The gun-control movement isn’t doing too well at the moment. Constant efforts to convince Americans they should not own firearms are failing. But gun grabbers are not just struggling to pass more onerous firearms restrictions; they are also losing the messaging war. To put it simply, Americans are not being persuaded to support the idea that only criminals and police should have the means to protect themselves.
Record Numbers Of First-Time Gun Owners
If current trends continue, the United States will be well on its way to becoming a more armed and polite society. In September, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released the results of a survey that found gun ownership in the United States has increased exponentially.
The survey revealed that in the first six months of 2021, 33.2% of those buying guns had never owned a weapon previously. “This survey shows that there is a continuing demand signal for firearms from the American public,” said Joe Bartozzi, president and CEO of NSSF. He continued:
“We witnessed each month background check figures associated with a gun sale that are second only to those we saw in last year’s record-breaking totals. These survey results show not only is there a strong and healthy appetite from first-time gun buyers but that there is still room to grow. We are encouraged by the sustained interest in lawful and responsible gun ownership as well as by the manufacturing base which has been challenged to meet this remarkable demand.”
Much of the increase was due to women buying guns at a higher rate. Firearm ownership has also increased sharply among black Americans.
President Joe Biden and the Democrats’ anti-gun agenda is also a critical factor. There is no greater salesman in the country than the individual who occupies the Oval Office at the moment. He has called for a ban on so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, even though he does not seem to understand what any of this means.
The president is also calling for universal background checks on all gun sales and for doing away with immunity for manufacturers so they can be held accountable if someone uses a gun to commit a crime. One of the problems with Biden’s pronouncements on firearms is that they lack clarity. The Heritage Foundation’s Amy Swearer noted:
“I think too that these were very vague calls. So, none of these calls outlined specific measures, for example what should constitute a so-called assault weapon in any of these bills? Would these bans be merely future bans? Which is what Biden seemed to call for during his campaign. You can keep the guns you have now, but we’re going to ban future sales or is it going to be a full-on Australian style confiscation measure?”
This is likely yet another reason more people are purchasing firearms. When you have an administration in power that could very well try to push the U.S. closer to resembling the world down under and other regions that have banned firearms, it makes sense that people would rush to buy more guns. But the Supreme Court is also an element that cannot be ignored when it comes to increasing gun ownership.
Supreme Court And New York’s Gun Laws
The Supreme Court is in the midst of a case that could have major ramifications for the right to keep and bear arms, and it seems clear the left is on pins and needles. In New York Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen, the plaintiff alleges that New York’s gun licensing scheme violates the Second Amendment.
New York is a “may issue” state, which means that if an individual goes through the process to become licensed to carry a firearm, a state official might issue the permit. The decision is solely at the discretion of the official reviewing the application. One must prove to have a valid need to own and carry a gun away from home.
This is in contrast to “shall issue” states, like Texas. In these areas, when residents go through the process set forth by the state, they are issued a license once they meet the requirements. Currently, nine states are “may issue.” These include Rhode Island, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Delaware, and New Jersey.
If the court issues a ruling that could potentially be used to knock down many of the restrictions these states place on gun owners, it is entirely possible the nation could see another surge in gun ownership.
More Guns?
The gun control lobby seems to be having a hard time realizing its objectives. While activists continue to try and convince the American public that owning firearms makes them less safe, the increased number of gun purchases reveals that people are not buying what the left is selling. Despite the exploitation of mass shootings and other tragedies to vilify the Second Amendment, Americans seem to be realizing more and more that keeping responsible people from owning weapons is not the most effective way to ensure safety.
The original article can be found at Liberty Nation.
