United States – -(AmmoLand.com)-Â Earlier, I noted that Second Amendment supporters were winning the big arguments surrounding our freedoms. The winning arguments have always been there for Second Amendment supporters, and the landmark Heller and McDonald cases have shifted the terrain. But with these victories have come adjustments from anti-Second Amendment extremists over the last few years.
Unable to refute arguments in support of our Second Amendment rights, anti-Second Amendment extremists have taken to trying to suppress the ability of Second Amendment supporters to make their case to the American people in earnest. Back when McCain-Feingold was being debated, Michael Barnes, then the President of the Brady Campaign (formerly HCI), explained his support for the legislation because it would muzzle the NRA, while giving the Brady Campaign’s supporters in the media free reign.
Lately, though, it has taken on a new intensity. Part of this has been the shift we have seen since the Heller and McDonald rulings. What gave it the impetus was the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Realizing that the admissions of Barney Frank and Dick Gephardt in 1999 after the NRA beat back an effort to destroy gun shows had made Second Amendment supporters seem human to supporters of gun control, not to mention those on the fence, they switched to a smear campaign strategy.
We’ve seen it take place over the years… spurring an effort to stigmatize support for the Second Amendment, and effort to get companies to coerce FFLs and firearms manufacturers into complying with the wish lists of anti-Second Amendment extremists, and more pushes for legislative measures, like HR 1, intended to make the stigmatization easier, and the National Popular Vote Compact.
When the facts are out and people can consider them rationally, Second Amendment supporters can win the debate quite easily. For instance, one look at Justice Department stats blows the arguments for banning modern multi-purpose semi-automatic firearms out of the water. Few Americans realize that rifles of all types were used to kill about a fourth as many people as knives – and if that were to become common knowledge, the push by Feinstein to replicate what was done in New Zealand would be the laughingstock it should be.
So, what do we get? Well, Hollywood stars and other cultural influencers have turned up their efforts. Just to give you a sense of that pull, Ellen Pompeo, star of Grey’s Anatomy on ABC, has about twice as many followers on Twitter as the NRA. She’s just one anti-Second Amendment actress among many. That star power is pushed behind the narrative that support for the Second Amendment is complicity in mass killings.
That jumbo-sized lie has been a lot more effective, especially after the Parkland shooting. Now, it is not unusual to see boycotts leveled at media figures who are supportive of the Second Amendment. Protestors show up at homes. Speaking out in support of the Second Amendment can even cost some professional opportunities Silicon Valley is silencing pro-Second Amendment voices. Andrew Cuomo has started down the road to the thuggish tactics of the Maduro regime in Venezuela and the Erdogan regime in Turkey.
In many ways, Second Amendment supporters have winning arguments and facts. In fact, these days, the biggest fight may be to preserve our ability to make those arguments and present those facts. This fight may be the biggest one of all.
About Harold Hutchison
Writer Harold Hutchison has more than a dozen years of experience covering military affairs, international events, U.S. politics and Second Amendment issues. Harold was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.
Gun safety laws work. Responsible gun owners embrace gun safety. Gun safety does not mean banning all guns.
But it does require that we strip you of your citizenship ,and deport you to Venezuela, or Cuba on an inner tube. Your neuro linguistic programming isnt going to work .
Hmmm, then why are so many anti-gun politicians trying so hard to ban AR15’s, semi-auto firearms, magazines, etc. Oh yeah, they got the bump stocks by reclassifying them as firearms didn’t they? I’d like to see a bump stock straight out of the package fire ammunition on it’s own!
to gub-ment: i’m not your mthrfkng dog
Pervy Weinstein said he’s making it his mission to destroy the NRA. Why is that? The most vociferous hoplophobic militant gun control advocates tend to have serious ethical and legal issues of their own. And it’s the same as it ever was. One of the first gun control laws, the Sullivan Laws in N.Y. back in 1911. Named for Big Tim Sullivan, a Tammany Hall kingpin even more corrupt than the Clintons. He wanted to make the streets of NYC safe for him and the muggers and gangsters in his back pocket. Crime victims who can shoot back are bad… Read more »
Criminals are truly the only ones wanting gun control, known as law abiding people control.
Thank you for refreshing our memories on your list of criminal slugs.
And sadly, it is the leftist politicians who are the real criminals.
Sadly the real criminals are the leftist politicians.
When the 2nd amendment was created, the reason(s) behind it had nothing to do with sporting, hunting etc. It’s purpose was solely to ensure that the civilian population of this great country would always have access to comprable firepower as that of the military. This was then and still is today an essential ingredient when creating a truly free society. The would-be “Hitlers”, “Maos”, “Stalins” that have lived in every society would not so easily take over a country of people armed with not only state of the art weapons, but more importantly KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge of history, knowledge of their… Read more »
As law a bid cidsons we need to stand togethr for our rights.
I am a gun owner a I’ m not giving my guns to any one.
I believe that the best argument against anti-2A sentiment is to take that person to the range and give them a chance to shoot, and see for themselves what they’re dismissing. “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it” is a euphemism I heard often as a child, and something we need to tell antigun activists, people who hate guns because they know nothing about guns. I sincerely hope that more and more Americans, especially political moderates, libertarians and independents, will all embrace gun ownership. An armed society is a polite society, but more important, once someone becomes a part of… Read more »
The argument is very simple; it’s the pro-liberty crowd (that’s us) vs. the pro-tyranny crowd (them). They have switched to smear tactics because they know they can’t beat us in a fair and open debate. At first they ignore you, then they attack you, then you win. The anti-liberty side is willing to assault ALL your rights, because deep down it’s not your guns they fear, they fear YOU. So when they try to silence and censor you, when they try to take away your ability to buy and sell (Mark of the Beast, anyone?), when they move to deprive… Read more »
yeah. Wow. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about demonizing people who might not agree with you on everything related to how gun safety laws should work in America. After reading your post I remind you. Gun safety laws work. Responsible gun owners embrace gun safety. America has the most guns and the worst per capita gun violence rate in the developed world. this is not a coincidence.
Gun safety laws do NOT mean banning all guns.
Bull. “Gun Safety” is just the latest euphemism for gun control / gun confiscation. If you don’t know this, go edumacate yourself and then we’ll talk. If you do know this, and insist on repeating this trope (and I think you DO know this), then GFY. America’s violent crime rate is only as high as it is because of Leftist (Demonrat) controlled big cities. Take the crime from these areas out of the equation, and America suddenly drops waaay down the list to one of the safest societies on earth. Imagine that!! On second thought, I take back what I… Read more »
It’s appearant that to argue with anyone anti-Constitution is a effort in futility. If the law of the land means nothing, than any subsequent laws are useless as well. As for Hollywood’s hipocracy on make believe, it appears that Guns are the real stars because without them their industry would be as hollow as the actors who use them but spout off their disdain of them.
We need to separate fantasy from reality, people who pretend for a living are not reliable sources of anything. Only the weak minded are so easily duped.
Over the government has passed laws like driving without a driver’s license a felony for example, who would vote for a law like that? I don’t know anybody who voted for that law that can take a marine corps vet who has walked the jungles of South America. Bad Nabourhood, no walls and no guns I just don’t get it
There are enough gun laws that are hindering legal owners . We need laws that criminals will obey
Laws do NOT prevent crime, they only institute consequences. No law will inspire a criminal to obey.
I concur with what the author states but forgive my ignorance but why would HR1 a pretty broad based bill in accountability be part of the anti 2nd community? Other than being sponsored by a Democrat? I’ve read the bill I did not see any anti 2nd proposals by direct or implied.
Nothing the grabbers can say or do will change the base reality.. that the God who made us gives us the right to breathe, move about, say and think what we will, worship what/how we please, to be secure in our persons, homes, stuff, and that justice be meted out when we are suspected/accused of wrongdoing. These rights predate and are not dependent upon any government or government operative. There are those who would play God, but are not. They who seek to deny us those rights are attempting to do this. In the end they will not prosper their… Read more »
Hear, Hear!…
“The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed.”
– Thomas Jefferson
The ignorant usually sway to the left, and by proxy become Anti-Constitutionalist’s. Anti-Constitutionalist’s=Anti-Americans=Enemies of the United States… Anti-constitutionalist’s sense of morality is situational, based on incident and emotion, instead of rooted in God’s word and law. Anti-constitutionalist’s stand for nothing. The situation determines their support for an issue and their emotions rule, not reason and rationality. Moreover, they recognize the contradiction, but still cling to their situational justice. Situational justice is the tool of dictators, tyrants, despots, and unjust, unrighteous monarchs. It has no place in a free constitutional republic. In which the United States of America is………………. Weapon prohibitionists… Read more »
Jeepers. What a wonderfully helpful comment. And so, does this mean you won’t be paying your taxes this year either??
In the United States of America was founded on Government “BY THE PEOPLE”. Yet it feels more like Government at and upon the people, by constantly dictating to the people how we have to live our lives. Our recent history proves The Civil Rights non-violent marches were quite effective. I suggest the Bill of Rights and Second Amendment supporters organize a Bill of Rights nation wide march. Pick a weekend date, and march on our nations capital in Washington DC. For those who cannot get there, on that same date they can march on their state capital. Also boycotts can… Read more »
Why is it that we can call people cattle subject to a cattle call when even the NRA accepts that closing all loops except family to family purchase with a FFL? Are we not setting a potential for our fellow Americans to be harmed by either those whom have not the metal faculty to bear arms of those with nefarious intent? We the law abiding should close all legal methods so that only the true criminals obtain them in such manner so statistics show the reality that criminals cause them not legal folks and that shuts down thier stats.
Well, if suppression of our rights by the lies and emotionalism that are the anti-gun lobby’s stock and trade are successful, then we have only a few options left. It is akin to being pushed into a corner by a foe using dirty tactics and seeking your demise. At least for some of us, taking a knee and bowing the head in preparation for a killing blow is unconscionable. So, we fight back with whatever weapon is left to us. That can well include armed resistance, and the choice not to comply with evil-driven mandates. It becomes a matter of… Read more »
Tell this to Sen. Lindsey “Every Right Has Limits” Graham.
He has it backwards. The purpose of our plenipotentiary, pre-political, personal Rights is to limit government power.
Great job Harold.
F all the haters on ammolanD comments section…
F ing bunk.