We all know the threat that gun-grabbers pose to the Second Amendment. If Bloomberg and Co. succeed in passing more laws that disarm or subarm America, then the right to keep and bear arms will no longer be a right; it’ll be a European-style privilege reserved for a select few, mainly those with money or those in power.
But there are other threats to the 2A that have nothing to do with anti-gunners or restrictive gun legislation. In many ways, these forces are tougher to fight and harder to zero in on than anti-gun politicians and gun-grabbing organizations. I’ve listed a five below that I think are the most concerning. But as always, feel free to weigh in and articulate what worries you.
1. Cash Flow
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. I think everyone agrees on that now, right? Even Republicans are talking about wealth inequality, an issue that seemed to elude them for several elections cycles.
“The opportunity gap is the defining issue of our time,” said GOP presidential Candidate Jeb Bush, according to The New York Times. “More Americans are stuck at their income levels than ever before.”
“Under President Obama the rich have gotten richer, income inequality has gotten worse and there are more people in poverty in American than ever before,” said Mitt Romney in a speech to Republicans.”
To state the obvious, whether it’s sports shooting, target practice, hunting, etc., it all costs money. And as we’re all forced to keep tightening our belts in the midst of systemic wage stagnation, finding the spare dollars to get to the range or to purchase that new firearm is becoming increasingly difficult. Sadly, unless economic conditions change, all forms of recreational shooting and hunting may become a hobby for the few who can afford it.
What happens then to our Second Amendment rights?
2. Places to Shoot
Where do city-dwellers go to shoot their rifles?
According to the U.S. Census, in 2010 a total of 80.7 percent of Americans lived in urban areas. Last time I checked, most urban areas weren’t all that accommodating to Second Amendment enthusiasts.
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles — the most populous American cities — are not the most gun-friendly places. Sure, you can find in-door shooting ranges, but many of them are forced to charge exorbitant fees to keep the lights and pay the many taxes and licensing charges that each city imposes, which — to circle back to number one — leaves budget-minded shooters out in the cold.
What concerns me is that as the population grows and real estate in city centers and surrounding areas becomes more valuable, will shooting ranges be squeezed out of town forcing city dwellers to travel long distances just to put some rounds down range? What happens if 80 percent of the population can’t regularly get out and shoot?
When it comes to rights, there is a reason why people say that if we don’t use it, we may lose it. I fear more and more urbanites aren’t exercising their right to keep and bear arms because they can’t find a place to shoot.
3. Public Apathy
Maybe it’s just me, but I often get the feeling that people just don’t care these days. About anything. Specifically stuff that matters: government surveillance, FISA courts, a global financial marketplace tittering on the brink of collapse, suspect Iranian nuclear deals, private bankers and oligarchs, gun control, global warming… the list goes on and on.
Nothing registers with anyone anymore. Actually, I take that back. Celebrity gossip still moves the needle. Kim Kardashian’s latest titillating Instagram pic, Lenny Kravitz’s penis popping out of his leather pants during a performance, folks will go out of their way to read about that.
But the other stuff, the stuff that effects the country’s well-being, our civil liberties and basic rights, well, that’s just not that important. Instead of being civic-minded and politically engaged, I think many people would rather just check out and pop whatever self-prescribed painkiller (OxyContin, Roxiprin, Percocet) or SSRI drug (Celaxa, Zoloft, Paxil) they have at their disposal.
It’s sad. And maybe I’m being overly cynical on this one. But it would be nice to see more young people passionate about something other than Miley Cyrus or Caitlyn Jenner.
4. Discipline, Patience, Intelligence
Using a mil-dot scope to figure out how far away an object is requires only a little simple math. But any math today, is too much math.
Learning how to shoot well isn’t easy. It takes more than a modicum of discipline, patience and intelligence. I find these traits severely lacking in today’s smartphone culture.
Nowadays, everyone wants instant gratification and if a task or an activity can’t be figured out in five minutes by browsing google on a mobile device, then it’s not worth doing.
Learning about mil-dot, MOA, optics, shooting stances, trigger control, breathing, target acquisition, reloading, concealed carry laws, self-defense laws, hunting laws, etc., is a daunting enterprise, even for those of us who are passionate about it. Likewise, putting in time at the range to implement one’s learning and hone one’s skills takes real commitment.
Maybe I’m wrong but I feel as though more young people would much rather play a FPS (first-person shooter) game on Xbox or Playstation than go out and do the real thing. Why? It doesn’t take much thinking. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort. It’s easier.
5. Availability of Resources
Why do you think the ATF tried to ban green tips?
Without an ample supply of affordable ammunition shooting on a weekly or even monthly basis becomes an impossibility.
I said I wouldn’t talk about gun-control laws, so I’m kinda sorta cheating, but as it relates to the issue of scarcity don’t you find it odd that our government is not only buying ammo in extreme bulk but also trying to ban widely popular and commonly owned ammunition?
What was the purpose of the ATF’s failed “reclassification” of M855, aka green tips, if not to dry up the supply of all “armor piercing” ammo?
I think we’re getting pressured from both sides on this front. The Obama administration is doing what it can to shorten the supply and the fear porn that’s out there has everyone buying whatever they can whenever they can in case the shoe actually drops and a ban is enacted.
Unfortunately, what this means for the everyday shooter is that ammo is more scarce and more expensive then it’s ever been before. Looking into the future, with a presumptive Hillary presidency (again, I’m thinking cynically), do we really think things are going to get better?
I doubt it.
Conclusion
I’m not naive enough to believe that this will serve as any sort of wake up call. But at the same time, I hope it gets Second Amendment advocates who read it to stop and take a look around and ask themselves: Are we doing all we can to spread the gospel of guns? Are we engaging the youth of today? Are we giving young shooters the support that they need?
The future of the Second Amendment depends on our ability to get others to value it, exercise it and proselytize it. Nowadays, I think that’s a tougher challenge than it’s ever been before without even mentioning the name Michael Bloomberg.
Why am I reading old posts on this? I just got this email today. Hillary lost and has changed her colostomy bag a few times since the election. The problem is she just won’t quit whining and refuses to go away.
I don’t know who runs GunsAmerica but they are Control Freaks, every post has to be cleared by them before they post it. What happened to free speech?? It puts a damper on conversation wouldn’t you agree?? Are they so afraid that someone might be offended by something someone posts?? I think we are all adults here and can deal with it.
Bottom line is you’ll get a lot more discussion on you sight if a post is instant.
Why don’t you let Disqus handle your comment section, it will increase traffic………
The Media is the biggest threat. They have made people famous who have done nothing, (Paris Hilton and others). They seem to have the ability to convince people that day is night and night is day and make them believe it so thoroughly that it is impossible to convince someone otherwise or even make them a little suspect that some part of what they believe is maybe not quite right.
I am convinced that if the Media went after the 2nd Amendment within a couple of years we would have an abbreviated 2nd Amendment, like England or Canada.
Having said that I can’t hardly wait until Oct. for The Walking Dead to start season 6. I miss Rick discharging that Beautiful Colt Python in a very righteous manner, I am convinced that all Gun Grabbers are Zombies………..
Great article and insight. All five points are right on. I believe it has been engineered by the powers that be. From the created ammo shortages, and exorbitant ammo price increases (received e-mail from well known internet company this A.M., $15.00 for fifty rounds of .22 LR, a 200% increase since 2013), to the 900 channels of mind numbing garbage from the t.v. cable/satellite companies (half of them in Spanish).
Add to that manufacturing sent outside our borders, and a plethora of part time/no benefit jobs. America has been raped and pillaged. And, the worst part, most folks are OK with it as long as they can have the latest I-phone glued to their face. Disgusted as hell!
Look, I try to be a good citizen. I don’t want to break laws. But when laws are illegal, somebody has got stand up for our rights. If I need to buy or sell a gun, I will do it. It’s my right. It’s your’s too. The government, federal or otherwise has no right to tell me I can’t, or that I must pay a private seller to make the transaction. The government gets all their tax money up front as the original purchase is made, and they will not get it again from me. Of late, state governments have been busy locking me off land I have traditionally been shooting on for several decades. At one place I noticed a sign that warned me “No Shooting Allowed” Nothing had changed. No houses or businesses. Out of the way, bothering nobody. The first time I went there to shoot my dad took me. I was eight. So I ignored the sign, backed up to the berm and test fired one of the rifles I now build for myself. Nobody got hurt and I went home. It’s public land. My land. The government works for me, not the other way around. Screw with me over it and there will be a fight. I went to another spot and a similar sign was posted, and the entry gate was actually locked. I shot the sign all to hell and then shot the lock. The .45 bounced off. The AK drilled a hole and defeated it. Someone in the government needs to know this is not acceptable, and that they owe me for the price of the lock and the sign. It was my taxes after all that paid for them.The guy bought an inferior lock, a bullshit sign, and then wasted his tax dollar paid time to put them in place. Pay for em out of his last paycheck and fire him. Or I can keep shooting em up, and again, try to stop me and there will be a fight. Why? Because the right to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. Whoever it is better ask themselves if that’s a battle they want to pick. The 2nd Amendment is worth it to me. Is it worth it to the loser who posted that sign to stop me? All you people better start getting some attitude back. This is all of ours and I am not waiting around to live in a world without it because of a bunch of apathetic sheep who worry more about their nice house, cars, TV’s, and raising their kids in a nice comfy neighborhood. Put up or shut up forevermore.
The main problem I see is the 2016 presidential election. If clinton wins, we will see our rights to own and shoot weapons a thing of the past. She is a threat to any honest American trying to get by day to day. Any person that could say they were “dead broke” when they left the White House is more than just dishonest. If people really care about the direction of America, they’d better get out to vote and make sure their friends aren’t just sitting home complaining about the countries stae of affairs.
You are 100% correct. Mrs. Clinton has already promised the UN that a disarmed America is just around the corner. As a staunch Constitutional supporter I have done my level best to get everyone I can involved in the fight to retain our 2nd amendment rights. Some aren’t at all interested in shooting sports, but are interested in mechanical things. I attempt to get them interested in home building their own firearms instead of buying the latest fad gun being shouted about at every turn. My own children grew up with the fun of being outdoors, but now have families of their own. Self defense and preservation of family safety is their priority nowadays. They were taught from an early age the old adage”Give an inch, lose a mile”, and hold that same value today. It makes my heart sick to see society forgetting the blood which was spilled to ensure they would be able to enjoy the liberty to choose their life’s direction, and just let go of the memory without a whimper. And all the while sipping a six dollar cup of coffee from Starbucks, praising the chain for supporting an individual’s right to carry a firearm! Perhaps a wake up call is what it will take- hopefully not one similar to PearlHarbor, when Japan awakened the “sleeping bear”. Help your neighbors, friends, relatives, and anyone else you can think of to remember and become more aware of what is actually taking place before it is too late.