The Loadout Blog

Snapshot|Retrospective

This year has been filled with many twists and turns within the firearms community. It has been a year of growth, innovation, prosperity within the industry. That growth has been met with staunch opposition to that growth within the industry. Politicians, media pundits and anti-gun coalitions have made prominent strides in the restriction of firearms here in America. These invested parties have taken bold and decisive action to limit law-abiding citizens of their 2nd Amendment rights. 

California recently enacted a law the limits firearm purchases to once a month. California Gov. Newsom signed 7 anti-gun bills into law in October alone. (Click here for article).

Red Flag laws have gained popularity political to curb gun violence in America. Currently, seventeen states have enacted Red Flag laws in the U.S. and twenty-three more states have pending legislation.

In Virginia, counties are creating gun sanctuaries to fight against Gov. Northam anti-gun policies on the 2020 state ballot. There has been an out pouring of support from Virginians regrading these sanctuaries. Fox News reports more than a hundred sanctuary cities have popped up since Gov. Northam attack on 2nd Amendment rights. (Click here for article)

Next year will be pivotal for gun owners here in America. Either we will allow the further erosion of our rights or we will stand up and defend our constitutional right to bear arms. Because if we do not they will restrict our access to hell and back. 

In 2020, we must prepare to fight and defend our rights to bear arms. There are three things all gun advocates must done. First, we must be active within the 2A community. Second, we must seek to further educate yourselves and others about firearms. Finally, we must continue to become better tactically and technically proficient with our firearms. 

Time to Take A Stand 

The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks.

Samuel Adams

In 2020, we all must be active within the 2A community. I mean beyond posting memes and sharing stories we like on social media. We must move beyond  our screens and echo chambers and engage. We have to engage with our political opponents with strong arguments and factual information. Aristotle once said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Our goal must be one engagement without betraying our ideas or values. If we can see what binds us instead of what divides as we can bridge so many chasms that exist. 

Attend a local rally to show your support for the 2A community. Go to town halls and ask tough questions. Hold your representatives and senators accountable on defending your rights. We all have a voice in this world and it is valuable. No, matter how big or small that voice is. Maybe your methods of articulation can reach someone that another person cannot. Now, is the time that everyone within the community must stand upon the frontline and defend our rights. If not they surely will be taken away from us. 

Education Ourselves and Others

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

Ignorance is the biggest hurdle the firearms community faces. There is so much wide spread misinformation about firearms, gun violence, and gun laws in the U.S. It is a mix of fake news, information and data taking out of context and a general lack of knowledge about firearms. All of this ignorance combines to form bad ideas and bad policies about the proper way to curb violence in America. In turn only thing that ends up happening is the erosion of law-abiding citizens rights. 

Education is the most powerful weapon we as an individual possess. In that case we must do our due diligence and educate ourselves local, state, and federal gun laws. Take the time to learn about potential law proposal on a state level that infringe upon our rights as citizens. We must take the time to read the research paper and data gathered on firearms and firearm related violence. So, we can cut through the bullshit and educate ourselves and people on our lives. With education we can reduce the misinformation out there and give people factual information.

Increasing Our Tactical And Technically Proficiency 

Athletic skills are acquired over a long period of time and after countless hours of practice.

Zig Zigler

Skills are perishable. If you don’t train your skills will diminish. Plain and simple. You have to put in the work to keep your skills clean and crisp. Take means dry firing if you can’t get to the range. Doing drills up to three times a week. Reading firearms related content to get a better understanding of firearms. Save some money and take a rifle and pistol class. Take an escalation of force class. You have to take the time in your craft to show any markable improvement or to have the ability to act in that moment. 

I know shooting is an expensive sport. I completely get that. That is why you have to find ways to be creative in your training and to get the most out of it. We have all been in the situation where you don’t have money to drop on a thousand rounds of ammo let alone a box. Yet, we must make a conservative effort to further hone and expand our tactically and technically proficiencies. 

The new year is only hours away and 2020 will be a big one for our nation and our rights. Our firearm right have been under constant attack since the late 50’s. Overtime those rights have been slowly eroded by anti-gun advocates. Next, year if we let it get away from us can lead to a colossal paradigm shift in the firearm landscape. Leading to deepening restriction and deterioration of second amendment rights. Now, is the time to be active. Now, is the time to stand strong. If not we look to see our rights disappear right before us.