serious gun training before July 14 ?

St. Louis attorney Mark McCloskey says when hundreds of protesters poured through a gate and into their private community on Sunday, it “was like the storming of the Bastille“, which is why he and his wife rushed outside their palatial home with a rifle and pistol to defend their lives and property.
“The gate came down and a large crowd of angry, aggressive people poured through,” Mark McCloskey said. “I was terrified that we’d be murdered within seconds. Our house would be burned down, our pets would be killed.”
While the St. Louis Circuit Attorney is investigating the case and seems to be pushing for a way to charge the McCloskeys for pointing their guns at protesters, no protester actually contacted police over the incident. Presumably, they didn’t want to be cited for trespassing. Instead, it was the McCloskeys who filed a police report. I’ve written before about the problems that the circuit attorney is going to have if she moves forward with charges, and I suspect if she does charge the McCloskeys it will be a case of political expediency versus a true attempt at seeking justice.
Even as the prosecutor weighs her options, the court of public opinion is quickly coming down in two camps. The first says that, although the McCloskeys need to get much more comfortable holding their firearms, they didn’t commit a crime. The second camp says that the McCloskeys clearly should be prosecuted for something for pointing a gun at protesters, and in the meantime, the pair should be cancelled.
This has led to at least one case of mistaken identity. Martin McCloskey, an attorney in Elkhart, Indiana, says he’s been besieged by harassing and threatening phone calls since the story of the St. Louis couple exploded on Monday.
Activists nationwide have been harassing the McCloskey Law Office in Elkhart in a case of mistaken identity since a couple with the same last name was recorded pointing guns at Black Lives Matter demonstrators in St. Louis. The couple in St. Louis, Mark and Patricia McCloskey, run the McCloskey Law Center in St. Louis. Martin McCloskey runs the McCloskey Law Office in Elkhart. People have been leaving negative reviews on Yelp and Google and have been receiving threatening phone calls, according to an email from the law office.
On Facebook, McCloskey wrote that he is “getting calls from people threatening to kill my staff, are vulgar and are using profanity as well as giving me bad reviews on Google and Yelp.”
They can’t even get his name right, much less the city and state. We’ve got an online mob so freaking irate over the actions of Mark McCloskey of St. Louis, Missouri that they’re threatening him and his staff with death, yet they’re so lazy or inept that they end up contacting Martin McCloskey of the Elkhart, Indiana McCloskeys. The mob isn’t just unthinking. It’s downright dumb.
If Martin McCloskey is getting it this bad, I imagine the threats and harrassment of Mark and Patricia McCloskey are 100 times worse. The really sad and scary part about all of this is the role that the media is playing in stoking the outrage.
I hate to say this, but I think there are many reporters working in the field and engaging on social media who want to see the storming of the McCloskey mansion. I think they’re so offended by the McCloskeys that they’ve decided the couple should get what’s coming to them, and they won’t be happy until the flames lick the roof of the palatial home and everything inside is destroyed.
The McCloskeys are the current target of the Two Minute Hate, and I suspect that won’t change for at least a few days. Will the national media, for example, express the same outrage over the protester who shot the driver of a car in Provo, Utah on Monday evening? Not a chance.
Numerous witnesses provided video footage of a white SUV that was driving south on University Avenue before pulling into the right turn lane in an attempt to turn onto Center Street. Several protestors began crowding around the vehicle when a male protestor ran to the SVU on the passenger side, pointed a handgun at driver and shot one round through the window. The driver, who was struck by the bullet, hit the gas trying to leave the situation when the same protestor ran after the vehicle and shot a second-round that went through the rear passenger window. The video then shows that the protestor conceals the firearm and continues to protest. Police said the same protestor later approached another vehicle at 500 North and University Avenue striking and breaking the window with the handgun.
Seems to me like that’s a more egregious sin than any committed by the McCloskeys, yet something tells me the media will be strangely uninterested in this story or finding out who perpetrated such a heinous act. The mob is focused on the McCloskeys at the moment, McCloskey may see another “storming of the Bastille” before all is said and done. Heck, Bastille Day is just around the corner. What are the odds the McCloskeys increase the security around their home and get some serious gun training before July 14?


bearingarms--2020-07-02--Semi-Annual Warning: Don't Shoot Up Into The Sky

It ’ s absolutely stupid that we have to say this , but it comes up about twice a year .
You see , some people like to make noise for two particular holidays .
One is New Year ’ s .
The other is Independence Day .
I get it .
I mean , Independence day fireworks represent the weapons used to win us our freedom .
We ended our oppression and created the greatest nation the world has ever seen .
I mean , people don ’ t risk life and limb floating across the ocean in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do they ?
However , it ’ s time once again to remind people to not do one particular thing in their enthusiasm to celebrate their freedom .
GREENSBORO , N.C. — July 4th celebrations are likely going to be self-initiated this year .
That means backyard fireworks and unfortunately , some people firing guns as a form of celebration .
While North Carolinians still remain under the Safer at Home Order , some of those dangers have already begun .
Now , not everyone is under such an order , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , though , are the problems that come from celebratory gunfire .
On a warm June evening , Todd Gibbs and his wife decided to spend some time outdoors .
“ We were just sitting out here on the patio watching TV and relaxing , ” Gibbs said .
“ Then we heard something ricocheting .
It sounded like it hit the table.
” The couple jumped up and ran inside of their home .
Minutes later , they came outside to see what had happened .
“ My wife noticed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Gibbs said , pointing to where the bullet was .
The bullet landed inches away from where he was sitting .
On the first of the year , I routinely see a number of stories all about how someone has died because of a stray bullet .
Every year , some nimrod fires up into the air and thinks all is well , only for some kid to catch the bullet miles away .
Look , I ’ m going to spell it out for you .
If you fire your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earth , the bullet will eventually run out of steam and return to Earth never going faster than terminal velocity , which isn ’ t fatal .
However , you ’ re basically incapable of firing at a precise 90 degrees .
At 89 degrees or lower , the round doesn ’ t stop and return to Earth at a safe speed .
No , what happens is that you create an arc that allows the round to maintain power but to travel miles away .
Do you know precisely what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from your house ?
Can you be sure there ’ s not anyone there ?
No , you can ’ t , so knock it the hell off .
If fireworks are legal where you ’ re at , use those .
There are ways to use them safely and to have fun .
If you somehow just have to fire your gun , please aim it down at a patch of ground you know to be free of rocks and fire there .
It ’ s still idiotic , but it tends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re responsible for where your round goes .
That means any blood spilled , even by mistake , is on your hands , so knock it off .

It’s absolutely stupid that we have to say this, but it comes up about twice a year.
You see, some people like to make noise for two particular holidays. One is New Year’s. The other is Independence Day.
I get it. I mean, Independence day fireworks represent the weapons used to win us our freedom. We ended our oppression and created the greatest nation the world has ever seen. I mean, people don’t risk life and limb floating across the ocean in a raft to get to Venezuela, now do they?
However, it’s time once again to remind people to not do one particular thing in their enthusiasm to celebrate their freedom.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — July 4th celebrations are likely going to be self-initiated this year. That means backyard fireworks and unfortunately, some people firing guns as a form of celebration. While North Carolinians still remain under the Safer at Home Order, some of those dangers have already begun.
Now, not everyone is under such an order, but that’s not really relevant.
What is, though, are the problems that come from celebratory gunfire.
On a warm June evening, Todd Gibbs and his wife decided to spend some time outdoors. “We were just sitting out here on the patio watching TV and relaxing,” Gibbs said. “Then we heard something ricocheting. It sounded like it hit the table.” The couple jumped up and ran inside of their home. Minutes later, they came outside to see what had happened. “My wife noticed a bullet which happened to be right here,” Gibbs said, pointing to where the bullet was. The bullet landed inches away from where he was sitting.
On the first of the year, I routinely see a number of stories all about how someone has died because of a stray bullet. Every year, some nimrod fires up into the air and thinks all is well, only for some kid to catch the bullet miles away.
Look, I’m going to spell it out for you. If you fire your gun in a perfect 90 degrees from the earth, the bullet will eventually run out of steam and return to Earth never going faster than terminal velocity, which isn’t fatal.
However, you’re basically incapable of firing at a precise 90 degrees. At 89 degrees or lower, the round doesn’t stop and return to Earth at a safe speed. No, what happens is that you create an arc that allows the round to maintain power but to travel miles away. Do you know precisely what is in a given spot five miles away from your house? Can you be sure there’s not anyone there?
No, you can’t, so knock it the hell off.
If fireworks are legal where you’re at, use those. There are ways to use them safely and to have fun. If you somehow just have to fire your gun, please aim it down at a patch of ground you know to be free of rocks and fire there. It’s still idiotic, but it tends to be safer.
Regardless, you’re responsible for where your round goes. That means any blood spilled, even by mistake, is on your hands, so knock it off.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--Armed Protesters Square Off In Provo, And Something Amazing Happens

Earlier this week , a man in an SUV attempting to drive through an intersection blocked by protesters in Provo , Utah was shot .
On Tuesday , police arrested 33-year old Jesse Taggart , a resident of Salt Lake City who was part of the protest against brutality .
According to the Associated Press , Taggart doesn ’ t have any formal affiliation with any of the protest groups , including Black Lives Matter , but had been taking part in the protest for most of the evening when he not only allegedly wounded the driver of the SUV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another car with his handgun .
Tensions were high in the city on Wednesday , and that evening , as a couple hundred protesters once again gathered outside of police headquarters in Provo , close to one hundred pro-police demonstrators rallied across the street .
There were some shouts and taunts on both sides , and at one point a pro-police demonstrator tried to confront one of the organizers of the anti-police rally .
Tensions were high throughout most of the evening , but several hours in to the protest something amazing happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salt Lake City ’ s KSL described the moment things turned from bad to better : [ Anti-police protest organizer ] John Sullivan and other event organizers yelled into a bullhorn at the handful of counter-protesters that remained on the opposite street corner of 300 West and Center Street .
He asked if anyone wanted to say something , to address the crowd , free of retribution and with the utmost safety in mind after more than three hours of protests .
Wednesday ’ s demonstration was , after all , a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and so it was only fair .
So John Fitzpatrick , a member of the nascent militia group Keepers of Liberty who attended the rally , stepped forward and began walking to the crowd .
A few hesitated to let him pass , likely because of the firearm strapped to his back .
But at the behest of group organizers , they ushered him and his friend Tyler Warner to the front of the crowd of just over 100 individuals .
And as Fitzpatrick tried to scale the 5-foot retaining wall in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he slipped .
Whether because of the 70 pounds of gear and body armor he wore , the firearm nearly the length of his wingspan , or simply because he lost his footing , Fitzpatrick started to fall .
One protester reached down and caught him — then hoisted him up , gear and all .
The two embraced .
The crowd cheered .
In that moment , Fitzpatrick wasn ’ t pro-police anymore than the protester who stopped his fall was anti-police .
One was a man who was falling , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was a moment beyond politics , labels , and ideology , and that momentary connection was strong enough for the crowd to feel it too .
That ’ s when the conflict turned into a conversation .
As music from a nearby coffee shop on 300 West and Center Street blared loud music , attempting to drown out the demonstration , Fitzpatrick shouted into a bullhorn he had never used before to “ the largest crowd I ’ ve spoken to since the third grade.
” He asked for unity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start a dialogue with those on the other side of the street — and , in some cases , the other side of the aisle .
“ Everybody was staying so divided , and I had to jump in and do something , ” said Fitzpatrick , who lives in Woods Cross .
“ By the time we got here , everybody had moved to the courthouse — so we jumped in and took a knee with them just to get in there and bridge that gap , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how everything goes , but that ’ s how you create a dialogue .
A small compromise goes a long way.
” Black Lives Matter protesters were listening to Proud Boys , socialists were talking to militia members , and amazingly enough , tensions didn ’ t escalate , even though both sides found common ground in going armed .
Both groups also carried firearms ; while several counter-protesters that met in front of the Old Provo Courthouse dressed in camouflage and carried rifles with tape that read “ live ammo , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial equality could be seen with handguns strapped to holsters .
Both openly said they hoped not to use the weapons .
“ The narrative that protesters are violent is a lie , ” said Lex Scott , the Black Lives Matter Utah founder who came to support the demonstration in Provo .
“ We ’ ve been protesting peacefully , and we are fighting against police violence .
So I came down here to support the peaceful protesters today.
” Scott made it a point to carry her own firearm , holstered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Wednesday ’ s protest .
She did it so as not to be intimidated by a group that would carry arms , but also because “ Black people have a Second Amendment right to bear arms , too , ” she told the demonstration at one point .
More than Sullivan and the protest organizers spoke to the group .
In addition to Fitzpatrick and Cisneros , there was Tango , a Los Angeles native and Black business owner in Utah , who stood on the wall with a microphone and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq War also called for unity and an end to violence .
Like Fitzpatrick , many of the counter-protesters call themselves patriots .
But a true patriot is one who finds compromise to make society better , he said .
“ We want to interact and create dialogue with the other side , ” he added .
“ It turns out , we all just want to be left alone.
” To be fair , I don ’ t think that everyone wants to be left alone .
Cancel culture isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damn sure isn ’ t about leaving other people alone .
The news media thrives on conflict and chaos , so they have a vested interest in fostering a culture where we ’ re too angry to talk with one one another so we scream at each other instead .
There are also genuine and deep disagreements on many issues in this country , and even if we can talk about them with each other , it doesn ’ t mean we ’ re going to agree .
We also have to acknowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people in this country who really are intent on a revolution , and they can be found on both sides of the political aisle .
These aren ’ t folks who can be reasoned with , but they don ’ t want any of us having a conversation either .
They need conflict like a fish needs water .
It ’ s a fundamental part of their ecosystem .
There ’ s a far larger pool of Americans on either side of our political divide who aren ’ t interested in burning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happy with what they ’ re seeing on the streets .
In some cases that might be police brutality , in others the wanton destruction of businesses or the tearing down of statues and memorials .
I happen to think many Americans are actually bothered by both of those things .
This isn ’ t really the place for a deep dive into the psychology of mobs , but suffice it to say that instigators can and have helped turn crowds violent over the past month .
Those instigators , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also helped establish a cultural expectation that if you go out to one of these protests , you should be prepared to engage in acts of violence , or at least stand by while they happen .
The protesters on both sides in Provo on Wednesday night interrupted that cultural conditioning thanks to their willingness to get to know each other a little better .
I believe a civil conversation beats a civil war any day , and I ’ m growing increasingly concerned about the latter as the former becomes harder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporter it makes me proud that armed Americans on both sides of the policing issue were able to come together to talk and listen to one another for at least a few minutes on a beautiful summer night , where just a day earlier a man had been shot in rage simply for trying to go home .
I truly do believe that the Second Amendment community is more diverse than any other in the United States today , and it may very well be that it ’ s gun owners from across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence and hostility in today ’ s politics by using that common ground as a starting point for discourse and engagement in areas of disagreement .
A right wing militia member and a left wing Black Lives Matter protester may see each other as the enemy , but if they can start on that common ground of a right of self-defense and the right to keep and bear arms they might find it a little bit easier to stop yelling and start talking .
I keep thinking back to that moment when John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to catch him .
A little moment like that might not change the world , but we ’ ve seen that it can help turn a conflict into a conversation , and with gun owners on both sides leading the way what happened in Provo on Wednesday evening doesn ’ t have to be a one-time thing .

Earlier this week, a man in an SUV attempting to drive through an intersection blocked by protesters in Provo, Utah was shot. On Tuesday, police arrested 33-year old Jesse Taggart, a resident of Salt Lake City who was part of the protest against brutality. According to the Associated Press, Taggart doesn’t have any formal affiliation with any of the protest groups, including Black Lives Matter, but had been taking part in the protest for most of the evening when he not only allegedly wounded the driver of the SUV, but smashed in the window of another car with his handgun.
Tensions were high in the city on Wednesday, and that evening, as a couple hundred protesters once again gathered outside of police headquarters in Provo, close to one hundred pro-police demonstrators rallied across the street. There were some shouts and taunts on both sides, and at one point a pro-police demonstrator tried to confront one of the organizers of the anti-police rally. Tensions were high throughout most of the evening, but several hours in to the protest something amazing happened; the yelling turned to talking.
Salt Lake City’s KSL described the moment things turned from bad to better:
[Anti-police protest organizer] John Sullivan and other event organizers yelled into a bullhorn at the handful of counter-protesters that remained on the opposite street corner of 300 West and Center Street. He asked if anyone wanted to say something, to address the crowd, free of retribution and with the utmost safety in mind after more than three hours of protests. Wednesday’s demonstration was, after all, a free speech zone protected by the First Amendment, and so it was only fair. So John Fitzpatrick, a member of the nascent militia group Keepers of Liberty who attended the rally, stepped forward and began walking to the crowd. A few hesitated to let him pass, likely because of the firearm strapped to his back. But at the behest of group organizers, they ushered him and his friend Tyler Warner to the front of the crowd of just over 100 individuals. And as Fitzpatrick tried to scale the 5-foot retaining wall in front of the Provo police station, he slipped. Whether because of the 70 pounds of gear and body armor he wore, the firearm nearly the length of his wingspan, or simply because he lost his footing, Fitzpatrick started to fall. One protester reached down and caught him — then hoisted him up, gear and all. The two embraced. The crowd cheered.
In that moment, Fitzpatrick wasn’t pro-police anymore than the protester who stopped his fall was anti-police. One was a man who was falling, the other a guy who could catch him. It was a moment beyond politics, labels, and ideology, and that momentary connection was strong enough for the crowd to feel it too. That’s when the conflict turned into a conversation.
As music from a nearby coffee shop on 300 West and Center Street blared loud music, attempting to drown out the demonstration, Fitzpatrick shouted into a bullhorn he had never used before to “the largest crowd I’ve spoken to since the third grade.” He asked for unity, introduced his group, and tried to start a dialogue with those on the other side of the street — and, in some cases, the other side of the aisle. “Everybody was staying so divided, and I had to jump in and do something,” said Fitzpatrick, who lives in Woods Cross. “By the time we got here, everybody had moved to the courthouse — so we jumped in and took a knee with them just to get in there and bridge that gap,” he said. “I have my own personal opinions on how everything goes, but that’s how you create a dialogue. A small compromise goes a long way.”
Black Lives Matter protesters were listening to Proud Boys, socialists were talking to militia members, and amazingly enough, tensions didn’t escalate, even though both sides found common ground in going armed.
Both groups also carried firearms; while several counter-protesters that met in front of the Old Provo Courthouse dressed in camouflage and carried rifles with tape that read “live ammo,” a handful of protesters in support of racial equality could be seen with handguns strapped to holsters. Both openly said they hoped not to use the weapons. “The narrative that protesters are violent is a lie,” said Lex Scott, the Black Lives Matter Utah founder who came to support the demonstration in Provo. “We’ve been protesting peacefully, and we are fighting against police violence. So I came down here to support the peaceful protesters today.” Scott made it a point to carry her own firearm, holstered to her hip the entire evening, to Wednesday’s protest. She did it so as not to be intimidated by a group that would carry arms, but also because “Black people have a Second Amendment right to bear arms, too,” she told the demonstration at one point. There’s that unity thing again. More than Sullivan and the protest organizers spoke to the group. In addition to Fitzpatrick and Cisneros, there was Tango, a Los Angeles native and Black business owner in Utah, who stood on the wall with a microphone and an American flag. A veteran of the Iraq War also called for unity and an end to violence. Like Fitzpatrick, many of the counter-protesters call themselves patriots. But a true patriot is one who finds compromise to make society better, he said. “We want to interact and create dialogue with the other side,” he added. “It turns out, we all just want to be left alone.”
To be fair, I don’t think that everyone wants to be left alone. Cancel culture isn’t about being left alone, and it damn sure isn’t about leaving other people alone. The news media thrives on conflict and chaos, so they have a vested interest in fostering a culture where we’re too angry to talk with one one another so we scream at each other instead. There are also genuine and deep disagreements on many issues in this country, and even if we can talk about them with each other, it doesn’t mean we’re going to agree.
We also have to acknowledge that there’s a small number of people in this country who really are intent on a revolution, and they can be found on both sides of the political aisle. These aren’t folks who can be reasoned with, but they don’t want any of us having a conversation either. They need conflict like a fish needs water. It’s a fundamental part of their ecosystem.
There’s a far larger pool of Americans on either side of our political divide who aren’t interested in burning it all down, but also aren’t happy with what they’re seeing on the streets. In some cases that might be police brutality, in others the wanton destruction of businesses or the tearing down of statues and memorials. I happen to think many Americans are actually bothered by both of those things.
This isn’t really the place for a deep dive into the psychology of mobs, but suffice it to say that instigators can and have helped turn crowds violent over the past month. Those instigators, along with the media and weak-kneed politicians, have also helped establish a cultural expectation that if you go out to one of these protests, you should be prepared to engage in acts of violence, or at least stand by while they happen. The protesters on both sides in Provo on Wednesday night interrupted that cultural conditioning thanks to their willingness to get to know each other a little better.
I believe a civil conversation beats a civil war any day, and I’m growing increasingly concerned about the latter as the former becomes harder to find. As a Second Amendment supporter it makes me proud that armed Americans on both sides of the policing issue were able to come together to talk and listen to one another for at least a few minutes on a beautiful summer night ,where just a day earlier a man had been shot in rage simply for trying to go home.
I truly do believe that the Second Amendment community is more diverse than any other in the United States today, and it may very well be that it’s gun owners from across the political spectrum who can de-escalate the violence and hostility in today’s politics by using that common ground as a starting point for discourse and engagement in areas of disagreement.
A right wing militia member and a left wing Black Lives Matter protester may see each other as the enemy, but if they can start on that common ground of a right of self-defense and the right to keep and bear arms they might find it a little bit easier to stop yelling and start talking. I keep thinking back to that moment when John Fitzpatrick was falling and hands reached out to catch him. A little moment like that might not change the world, but we’ve seen that it can help turn a conflict into a conversation, and with gun owners on both sides leading the way what happened in Provo on Wednesday evening doesn’t have to be a one-time thing.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--WA Gun Store Owner On The Frontlines Of Surge In Support For 2A

With June gun sales reported at record highs , I figured today would be a great time to sit down for a conversation with a gun store owner to get their perspective on the surge in support for the Second Amendment .
Tiffany Teasdale owns Lynwood Gun in Lynwood , Washington , and she ’ s seen first hand just how many people are embracing their right to keep and bear arms for the first time in their lives .
Teasdale says since March , the number of first-time gun owners walking through her doors has increased by about 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t conservatives .
In fact , Teasdale says she has conversations on a regular basis with customers who are upset about Washington State ’ s restrictive gun control laws , including a ten-day waiting period for handguns , only to discover that these customers had no problem voting for the gun control laws in referendums or by backing anti-gun politicians over the past few years .
On a practical level , Teasdale says many folks are choosing to purchase a shotgun , which doesn ’ t require a waiting period , instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On a political level , she ’ s hoping that these new gun owners will start thinking more about the choices they make in the voting booth , and help to elect candidates that will protect our Second Amendment rights instead of trying to turn the exercise of the right into a criminal offense .
Lynwood Gun strives to be a welcoming place for all new gun owners , according to Teasdale , who says the store actually contracted with a local interpreter when a growing number of Mandarin-speaking gun buyers began frequenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them had received threats or felt unsafe as the COVID-19 virus , which originated in China , was spiking in the Seattle area , but were at a loss once they walked into Teasdale ’ s store and couldn ’ t communicate with the employees .
Now , customers who speak Mandarin or Cantonese can simply look at a sign on the counter and dial up an interpreter free of charge who can help them with their order .
In fact , that interpreter has even offered to go with customers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a language barrier isn ’ t an impediment to learning how to be safe and responsible with a firearm .
What about supplying all those new gun owners ?
Teasdale says she ’ s been able to keep a pretty good selection of firearms in stock , but ammunition is both becoming more expensive and a little harder to find , even for high volume retailers like herself .
Teasdale points out that while quite a bit of ammunition is manufactured in the United States , the same isn ’ t true of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more lead smelters operating in the United States , thanks in large part to the Obama administration , which means that almost all the lead used in ammunition comes from China at the moment .
Prices are going up and the lead is becoming harder to find as the global supply chain is still suffering from some system shock .
Ammunition manufacturers can only operate as fast as their supply of component materials allows them , and at the moment demand is simply far ahead of supply .
Will that chance anytime soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects the current surge to continue for the rest of the year and believes it could be this time next year before gun shop shelves return to normal .
Be sure to check out the entire conversation with Tiffany Teasdale above , and stick around for more news , including a woman in Texas released from prison just six months into a ten-year sentence for shooting a man in the head , a 72-year old Nashville resident who shot a 27-year old intruder , and an Atlanta cyclist in the right place at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an officer attempting to arrest a murder suspect .

With June gun sales reported at record highs, I figured today would be a great time to sit down for a conversation with a gun store owner to get their perspective on the surge in support for the Second Amendment. Tiffany Teasdale owns Lynwood Gun in Lynwood, Washington, and she’s seen first hand just how many people are embracing their right to keep and bear arms for the first time in their lives.
Teasdale says since March, the number of first-time gun owners walking through her doors has increased by about 90%, and many of them aren’t conservatives. In fact, Teasdale says she has conversations on a regular basis with customers who are upset about Washington State’s restrictive gun control laws, including a ten-day waiting period for handguns, only to discover that these customers had no problem voting for the gun control laws in referendums or by backing anti-gun politicians over the past few years.
On a practical level, Teasdale says many folks are choosing to purchase a shotgun, which doesn’t require a waiting period, instead of a pistol for home defense. On a political level, she’s hoping that these new gun owners will start thinking more about the choices they make in the voting booth, and help to elect candidates that will protect our Second Amendment rights instead of trying to turn the exercise of the right into a criminal offense.
Lynwood Gun strives to be a welcoming place for all new gun owners, according to Teasdale, who says the store actually contracted with a local interpreter when a growing number of Mandarin-speaking gun buyers began frequenting her business back in March. Many of them had received threats or felt unsafe as the COVID-19 virus, which originated in China, was spiking in the Seattle area, but were at a loss once they walked into Teasdale’s store and couldn’t communicate with the employees.
Now, customers who speak Mandarin or Cantonese can simply look at a sign on the counter and dial up an interpreter free of charge who can help them with their order. In fact, that interpreter has even offered to go with customers as they get firearms training, so that a language barrier isn’t an impediment to learning how to be safe and responsible with a firearm.
What about supplying all those new gun owners? Teasdale says she’s been able to keep a pretty good selection of firearms in stock, but ammunition is both becoming more expensive and a little harder to find, even for high volume retailers like herself. Teasdale points out that while quite a bit of ammunition is manufactured in the United States, the same isn’t true of all component parts.
There are no more lead smelters operating in the United States, thanks in large part to the Obama administration, which means that almost all the lead used in ammunition comes from China at the moment. Prices are going up and the lead is becoming harder to find as the global supply chain is still suffering from some system shock. Ammunition manufacturers can only operate as fast as their supply of component materials allows them, and at the moment demand is simply far ahead of supply.
Will that chance anytime soon? Teasdale is doubtful, saying she expects the current surge to continue for the rest of the year and believes it could be this time next year before gun shop shelves return to normal.
Be sure to check out the entire conversation with Tiffany Teasdale above, and stick around for more news, including a woman in Texas released from prison just six months into a ten-year sentence for shooting a man in the head, a 72-year old Nashville resident who shot a 27-year old intruder, and an Atlanta cyclist in the right place at the right time to lend his bicycle to an officer attempting to arrest a murder suspect.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--Detroit Armed Citizen Ends Road Rage Incident

Road rage is one of those things I don ’ t really understand all that well .
I mean , I ’ ve gotten annoyed at other people while driving .
I might even yell at them to let off some steam .
But the idea of trying to chase someone down because of something that happens on the road just doesn ’ t make a lot of sense to me , not in most cases anyway .
Just because I can ’ t make much sense of it , though , doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die because of it .
That ’ s what happened in Detroit , recently , when an armed citizen and cyclist put down an enraged driver with a weapon .
A 24-year-old man is dead after a late-Tuesday night “ road rage ” confrontation in downtown Detroit became violent , police said .
The fatal shooting took place about 10:50 p.m. on the 400 block of East Jefferson , police said in preliminary information .
That ’ s the same block as the Renaissance Center , between Randolph to the west and Beaubien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the eastbound side of the street , nearest the RenCen .
Janae Gordon , a spokeswoman for Detroit Police Department , said the man was driving a 2006 Land Rover when he had a “ road rage ” incident with the two bicyclists .
He then allegedly exited the Land Rover , with a weapon in hand , and approached the pair .
The weapon was not a gun , Gordon said , but police declined to specify what it was , citing the ongoing investigation .
This particular report doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but another report said she was arrested and was being held while prosecutors determine whether or not she should be charged .
If the driver was armed , though , she shouldn ’ t be .
Michigan has a Stand Your Ground law .
She ’ s not required to try and run away just because someone is attacking her .
Even if they didn ’ t , Gordon was on a bicycle and the other party had a car .
It ’ s not hard to imagine that any attempt to retreat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no matter how you shake it , an armed attacker came after a couple of cyclists , apparently enraged over something he thought they did , and got shot for his trouble .
I ’ m sorry , but I can ’ t seem to muster the ability to feel bad about it .
What was Gordon supposed to do ?
Allow herself to be killed ?
While we don ’ t know what the weapon was , some of the likely suspects are things like a tire iron , a baseball bat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those look like pleasant ways to die , so I don ’ t blame Gordon for drawing her weapon and firing .
I do blame the Detroit Police Department and the district attorney ’ s office for making Gordon deal with this kind of nonsense in what sure as hell looks like a straightforward self-defense shooting .
It ’ s well past time for law enforcement to stop treating law-abiding gun owners as if we ’ re criminals .
Unfortunately , this seems to happen in every major city in the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that .
At least she was armed .
That way she could get caught up in this mess and not end up on a table in the morgue instead .
It ’ s better to be tried by twelve than carried by six any day of the week .

Road rage is one of those things I don’t really understand all that well. I mean, I’ve gotten annoyed at other people while driving. I might even yell at them to let off some steam. But the idea of trying to chase someone down because of something that happens on the road just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, not in most cases anyway.
Just because I can’t make much sense of it, though, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It does, and people die because of it.
That’s what happened in Detroit, recently, when an armed citizen and cyclist put down an enraged driver with a weapon.
A 24-year-old man is dead after a late-Tuesday night “road rage” confrontation in downtown Detroit became violent, police said. The fatal shooting took place about 10:50 p.m. on the 400 block of East Jefferson, police said in preliminary information. That’s the same block as the Renaissance Center, between Randolph to the west and Beaubien to the east. The shooting happened on the eastbound side of the street, nearest the RenCen. Janae Gordon, a spokeswoman for Detroit Police Department, said the man was driving a 2006 Land Rover when he had a “road rage” incident with the two bicyclists. He then allegedly exited the Land Rover, with a weapon in hand, and approached the pair. The weapon was not a gun, Gordon said, but police declined to specify what it was, citing the ongoing investigation.
This particular report doesn’t say what happened with Gordon, but another report said she was arrested and was being held while prosecutors determine whether or not she should be charged.
If the driver was armed, though, she shouldn’t be.
Michigan has a Stand Your Ground law. She’s not required to try and run away just because someone is attacking her. Even if they didn’t, Gordon was on a bicycle and the other party had a car. It’s not hard to imagine that any attempt to retreat would be unsuccessful anyway.
So, no matter how you shake it, an armed attacker came after a couple of cyclists, apparently enraged over something he thought they did, and got shot for his trouble. I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to muster the ability to feel bad about it. What was Gordon supposed to do? Allow herself to be killed?
While we don’t know what the weapon was, some of the likely suspects are things like a tire iron, a baseball bat, or a knife. None of those look like pleasant ways to die, so I don’t blame Gordon for drawing her weapon and firing.
I do blame the Detroit Police Department and the district attorney’s office for making Gordon deal with this kind of nonsense in what sure as hell looks like a straightforward self-defense shooting.
It’s well past time for law enforcement to stop treating law-abiding gun owners as if we’re criminals. Unfortunately, this seems to happen in every major city in the country, and unfortunately, Gordon got caught up in that.
At least she was armed. That way she could get caught up in this mess and not end up on a table in the morgue instead. It’s better to be tried by twelve than carried by six any day of the week.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--FL Sheriff Clarifies Comments About Deputizing Armed Citizens

A day after a video featuring Clay Clounty Sheriff Darryl Daniels informing would-be rioters and looters that he was prepared to deputize armed citizens to keep the peace garnered national attention , the sheriff clarified his comments in an interview with a local television station .
Daniels says he ’ s not giving the green light to vigilantes , but rather wanted to send a message to those intent on destruction to keep away from Clay County .
As I pointed out in our coverage yesterday , Daniels is a first-term sheriff who ’ s up for re-election this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field .
When he was asked , however , if the video was a political stunt , as one of his opponents alleges , Daniels vehemently disagreed with the premise .
I ’ m sure that Daniels has at least one eye on the upcoming primary election in September , but I ’ m not sure I ’ d call this a campaign stunt .
Actually deputizing gun owners in the absence of unrest or looting would certainly qualify , but warning would-be rioters and looters of the potential consequences of their actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take .
Still , there are critics of the sheriff ’ s position , including Mark Baughman , a former police officer who spoke to First Coast News about his objections .
“ There are other actions you can take than deputizing every law-abiding gun owner , ” Baughman said .
“ Then they feel like they ’ re emboldened to take some action and that can potentially lead to violent action that could hurt them or someone else.
” Baughman says he also believes we should support our law enforcement in violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shouldn ’ t make it necessary to ask for citizens ’ help .
“ We have mutual aid with all of these other sheriff ’ s offices , adjoining counties , ” Baughman said .
“ Enact the National Guard , there are so many other options than saying you ’ re going to deputize people.
” It ’ s not up to the sheriff to activate the National Guard , of course .
That would be a decision that Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis would have to make .
As for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sure that was the case in Minneapolis , Seattle , Madison , and other cities where law enforcement have seemingly been overwhelmed or unable to deal with widespread rioting and destruction in recent weeks .
It seems to me that Sheriff Daniels was talking about deputizing gun owners as a measure of last resort , not a first option if things start to go sideways in Clay County .
I doubt it will come to pass , but if we do start seeing armed citizens sworn in as deputies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going happen because of any peaceful protests or the exercise of anyone ’ s First Amendment rights .

“Everyone bears a responsibility to keep their community safe,” Daniels said. Daniels says he posted this video in response to constituents asking how he would handle rioters. “That does not give anybody the authority or autonomy to do anything independently,“ Daniels said. “If I need help from a citizen then I’m going to ask for that help.”
As I pointed out in our coverage yesterday, Daniels is a first-term sheriff who’s up for re-election this year, and is facing a crowded primary field. When he was asked, however, if the video was a political stunt, as one of his opponents alleges, Daniels vehemently disagreed with the premise.
“It has nothing to do with campaigning,” Daniels said. “The people don’t pay me to campaign. They pay me to keep them safe and by God that’s what I have done and what I’ll continue to do.”
I’m sure that Daniels has at least one eye on the upcoming primary election in September, but I’m not sure I’d call this a campaign stunt. Actually deputizing gun owners in the absence of unrest or looting would certainly qualify, but warning would-be rioters and looters of the potential consequences of their actions isn’t an unreasonable step to take.
Still, there are critics of the sheriff’s position, including Mark Baughman, a former police officer who spoke to First Coast News about his objections.
“There are other actions you can take than deputizing every law-abiding gun owner,” Baughman said. “Then they feel like they’re emboldened to take some action and that can potentially lead to violent action that could hurt them or someone else.” Baughman says he also believes we should support our law enforcement in violent situations—but there are so many resources available that shouldn’t make it necessary to ask for citizens’ help. “We have mutual aid with all of these other sheriff’s offices, adjoining counties,” Baughman said. “Enact the National Guard, there are so many other options than saying you’re going to deputize people.”
It’s not up to the sheriff to activate the National Guard, of course. That would be a decision that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would have to make. As for mutual aid with other local departments, I’m sure that was the case in Minneapolis, Seattle, Madison, and other cities where law enforcement have seemingly been overwhelmed or unable to deal with widespread rioting and destruction in recent weeks.
It seems to me that Sheriff Daniels was talking about deputizing gun owners as a measure of last resort, not a first option if things start to go sideways in Clay County. I doubt it will come to pass, but if we do start seeing armed citizens sworn in as deputies, I’m guessing it’s not going happen because of any peaceful protests or the exercise of anyone’s First Amendment rights.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--Omaha News Station Quantifies "Ghost Gun" Problem

Time and time again , we keep hearing how there ’ s a growing epidemic of “ ghost guns ” being used in violent crime .
Now , I don ’ t think this is made up out of thin air .
I can see why a ghost gun would be attractive to a criminal , but not any more than any other black market gun .
Sure , they could build one themselves if they wanted , but most aren ’ t that industrious .
They probably buy them from illegal manufacturers–people who are already breaking existing laws by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the problem is growing .
Now , an Omaha , Nebraska news station has reported these guns have started showing up on their city ’ s streets .
One ?
A whole gun just showed up ?
OH MY GOD , RUN FOR YOUR LIVES !
IT ’ S A WHOLE GHOST GUN !
RUN !
SAVE YOURSELVES !
THE APOCALYPSE IS HERE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD A GHOST GUN !
WE ’ RE ALL GON NA DIE !
Yet that ’ s the hysteria we ’ re seeing .
I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lying about the “ problem , ” the fact that they failed to give us any real numbers so we can understand the magnitude of the issue was telling .
They weren ’ t saying how many of these weapons were being found , which suggested that the numbers would only be staggering in the sense that they were so small .
After all , if we were talking tens of thousands of these guns , you know they ’ d tell us .
They ’ d make it a point to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such things .
Where this news outlet screwed up was giving us a point to quantify the issue .
In Omaha , Nebraska .
A state where there are probably thousands of such weapons .
Now , Omaha ain ’ t exactly New York or Chicago , but with over 468,000 people , it ’ s not exactly small-town America , either .
If a single gun is showing up is what ’ s inducing this degree of hysteria , just how pathetic are the numbers everywhere else these stories have popped up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , actually .
It seems the ATF has found 50 “ ghost guns ” all throughout the midwest .
Let ’ s consider that Chicago is considered “ midwest ” for a moment .
So is St. Louis .
These are two of the most violent cities in the country , and throughout the entire region they occupy , a total of 50 of these guns were found .
Sorry if I ’ m not particularly alarmed .
Look , it ’ s important to understand that in this day and age , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own guns is non-existent .
It ’ s not like it was before , of course , but a zip gun and a Glock clone are lightyears apart .
Then again , anyone with access to the machines could still make their own guns before .
This is nothing new , but it ’ s also impossible to stop in the first place .
As it stands , these guns are illegal .
Criminals can ’ t legally build a gun .
People can ’ t make guns for sale unless they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they still do .
What we ’ re seeing , though , is evidence that the problem isn ’ t nearly as bad as some want to make it out .
It kind of makes you wonder just why they ’ d do that , except we already know .
They want to justify bans on these types of firearms , and they can ’ t do that unless you can get people scared enough .
That ’ s all this is about , and with this , we can see it @

Time and time again, we keep hearing how there’s a growing epidemic of “ghost guns” being used in violent crime. Now, I don’t think this is made up out of thin air. I can see why a ghost gun would be attractive to a criminal, but not any more than any other black market gun. Sure, they could build one themselves if they wanted, but most aren’t that industrious. They probably buy them from illegal manufacturers–people who are already breaking existing laws by doing so.
Yet we keep hearing the problem is growing.
Now, an Omaha, Nebraska news station has reported these guns have started showing up on their city’s streets.
Law enforcement works hard taking guns off the street. It’s even tougher when they’re homemade. Something called “Ghost guns” by some in law enforcement are impossible to track. Another one just showed up in Omaha.
One? A whole gun just showed up?
Really?
…
OH MY GOD, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! IT’S A WHOLE GHOST GUN! RUN! SAVE YOURSELVES! THE APOCALYPSE IS HERE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD A GHOST GUN! WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!
Ridiculous, right?
Yet that’s the hysteria we’re seeing.
I’ve been arguing that while no one has been lying about the “problem,” the fact that they failed to give us any real numbers so we can understand the magnitude of the issue was telling. They weren’t saying how many of these weapons were being found, which suggested that the numbers would only be staggering in the sense that they were so small.
After all, if we were talking tens of thousands of these guns, you know they’d tell us. They’d make it a point to tell us so they could justify bans on such things.
Where this news outlet screwed up was giving us a point to quantify the issue.
A whole gun.
In Omaha, Nebraska. A state where there are probably thousands of such weapons.
Now, Omaha ain’t exactly New York or Chicago, but with over 468,000 people, it’s not exactly small-town America, either. If a single gun is showing up is what’s inducing this degree of hysteria, just how pathetic are the numbers everywhere else these stories have popped up? Well, we have an idea, actually.
It seems the ATF has found 50 “ghost guns” all throughout the midwest.
A whole 50.
Let’s consider that Chicago is considered “midwest” for a moment. So is St. Louis.
These are two of the most violent cities in the country, and throughout the entire region they occupy, a total of 50 of these guns were found. Sorry if I’m not particularly alarmed.
Look, it’s important to understand that in this day and age, the ability to stop people from making their own guns is non-existent. It’s not like it was before, of course, but a zip gun and a Glock clone are lightyears apart. Then again, anyone with access to the machines could still make their own guns before.
This is nothing new, but it’s also impossible to stop in the first place.
As it stands, these guns are illegal. Criminals can’t legally build a gun. People can’t make guns for sale unless they have the proper licensing. And yet, they still do.
What we’re seeing, though, is evidence that the problem isn’t nearly as bad as some want to make it out. It kind of makes you wonder just why they’d do that, except we already know. They want to justify bans on these types of firearms, and they can’t do that unless you can get people scared enough.
That’s all this is about, and with this, we can see it.


bearingarms--2020-07-02--Is New York Times Changing Its Tune On Second Amendment?

The New York Times has never been a big fan of the Second Amendment .
It would take reams of paper to list all the op-eds and editorials the paper has published through the years calling for restricting people ’ s gun rights…when it wasn ’ t outright calling for repeal of the Second Amendment entirely .
However , a recent op-ed takes a different tactic .
It ’ s all about how the writer feels the need to have a gun .
What does it take for Black Americans to feel safe right now ?
For some , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if that ’ s not something they may have ever wanted to do .
In the video above , a chorus of Black voices from across the country — a schoolteacher in Oakland , Calif. , a political strategist in Aurora , Colo. , and others — have an urgent message : “ Go buy a gun .
Arm yourself .
And just make sure you get some training.
” The writers bring up a few examples of why many black Americans feel the need to own a gun in order to maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not sure they actually need a gun any more than most anyone else needs one , but the great thing about the Second Amendment is that your need doesn ’ t factor into it .
You shouldn ’ t have to show a need to exercise such a fundamental right .
So , whether they actually need a gun or not is irrelevant .
However , the more interesting thing here is that the New York Times is running this .
For years , the Second Amendment was every kind of unholy thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stricken from the Constitution , but purged from living memory with fire and damnation .
Now , though , there ’ s a group of people the Times has decided to listen to .
The truth is , those concerns expressed by the African-American community aren ’ t that different from the concerns most new gun owners express prior to purchasing their first firearm .
The specific examples are different , sure , but ultimately , it boils down to protecting yourself and your family from people who intend you harm .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of white guys from what the Times staff thinks of as “ rural America , ” though , it seems they ’ re willing to listen for a change .
Could this mark the end of the Times ‘ s unbridled animosity toward the right to keep and bear arms ?
Or , conversely , are they publishing this in hopes that it will spark many pro-gun people to suddenly support gun control .
After all , in the minds of many , black gun owners scare white gun owners completely .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have some ill-advised comments popping up about black gun owners from people who should know better .
However , even those comments aren ’ t as bad as they may look at first blush .
No , we don ’ t look at black gun owners and start rethinking our support of the Second Amendment .
Instead , we invite these new gun owners to come on over and have a seat .
We ’ d love to tell them about the racist foundations of gun control and how even today , gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ d love to invite some of them shooting sometime .
I ’ ve always found range days to be more fun when you have company , after all .
But we ’ re not going to bend over and embrace gun control .
Hopefully , this represents the Times recognizing their previous animosity toward gun rights was unwarranted .
Just don ’ t hold your breath on that one .

The New York Times has never been a big fan of the Second Amendment. It would take reams of paper to list all the op-eds and editorials the paper has published through the years calling for restricting people’s gun rights…when it wasn’t outright calling for repeal of the Second Amendment entirely.
However, a recent op-ed takes a different tactic. It’s all about how the writer feels the need to have a gun.
What does it take for Black Americans to feel safe right now? For some, it’s owning a gun. Even if that’s not something they may have ever wanted to do. In the video above, a chorus of Black voices from across the country — a schoolteacher in Oakland, Calif., a political strategist in Aurora, Colo., and others — have an urgent message: “Go buy a gun. Arm yourself. And just make sure you get some training.”
The writers bring up a few examples of why many black Americans feel the need to own a gun in order to maintain their personal safety. I’m not sure they actually need a gun any more than most anyone else needs one, but the great thing about the Second Amendment is that your need doesn’t factor into it. You shouldn’t have to show a need to exercise such a fundamental right.
So, whether they actually need a gun or not is irrelevant.
However, the more interesting thing here is that the New York Times is running this. For years, the Second Amendment was every kind of unholy thing, something that should not just be stricken from the Constitution, but purged from living memory with fire and damnation. Now, though, there’s a group of people the Times has decided to listen to.
The truth is, those concerns expressed by the African-American community aren’t that different from the concerns most new gun owners express prior to purchasing their first firearm. The specific examples are different, sure, but ultimately, it boils down to protecting yourself and your family from people who intend you harm.
Yet, because this isn’t a couple of white guys from what the Times staff thinks of as “rural America,” though, it seems they’re willing to listen for a change.
Could this mark the end of the Times‘s unbridled animosity toward the right to keep and bear arms?
Or, conversely, are they publishing this in hopes that it will spark many pro-gun people to suddenly support gun control. After all, in the minds of many, black gun owners scare white gun owners completely. It doesn’t help that we have some ill-advised comments popping up about black gun owners from people who should know better. However, even those comments aren’t as bad as they may look at first blush.
No, we don’t look at black gun owners and start rethinking our support of the Second Amendment.
Instead, we invite these new gun owners to come on over and have a seat. We’d love to tell them about the racist foundations of gun control and how even today, gun control disproportionately impacts the black community. We’d love to invite some of them shooting sometime. I’ve always found range days to be more fun when you have company, after all.
But we’re not going to bend over and embrace gun control.
Hopefully, this represents the Times recognizing their previous animosity toward gun rights was unwarranted. Just don’t hold your breath on that one.