For the first time since 1920, The New York Times runs an editorial on Page One

[Kang Colby]

25. All gun control advocates seem to have in terms of public policy proposals are delusional

measures that will never see a floor vote in the United States congress. When realists point this out, gun controllers attack with petty insults and name calling. 

Truth be told, I love opinion pieces like this. I really do.  This is nothing more than a gun control publicity stunt. That’s it. This article, like most gun control bills will never see its call to action materialize as even a committee vote.  No one will formally discuss or debate the merits of this call to action in any legislative committee. That’s the reality of it. 

But a lot of folks don’t realize this. The GOA & NRA will trumpet articles like this using social media and direct mailers. State based 2A organizations will talk about the New York Times article during their chapter meetings. Money will flow into the NRA/Pro-2A coffers. When nothing materializes the national 2A orgs will celebrate this as another victory…all thanks to the support of ordinary folks. With each of these publicity stunts, we are able to bring in more and more money. With more money we can get more done; while making it all the more likely we will be able to defeat any potential legitimate gun control proposal in the future. Today’s “Assault Weapons Ban ” article is funding for tomorrow’s constitutional carry state. It provides resources for more sophisticated marketing efforts that allow us to grow the base. We’ve been able to do a lot over the last few years and have made significant progress in expanding our reach thanks to monetary inflows. Articles like this indirectly provide funding for groups like SAF to file and support lawsuits against gun control. This year alone, we were able to get suppressors in Minnesota, spent shell casing laws repealed in Maryland, constitutional carry in Maine and Kansas, some campus carry in Texas, simplified permitting in Michigan, reduced permit costs in Mississippi, repeal of the 48 hour waiting period in Wisconsin, and expansion of carry rights in states across the country. Last Friday, we sold more civilan firearms than any other day in U.S. history. For that, I have to thank the gun controllers because without their absolutism, a lot of what we do just would not be possible due to lack of funding. 

Any gun control proposal, regardless of its merits is a good thing for national 2A. So, in that regard I love articles like this. They amount to a huge fundraising effort for 2A. What’s not to love? Well, there is a major downside… 

The message that many folks around the country hear when they read articles like this, is “the only thing standing between you and an assault weapons ban is the Republican Party.” They remember that and they will be at the polls 100% of the time. As a lifelong Democrat, I think its seriously time we push gun control support as far away from the party as possible.