“Hillary wants to abolish — essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know. But I tell you what, that will be a horrible day, if Hillary gets to put her judges in, right now we’re tied.” – Donald Trump, August 9, 2016
This is bad.
Yes, it was a joke.
That’s why it’s bad. Not just because it was a bad joke (it was), but because Donald Trump sees nothing as sacred. This was a calculated comment made like so many others he has made since announcing his campaign – something to manufacture controversy and keep himself in the headlines.
At what cost, though? It’s not like gun owners really need more heat from the left or implications that we’re crazy people who will react with violence at the slightest provocation.
In making this comment, Donald Trump chose to advance his personal brand at the expense of “Second Amendment people.” Does he really care about the individual rights of gun owners? I’m not convinced he does. He doesn’t care about individual property rights and he doesn’t care about free speech. In the recent past he hasn’t cared about gun ownership, going so far as to oppose hunting safety classes in schools (Marines: He also thinks the tattoo ban was a good idea).
Now that he’s running for President as a Republican, he’s all about “saving the Second Amendment.” Call me a cynic, but I could easily see a President Trump “making a deal” that would involve restrictions on gun ownership.
And if he doesn’t win (I am certain he won’t, and we all know the only other person who has a chance of winning this year will be a terrible president)?
Look at his own words from this morning –
“If at the end of 90 days I fall in short because I’m somewhat politically correct even though I’m supposed to be the smart one and even though I’m supposed to have a lot of good ideas, it’s okay. I go back to a very good way of life. It’s not what I’m looking to do. I think we’re going to have a victory, but we’ll see.”
He gets to go back to his comfortable life, but we have to deal with the consequences of his disastrous campaign. And those consequences, which will also most likely involve the Democrats picking up Senate seats, will be impactful for America in many ways, not the least of which will be overturning recent Supreme Court decisions by amending the Constitution.
Trump supporters: Do you really think it’s going to be “okay” if Hillary Clinton becomes President?
Andrew, I have been following your posts for some time and I enjoy them, please keep up the good work.
What are our choices? I don’t love the idea of a president Trump and I agree with your assessment that he could very easily strike a deal betrays the very values he claims to hold. But here is where I land on this. We have two- 2 choices. I know Hilary Clinton is going to be very bad for the US and for gun rights in particular. I don’t know what Trump is going to do but I know the other choice is bad. Not only is it bad but she represents everything I revile in life- dishonesty, corruption, willing to say anything that she thinks will win her a vote and she is arrogant and believes she is above the law. My contempt for her knows no limits.
So I am willing to roll the dice on Trump because at least it is a roll of the dice. We know what we get with Hillary and there are no other choices. All candidates simply take votes away fro one of those two and a no vote is one less vote for the dice roll.
Quoting Tom Waits. “two dead ends but you still got to choose”.
I understand where you’re coming from, but I want to point out that Hillary isn’t the only candidate who will say anything for a vote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSE-XoVKaXg
“…dishonesty, corruption, willing to say anything that she thinks will win her a vote and she is arrogant and believes she is above the law.”
I see these same qualities in Trump. I hate the choice in front of me, and I hate that I can offer no meaningful or satisfactory solution to the issue at hand. Although Clinton’s SCOTUS appointees will surely impact the interpretation of 2A negatively, Trump’s inability to demonstrate self-control and temperance worries me more.
It feels like a choice between a three course meal of shit sandwiches or goldschlager cyanide garnished with the most luxurious polonium wedges.
At this point, I don’t think there’s much point in gun rights advocates trashing Trump. The convention is over, the guys with stronger gun rights records lost, and he’s the candidate we’ve got.
We know for sure that Hillary will be awful on gun rights. She’s wishy-washy on many subjects, but she’s spent her whole political career attacking gun rights, and her campaign has never pretended anything else. Trump has a few questionable things in his history on gun rights, but he’s mostly been in favor of them during his campaign. None of the other parties stand a chance, so who you gonna pick?
If we’re going to look back on anything, we should be looking back at why every other candidate for the Republican nomination sucks so badly that a complete outsider can win the nomination.
One thing people are forgetting. Hillary is a not in good health. And her chances of going the distance, are not good. I think [ gut feeling ] you will see a break down during the debates. That will hurt her election chances.
To echo others, what choice do we have?
For the record, as a gun owner, I think a Hillary presidency will be fine. Most anti-Hillary people have the facts wrong about her. She has served the county honorably and with distinction. She has no intention to abolish the 2nd Amendment. She is not a radical in any way – she is a center left technocrat.
You have GOT to be kidding right?? Hillary isn’t so bad?? Next you’ll be saying her hands aren’t any more bloody than any of ours? There has been this invention called “news” upon which they relay current events happening. I suggest you study this phenomenon further.
I agree. I’m close to collecting on some bets with people who have been telling me for eight years that Obama was “going to get my guns”. I gave them two to one odds, and I’m probably going to buy some guns with my winnings. Might make some bets with the “Hillary’s coming for your guns” crowd.
Did you fall on your head as well?? Obama tried his best to come after our guns, and congress THANKFULLY fought him off! What planet are you on?
Danny,
My bet was that by the end of Obama’s presidency, no one from the government would have confiscated my guns. That’s it.
I bet you even voted for him too? Did it make you feel like your white sins were washed away with each step you took to the poling station?
I’m not white.
And the correct term is “polling”.
1- well, that is no surprise there……
2-a simple spell check error, a person I deal with in the union is named Poling. But you can continue to pat yourself on the back for whatever. I really don’t care.
The facts speak for themselves.
HIllary is a pro-gun control supporter, just like Obama is. The question is, will congress be able to hold off Hillary just like they did on Obama when it comes to gun control? especially since they aren’t exactly popular with the american people?
Its a terrible election for gun owners, thats for sure.
I often wonder why pro-gun people are so eager to shy away from the 2nd Amendment’s true intent.
As if we’re ashamed of it?
Yes it was a joke, and a calculated maneuver, but is he wrong?
Isn’t the entire point of having the 2nd Amendment so that tyrants may be disposed by force of arms once all other means have been exhausted?
Bad Trump, BAD!! How dare you say something like “well maybe there’s something the second amendment folk can do”.
“That was a joke! Is nothing sacred??” Negro please….. He was spot on, and told the sighing dramatic masses he was joking to lessen it a bit. But he was spot on, and I believe it. Now you say that supporting Trump is what got Hillary in there (if she gets elected, which I actually think she will no matter what), so what? We should’ve back a fucking luke warm smiling face like Cruz or Rubio? COME OFF IT.
Personally I think we need someone more drastic than Trump, which I assume gets your panties in even more of a bunch. So how do you like those apples? Who’s fucking side are you on anyways? I used to like your posts on weapons, but now with that shit on the homos getting gunned down in Orlando, and now this shit “since you support Trump, you support the bloody bitch”, well, I am thinking you REALLY need to get back to weapon studies (something you sound well versed in) and away from politics (which you don’t). As a matter of fact, you know how you ALWAYS have that one or two delusional liberals in an infantry unit? The narcissistic types that are pretty left of center? You remind me of one of those guys the more you post this crap.
Danny, if anyone’s panties are in a bunch, it appears to be your own.
This attitude of “I have to vote for Trump because I don’t want Clinton” is mirrored on the opposite side as well.
Trump and Clinton are both terrible, terrible candidates. It’s a shame. But if anything, their respective nominations have demonstrated how disconnected both parties are from the average American. People feel they are forced to vote for the lesser evil, when there actually are other options.
I cannot in good conscience vote for Trump, regardless of his supposed position on gun control. Call it a throwaway vote, or maybe even a protest vote – but I will vote for Gary Johnson.
I will call it more than just a “throwaway vote”. How is Trump just so unbelievably terrible?
Whoever wins, we lose.
honestly, i prefer an anti gun president in office.
if you think any president is PRO 2A, you’re delusional.
im sure they love the idea of the general populace taking the white house by force..
there’s a reason obama is NRA salesman of the year for close to a decade. unwittingly, obama has put more firearms in the hands of americans than any potential wet dream pro 2a candidate we could assemble in a petri dish.
once the sheep pick a “pro-gun” president, complacency sets in, and a deal will be struck behind our backs.
im starting to think we would be better off with watching hillarys every move, rather than waiting for the knife from behind. we can thank “pro gun” people like reagan for Hughes amendment, and organizations like NRA for gun control act of 1968 and NFA
Trump will lose, and the only answer going forward will be secession. The fundamental problem is the ethnic replacement occurring in America. Stick your head in the sand all you want, but it wasn’t “diversity” that founded America, and we see very clearly that nonwhites don’t hold the same values or build the kinds of societies that whites do. It’s an ugly truth, but it’s one people need to understand.
S.D. Murphy, RIGHT ON. it’s nice to see others awake, for so many are unwilling to recognize an inconvenient truth.
Seriously, what the hell is with all you racist morons coming out of the woodwork in the shooting community these days? Go play with a lighter and some gasoline. We need you less than we need a Clinton presidency.
Divide and conquer: Serving tyrannical governments since the beginning of time -Each side talks about the terrible consequences of electing the other, but no one discusses how both parties have failed the people or acknowledges the declining path of our country over the past few decades- It’s a great way for those in power to maintain that power.
America is screwed regardless of who is elected president. It’s just basic math. Banks will fail, pensions will evaporate, retirement accounts will be frozen by the government and all faith will be lost in the system. This country has been attacked from the inside for 110 years or more, one person isn’t going to magically change anything.
Probably won’t be okay if Hillary Clinton wins.
It will probably be the opposite of okay.
I don’t see anything okay with another Clinton in office, especially this Clinton.
Further more, I don’t really see Hillary Clinton wining in November.
It’s possible, but I don’t see it happening.
You may be right about a president Trump making a deal that gives up some 2nd Amendment rights in the form of additional laws and regulations.
On the other hand, we’ve seen him talk about having a carry permit recognized by every state, like a driver’s license. This would be a good thing.
Screw you, Illinois!
I have resigned to the idea that Hillary Clinton wining would be 100% awful.
And Donald Trump winning would be
50/50 on international relations,
80/20 on ISIS
90/10 on the economy
90/10 on immigration
100% on illegal immigration
70/30 on gun rights
All of these are better than Hillary Clinton and being 100% wrong on everything.
So…. How’s this article look now ?
I was definitely wrong about the election.
I hope I am wrong about the other stuff too.
Oops 🙂
Also, his son, Donald Trump Jr, is a serious gun guy – check out his interview with SilencerCo, it’s on YouTube.