Donald Trump’s rise has caused many to feel unnerved, and some downright scared, especially because of the prospect of his alt-right following gaining legitimacy in a Trump administration.
It’s causing many to consider packing their bags and fleeing to Canada, and American Muslims like Hassan Shibly to buy a gun to protect themselves.
Shibly, a Muslim civil rights lawyer for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Tampa, Florida, has seen a 500 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim incidents and hate crime across the state in the past year.
“I thought it was well worth it to help Muslims overcome the fear of exercising their first and second amendment activity,” Shibly told Red Alert Politics. He said his family and friends have been very supportive of his decision to carry a sidearm in the office.
“Many Muslims are very afraid even to go out there wearing a beard and a kufi, much less sporting a gun,” he continued, noting that many American Muslims almost feel guilty or suspect by carrying a firearm.
In the wake of the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California in December 2015, Trump proposed banning Muslims from entering the country until our screening process of Muslims improved. Many denounced Trump’s proposal as Islamophobic and unconstitutional due to the fact that there isn’t a religious test for entering the United States.
Contrary to Muslims overwhelmingly supporting Democrats over Republicans, three out of five American Muslims support the second amendment’s right to bear arms. Of course, being mostly Democrats, 95 percent of American Muslims believe there should be more extensive background checks in place before purchasing a gun.
However, after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in June, Democrats in the House and Senate staged massive protests (i.e. a Chris Murphy filibuster and a John Lewis-led sit-in) to call for a vote for the “no fly, no buy” gun proposal that would bar those on the terrorist no fly list from purchasing a gun.
Shibly believes the “no fly, no buy” proposal is a horrible idea.
“The watch list system is broken. It has way too many false-positives,” Shibly noted, stating that we need to refine the whole watch list system, so that we don’t scrap due process.
When asked if more American Muslims should buy guns to protect themselves, Shibly appeared to be on the fence, saying, “It’s tough to say… I think more Muslims, who are responsible, mature, and well trained, should be armed and ready to protect themselves.”
Watch his interview with The Huffington Post below:
