Second To Everyone

Over half of the people in my last concealed carry class were women and minorities. This is not unusual for me, as pretty much every class I’ve ever taught has been at least 1/3 women or minorities or something other than the “old fat white guy” gun owner stereotype, so stuff like this doesn’t surprise me at all:

… in the first quarter of 2021, another NSSF report revealed 90 percent of gun retailers reported a general increase of Black customers, including an 87 percent increase among Black women.

“And you wonder why?” said Moody, who works for the federal government. “You look at Buffalo and the feeling of ‘This could have been me’ is there. We could be the next target. And when it’s you, what are you going to do? Are you going to run and hide? Or are you going to be able to protect yourself? Protect your family? I didn’t want a gun; I’m not a gun person. But this world has made me get one. Getting one for my wife next.”

I just have one thing to say about this.

Cool.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Taking charge of your personal safety is the most adult thing you will ever do in your life. It’s an acknowledgement that you are an individual with unique gifts who exists outside of the state’s protection. You and your loved ones are worth protecting, and it is you yourself who will be the first responder to an attack on their well being.

This truth exists outside of racial, gender or socio-economic lines. To be fair, in the past, gun owners have not always embraced this reality and have supported some blatantly racist gun control measures, to our shame.

But past doesn’t have to be prologue. The tide is changing, and gun ownership is gaining wide acceptance as a universal, human right.

As was said earlier, cool.