“It’s for the children.” This phrase tugs at the heartstrings and paints any opposition as being “against children.” It is a masterful play on emotion with a framework that works across a spectrum of issues. The latest example of how that plea is being used today comes in every story that focuses on the expansion of firearms regulation. After the tragic shooting in Parkland, Fla., a full-scale effort has been put into motion to limit our Second Amendment rights. To suggest that the press coverage and rallies are organic and based on this one event is naïve. Those fervently against the Second Amendment have well-orchestrated plans that can be set into motion following tragic events like this. And they are doing so.
More than anything else, the anti-gun movement is patient. They are well-funded by Michael Bloomberg and others to be public relations masters and have tuned their message over many years. The fact of the matter, however, is that their platform has little to do with increased safety. Existing firearm regulations are extensive and adding more will do nothing to prevent tragedy like the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. There is no legislation that will stop evil people. Regardless of what they might say publicly, the goal of anti-gun advocates is the utter destruction of the individual right to keep and bear arms. While they tend to hide that fact, recent statements by high profile anti-gun icons such as former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens who openly called for a repeal of the Second Amendment, shines a light of truth on their agenda.
Their ideology is based on control. Firearm ownership is an expression of individuality and self-reliance. Law-abiding gun owners in the United States represent a body of people who are, for the most part, free thinkers, self-reliant and fact centered. We are rarely moved to major decisions based on emotion alone and we are also very conscious of our constitutional rights. These traits make us very difficult to control when it comes to legislation that limits our rights and our freedom.
The anti-gun movement understands that we are, in many ways, the vanguard against their social and legislative agenda. They also know that an unabashed and honest presentation of their goals would not sit well and would see significant pushback from the American people. This is where anti-gun advocates employ their greatest weapon patience. The only new gun law that they want is “one more.” Until the next tragedy is exploited for “one more.” And “one more” after that, and so on until there is nothing left to our cherished freedom.
Fifty years ago, you would have been hard pressed to find any area of the U.S. where firearms weren’t seen as part of everyday life. Many schools had shooting ranges and vehicles with gun racks were common. What changed was a slow methodical movement to erode not only the Second Amendment, but a willingness to defend it. We’ve witnessed an entire generation grow up with little to no experience with firearms in some areas of the country, especially in many of the largest cities on the east and west coasts. Without an understanding of the right to self-defense embodied in our Second Amendment, many of these people are quick to question “why you would need a gun,” even while many of them have suffered through incredible violent crime rates. They had been conditioned and culturally manipulated to believe the powers that be, that guns were not only unnecessary, but were somehow responsible for crime and tragedy.
The most ironic example of this is Massachusetts. This beautiful state was ground zero for the American Revolution, yet today has some of the most draconian gun laws in the country. Many of these laws were enacted at the whim of legislators and governmental administrators with no evidence that such laws would benefit public safety. The ability for them to do what they do did not occur overnight. It was a slow process and now law-abiding citizens are suffering because of it. It is difficult to combat these tactics because it takes extreme vigilance. It requires that we be active in every aspect of government and that we thoroughly vet candidates for any office. The person running for city council will one day want to be in the state legislature, and then possibly the U.S. House of Representatives. We must remain dedicated to our freedoms by getting involved in the political process at all levels. .
I am not alone in my observations regarding the grand plan embodied by the anti-Second Amendment movement. The NRA, especially its Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), and countless others see what is happening and are working to protect our rights. Our job is to hold the line where we can and support those in larger roles. We must be active if we are to preserve our rights. Things as simple as taking a new shooter to the range and helping them as they progress can make a huge difference. We must always be the best of who we are. This will help show those who may be on the fence about things, that images painted by the left are far from true. Most importantly we must work to elect those that are true supporters of the Second Amendment If our children and grandchildren are to enjoy the rights we hold so dear, it will be up to us to make sure it happens.
