Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Left-leaning former CNN anchor Don Lemon just made a pitch few expected to hear from him: if you’re a Black or brown American who can legally do so, go buy a gun, and learn to use it safely.
That’s the headline out of a fiery appearance on the YouTube show “Left Hook,” where Lemon framed the moment as one the Founders anticipated.
“I think that these are the times that the Second Amendment was written for,” he said, arguing that “when you have a…tyrannical government…that’s the whole idea” behind the amendment.
He urged lawful adults to “go out and do it legally and purchase some things,” adding they should store firearms safely and teach their kids safe habits.
So…what do you think? Is this a sincere rethinking about the right to keep and bear arms or just a political jab wrapped in gun talk?
Table of contents
Lemon’s Case, In His Words
Across the interview, Lemon ties his call to arm to claims of government overreach and heavy-handed enforcement.
He describes interviews in Chicago with people he says were wrongfully targeted, and warns that citizens could face knocks at the door “even if you’re an American citizen.”
He repeatedly stresses legality and safety: “Go get your gun. Do it legally. You have a right to carry it… keep it in a safe place and teach your kids…”
He also makes it explicit who he’s addressing: “Black people, brown people… whether you’re an Indian-American or a Mexican-American… go out… and get a gun legally, get a license to carry legally.”
A Shock to the Narrative
Coming from a media figure long painted as anti-gun by many on the right, that’s a plot twist. It echoes a deeper American tradition: when communities feel targeted or abandoned, they often turn to self-reliance, including lawful armed self-defense.
You don’t have to agree with Lemon’s broader politics to recognize that more Americans across the spectrum are saying, “If it’s my safety, it’s my responsibility.”
The Part Gun Owners Will Cheer (and Question)
Plenty here will resonate with 2A folks:
- He says buy legally, carry legally, and be safe.
- He frames the Second Amendment as a check on government excess.
- He tells new gun owners to learn and store responsibly.
But there’s a fair question for readers: is this a durable shift or a momentary stance because the “wrong” side is in charge?
Would Lemon back the same rights when the politics flip, or when gun control bills return dressed up as “common sense”?
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He alludes to history, like the 1960s push for restrictive state laws when Black citizens openly carried. Yet doesn’t say whether he’d oppose similar restrictions today.
Where Principle Meets Practice
If more left-of-center voices start telling their audiences to exercise the same constitutional rights the gun community has championed for decades, here’s what that could mean:
- More first-time owners from diverse backgrounds who need real training and gear.
- A bigger tent for gun rights, if principle outweighs party when legislation hits the floor.
- Culture clash if endorsements of carry come bundled with support for new bans or “may-issue” style hurdles that price people out.
The litmus test isn’t the rhetoric; it’s whether you support everyone’s right to self-defense, even when it’s politically inconvenient.
Your Turn: Buy It or Call It Hogwash?
So we’ll put it to you:
- Do you take Lemon at face value when he says, “Go get your gun… It is your Second Amendment right”?
- Is this the start of a genuine left-of-center embrace of lawful gun ownership or just a temporary cudgel in a partisan fight?
- If he’s serious, should the gun community meet new owners where they are with training and welcome?
Sound off below.
And if you’re one of those prospective first-time buyers Lemon’s talking to, start with the basics: know your state and local laws, get quality training, store responsibly, and choose proven defensive ammo and gear.
Rights come with responsibilities. That part shouldn’t be controversial to anyone.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
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When life is at stake and seconds matter, the Cops are always just minutes away. Then there’s juries who judge the actions you commit under extreme duress from a likely unkown, and therefore unpredictable assailant, while sitting safely in an air-conditioned room and being pissed they are missing work/salary. Be smart, legal, and responsible for your own safety. The Cops’ typical role in these encounters is pictures, reports, and clean-up, not successful intervention. I own and carry multiple firearms that I plan to never use in violence. One occasion of road rage caused me to unholster my firearm, but i was not forced to point or fire the weapon. I had my young boys in the car, was terrified that this maniac who decided to follow me after several diversionary turns would fire through the back of my car, and was extremely relieved that displaying my weapon and shouting a warning convinced him to choose another path, not requring me to engage. Although I would not have hesitated to fire if forced to do so, even in the moment I was thinking how much I didn’t want that to happen.
The only problem with this is that the left doesn’t know legitimate tyranny from a donkey’s ass. The other irony is that the left’s fear and loathing of guns is based entirely on the realization of what THEY do when they possess them, and in true projectionist form they assume everyone is as unstable and violent as they are.
Since he pissed off over 50% of the population with his left wing rhetoric, and the other 45% just don’t like him, he would say anything to change his public image. Either that or he’s going to have to get a job flipping hamburgers. He isn’t worth a crap for anything else.🤨
First of all, displaying (brandishing), a firearm in public is against the law. If a person encounters a law enforcement officer, and that person has a visible weapon, especially a firearm, that person could VERY quickly have a serious problem. That is because the “Rules” of handling a firearm are; TREAT ALL FIREARMS AS IF THEY ARE LOADED. NEVER PIONT A FIREARM AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERING TO DESTROY. NEVER PUT YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER OF A FIREARM UNLESS YOU ARE PREPARED TO DESTROY YOUR TARGET. So, if someone has a firearm, has it pointed in the general direction of a human, AND their finger is on the trigger… (a 9 mm round travels at over 1000 ft/second), how is a law enforcement officer, or anyone, supposed to react??? People that get into a fight with a law enforcement officer usually LOOSE! WHAT IS THE END GAME OF ARGUING/FIGHTING with a law enforcement office??? That is NOT the time to plead your case.
I support every law-abiding American citizen’s right to carry. I have never heard of Don Lemon, but if he only calls for black or brown citizens to be armed, then he is a racist and I question his right to carry.
Ill believe it when I see him packing a roscoe on air every night (and I don’t watch him).
He is showing his resentment towards “KING” TRUMP! All of a sudden the LEFT is acknowledging the TRUE meaning of the Second Amendment e.g. “Control of a Tyrannical Government” NOT the Disarming of the Legal Citizens. The Libturds are very sneaky!
I believe everyone should own a firearm if it’s legal for them to do so. Owning a firearm in Chicago legally, is probably a difficult thing to do. Blue states and cities are hard on firearm owners.
Whether I believe him or not, we as lawful gun owners/enthusiasts should welcome new shooters to the family. This is not an exclusive club but an opportunity to educate folks and dispel anti-gun myths. Any opportunity is a win for “we the people”…
he’s (sorta) correct about eligible Citizens exercising their 2A rights BUT his ‘advice’ about ‘resisting’ LEGAL authorities is really close to advocating a ‘shoot first’ mentality among folks who do not have adequate training and discretion.
He’s never been trusted to tell the truth in the past.
It’s better to make him prove that he’s reformed.
I don’t buy it.
James
The open question remains: is Don Lemon’s ignorance exceeded only by his stupidity, or the other way around? He is implying that people of color should engage with the po-po when they knock on the door. Shoot-outs with the police never end well. Is he intentionally trying to initiate riots at the cost of people’s lives? There was more than $2 Billion in damages about 5 years ago when a minor criminal died of a drug overdose. Imagine the consequences of a rash of deaths at the hands of police no matter how justified.
Don Lemon is a racist and is doing nothing but trying to promote violence. He should not be given any credence whatsoever!
Thankfully God hates every sodomite and the race card is unplayable with the Lord. Hot hell awaits you Lemonaids, can’t eaitfor to takeoff of the earth at his will.
Don’t really care if he’s sincere or not, it’s still good advice.
Even a blind squirrel finds the occasional nut.
sounds like arm up were going to war!
Please stop with the quality training mantra. If quality training didn’t mean shoving a lot of cash at a company, I would be highly in favor of it. The plain fact is that the vast majority of defensive shooters are not the graduates of one, much less, several expensive defensive training schools. Attending multiple training schools is a hobby, just as shooting matches is a hobby. Learn how to disassemble and clean your weapons, fire a box or two every year and spend your time making good decisions so you are never involved in a shooting.
“Quality training” doesn’t necessarily mean “spend a ton of money on classes”. It could just mean “have your sister’s boyfriend who is a GWOT vet take you to the range and show you the basics”.
There’s a lot of GWOT’s that never left stateside. In fact more never left stateside than were actually in country. And those back in state side only go through the range once a year, twice a year if they’re lucky. That doesn’t make them how to instruct someone any better than what you can learn on the Internet… which I’m not a fan of either.
One thing I found in my 62 years on this planet is that dog people, horse people and gun owners go out and get one… And all of a sudden they’re a fucking expert. I’ve seen so many movies and TV shows where they have an on site tactical person to help with production and I still see a ridiculous amount of errors and horrible tactics. In fact the only one I’ve ever seen, that I can think of, that does it right is the winter soldier. His trainer did a great job.
Sorry, I’m a fan of professional training by someone who was actually observed/trained by experts in order to get their certificate to teach. All it takes is one class for the basics in firearms use.
When a gun writer says quality training he means splash out cash on something like Gunsite. Informal training like what you suggest is great and I am all in favor of it. I know these are gun sites, but I would be less peeved if they gave advice that included physical training and advanced driving courses. When I was a cop I received an annual firearms/tactics training block and an advanced pursuit driving block.
As I said, going to expensive training courses is a hobby.