By Dave Workman | Editor-in-Chief
The Second Amendment Foundation has launched a new effort to remind America that the right to keep and bear arms is all-inclusive, and that all citizens regardless of race, creed or color should never be denied the exercise of their constitutionally-protected rights.
SAF has a history of bringing legal actions with minority plaintiffs, including the landmark 2010 Supreme Court case of McDonald v. City of Chicago that nullified the Windy City’s long-standing handgun ban.
“The Second Amendment is color-blind,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “No law-abiding citizen should ever be denied the right to purchase a firearm or get a license to carry due to the color of their skin. We’re launching our new Equality Project now because in recent days the topic of racism has been on everyone’s mind, and there’s been an increasing interest in gun ownership among minorities.”
He said the gun rights organization has “a strong track record of protecting minorities, including the landmark Supreme Court case of McDonald v. Chicago, plus lower court victories including Ezell v. Chicago and Moore v. Madigan.
“These cases show that in the past we have not tolerated discrimination against minorities exercising their Second Amendment rights, and we have no intention of allowing that in the future,” Gottlieb stated.
“History has taught us,” he observed, “that oppressive gun control has its roots in racism.”
He pointed to the infamous “black codes” that, among other things, regulated or prohibited gun ownership by free African-Americans living in the South following the Civil War.
“This made it impossible for former slaves to defend themselves against attack by vicious night riders,” he said. “It was wrong then, and it is even more wrong today. We want to make sure this sort of social bigotry never rears its ugly head again. At the end of the day, if all gun owners don’t stand together, the Second Amendment will almost certainly fall apart.”
“If you or anyone you know has been denied a permit to purchase or carry a firearm, please notify us immediately,” SAF said.
Gottlieb said the foundation will have its attorneys “get involved to protect the Second Amendment rights of all Americans, especially minorities who are being discriminated against.”
To contact SAF about the Gun Rights Equality Project, please email us at info@saf.org
