Gun Control: Coming at Us From All Angles…

We Must Continue to Speak Up ... and Stand Up!
BY TIM SCHMIDT - USCCA FOUNDER If you've been paying attention to the news lately, you know that gun control is not just a congressional issue anymore.

Although it's probably accurate to say that this has been happening slowly yet insidiously over the past several years, it seems that these days, especially, the attacks are coming at us from all angles.

Consider a few examples from just the last two weeks:

Walmart

According to CNN, "Walmart ... announced it will reduce its gun and ammunition sales, one month after more than 20 people were killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Walmart also pressured Congress to enact gun-safety measures. The company, America's largest retailer, said it will stop selling handgun ammunition and 'short-barrel rifle ammunition,' such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber, that can also be used in assault-style weapons after selling all of its current inventory. Walmart will also stop selling handguns in Alaska, the only state where it still sells handguns. And Walmart will request that customers no longer openly carry guns into its 4,700 U.S. stores, or its Sam's Club stores, in states that allow open carry."

San Francisco

According to Newsweek, "San Francisco's legislative body has challenged other American cities and states to follow its lead and formally condemn the National Rifle Association (NRA). The Californian city's board of supervisors passed a resolution ... officially labeling the gun-rights group a 'domestic terrorist organization.' District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani, whose district includes the Marina and Presidio, wrote the declaration stating that the NRA 'spreads propaganda that misinforms and aims to deceive the public about the dangers of gun violence.' It said the NRA 'musters its considerable wealth and organizational strength to promote gun ownership and incite gun owners to acts of violence.'"

New Jersey

According to Bearing Arms, "New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who's said he'll sign any gun-control bill that gets to his desk, apparently got tired of waiting for another round of anti-gun legislation to pass through the Legislature and decided to issue an executive order all on his own." NJ.gov explains that Executive Order No. 83 "direct[s] the New Jersey Department of Treasury, the Division of Purchase and Property, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance to promote responsible gun-safety practices for gun vendors and financial institutions providing services to the state, and take action against insurance policies that encourage firearms use. This executive order complements comprehensive, common-sense gun-safety legislation signed by Gov. Murphy, making New Jersey a leader in instituting the strongest gun-safety measures in the nation."

So what can we, as law-abiding, responsibly armed Americans, do about things like this? There are no easy answers, but now — more than ever — it's incredibly important that we make our voices heard.

Check out, for instance, Concealed Carry Magazine Senior Editor Ed Combs' responses to both Walmart and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Consider, too, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux in California, who's taking a stand for the Second Amendment despite the decidedly anti-gun stance of his state.

According to Americas1stFreedom.org, "Promoting the right to bear arms and defend yourself, a California sheriff is encouraging law-abiding concealed carry holders in his jurisdiction to help safeguard themselves and others. Sheriff Mike Boudreaux of Tulare County, California, recently ... took to Twitter to make a statement in support of the Second Amendment. Sheriff Boudreaux tweeted: 'I encourage all CCW holders in Tulare County to exercise your rights. Do so legally and only with a valid permit. Secure our communities and protect life by being able to defend ourselves against active shooters, threats to life and those who use guns for criminal behavior.'"

One thing is for sure: We cannot sit idly by and watch people who neither understand nor embrace our God-given right to keep and bear arms sabotage our ability to defend ourselves and our loved ones. Stand up. Speak up. Keep fighting back!

Take Care and Stay Safe,

 

Tim Schmidt
Publisher - Concealed Carry Report
USCCA Founder