Interest in gun ownership among progressives and people of color has surged since Donald Trump’s election, with many seeking to protect themselves in what they perceive as an increasingly unstable environment.
Changing Face of Gun Ownership in America
For decades, gun ownership in America was predominantly associated with white, rural Republicans. However, this stereotype is evolving. Gun clubs, trainers, and Second Amendment advocates report that more liberals, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals have been purchasing firearms, especially since the last election. NPR’s Frank Langfitt explored these trends through over 30 interviews, uncovering the reasons behind this shift.
Charles, a doctor in Maryland, grew up in the Brooklyn housing projects during the ’70s. His devoutly religious mother prohibited guns of any kind.
CHARLES: “So I couldn’t even play with a water gun. And I remember vividly summertime when my friends would have water gun fights, and I couldn’t participate.”
Now, Charles routinely practices at the shooting range with his Smith & Wesson .380, having acquired a new perspective on gun ownership. He cites actions by the Trump administration, which he found alarming, as the catalyst for purchasing a firearm. His concerns include the arrest of a foreign student critical of university policy and the handcuffing of a U.S. senator.
CHARLES: “What I’m talking about is protecting myself from a situation where there may be some kind of chaotic civil unrest and the streets become something we don’t recognize.”
Charles is worried that such unrest might be triggered by the president’s rhetoric, emphasizing that while he’s not predicting it will happen, it’s no longer outside the realm of possibility.
Increased Concerns Among Minorities
Charles’ 19-year-old daughter, Charley, joins him weekly for training due to her fears related to race and gender. She recalls an incident the day after the election when a man drove onto her college campus, hurling racial slurs at Black students.
CHARLEY: “Some people – they hate us so much that they really try to make it known how much we’re not wanted here.”
(SOUNDBITE OF GUNFIRE)
The Trump administration, however, attributes political violence to the radical left. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson criticized NPR’s coverage as “disingenuous and biased,” and President Trump has blamed the left for fostering an environment of violence.
Gun Clubs Reflect Growing Diversity
David Phillips of The Liberal Gun Club, which has chapters in over 30 states, notes a significant rise in interest in firearm training among liberals since Trump’s second inauguration. Membership in the club has increased dramatically, with training requests quintupling.
PHILLIPS: “Since the second inauguration of Trump, we have seen an incredible increase in interest in training with firearms.”
Similar trends are reported by other gun clubs catering to diverse groups, such as the LA Progressive Shooters and the Socialist Rifle Association. Even traditional Second Amendment groups acknowledge the growing interest among liberals seeking self-defense training.
TAYLOR RHODES: “It’s definitely common knowledge at this point. I think we saw a little bit of it, you know, right after the first Trump inauguration.”
Political Climate Drives Change
David Yamane, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University, highlights the influence of volatile politics on gun purchases among liberals and minorities. He references the events of 2020 as a similar period of increased gun ownership among African Americans and women.
Gun ownership among Democrats has been rising for years, with a University of Chicago study showing a 7% increase since 2010. These gun owners emphasize self-defense and reject any call to arms for aggression.
MJ: “All the language that we use is absolutely not about rallying together to arm and go assault anyone at all – absolutely not.”
Bill Sack of the Second Amendment Foundation supports the exercise of self-defense rights but acknowledges the underlying climate of fear.
BILL SACK: “Is it a good thing that people are scared? No, of course not.”
Despite the fears driving their decisions, new gun owners interviewed by NPR express hope that they will never have to use their firearms in self-defense.
(SOUNDBITE OF MATT LARGE’S “THE NAECKBRAKER”)
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