Millions of Gun Owners Still Need to Mobilize Before November
By: Katie Pointer Baney • October 1, 2024
In the last presidential debate, to the surprise of many, Vice President Kamala Harris revealed she is a gun owner. She insisted, “We’re not taking anybody’s guns away.” Yet Harris’ prior rhetoric and her policy proposals tell a much different story and stand in stark contrast to her newly-found devotion to the Second Amendment in a race for president that is set to be determined by a razor-thin margin.
To be clear: the Second Amendment is on the ballot in November. This election is set to shape the future of self-defense rights for generations. President Biden himself recently acknowledged that the next President could also get to name two Supreme Court justices.
A sizable and influential voting bloc that is often overlooked but is primed to shape the outcome in many key battleground states is law-abiding gun owners. These Americans rightly want to protect themselves from surging crime rates and a public safety crisis in many parts of the country, as well as be the first line of defense for their families.
In recent years, gun ownership has reached a record high across America, with 52 percent of voters reporting they or a member of their household own a gun. According to Pew Research, over 70% of gun owners cite the desire for personal protection as the main reason they own a gun. In fact, in battleground states, crime and public safety remain top issues for voters this election.
The surge of new gun ownership is in part due to a self-defense awakening that has taken place throughout the country by people of diverse backgrounds, clearly illustrating a strong and growing coalition of voters who want to see their God-given rights protected.
With over 10 million hunters and gun owners not currently registered to vote, there is a unique opportunity to engage this passionate voting bloc. The sheer number of new gun owners in America today also makes them a political force, especially in closely contested races. Over 10,000 votes separated the candidates in the 2020 presidential election in the battleground state of Arizona. Less than 12,000 votes decided the winner in Georgia.
Read the full article from Shooting News Weekly HERE.