The Black Panthers were a radical group who were active in the 1960's. Their reaction to the condition of Blacks in America was to turn to Thomas Jefferson's words in the Declaration of Independence (which they explicitly took to be their founding document): People have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and "if any government is destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it."
They called for taking up arms and starting a Black Revolution. They called for establishing a separate Black State. "Black Power!" "Death to Whitey!"
In response to this, guess who lobbied for STRICTER gun control laws (such as California's Mulford Act of 1967 and the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968), in order to protect decent law-abiding citizens from anti-government groups? The National Rifle Association. And in the case of the California bill, Governor Ronald Reagan pushed for its passage.
This is the same argument used nowadays, but from the right: if government suppresses the rights of the first amendment, the second amendment guarantees that we can protect ourselves from the government.
Back then, the Black Panthers responded by showing up, armed, at rallies demanding the right to bear arms.
Then:
Now:
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I like a couple others don’t seem to grasp your point here. This was in the last month:
If an American citizen is legally allowed to possess and carry a firearm I support that 100%. No matter their race, gender or political affiliation. But carry responsibly, no threatening movements or language. These are not toys.
@JesseInTX The name of the group is "I love weird facts." My "point" is simply that the NRA once supported gun control, and now they oppose it. I find that an interesting fact. Nothing more. I intentionally made no comments in favor or opposed to NRA positions then or now.
@DrWatson I’ve been a member for over 25 years and I cannot remember a time where they supported “gun control” at all. They have always advocated legal and responsible gun ownership and fought against those who aimed to take away out constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Policies and positions evolve over time given the climate, but they have always been the voice of the 2nd Amendment.
@DrWatson I am well aware of history of both our country and the NRA. The photo you presented from “then” was an armed group making threatening statements as they protested. As soon as you are making these threatening statements, then or now, you are no longer legally carrying your weapon. You are committing what is known, in Texas, as Terroristic Threat. Other states may have different offense titles.
