United States – -(AmmoLand.com)- If there is one lesson that we should take from some recent events, it is that removing anti-Second Amendment extremism from the levers of power at the federal, state, and local level is going to require a lot of work. Part of that work will involve building bridges, often to those who are most affected by the failures we have seen anti-Second Amendment extremists use their calls to attack our rights to distract their ill-served constituents.
Can anyone look at the state of affairs in cities like Chicago and Baltimore, and say that the onerous restrictions on Second Amendment rights passed by Illinois and Maryland have done anything positive for the citizens of those cities? The track records of failures are obvious – and are something that should be the focal point of many campaigns by Second Amendment supporters.
While the same anti-Second Amendment extremists push bills like the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act, they are often allowing violent crime to run rampant, while refusing to enforce laws already on the books that would make a massive difference. For all the complaints some raised about Project Exile, it served Second Amendment supporters well on two fronts: It not only blunted the push for new gun laws, more importantly, it made people safer by taking bad guys off the streets.
As things stand in America right now, there is the chance for Second Amendment supporters to build a short-term coalition based around anti-anti-Second Amendment extremism. This is not a typo. What this means is that Second Amendment supporters should work to get a large number of Americans who either don’t have strong positions on Second Amendment issues, or who have let other issues override their support for the Second Amendment on board with opposition to the excesses of Eric Swalwell, Sheila Jackson Lee, and other anti-Second Amendment extremists.
By simply highlighting the failure to enforce laws of the books centering on the misuse of firearms in violent crime, or for drug trafficking, or even “gun-running,” Second Amendment supporters have the opportunity to gain enough non-opposition in the suburbs and in urban areas to carry statewide elections. One of the biggest reasons is that anti-Second Amendment extremists are all caught up in the latest fads from academia, and not in the real common-sense solutions.
Passing legislation like the Protecting Communities and Preserving the Second Amendment Act and the Restoring The Armed Career Criminal Act at the state level – and pushing for passage at the federal level – would be the first steps to securing improvements like the Freedom Financing Act, the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, the Home Defense and Competitive Shooting Act, and the FOPA improvements Senator Daines introduced at the state and federal levels.
This will take a lot of work, but it may be worth doing. In addition to building those bridges, Second Amendment supporters need to support pro-Second Amendment legislative and political efforts, including the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action and Political Victory Fund.
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.
Harold. I knew it as soon as I read that line “Project Exile, it served Second Amendment supporters well”. You miserable little scumbag. What part of “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED” don’t you understand, you treacherous Quisling dogpile?
PLEASE STOP SAYING “ENFORCE THE LAWS WE HAVE”! The laws we have suck. They will be used against decent people and not applied to real criminals, as we saw throughout 2020. I have been saying this for years on gun related blogs, and web sites across the internet. In 2014 the Pennsylvania state police took us up on enforcing the laws we have. They began charging and prosecuting every background check denial that did not get appealed. What we discovered hard way then was that the people being denied on background checks were not hardened criminals and violent felons. They… Read more »
I know for a FACT that THIS is all bullshit! I was denied on a transfer and I appealed, was denied, then dug in and fought on my own! I found out that the FBI NICS system hires outside data-mining companies, (I found 4 in my case). These dumb bastards were reporting that I was a felon. On the first appeal I sent in my DD-214 (Honorable Discharge from the Marines Weapons & Explosives background), my FFL Short Number, My State of Washington Class A Explosives Purchasing / Use Permits info and other documents and these stupid jackasses STILL maintained… Read more »
There are MILLIONS just like me who are not political activist, but waiting for the “ call up “ to act. We have the weapons, the ammo and in a great many cases the tactical and strategic knowledge ( veterans and retired LEOs) to implement an armed strike force. The Democrats are so afraid of “ us” now, that they are starting to purge the military of personnel deemed “ conservative “ or Trump supporters. They are hiding in their Capital Hill offices, behind The Great Wall of Pelosi. They should be afraid, be very afraid, as we know who… Read more »
It’s easy to relay your stances on bills and issues, and it is your responsibility (to yourself and your family, in the immediate instance) to be “political”. Sending an email, or making a phone call is so easy, it is only laziness that would prevent you from such scant participation. Apathy, and non-participation are our greatest obstacles.
I’ve been, calling, donating, emailing, texting my elected officials for years, and my State and Federal governments are now in the hands of the Liberal Socialists appears that all my peaceful efforts have come to naught. What’s left ?
Its time we the people take up arms and take care of business.
Blah blah blah, support the NRA. So they can continue Negotiating Rights Away? No thanks, I’ll support GOA instead.
Yeah, a coalition.
Like the McConnell, Rubio, Romney, RINO coalition who never saw a back they wouldn’t stab? Even DJT turned tail with the bump stock decree. Lets hook ’em up with NRA leadership, who since 1934 never saw a gun law they couldn’t support. Perfect.
Harold you know damn well the reason why, “they are often allowing violent crime to run rampant, while refusing to enforce laws already on the books that would make a massive difference.” If they did what should be done it would piss off a significant voting block. But it is their sewer and they are welcome to it.
Harold, unless you lived in Richmond at the time, you don’t know what the Hell you’re writing about.
James Comey took full credit for Exile. That certainly him. No one else.
Besides, it’s unconstitutional. Ask David.