Introduction

The percentage of Americans who think local crime is getting worse has hit the highest level in five decades. A record 55 percent believe there is more crime locally now than a year ago.

Americans are buying guns in record numbers to protect themselves and their property.

Gun Sales Explode in States Banning Guns

States planning gun bans or moving to change the rules governing firearm purchases saw massive jumps in April sales.

In Washington state, where the governor signed a law banning the sale of assault rifles, background checks for April sales surged 43.6 percent over a year ago.

In Oregon, a state with the legislature and the governor hostile to lawful firearm ownership, background checks for April sales rose 56.1 percent over a year ago.

Supreme Court Ruling on the Right to Carry Guns

In June 2022, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote, “We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating special need. That is not how the First Amendment works when it comes to unpopular speech or the free exercise of religion. It is not how the Sixth Amendment works when it comes to a defendant’s right to confront the witnesses against him. And it is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense.”

William Kirk of Washington Gun Law said, considering this ruling, “I don’t see how restrictive gun measures around the country are going to survive constitutional scrutiny.”

Americans are Locked and Loaded

The number of Americans carrying handguns doubled from 3 million in 2015 to 6 million in 2019.

The number carrying handguns in October 2022 skyrocketed to 16 million as Americans’ concerns about violent crime escalated.

Conclusion

As Americans have watched cities looted and burned, with no regard for personal property rights, they have decided to take advantage of their right to bear arms for personal protection.

The freedom to own a firearm is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. This peculiar and vital freedom is what distinguishes America from every other nation on the planet.

Photo by Witold Sosno

Visit http://www.actforamerica.org