United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- It’s time for Second Amendment supporters to channel Rahm Emanuel for a moment. In fact, there is a chance to hoist the one-time Obama Chief of Staff, who urged people to “never let a crisis go to waste,” on his own petard.
Right now, if you believe polling by the Wall Street Journal, Second Amendment supporters could deliver a metaphorical death blow to the hopes of anti-Second Amendment extremists over the next few years. However, it will take a lot of hard work to make that happen, and time may not be entirely on our side.
About 20 years ago, the political home of anti-Second Amendment extremism made a bet. They thought that there was a demographic doomsday coming for their opposition. However, that bet has not quite worked out for them over the long haul. Yes, Obama did win in a landslide in 2008, and won re-election solidly in 2012 (with an assist from the IRS targeting the Tea Party), but in the decade since 2012… how have things worked out?
We’ve discussed some of the signs that their bet on demographics isn’t working out the way they hoped. The lessons from last year’s Virginia gubernatorial election should give Second Amendment supporters and pro-Second Amendment organizations a blueprint for how to carry out the outreach.
This outreach is important. As things stand right now, for many of those who voted Youngkin in 2021 (and those of a similar mind across the country), support for the Second Amendment became a “non-dealbreaker” in the face of the current situation. While that might be sufficient for the short-term, would it not be better to make support for the Second Amendment a positive among those voters who currently consider it a “non-dealbreaker” in the face of a crisis?
Blowing the opportunity that Gun Culture 2.0 is presenting would be to repeat the very mistake that those in charge of the political home of anti-Second Amendment extremism made. We know that anti-Second Amendment extremist organizations like the Brady Campaign have had regrettable levels of success in dividing gun owners, often by hijacking the concept of “responsible” gun ownership. Reclaiming that term from anti-Second Amendment extremists is crucial to defeating their “divide and conquer” strategy.
Most important, though is to be willing to reach out to the new gun owners. Like any beginner in a new sport, they will need instruction and help from those who have more experience. The process of welcoming them should start from the moment they are at their first visit to an FFL and it should have no endpoint.
There are big tasks up ahead. Second Amendment supporters have to defeat anti-Second Amendment extremists at the federal, state, and local levels via the ballot box this November and in 2024. The process starts today by not wasting the opportunity that Biden’s blunders are giving us.
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.
Remember that the Democratic Party has been all about gun control from the Antebellum time in our history, going forward to today. That’s the immediate time just before the civil war for those whom don’t know. They wish to keep their subjects, deplorables and slaves under thumb.
Quite true and welcome to the site!
Harold, what would you have us do? I write letters and emails and make phone calls to my elected “representatives”. I try to be a “nice guy” and talk with my neighbors about freedom issues. I introduce people to shooting sports; taking people to ranges, demonstrating safety, helping others to find ammo, etc. I support my local firearms businesses. It’s surprising how many people out there have inherited or been given firearms but have never actually fired them. Walking into a range or retail store can be intimidating the first time, so I’ll sometimes have lunch with a friend, and… Read more »
In the end all politics is local. By making sure your local ranges and gun clubs are open to women and kids you are making a bigger contribution than many think. Get someone to the range, introduce them to shooting sports and the people in the shooting sports. NRA does have some great programs to do exactly that. Women on Target is a great opportunity to put a gun in the hand of a mom or grandma and change their minds. Talk with them about the New Jim Crow, the suppression of their basic liberties because they choose to be… Read more »
Our second amendment is always under attack this has been the democratic party’s narrative for decades . The political winds shift daily those governors mayors state and local legislators along with those in Washington elected follow party guidelines. One thing you can count on is more of the same always from are democratic friends across the aisle they are united in that quest. God Bless Be safe Democrats want to repair their relationships with these key voter groups there’s another issue that can do it. It’s not climate change or Covid vaccines or even child tax credits. It’s guns. Democrats… Read more »
Hollywood has been anti-gun for decades, too! Remember the reformed gunman trying to hang up his guns. Or the hero throws down his the gun with great distain! Gangster movies have impacted our know nothing legislators, and stay at home moms.
Hello Yes images on the big screen television video games are all about the money. They send mixed messages to those who are spellbound buy events scripted for the viewer. You have to love the line of crap the actor Alec Baldwin is trying to sell the American people. I hope they hang him on the events of that day.That is on him as it was his responsibility on every level. The danger from hollywood is they show violence indiscriminately get shot or hit with a bat take on ten guys and go out for drinks later with the heron.… Read more »
WB;
Yep. Hollywood is like that old cajun coffee – Chock full of nuts. There may be a few conservatives out there but they get blacklisted faster than a white house intern can go down on her knees.
That is funny!
Thanks again, Captain Obvious.
Hey, a promotion! He was a Lieutenant last week.