There are a lot of elements of Second Amendment culture that those who aren’t a part of it will never understand. In my experience, one of the most fundamental elements that those on the outside have difficulty grasping is that we are a huge family.
We’re a family of diverse individuals from all walks of life, all working together across an incredible spectrum of firearm ownership.
The 30-year-old, steely-eyed liberal divorcee who finds herself training at the range because her abusive ex-husband is about to get released from prison. No one will ever touch her kids again.
The 62-year-old hunter in Iowa exhaling deeply as he looks across an epic expanse of wilderness. He just sold his business and is finally able to make time for himself.
The 21-year-old anarchic technologist coding 3D blueprints in her basement with creativity in her heart and liberty in her soul. She has seen too much evil in the world for her age, she seeks to change it for the better.
The 53-year-old transgender combat veteran building his first firearm from scratch. He needs to save money because he was disowned by his friends and family upon coming out, fired from his job, and is now living in a rough, low-income neighborhood. He is unwilling to become a statistic.
The 46-year-old black man entering his first firearm shop to inquire as to where to get started because the police don’t come to his neighborhood. He doesn’t know what else to do, but he knows he will not be beaten and robbed again.
The 14-year-old being taught the basics of firearm safety by her two moms because last night they were harassed and followed home by some local bigots in their tiny town. She’s not scared, she’s empowered.
The 55-year-old exhausted factory worker in the midwest with an injured leg deciding to now carry every day because he can’t physically defend himself as well since the accident. He wants to retire, but gets up at 4:00am to get on dangerous public transit so he can provide for his kids.
We are all family. This is why liberty will always be defended. This is why we will always win in the long run.
(Every example I gave here is based on people I know in person or who have reached out to me from all across the US in the last few years.)
Piper Smith is the founder & executive director of Armed Equality.