U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Donald Trump Jr. launches gun rights group, vows to fight Democratic gun control proposals,” Fox News reports. “The Second Amendment Task Force plans to build its operation around Trump’s high social media visibility and following, as well as his national media appearances.”
“The Second Amendment Task Force is the first advocacy group that Trump has launched and been directly involved with,” the report elaborates. “The group plans to make a push in the upcoming midterm elections this year, especially in the voter registration sphere.”
Except it’s not the first. Remember that “Second Amendment Coalition” his father announced and made him chairman of back in 2016? The one he co-chaired with fired NRA-ILA honcho and bump stock “regulator” Chris Cox? If you don’t recall that group, it’s probably because it didn’t actually do much of anything and the webpage was taken down a half-a-year later.
As for “plans to make a push,” it’s fair to ask for whom. His father’s Mehmet Oz pick comes to mind. Are there any other candidates gun owners may have concerns about?
It’s also fair to ask what that push consists of. The Fox News piece gives us plenty of high-sounding platitudes but specifically, how will the “entirely devoted” Second Amendment Task Force “ensur[e] the Left is never successful in disarming American citizens”?
As an aside, that rhetoric is kind of hyperbolic. Ultimately, isn’t ensuring they never will be something each of us will decide?
“Today, the group is laser-focused on engaging grassroots activists to defend their Constitutional rights,” the Task Force website claims. “Like a special ops team of advocates, the group rapidly mobilizes when Biden nominates personnel who could infringe on the Second Amendment and to oppose executive or legislative action that curbs the rights of gun owners and families.”
What group? Who is on board with this, and might we check their creds?
The only name that is listed under “Our Team” is Trump Jr’s, and while gun owners should appreciate his efforts that “helped sink” the David Chipman nomination to head ATF, many hands were involved with that and, candidly, did more. And if his Task Force truly lives up to its rapid mobilization claim, why have he — and it — been silent to date (this is being written on 4/28) on the new and equally threatening nominee, Steve Dettelbach?
Fleshing out the details of the “group,” its organization and specific efforts it intends to make is important because getting visitors to register and donate seems to be the purpose of the 2A Task Force home page. That being the case, what does it intend to provide gun owners that they can’t already get from established national and state “gun groups”? Considering that those groups are also involved in activities like education/outreach, alerts/grassroots coordination, legislative efforts, and, importantly, mounting legal challenges, what unique return value, besides the occasional supportive tweet, editorial or media appearance by Trump Jr. does this new venture offer that makes it a superior donation priority?
No one can argue that it doesn’t help to have a high-profile personality using his bully pulpit to promote the right to keep and bear arms. One could also argue that attaching one’s famous name to a hot button issue, one that affects millions, yields significant personal and political returns.
Sure, it’s great to see him proudly posing with an AR-15 and driving the left nuts. Good job!
It would be greater to see him using his New York City concealed carry permit as a springboard to highlight how unjust and un-American it is to limit such permits to the sell-connected elites and to lead the charge for demanding change. For someone presuming to be a leadership voice for gun owners, it would be not just appropriate, but crucial for Trump Jr. to also explain in principle and detail:
- If he agrees his father has been flat-out wrong on bump stocks;
- Where he agrees with his father on which gun laws should be enforced;
- Why he didn’t weigh in on “red flag laws” when his father said “Take the guns first, due process second”;
- If he agrees with his father on raising the gun purchase age to 21; and
- How he differs from his father’s White House position on where the right to bear arms comes from (see photo, above).
The object here is not to attack him or to start a feud with Dad; it’s to see if the guy who says he wants to lead us knows where he’s going and why.
It’s also to see whose interests funds being solicited to bankroll that leadership really serve and if that’s the most effective way for gun owners to offset attacks against their rights. Note 2A Task Force donations are “Powered through WinRed,” a GOP fundraising platform that has been dominated by Donald Trump-related interests.
They take their cut of the proceeds. We’ve all gotta eat and there’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact, the left (which benefits from its ActBlue counterpart) is trying to shut WinRed down with breathless allegations of irregularities and “politically-motivated investigations” by four “blue state” attorneys general. Like with speech, political opposition is seen as something to be smeared and canceled.
Just to clear something up, because I won’t be surprised to see this piece result in some “Would you rather have Joe Biden?” reactions: I got this task force news sent to me from a few different readers, and what they sent included some enthusiastic posts and videos from commentators with substantial numbers of followers. None of what I had seen dug any deeper and addressed the points this raises, and I believe gun owners ought to be able to evaluate all fundraising appeals against other deserving options before digging into limited personal resources.
If you think Donald Trump Jr’s Second Amendment Task Force is a serious contender for your financial support, feel free to explain why and persuade those of us who may not be convinced yet in the comments, below.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
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