As African American gun owners we all enjoy owning a firearm. It is really cool to hang out at your house with your boys hearing some soulful sounds coming from a Frankie Beverly album, and bragging about your shot “groupings” at the range or your new Glock, Sig, or Smith & Wesson M&P. But a lot of us, in our excitement to purchase a gun, forget the most important thing to remember when we buy a firearm. We take time to memorize the four  universal rules of handling a gun, rush to sign up to take beginning and advanced courses, and a few of us even become Instructors. All these things are highly recommended and are great because it helps us increase our overall skills. However, there is a larger issue that is just as critical, and that is understanding the laws within your state.

Most good firearms instructors require their students to know the four universal rules before they are allowed to start training with a gun. I would recommend taking it one step further in that every new gun owner should know the gun laws of their particular state including open carry vs concealed carry, ammo, and Stand Your Ground variations. To have a gun in 2021 and not be aware of how the gun laws work in your state is in my opinion a recipe for disaster. Ignorance is not an excuse in the eyes of the law. We all can count the endless examples of individuals we know or have read about that after getting stopped by a police officer and arrested thinking that they were obeying the law–when in fact they weren’t. God forbid you shoot an intruder in your own home and find yourself getting arrested for second degree homicide. The examples are endless. So, please take the time before you pick up that gun to make sure you are completely familiar with the laws. If someone asks you if you can carry a gun in your car loaded, you should know the answer automatically. You don’t want any “gray area” or confusion. That is how African American gun owners can protect themselves from mistakes which can cost them their lives or imprisonment.

Lastly, the maturation of the modern African American gun owner in the last six years leading up to 2021 has been a beautiful thing to witness with all of us collectively coming together. But what we must not forget is that our ancestors died fighting for our rights–especially the 2nd Amendment. The 2nd Amendment is just as much ours as any other community in the United States. In that ownership of the 2nd Amendment we should be aware at all times and require ourselves to protect the 2nd Amendment from those groups, organizations, or individuals who want to reduce–and in a lot of circumstances remove–the 2nd Amendment and our right to bear arms.

Remember without the 2nd Amendment we have no protections for our families, ourselves, or loved ones. So, please take a moment to read, digest and understand all the current legislation that is being reviewed by your local government officials and Senate and House Representatives in Washington D.C.

All Rights by their very nature are not guaranteed. you must fight to 
preserve them by reminding all continually why they were made and for whom.

– Philip Smith, NAAGA National President