U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- First-time gun owners are making it loud and clear. They won’t sit around and wait to be a criminal’s victim. That’s not all they’re doing.
New gun owners are filling up gun ranges and classrooms to learn to use their firearms. It’s a rebuke of David Chipman’s portrayal of them. Chipman, of course, is President Joe Biden’s nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and he reduced new gun buyers to rubes who are clueless about the responsibilities of gun ownership.
David Chipman mocked first-time gun buyers in 2020, likening them to Joe Exotic, the “Tiger King,” and saying they more closely resemble zombie apocalypse preppers.
Gun owners are defying his stereotype. They’re busy getting educated and trained.
Standing Room Only
During his U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Chipman was drilled about his statements bemoaning new gun owners who, “went out to the gun store and bought a gun with no training whatsoever.” He said they were likely to “hide their guns behind the cans of tuna and beef jerky that you’ve stored in the cabinet, and only bring that out if the zombies start to appear.” When pushed by senators, he sheepishly walked it back.
In 2020, firearm retailer data showed 40 percent of gun buyers were first-time buyers, more than 8.4 million. This year, gun sale numbers remain consistent and one thing’s clear. Buyers are seeking training and practice.
Geneva Solomon, the owner of Redstone Firearms, described what she saw on the ground. New buyers are flocking to safety and training courses. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in the class options we offer,” Solomon said. “Before they would never sell out. Now they sell out two days after we post them.” Customers are white, Black, Asian, and Hispanic and Solomon says their goal is to calm the nerves of first-time buyers so they’re comfortable in class.
Rogers Anderson of the Bay Area chapter of Black Gun Owners Association leads training and safety courses at local shooting ranges. He described attendance in his classes as the way up. “June 2020 – when the riots were hitting different cities – my students increased.”
Robin Lewis’s brother was the victim of criminal violence in 2000. She decided to take initiative and get some training. She practiced with rifles and handguns and bought a firearm to protect herself. “I didn’t know shooting could be a hobby, but it’s all about learning. The less you know the more you fear it,” she said.
Denver, Colo., is home to 1770 Armory and Gun Club, the state’s first Black-owned firearm store that includes a simulator and practice range. African-Americans purchased firearms at a 58 percent higher rate in 2020 than they did in 2019 and 1770 owner Anubis Heru said the jampacked training courses weren’t surprising. “The value of these groups is learning with people who know your struggle and understand what’s happening and has been happening with this country.”
It’s clear millions of Americans have purchased firearms at historic levels over the past 18 months. It’s also clear they are seeking to be educated and trained.
Showing His True Colors
As America’s gun owners prove their goal is safety, Chipman’s true colors are shining through. It’s why his nomination is faltering in the U.S. Senate. His numerous degrading statements towards gun owners shouldn’t surprise anyone, given his staunch support for gun control as a paid lobbyist for the major groups, including Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords. His Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was rocky to put it nicely.
Since then, senators he needs for confirmation aren’t satisfied with what they’ve heard. Sen. John Tester (D-Mont.) floated Chipman’s nomination could be withdrawn. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) is skeptical, hailing from gun-friendly West Virginia where 66 percent of voters can’t support Chipman to lead the ATF. Maine’s Independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, told The White House he’s leaning “No,” signaling the nomination is sinking. If one Democrat opposes Chipman during a vote, he fails. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) knows it and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) knows it.
If Chipman didn’t think his nomination was imperiled before, new reports corroborated that he made racist remarks about his African-American colleagues at ATF. Former agents told the Senate he’s unqualified.
The director of ATF is charged with carrying out the mission of the agency and enforcing the laws, respecting law-abiding gun owners no matter who they are. Chipman has proven he’s wholly unqualified to do either. First-time gun owners have proven they’re seeking training, safety, and education to go along with their new purchases. The classrooms remain packed.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
Chipman has proven he is a complete idiot over and over again but so has the clown occupying the oval office that nominated the idiot . Both of them are a danger to freedom and our God given rights . That’s what power hungry tyrants do they walk all over the little guy and strip him of the ability to defy them . The Brits tried this also and we know what happened in that war . They got thier red coat ssses kicked all the way off American soil and these tyrants can meet the same fate if they… Read more »
I hope.
If biden thinks we couldn’t win against a tyrannical Government, he should read about how the Russians lost against a bunch of rag-tag Mujahideen with small arms in the Soviet-Afghanistan War. It took 10 year but the Russians lost.
Absolutely. People who argue drone strikes, special operations, armed aircraft, and an overall strong military make that option obsolete haven’t paid attention during Earth’s various insurgencies. How many of those military members would be reluctant to take up arms against their own countrymen? I doubt most contemplated that when they joined up. How much of the military resources would end up being used against the tyrants? I’d bet most haven’t thought of that either. How many would be forced to choose rebellion when they see how the government acts when its hold on power is threatened? Notice the use of… Read more »
they have been getting rid of officers who will not do as told, charge up that hill into the cannon yes sir, creating separation, trans and gay soldiers yea dont want them in my corner no distractions if im in a fight for my life. Part of boot camp is to create comradery,if unit has women they must train with the men every one must KNOW the others limits the oath must be the same to all…..there are a lot of people who will do as told more will do nothing
Some will and some won’t.
Send the women home.
“Behind every blade of grass…..” .
Stop giving stupid people high pay and positions of power. Mental illness takes many forms.
Way to choose your words Chipman. You idiot. EVERYONE is a first time gun owner at some point in their lives. I’m sure we would have heard of the miraculous birth of the baby holding a gun as it came out of the womb.
that would be me. Mom was navy dad army air force grand father was in the great one survived the 1918 in france . the whole line back to traceable (1066) someone was armed up
Cool, me too. Traced back to fighting for Richard; and everything in beteeen.
“In 2020, firearm retailer data showed 40 percent of gun buyers were first-time buyers, more than 8.4 million.” So, for all those first time gun buyers to follow Shitman as a role model of gun expertise, they would each have to lose at least one gun….8.4 million lost guns. Thank you, Mr Shitman for such leadershit.
Lol, we keep a hand-me-down J-frame Airweight on the pantry shelf, behind the mac-n-cheese.