United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- One of the refrains that comes from some Second Amendment supporters is “We will not comply” when it comes to anti-Second Amendment legislation. If we want to look at a classic case of strategic incompetence, this ranks very high up there. It helps Bloomberg in so many ways.
One of the worst is that it feeds right into the Everytown strategy. This organization is working hard to demonize Second Amendment supporters – and looking for any hook to do so. So, Second Amendment supporters cannot just fight hard, they must fight smart against the efforts of Bloomberg and others to punish them for crimes and acts of madness they did not commit. They have to keep in mind how the techniques and approach they use come across.
Frustrating to hear, but before you vent, consider this: Michael Bloomberg is dropping $34 million for the first round of advertising. He spent $102 million to win a third term as mayor of New York City. He also, at one point, vowed to spend $500 million to ensure Donald Trump doesn’t win re-election.
So, given the pattern described, what do you think Bloomberg will do if some Second Amendment supporter is a little too hot-headed? You can bet there will be an eight-figure ad campaign making that person the not-so-flattering face of Second Amendment support – and it will be to our detriment, not just on the political and legislative fronts, but in the areas of fighting social stigmatization and financial blacklisting. More importantly, should the time come for civil disobedience, the belligerence of the most hot-headed among us will be used against all of us.
Ideally, we avoid having to engage in civil disobedience. We’re not at the point where it is necessary for laws on the federal level. At this time, we still have a chance to make the case to the American people. We have the facts on our side. We have the historical record on our side. We won’t convince a Shannon Watts or Josh Sugarmann – but then again, the story of Dan Gross, formerly of the Brady Campaign, cannot be discounted.
Gross was not swayed by angry refusals to comply with anti-Second Amendment laws, or other, similar rhetoric that some self-appointed Second Amendment commissars demand of people so as to be deemed sufficiently pro-Second Amendment. What persuaded him instead was the fact that his purported allies – like Everytown – seemed more interested in demonizing gun owners than in saving lives.
This is where it helps for Second Amendment supporters to find Second Amendment-compliant solutions to prevent mass shootings and crimes that they can present. It won’t hurt to point out how prominent anti-Second Amendment extremists like Andrew Cuomo are releasing those accused of violent crimes wholesale.
This approach has worked before – in the wake of the 1999 Columbine shooting, the National Rifle Association used a similar approach to not only beat back gun control, but it ensured the election of a pro-Second Amendment president who put two of the justices that were in the 5-4 majority of D.C. v. Heller on the court.
There may be a time when massive, nationwide, civil disobedience becomes necessary. That said, Second Amendment supporters have the ability and the obligation to do everything possible to avoid the necessity of civil disobedience, or should that need arise, to make it clear that Second Amendment supporters were driven to it by the irrationality and abuses of anti-Second Amendment extremists.
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.
OK, Harold, you threw down the gauntlet this time. Since I have been one of the most vocal “I WILL NOT COMPLY” advocates on here, I presume you want to make this personal. So I will be blunt. Harold, you don’t know SH!T from shinola!! When we who are III%ers say we will not comply, we’re stating that tyrannical and unconstitutional bills are NON-LAWS (Marbury v Madison), and we will partner with Oath-keeping Sheriffs & lawmen across the country. FREE MEN HAVE NO DUTY TO OBEY TYRANNY AND LAWMEN HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE IT. This is not strategic incompetence.… Read more »
“This approach has worked before – in the wake of the 1999 Columbine shooting, the National Rifle Association used a similar approach to not only beat back gun control, but it ensured the election of a pro-Second Amendment president who put two of the justices that were in the 5-4 majority of D.C. v. Heller on the court.” Sure, like Bush passing the unconstitutional Patriot Act, the NRA WRITING the unconstitutional NICS, supported GUN FREE ZONES AND TODAY, SUPPORTS THEIR VERSION OF RED FLAG GUN CONFISCATION LAWS? That’s not “beating back gun control, that’s being complicit in gun control. Lets… Read more »
Government does not have authority in this area BECAUSE we do not consent to be governed. That’s what “I will not comply.” is all about.
Yet another article where I knew the author was Harold before clicking the link. Harold, we don’t buy your defeatist garbage, and we don’t approve of your willingness to give up ground. Please go away.
In April 1775, At Lexington and Concord, MA, faced with an overwhelming line of bright “Red Coats,” Captain Parker of the Militia said: “We will not comply.” The British Regulars had come demanding their guns.
You can get a lot of strength, truth, and inspiration from that history.
I will not be disarmed for any reason. I am not a slave. If it comes down to me being a slave or having to kill for my freedom, I’m going with freedom. I will not comply.
This nation is founded upon good, sound, righteous Judeo/Christian law, values, precepts, commandments and mandates. Our declaration of independence, constitution, bill of rights and amendments strongly reflect this fact. You will be able to find GOD given rights in Scripture, some of which include; the right to life, the right of self defense, the right to keep and bare arms, the freedom of worship, the right to assemble peaceably, the right to vote. There is also the MANDATE TO BE ARMED and not just armed, but armed with the assault weapons of the day. THAT is SCRIPTURE. Our nation is… Read more »
Our rights have been infringed, denied, ignored and are endangered by the very people sworn to uphold them.
We must ask ourselves, at what point does a government become tyrannical, I believe that point has already passed. And yeah they’re watching and listening!
I have an idea…Let’s form a clandestine pro gun organization the “appears to be anti gun” so that we can get Bloomturd to donate millions to us that we can funnel to the GOA or towards candidates that will stand in the way of tyranny…that’s a thought anyhow.
So we aren’t at the point of civil disobedience yet? I guess you must be right because they (we) didn’t disobey the 1934 NFA, we didn’t disobey the 1968 GCA, we don’t disobey the 1986 (?) act that made it so we can’t buy new full auto rifles. We don’t disobey the states that have banned certain rifles and magazines. We think that life is so sweat and peace is so dear that it should be purchased at the price of slavery and chains. We don’t disobey the IRS. We don’t disobey the local taxing authorities that decide what your… Read more »
Wrong again: Once again, Harold is driving down the PC highway and kissing LaPierre’s butt. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t want to offend the antis and thinks he can change the minds of liberals who don’t use common sense and logic, by using common sense and logic. Grow up Harold and smell the roses, or just go away.