By Cory Gaines | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
The recent election results for Proposition KK (the state excise tax on guns and ammunition) were disappointing, but not altogether a surprise.
By this point, Colorado gun owners and those that support the 2nd Amendment are becoming accustomed to annual encroachments on that right, the one new detail here being that it’s now clear that the liberal districts along the Front Range, Interstate 70 and in the Southwest corner of the state are following the lead of those they sent to the state capitol.
What can you do if you are one of those gun owners or 2A supporters? What can you do if you’re concerned about fundamental Constitutional rights?
Over the last two or three years, it’s become increasingly apparent to me that seeking to change things at the state capitol is less and less effective. Don’t misunderstand me, I still believe it’s worth speaking up at gun bill hearings and sending your thoughts along to your elected representatives. I just don’t think you should look to those actions as being the ones that will best preserve your rights, especially with the demographics being what they are in Colorado. I think it’s just that we need to broaden our approach and look at longer time scales; testifying against bills is not enough.
Right now, the best avenue you have if you’re concerned about your gun rights or concerned about government overreach in general, is the courts. Political reality being what it is in Colorado, it is the courts, specifically the federal courts, that will be the best bet for ensuring that your rights are protected. The Democrats running this state will not and the liberal voting block I mentioned above have shown themselves to not be particularly concerned about them.
The problem is that court battles take money, and we all know that money doesn’t grow on trees. So, I urge you to find a gun rights organization that you like and support them financially. It needn’t be a big gift, but throw some money their way. I myself favor Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and when I feel flush, I send them some.
I choose them not because I like every single policy stance they have, but for reasons similar to those that made Lincoln land on Grant to head the Union Army in the Civil War: Grant got the job because he would fight and pursue an end to the war. RMGO gets my money because they fight. There are others and please give to them if you feel an urge to, but keep in mind the goal before donating: the goal is to pursue legal protection. Make sure that whoever gets your money uses it for that purpose.
Let’s also come at this from another angle. Gun rights supporters should also be looking at supporting things that might not help today, but will help set up a culture that will help tomorrow. Meaning, that there are other, just as meaningful ways, things that you can get active locally. The first thing I wrote about the Prop KK results post-election got a reply from a reader. She said that the ballot measure will put a serious crimp on her local 4-H’s ability to do target practice, etc., because of the extra cost of ammunition.
That leads directly to another avenue to support gun rights in this state. If you know of a worthy group that would find the extra tax on guns or ammunition a burden, help them out with a donation to help defray the extra costs of regulation in this state. Another outlet along this line is the Friends of the NRA, an offshoot of the NRA that gives grants to “… local and national programs of all sizes by providing training equipment, safety gear, and other resources to advance shooting sports.”
The idea is to support groups that display and promote the positive aspects of gun ownership. Colorado demographics as they stand now are tilted away from gun owners, but this is by no means fixed forever in time. The only constant in life is change and a longer term view is one that allows for the slow work of changing minds. I am not naive, but I also don’t imagine that people would be so quick to support things that harm the rights of the law-abiding when they know them personally, or when they see positive stories of young people around guns (in counterpoint to the relentless media narratives about gun ownership and violence).
Do please still continue to stay involved in the state politics around gun control, but don’t stop there and/or don’t put all your eggs in that basket. Put some careful thought into donating to either a gun rights organization that will take the fight to the federal courts, or to a local org (either directly or via Friends above) that is working to teach young folks and others responsible gun use and ownership.
Speak up for your rights before you wake up and find them effectively nullified by those running our state and the liberal voters who elected them.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.