Ever since the mass murders that took place in Aurora, Colo. and Newtown, Conn. last year, the gun control debate has permeated our national dialogue. And although these tragedies involved firearms, pro-gun rights groups are working harder than ever to advocate for the strict protection of Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) is among those organizations working to make sure gun rights are secure. The new “pro-gun rights organization” partners with Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Citizens Committee Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), CalGuns a California gun rights group, and the California Associations of Federal Firearms Licensees(CA-FFL), among other pro-gun organizations at the national and state level fight legislators trying to capitalize on the recent gun related deaths.
FPC’s main focus is to get young people involved in this issue, and it’s using social media to accomplish this goal. The group is focusing on Facebook and Twitter to get out their message to target their young demographic.
“We have a specific focus on technology for the younger demographic, so there’s no written publication that you’re going to receive from Firearms Policy Coalition,” said Philip Watson, Executive Director of International Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights in an exclusive interview with Red Alert. “This political strategy of the 1970s isn’t going to work. [Social media is] what has to be done.”
“Most young people can basically just network with other young people,” Watson said. “Talk to other young folks. Join Firearms Policy Coalition, of course. Just talk to their legislators, and let them know they support the Second Amendment.”
Young people have a right to self-defense, but many will carelessly obtain their information about gun safety and the legality of carrying a firearm from the media.For example, a recent article in The Washington Times pointed out the media’s inaccurate claim that President Barack Obama used a “rifle” to skeet shoot while at Camp David.
“A rifle shoots one round with a single bullet straight, while a shotgun fires a shell with many pellets that scatter in a wide area,” Senior Editor Emily Miller wrote. “Skeet, which Mr. Obama said he shoots ‘all the time,’ is done with a shotgun, as are the similar shooting sports trap and sporting clays.”
Whether it’s a shotgun, rifle, handgun or any other type of gun, Americans deserve to participate in a discussion about gun ownership, Watson says.
“Be skeptical of people who want to take [your Second Amendment rights] away from you,” Watson warned. He also encouraged young people to stand up for their rights – and in this case, their right to bear arms.
“When it’s your rights at stake, you’re going to have to speak out, no matter if you’re young or old or what race you are,” Watson said. “That’s mainly our goal is to get people on a level playing field, connected with each other speaking out against a lot of this stuff.”
