Opinion
By Larry Keane
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- One doesn’t need to look hard to see that our Second Amendment rights, and our industry, is under fire by those who can’t fathom an individual who chooses to exercise their right to keep and bear arms.
A recent Harris poll, as reported by USA Today, showed that nearly 50 percent of all Americans are “concerned that their… right to bear arms… (is) at risk.”
We get it. We’re in the halls of Congress and our state capitals working to defend against attacks on our industry and Americans’ ability to buy the firearms they choose to shoot with recreationally, hunt and defend themselves and their families. The mission of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, as the firearms industry trade association, is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. We represent the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of firearms, ammunition and related products, as well as shooting ranges across the United States. The hardworking, patriotic people that comprise this essential American industry depend on our work to not only protect their businesses and livelihoods, but also to protect the crucial function they play in fulfilling the ability of all Americans to keep and bear arms.
Awakening
We share the concerns of those who are witnessing the continuous assault on our civil liberties. The NSSF exists because of the Second Amendment. Without it, there are no protections for Americans who buy our firearms. This freedom which is enjoyed by all citizens faces unprecedented threats, and Americans are paying attention. It’s being manifested in the surge of jurisdictions adopting “Second Amendment sanctuary” status in response to pressing legislative threats to our rights.
The Second Amendment isn’t the only right people see as threatened, however. Forty-eight percent of Americans also see their freedom of speech threatened while 37 percent of people see their freedom of religion threatened.
These figures aren’t outlandish to those following what is being said in the 2020 Democratic primary for president or those observing college campuses across the country. It is perfectly reasonable for Americans to worry that their right to keep and bear arms is in danger when firearm confiscation is a mainstream talking point among Democratic candidates for president. On college campuses, these aren’t rhetorical debates. They are violent protests against young adults by communist Antifa thugs who are afraid to show their faces.
Inherent Rights
Our industry and America’s gunowners understand, however, that the Second Amendment contains crucial language that guarantees the preservation of all of our other rights as citizens. It reads that the “security of a free state” is dependent on “a well-regulated militia” made up of “the People” who have a God-given, pre-existing common law right to “keep and bear arms.” Without the Second Amendment, our ability to speak freely, worship freely and debate freely would face threats not even yet considered by those who participated in the Harris poll. The Second Amendment is why our industry exists.
The threats to our rights are indeed very real but the fastest way to lose them is to bury our heads in the sand instead of challenging those who wish to take them away. We’re not idle in this fray. We are undaunted and unrelenting. Our civil rights are critical to our industry, and our industry is critical to ensure the preservation of all of our rights.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 10,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers. www.nssf.org
Used to be the Constitution of the United States stood guard over our rights. Leftist communists disguised as democrats are literally punching holes in the very document they lied to uphold.
It’s time all treasonous politicians are banned ftom office and term limits inacted to prevent lifetime career politicians from destroying this nation from the inside. This goes for Republicans as well.
Those on the left like to call themselves, “Americans,” while at the same time they whole heartedly mimic the enemies of the American people.
The left, in the United States of America, is the biggest enemy of the American people, since Hitler and Stalin.
No one has “Constitutional rights”. Period. All people everywhere have UNALIENABLE natural rights from birth. Those rights are explained in the Declaration of Independence. They are the RIGHT to LIFE, LIBERTY and “The pursuit of happiness” which is typically interpreted Property. The Constitution of this country and of other countries are PROHIBITIONS against the “ruling elite” telling them to LEAVE our UNALIENABLE rights ALONE. The right to keep and bear arms to defend your right to life is one of them. Too many people act as if there were no Constitution or 2nd amendment that all of a sudden the… Read more »
We may have larger issues. NY is HIRING UN TROOPS for DISARMING DUTIES. Where the Hades they got this RIGHT is beyond me.(don’t know if they plan on sending them to VA) since VA’s Natl Guard is refusing the abridgement of our RIGHTS under the Constitution. I do not know the details as it was reported yesterday on gunsandgadgets.com on YouTube,this guy keeps up with all the 2nd amendment legislation across the US.He is a good guy and is respected on the shooter sites. I do know one thing, IF someone is STUPID enough to put Blue Helmets into a… Read more »
Once the hangings start everything in America will be free again..but, its a waste of good rope.
If u put commies in office what do u expect…..like Barry & Killary! They embolden the Commie brain-washers!
Both the 1st and 2nd Amendment were worded specifically so as to be straight forward, plain and clear, so that even a liberal could understand: shall make no law, and, shall not be infringed. Pretty f’n clear!
During the gay rat obama administration, words were weaponized. You could be arrested just for speaking words. This action has raised its ugly head, again: In order to attack Donald Trump and the Americans that voted for him, words are, again, being weaponized and speaking some words are an offense worse than murder to the communist democrats. ALL of this follows the Communist Manifesto, the democrat’s playbook: 1. Remove God from everywhere. 2. Destroy the traditions and morals of the country you are making communist. 3. Make perversion good and good a perversion. We, also, see the Hegelian Dialectic being… Read more »
To make headway and win we must bring others to our side. We have seen and the authoritarians have shown they are after each and every one of our freedom, firearms is just the biggest scariest thing they could find to frighten people. They are attacking our rights protected under the Bill of Rights in a wholesale manner. The first with their PC language, we already know the 2nd is under attack, 4th with Red Flag laws, 5th we see that with the impeachment – it does not matter what side of that you are on the idea you cannot… Read more »
No use for the “National Fudd Sports Foundation”. They consistently support anti-2nd Amendment legislation and law enforcement as long as their industry members can make a profit.
USA: We will have to make our public servants painfully aware that they will not become our masters.