proposed laws

PA Bill Number: HB2109

Title: In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports.

Description: In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports. ...

Last Action: Referred to EDUCATION

Last Action Date: Mar 14, 2024

more >>

decrease font size   increase font size

Second Amendment Support Growing in Black Community :: 09/09/2015

An article in The Florida Courier, which describes itself as “Sharing Black Life, Statewide”,  illustrates that black Americans’ attitudes toward guns and the Second Amendment are changing. For the better. Nowhere in the article did I detect a sentiment in favor of more legal restrictions, not even the usual to-be-sure quote from someone in the civilian disarmament community, giving the piece “balance” . . .

From fcourier.com:

“For the average responsible Black person I believe it is very beneficial to have a CCP. I believe that many Blacks are afraid of guns. The reason is they have never been properly trained on how a firearm works. Once they get that understanding, they are eager to own and carry a firearm,” (NRA instructor Damon Barrs) added.

“If enough Blacks obtained a CCP and were properly educated, then many of our neighborhoods would safer – one street at a time,” Barrs concluded.

Barrs is also an NRA supporter.

“There are a lot of benefits of NRA membership,” he said. “They not only advocate for Second Amendment rights, but also provide insurance for one’s weapons along with other perks. I’ve been a member for two years and strongly advise becoming a member,” he continued.

This article is evidence of a trend that has accelerated in the last few years. With President Obama’s push for ever more restrictions on the sale and ownership of firearms, the Second Amendment and infringements on it have gotten a lot of attention.  The more people learn, the more they are converted to Second Amendment supporters.

There is even a name for this effect. It is called “the shooting cycle”.  In this last cycle, the effect was dramatic. From the PewResearchCenter:

Over the past two years, blacks’ views on this measure have changed dramatically. Currently, 54% of blacks say gun ownership does more to protect people than endanger personal safety, nearly double the percentage saying this in December 2012 (29%). By contrast, whites’ views have shown less change: 62% now view guns as doing more to protect people, up from 54% in December.

Like the rest of the population, most black people are not criminals. But the black population stands a higher chance of being victimized by crime.

The rise of black stars in the gun culture, such as Ken BlanchardColion Noir, Rick Ector, Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee, and Police Chief James Craig of Detroit have primed the pump. Once someone gets beyond the propaganda that it’s guns that are root cause of this criminal behavior, they have ample reason to support the RKBA and armed self defense.

Black criminals in the hood aren’t interested in the Second Amendment, taking concealed carry classes, or being safe while exercising their right to defense of self and others. A recent study in Chicago emphasised the point.

From a recent Chicago Crime Lab study, a survey of criminals whose crimes involved guns in Chicago:

Still, it is interesting to note that the majority of respondents demonstrated little knowledge of firearms. Many of the comments by Rs demonstrated ignorance of the manner in which firearms function, the ammunition requirements and the capabilities of their weapon of choice. Rs never discussed safe handling or storage practices, nor did they mention efforts to improve their knowledge of the firearms they possessed.9

The gun culture welcomes responsible black people. When people in a community accept the rule of law and cooperate with police and take responsibility for their own self defense, violent crime rates drop dramatically.

Being legally armed is a strong leading indicator that the rule of law applies to you, that you have rights (and know them), and a reason to support the system that supports your rights. And don’t look now, but the word seems to be spreading.

From the Crime Prevention Research Center:

— Some evidence suggests that permit holding by minorities is increasing more than twice as fast as for whites.

It remains to be seen what effect black Second Amendment support will have on the politicians who represent them. Still, more black gun owners can only further the cause of gun rights. Is that the hope or the change?

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/09/dean-weingarten/second-amendment-support-growing-in-black-community/