Well, they are at it again. As with every other tragic mass shooting, the anti-gunner lobby is using the deaths of three people to convince people to support gun control legislation. The reality that the assault was motivated by anti-black bigotry has made the story even more useful to the left because they can pretend that enacting more restrictions on firearms will help to protect this “marginalized” community.
But, as always, their arguments betray a not-surprising level of hypocrisy and duplicity.
The gun control debate has been thrust into the national spotlight again because of the shooting in Jacksonville. But this raises a critical question: If white supremacist terrorists are such a dire threat to black Americans, shouldn’t folks on the left, who claim to care about us, advocate for our right to defend ourselves?
Immediately after news of the shooting broke, the left rushed to politicize the matter, blaming people like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the violence. They accused him of passing policy and using rhetoric that motivated people like the shooter. But they also claimed that his signing of a Constitutional Carry law, which allows people to carry firearms without a permit, also led to the assault.
Vox published an article claiming that allowing responsible citizens to keep and bear arms results in more gun deaths. Of course, the article completely ignores the fact that the vast majority of gun crime is committed using guns that were obtained legally. He also neglected to mention the fact that guns are far more likely to be used to defend life and property than to commit murder. But those are arguments that the anti-gunner lobby can’t overcome, so they typically leave those parts out.
Indeed, progressives have long been the champions of stricter gun control measures. However, in the context of this recent tragedy, this stance raises a compelling question: if white supremacist attackers pose such a significant threat to the black community, why do progressives want to limit their access to firearms?
Michigan State Rep. Haley Stevens posted a tweet arguing that “we need common sense gun control” and that America “needed to ban the AR-15 yesterday.”
I’m burning with rage that another white supremacist was able to kill with an AR-15. My heart is with the families grieving in Jacksonville, but it’s not enough. We must stop the cycle of violence. We need common sense gun control. We needed to ban the AR-15 yesterday.
— Rep. Haley Stevens (@RepHaleyStevens) August 28, 2023
Color of Change president Rashad Robinson insisted that people must fight for “real gun control laws & regulation of big tech that includes transparency of algorithms & the incentive structures that drive amplification.” Sounds like he’s not a fan of the First Amendment either.
My heart goes out to the families, friends & the larger community in Jacksonville. We must continue to fight for our history to be taught, real gun control laws & regulation of big tech that includes transparency of algorithms & the incentive structures that drive amplification. https://t.co/WGnZevrrQp
— Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson) August 27, 2023
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, during a press conference after the shooting, showed why pushing for gun control laws won’t prevent these disasters. “The story is always about guns. People are bad. This guy's a bad guy. If I could take my gun off right now, and I lay it on this counter, nothing will happen,” he said.
Sheriff Waters nailed it.
— Jeff Charles, An Awful Pundit🏴 (@jeffcharlesjr) August 28, 2023
"“The story is always about guns. People are bad. This guy's a bad guy. If I could take my gun off right now, and I lay it on this counter, nothing will happen." pic.twitter.com/D65VhFTDEe
Nevertheless, it is clear that these pro-gun control arguments aren’t really about protecting black people. Making it harder to own firearms disproportionately affects African Americans, making them more vulnerable to violent criminals – regardless of their motivation. In essence, progressives are arguing that the solution to racially motivated attacks is to disarm those who would be the victims of these atrocities.
Make it make sense.
If these people care so much about black folks, why would they want to make it harder for them to protect their lives? It is almost like this isn’t about preventing “hate crimes” but is more about ensuring that fewer Americans are able to own guns, even if it means they will lack the means to defend themselves. As usual, progressives are only using black people as political pawns to further their authoritarian agenda. If they get their way, it will be African Americans who reap the deadly consequences.
