Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the political newcomer who just became a media rock star for knocking off the fourth-ranking U.S. House Democrat in a stunning primary victory is a far-left gun control advocate who wants to ban so-called “assault weapons” and magazines, and mandate so-called “universal background checks.”
Ocasio-Cortez is the talk of the media after ousting incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley in a David v. Goliath race in New York’s 14th congressional district. She has espoused an extreme liberal agenda on all sorts of social issues. She identifies as a Democrat socialist, according to published reports and she is likely to emerge as a darling of the gun prohibition lobby as the general election looms. Her campaign rhetoric is over-the-top:
“Instead of fighting to save American lives, politicians bend over backwards to protect the billionaire-backed gun lobby and propose measures that would actually increase gun sales, such as the incredulous proposal to arm teachers.”—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign statement
And that’s just for starters.
Ocasio-Cortez’ Cinderella story victory comes at a time when the nation is sharply divided over many issues, not the least of which is gun rights v. gun control. In recent days, far-left activists have unleashed unprecedented in-your-face fury toward elected officials, and President Donald Trump’s press secretary was booted from a Virginia restaurant while attempting to dine with her family.
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Coincidentally, in the midst of this socio-political furor, a new Rasmussen survey released Wednesday reveals that nearly one-third of the likely U.S. voters (31%) think it is “likely that the United States will experience a second civil war sometime in the next five years, with 11% who say it’s Very Likely.” The poll showed that 59 percent “consider a second civil war unlikely.”
But here’s another revelation that adds some perspective to this talk of “civil war.” Fifty-nine percent of all voters “are concerned that those opposed to President Trump’s policies will resort to violence, with 33% who are Very Concerned.” This underscores a report earlier in the week that some Trump aides have been urged to get concealed carry permits, according to the Washington Examiner. When all visages of civility vanish from the landscape and it appears anarchy may take over, Ocasio-Cortez may find her opinions tossed into the trash by people headed to the nearest gun store, some might argue.
By some estimates, there are around 16.3-16.5 million active concealed carry licenses and permits in the United States. That will no doubt be part of the discussion during the Sept. 21-23 Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) in Chicago. Co-sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, this is the 33rd annual conference, and the third for the Windy City in the eight years since the U.S. Supreme Court nullified Chicago’s handgun ban in McDonald v. City of Chicago on June 28, 2010. Thursday is the eighth anniversary of that victory, which was a SAF case joined by the Illinois State Rifle Association.
The Ocasio-Cortez victory in New York is a signal of changing politics, about which gun owners need to be fully cognizant if they hope to keep their heads, and their rights, above water in November. Expect that to be on the GRPC agenda as well.
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