Judging by the mass media coverage of both certain Parkland student survivors and the national rash of school walkouts Wednesday, you might think the tide is turning against the Second Amendment among today’s youth.
You’d be wrong.
While the cameras have focused ad nauseum on those select students who’ve taken up anti-gun soapboxes for publicity, another wave has picked up steam: that of young people who want to protect their right to self-defense.
The Second Amendment Foundation said they’ve seen a 1,200 percent increase in the number of 18-to-20-year-olds who’ve joined their pro-gun advocacy group. It’s an age range that’s been selectively targeted by new legislation that threatens to strip them of their constitutional right to bear arms. And they aren’t happy about it.
SAF explained in a press release:
Since the tragic mass shooting at a Florida high school last month resulted in efforts to restrict firearms ownership by young adults, the Second Amendment Foundation has experienced a 1,200 percent increase in the number of 18- to 20-year-olds joining or supporting the organization, SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb reported today.
“We normally don’t get that many members or donors in that age group, since the gun rights movement typically trends toward older Americans," Gottlieb said. "But the 18- to 20-year-olds have never been specifically targeted before, and they are obviously alarmed."
"This influx of young Americans into the gun rights movement is important, not just to respond to the current gun control threat, but as the movement has gotten older, it is encouraging to see so many young adults getting involved in support of Second Amendment rights," he continued.
SAF added that their organization didn't make any effort to recruit these new young members.
“It’s important to note that this interest surge has been organic on the Internet. SAF did nothing special to make it happen. They have really done this on their own, finding us on the Internet and following up,” Gottlieb added.
"I want young adults in the 18-to-20 age group to know they are welcome in the gun rights movement,” he stressed. “While the media has paraded high school students to push a gun control agenda, the age group that is now being targeted by that effort is energizing, and showing that there is another side to this controversy,” he said.
The NRA has launched a lawsuit against the state of Florida over a law signed just last week that upped the gun buying age from 18 to 21, alleging the new requirement violates the constitutional rights of American adults between 18-20.