I have been busy helping pick up the pieces after the death of a friend of 48 years. For the last few days, I ate breakfast at a McDonalds in Middleton, Wisconsin, part of the far-left liberal environs centered around Dane County and the college town of Madison. My friend had lived most of his life in Madison and Middleton. He was a lifelong Second Amendment supporter, lifetime master pistol shooter, and a mentor.
At McDonalds, I struck up conversation with a gentleman who I suspected to be a liberal. We had a connection because he was searching for information on friends who had recently died in Australia. I had recently been there and have investigative experience.
I told him I’m a writer and he asked what I wrote. I described Gun Watch and his demeanor softened a little. He described himself as a liberal gun owner.
The next day, he introduced his wife. They both had Wisconsin concealed carry permits. He showed a video of using Tannerite to recreationally blow up targets in northern Wisconsin. He introduced me to another member of his McDonalds breakfast group who was a retired Navy Captain.
Even in deep blue Madison (77 square miles surrounded by reality), there are significant numbers of Second Amendment supporters. Many of them keep their heads down because they believe they are surrounded by anti-Second Amendment leftists.
What they do in the polling booth may be different than what they admit to in public. They may be part of the group of invisible Trump voters who helped put him over the top in Wisconsin and other upper midwest states.
Was my new-found acquaintance one of them? It’s hard to say. He sounded as though he had an open mind. He is bright. He is informed. Could he have voted against Hillary for gun rights reasons?
It was obvious to both of us that he didn’t want his picture associated with this article. I said I expected he didn’t want his picture taken. He said I was exactly correct. He took mine, instead.
Second Amendment supporters in deep blue areas fear becoming known publicly. Social justice warriors often wish them harm. These people may support Second Amendment candidates. Other Second Amendment supporters should encourage them to, at minimum, vote to protect the Bill of Rights. All of them.
©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.