United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- One thing is becoming more and more clear – the legislative and political arenas are now only part of the overall battle over our Second Amendment rights. While Second Amendment supporters have done well in those arenas, including making the Supreme Court reasonably pro-Second Amendment, the new arenas threaten to outflank the gains in the political and legislative arenas.
These arenas include, but they are not limited to, corporate gun control, leveraging pop culture, Silicon Valley censorship, and social stigmatization. The fact of the matter is anti-Second Amendment extremists have developed their plans in case they suffer a substantial reverse in the Supreme Court. The right ruling would strike down anti-Second Amendment legislation and secure the legal rights we seek, but those rights could very well be a dead letter.
Let’s start with corporate gun control. The wallet has always been the Achilles heel of the firearms industry. When Andrew Cuomo was quarterbacking big-city lawsuits against gun manufacturers, the goal was to force companies to choose between accepting settlements that forced them to agree to the agenda of anti-Second Amendment extremists or go bankrupt from massive legal fees against dozens of plaintiffs.
This new corporate gun control is operating on the same principle – at least where banks and financial institutions are concerned. The goal is this: Maybe they can’t pass a law that prohibits manufacturing modern multi-purpose semiautomatic firearms, but if banks deny business to those who make AR-15s or component parts, then the AR-15 will eventually fade away – without any laws passed to ban it. Even if it isn’t a bank, a company like Salesforce can force a licensed dealer to choose between an expensive change in software or acquiescing to an agenda.
Silicon Valley’s censorship is just as threatening as corporate gun control. Social media and the internet have become crucial for Second Amendment supporters to not only get facts out, but to coordinate their activism and to help each other out. Shut down the voices, though, either through a one-sided application of rules of conduct, and all of the sudden, Second Amendment supporters are cut off. This is what Instagram is doing with its new rules, for instance.
Meanwhile, anti-Second Amendment extremists are leveraging pop culture. Think of it this way – Hollywood stars generate press, even when they are not at the A-List levels of celebrity like Angelina Jolie or Meryl Streep. In fact, these days, it’s about getting press for those who have seen better days, like Alyssa Milano. In the fierce competition, anti-Second Amendment advocacy can help an actor or actress get work and keep a career going. It would also include what gets included in storylines on hit TV shows.
That celebrity power then helps generate the social stigmatization of gun ownership and Second Amendment support. That social stigmatization has been a long-time goal, going back to Eric Holder’s famous desire to “brainwash” Americans against guns. In this case, it is about making it so painful to defend our rights that you choose silence and acquiescence rather than lose out on promotions, being the outcast in your neighborhood, or even seeing your family face being berated – or worse.
The fact of the matter is that while the political and legislative battles to defend our rights are important, they have never been the only battles we have to fight. This is why the approach we choose to defend our rights matters and why we have to be mindful of how we come across. The ultimate battle we must win for our Second Amendment rights is in the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans.
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.
A great way to convince independents and “on-the-fence” people is to point to the impeachment debacle and ask them, “Do you really want THIS kind of government? Never vote for Democrats, or anyone else whose lust for power supersedes their respect for your constitutional rights.”
Let’s look at the big picture. The Marxists are masters at social disintegration and control as we’re in the midst of it right now. I am sure you’ve read the evil deception in Alinsky’s 12 rules. Since the media, schools, universities, corporations and most churches have been infected with the disease of Marxism, that means the people who have been impacted lack both insight and a critical thinking skill set. Therefore we have been losing at the ballot box in cities and suburbs. When we react impulsively with anger instead of a calm determined resolve, the progressives have been conditioned… Read more »
I’ve from time to time tried defending Harold, but I give up. I’m tired of pushing his arm away every time he aims to shoot himself in the foot. He is just wrong here. The real answer is so simple to say, but so difficult apparently to achieve. VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE 124 million gun owners can swing every election at every level, except for a few in CA, NY, and NJ, and a few around the country where the vast majority is uninformed welfare class. We can own this country again and really make America Great again. With… Read more »
Since the writer of a private entity such as Ammoland isn’t under the guise of the First Amendment, I guess it’s okay not to allow him to voice his opinion? Whether or not you agree with his style of journalism it’s ultimately up to you to read it or not. Silencing the freedom of speech regardless of content is the beginning of censorship. If you don’t like the program, change the channel or simply turn it off.
“The ultimate battle we must win for our Second Amendment rights is in the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans.”
Harold Hutchison
Old Saying:
”If you’ve got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow.”
Again with the specious reasoning. It all tracks until you get to the end, and… Wait, what’s his conclusion?!?
No. We will stand firm. Enemies will back off or suffer the consequences. A softer approach only invites more attempts to oppress the free.
Harold, please take your self-defeating nonsense and go away.
OK, step one. The definition of fascism is the bonding of corporate power with state power. I know most republicrats hate it when I say that but it is true. Corporations are dedicated to one proposition and one proposition only: profits. And they will chase profits at your expense. Secondly, while we are on the subject of corporate and government power one must realize that not only nature but markets abhor vacuums. Innovators will fill any gap created by government and corporate antitrust collusion. That is, after all, why we have such a thriving illegal drug market in this country.… Read more »
It’s sad to me that so many of my fellow patriots can’t see the value in what Harold is saying. No, we shouldn’t have to do certain things to protect our rights, BUT WE DO. Public sentiment is as important for effective activism as the Constitution is. If a large majority of citizens are hoodwinked into believing that they’d be better off without the 2nd, guess what will happen. It’s not hard to understand. There’s a difference between compromising and being aware of how your messaging will be received and interpreted, and tailoring your message accordingly. YOU WANT PEOPLE TO… Read more »
OK ALL YOU AMMOLAND READERS, HERE’S THE DEAL: I’M POSTING A PETITION FOR AMMOLAND TO DUMP HAROLD. I’VE SEEN ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND HOW MUCH YOU’RE AS IRRITATED BY THIS PIMPLY FACED BRAT AS I AM. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN AND SET US FREE FROM THE WEAK KOOLAID HE’S BEEN PEDDLING HERE FOR SO LONG:
https://chng.it/nwrb2gvTKW
I will post this petition link in the comments section of every article that Little Harold publishes on Ammoland. If you best me to it, you’re free to post the link as well.
“He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national websites.” and “was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine”
Wonder if he pisses folks off there too. I don’t think he reads the flack he gets. Probably doesn’t even own a firearm.
I wish the editors of this news letter would warn who wrote it before having to open the article.
I value the Bill of Rights, all of it, best to just ignore him.
Does anyone know WHO is behind or the owner of Ammoland?