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If You’re Anti-Gun, You’re a Racist

You’ve undoubtedly heard that if you don’t support President Obama, then you must be a racist. Well one good turn deserves another…

A Brief History of Gun Control

Gun control in the United States has an interesting history. Most people don’t know the racist roots of gun control, and that the original gun control laws were put in place to prevent blacks from possessing firearms.

Origins

It all started at our nation’s beginning, with slavery. Of course slaves weren’t allowed to own guns. This makes sense right? How can you enslave people if they were armed? The answer is obvious, you can’t.

Post-Slavery

Fast forward nearly 100 years. Following the American Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment, black folks were now free men and women, which meant that they could keep and bear arms, right? Not in the south.

In response to blacks being free, many southern states adopted what are known as the Black Codes. The Black Codes were put in place to limit the rights of blacks, which included not allowing them to possess firearms. The year was 1865, and our nation had its first gun control laws.

Civil Rights Era

Gun control finds its roots in racism. Given this history, and the history of blacks in this country, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that the true pioneers of the modern pro-gun movement were the Black Panthers. Yes, those Black Panthers.

The Black Panther Party was formed during the Civil Rights Movement, and was originally organized to promote self-defense in response to police brutality. It’s no secret that up to and during this time, blacks were oppressed in this country, and faced violence on a daily basis from whites, including police. Naturally, black folks wanted to protect themselves, and the Black Panthers were born.

One example of this pro-gun activism happened on May 2, 1967. That day, about 30 armed Black Panther members entered the California legislature to protest the consideration of outlawing the right of private citizens to bear arms. There member Bobby Seale read from a prepared statement:

The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense calls upon the American people in general and the Black People in particular to take careful note of the racist California Legislature now considering legislation aiming at keeping black people disarmed and powerless at the very time that racist police agencies throughout the country intensify the terror, brutality, murder and repression of Black People…The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense believes that the time has come for Black people to arm themselves against this terror before it’s too late.

It was a peaceful demonstration and no one was hurt, but highlights who was fighting for the right to keep and bear arms during this time. And they weren’t alone.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., who, unlike the Black Panthers, was famous for nonviolent civil disobedience, also understood the need to protect himself. After his house was bombed in 1956, he applied for a permit to carry a concealed firearm. He was denied, but from that day on armed supporters guarded his home, a home which was described by Glenn Smiley as an “arsenal”.

The Black Panthers, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others who have been oppressed throughout history, understood the need for self-defense.

Now to be fair, the title of this post was tongue-in-cheek. I don’t really believe that everyone who is anti-gun is racist (more likely they are ignorant), but I hope that I’ve shown that gun control truly does have racist roots in this country.

Why Are Black Leaders Anti-Gun?

Given this history, a natural question to ask is why are black leaders anti-gun? For that, I will leave you with the wisdom of my buddy Mr. Colion Noir. Enjoy.

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25 Responses to If You’re Anti-Gun, You’re a Racist

  1. John Faux-Cheesey Smith January 31, 2013 at 11:07 am #

    A+ SIR!

  2. Michael Howie January 31, 2013 at 11:09 am #

    I took an African American history course last semester, and African Americans who advocated for armed self-defense has its roots in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This was due in large part to the lynchings and other unspeakable acts that occurred to blacks at that time. Armed self defense and to a larger degree self-sufficiency was a popular and long standing notion with in the African American community really until the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Many blacks distrusted the state and federal government and believed only they could protect themselves. A major proponent of this belief was Ida B. Wells. The “Self Help” ideology really paved the way for later groups such as the Black Panthers.

    Great Article just thought I could add some stuff in for you all.

    • Brandon January 31, 2013 at 11:12 am #

      Thanks man – I only briefly touched on this topic, there’s quite a bit to the history of gun control and racism, and it branches into many different areas.

  3. Paul R. Laska January 31, 2013 at 11:17 am #

    May I add to that classist and statist roots. In the west, communities enacted gun free laws, ostensibly to keep rowdy cowboys in control, but at the behest of the city fathers who controlled gambling, drinking, and prostitution. The infamous Sullivan Act in New York City was established by Tammany to strip the opposition of access to firearms while keeping a thumb on supporting street gangs via permits. Control, always control!

  4. Bobby January 31, 2013 at 11:50 am #

    Tell barack that not all black people are feeble minded, we “ARE NOT” buying the racism shit.

    • Alexander Hamilton February 3, 2013 at 3:46 pm #

      Yup agreed. The last people in this country who should be asking for “people control”…er “gun control” Should be blacks.

      I encourage everyone to watch “No Guns for Negroes” search it on youtube.

  5. Mike Cumpston January 31, 2013 at 12:08 pm #

    You did good. Clarence Darrow defended a black family that shot back at a drove of marauding cone-heads. I don’t remember if he was successful or not. King sometimes visited at the home of John Evers- Medgar Ever’s brother. The place was an armed compound and King said there was no place he felt safer.
    Condoleezza Rice callsherself a “Second Amendment Absolutist” for reasons you mention.

  6. Jake January 31, 2013 at 12:16 pm #

    Love it, nice overview brother.

  7. MP (@perhms) January 31, 2013 at 1:09 pm #

    Send this to Danny Glover. The idiot…

  8. Stocky (@redwooddude) January 31, 2013 at 1:33 pm #

    Slavery in the south was intiated by the monarchy of Great Britain, this was and still is the “Bible Belt”. Slavery is talked about all through the Bible. The only reason why the North gave up slavery, prior to the South, was because of industrialization. People in the North were employed and tithe their Church by something other than agriculture, this was not the case in the South right up to the Civil War (all agriculture).

    • Brandon January 31, 2013 at 1:37 pm #

      Slavery is talked about in the Bible, yes, but not endorsed or condoned.

      • D.Kreft January 31, 2013 at 4:37 pm #

        Amen, and if you study the book of Philemon, it becomes quite obvious that God is not into slavery–the implicit command by the Apostle Paul to Philemon to treat Philemon’s runaway slave as a brother turns the whole institution on its head.

  9. Von January 31, 2013 at 4:14 pm #

    One possible solution to Chicago’s murder rate which is mostly gang related; not more guns, but more law abiding people with guns.

  10. Linda Souder January 31, 2013 at 10:39 pm #

    we are all in this together…..they willnot take our guns, no way no how!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. james February 1, 2013 at 8:13 am #

    may i also add to the little facts that every one here is adding. “Blacks” during the civil war years could not support the right to bear arms NORTH or SOUTH. Unless that black person was in the union army then he was allowed his service rifle ( Springfield muzzle loader) at his place of residents. Any black caught with a gun that was not part of the union army was put in jail for having a illegal weapon. any one that has studied the history of the civil war would know that the south was not the only ones that had gun regs. thanks for your time.

  12. John Perry February 1, 2013 at 11:52 am #

    So what you are really saying is that those that oppose guns are really white, democrats folks that originally wanted to prevent the black dudes from being able to defend themselves? Well, on that note you are quite correct. Which is why the vast majority of the members of the KKK are democrats. But what baffles many is why blacks align themselves with democrats and this comes down to pure unadulterated ignorance of the history, and history that the democrats would just love to stay hidden and out of sight. Malcolm X noted to other blacks that the democrats are looking to make chumps out of blacks. So if you are democrat you are no better than the KKK and in fact are the ones that are racist.

  13. Buzz February 2, 2013 at 2:28 pm #

    Question: What pistol grip is on that AR? It looks like a cross between a Magpul MIAD and a Falcon Industries Ergo.

    I love the Ergo and that’s all I run, but I feel like it’s too narrow. They sell a larger version but it’s freaking HUGE. On the other hand, the MIAD has a perfect width, but I prefer the rubber texture of the Ergo; hence why I run it. This looks very appealing.

    DETAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Brandon February 2, 2013 at 2:31 pm #

      Mission First Tactical Engage. Fits my hand really well.

      • Buzz February 2, 2013 at 2:48 pm #

        Awesome, thank you for that. Now, last question…… Is it a rubberized grip like the Ergo, or is it an all polymer outside?

        • Brandon February 2, 2013 at 2:56 pm #

          It feels rubber-like, but I’m guessing it’s some sort of composite material. Feels good to me.

          • Buzz February 2, 2013 at 3:04 pm #

            I’m going to order one right now, then. I’m sure you have seen the Ergo grips but they’re some sort of polymer with a rubberized exterior that they describe as, “like a pencil eraser.” To me, a lot of polymer grips these days have a bunch of stippling and grooves but they just make a textured surface that is still slippery. I love the Ergo for the friction from the rubbery exterior and the finger grooves. It looks like that’s what the EPG is but the only claim of rubber in their description is the grip plug (which is a bonus). If this is just like the exterior of an Ergo grip, I may be buying 3 more to refit all of my ARs. **Fingers Crossed* that it’s what I’m hoping for.

            Thanks for your help.

        • Caleb March 6, 2013 at 12:42 pm #

          It is not rubberized like the ERGO, but still a good grip. I run the MFT Engage on one of my AK’s and I love it. You won’t be disappointed at all with the MFT grip.

  14. green February 2, 2013 at 4:21 pm #

    The most stupid connection ever made… for shure you sell guns. The history of gun control does not start in USA ignorant. In Europe they control gun ownership and gun related deaths are less than 10% than in America. So using your logic sending rockets to space is an act of war because the first rockets were developed like long range bombs. Please go an read some instead of sell fire arms to ignorant people like you.

    • Brandon February 2, 2013 at 8:44 pm #

      I’ll forgive your poor spelling and grammar since you’re not from the United States, and I’m guessing English isn’t your first language. No, I don’t sell guns. I never said the history of gun control started in the USA. I don’t care what the “gun related deaths” in Europe are, I don’t live there (yes, I know that you do). Check out your violent crime rates, that might interest you.

      Your comment about rockets and bombs was barely coherent and ridiculous at best.

      At any rate, you don’t get a vote on the matter, seeing as how you aren’t a US citizen. Thanks for stopping by.

    • Buzz February 3, 2013 at 2:10 am #

      You might be the most ignorant person I have ever encountered. Do you really think that focusing on “gun murders” is more important than “ALL murders?”

      Of course the US has more GUN murders than the EU, that has allowed themselves to be completely disarmed by their government. Did you know that water is wet? What you completely ignore is that the EU has more murders per capita than the US and a higher violent crime rate. Is someone killed in the EU by stabbing and beating, less dead than someone killed by a gun?

      Literally, the UK has a higher murder rate per capita than the US. But all you care about is gun murders. Statistically, we are safer from violent crime in the US than you Euro’s are. For every 1 person murdered in the US, 3.5 people are murdered in the UK. Do you intentionally ignore this or are just naturally dense?

      Do you want to compare some more? Lets look at Australia where their violent crime has INCREASED 300% (YES, THREE HUNDER PRECENT) since their gun confiscation. We can look at Mexico, too, if you’d like. Gee whiz, it sure seems SOOOOO safe down there in Mexico. You know, that country that has some of the strictest gun laws in the WORLD. Their people can’t even legally own guns and yet decapitated bodies are being hung from highway overpasses on a regular basis. Oooooooohhhh, yea……SO SAFE.

      You are absolutely ignorant of everything going on around you in this world. You should just turn off the lights, close the shades, and hide under your covers. Statistically, it is safer in the US than it is in the EU. More people are killed per 100,000 in the UK than are in the US. Not only does the US have LESS violent crime per capita than the EU, we also have the ability to defend ourselves. I would rather take my chances in a country that allows me to defend myself — and has a statistically lower violent crime rate per 100K — than one that has totally disarmed me and taken away my natural born right to defend myself.

      So you go ahead, ignore all of the relevant facts, and keep spewing the same failed rhetoric that you have been brainwashed into believing by your Liberal nation. I would rather be shot by a gun with the chance to shoot back, than to be stabbed to death and have nothing by my soft hands to try to block a knife blade. You can’t ignore the fact that more people are murdered per capita in the EU than in the US…….you just can’t.

      It’s time for you to worry about your own nation’s problems, because you have A LOT of them. You can happily hand over all of you rights to your government. But we wont and we will be keeping ours. Our violent crime rates have steadily decreased since 1999 and are continuing along on a consistent decline. The only cities in the US where violent crime is actually on a rise, are cities like Chicago where handgun possession is illegal. Yet, handguns are used to kill an average of 10 people every weekend in the city.

      “Please go an read some instead of……” trolling the internet and surfing the “How to not have any logic Encyclopedia.”