{"id":62890,"date":"2020-12-15T08:19:59","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T14:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=62890"},"modified":"2020-12-15T08:20:31","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T14:20:31","slug":"62890","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=62890","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

Eating Our Own: The Fine (Not So) Young Cannibals of the Gun Industry<\/a><\/p>\n

Whether through articles or posts on social media the gun industry has an unfortunate tendency to readily and joyously eat its own. Toss a proverbial hot topic into the ring and suddenly it\u2019s lions versus Christians with the lone Christian being represented by some poor guy who was \u201cjust saying.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a topic worth addressing even though it will cause more even kvetching and whining in the comment section (commonly-shared saying among writers:\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0read the comment section). Addressing this topic at all is likely to be called \u201cwhining\u201d, \u201cplaying the victim card\u201d, or \u2013 my personal favorite \u2013 \u201cvirtue signaling.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also the opposite end of the spectrum. There we have those who loudly proclaim we as an industry are being divided by the use of \u201cdivisive\u201d speech. This often involves the originator of the discussion having asked a question or somehow challenged the status quo. You don\u2019t dare rock the boat, because that makes you \u201cpart of the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

What follows are my two cents. They\u2019re sentiments I like to believe are shared by most of us here at TTAG. If my bluntness about this state of affairs offends you, sorry, but I\u2019m not sorry.<\/p>\n

Speak Your Mind<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The willingness to speak up should never be discouraged, so long as the speaker isn\u2019t a flaming asshat (yes, I\u2019m looking at you). Voicing varying thoughts and opinions is how progress is made; silencing those voices is how we not only remain in place, but are dragged backwards by our opponents.<\/p>\n

Who is it you think makes the changes in the industry? Those who go with the flow or those who are willing to speak up?<\/p>\n

In an era of COVID-19, rioting, looting, and looming anti-gun measures, speaking up has become even more important. If you as a gun owner are unwilling to say something, to actively fight for your Second Amendment rights, exactly how do you expect this to end?<\/p>\n

Of course, daring to open your mouth, whether in real life or on social media, comes with a whole other set of risks to consider. Social media has long since empowered certain people to behave in a bullying or outright threatening manner without fear of repercussions and it seems it\u2019s only gotten worse lately. That doesn\u2019t mean you should remain silent, though.<\/p>\n

A word of advice. Speaking your mind can be done politely. So be polite. Be the adult in the situation. Resorting to name-calling, insults, and condescension is the quickest way to be cast aside as yet another ranting redneck gun owner or a crude commenter. Be constructive. It\u2019s fun.<\/p>\n

As for threats, handle any you may get wisely. Don\u2019t behave rashly or say something that could be used against you in the future. Remember, the internet is forever.<\/p>\n

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2A Rights Take Priority<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As an industry we\u2019re faced with significant threats to our Second Amendment rights. For example:\u00a0bump stocks<\/a>. A large portion of the industry was only too happy to throw bump stocks under the bus because, hey, it\u2019s a small concession in light of greater issues, right?<\/p>\n

Wrong. It doesn\u2019t matter if you thought bump stocks were useless range toys or if you didn\u2019t care because the same action can be easily replicated\u00a0with a rubber band<\/a>. The anti-gun left has proven \u2014 time and again \u2014 that if they\u2019re granted so much as an inch, they will take not just a mile, but ten. You gave them bump stocks. Now they\u2019ve come for\u00a0pistol braces<\/a>, raided\u00a0Polymer80<\/a>, and before too much time passes Biden will be making good on his AR and semi-auto ban promises.<\/p>\n

Petty squabbles need to be set aside for the defense of Second Amendment rights. If the anti-gun crowd is threatening those rights in some way, we should be capable of banding together to fight back. But we apparently aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Case in point . . .<\/p>\n

The Big, Bad NRA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You might not agree with everything the NRA does, but they remain \u2014 still \u2014 our most powerful voice for Second Amendment rights. Have I been happy with everything they\u2019ve done? Not even close. However, they are still the biggest dog in the fight.<\/p>\n

If, one day, another organization manages to garner their level of influence, great. In my mind it\u2019s an easy question: do you like owning guns? Yes? Cool. Support the NRA, then\u00a0fight for change<\/a>\u00a0from within instead of pouting like a recalcitrant toddler from the outside.<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t bring yourself to support the NRA? Want to explore your options? Check out the\u00a0Second Amendment Foundation<\/a>. Their focus is wholly legal, but their founder, Alan Gottlieb, has proven he and SAF will do whatever it takes to fight for your rights. SAF is growing in influence and worth contributing to and supporting.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget the\u00a0Firearms Policy Coalition<\/a>, either. They\u2019re busy in the courts filing lawsuits challenging everything from\u00a0magazine<\/a>\u00a0capacity limits, failures to process concealed carry permits, to \u201cassault weapons\u201d bans and gun rights restoration.<\/p>\n

Love a Good Debate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I have a confession, something you might already have noticed: I love a good debate. By \u201cgood debate\u201d I mean a logical discussion based on facts. I don\u2019t mean an argument where we call one another names and slap at one another like sorority girls.<\/p>\n