Gun control activists are lining their pockets with taxpayer-funded coronavirus economic relief while at the same time paying millions to antigun candidates who would crush the Second Amendment rights of American citizens.
The difficulty is deciding which is more infuriating, the wanton abuse of taxpayer-funded support for small businesses or the audacity of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence co-founders former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from Arizona, Mark Kelly. Brady netted between $350,000 and $1 million, while Giffords grabbed between $150,000-$350,000. At the same time, Brady pledged $4 million for gun control in the 2020 election, and Giffords just announced a plan to spend $1.25 million in Colorado alone to support former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper in his race against Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.
Since the coronavirus shutdowns began, background checks for gun sales skyrocketed to 5.4 million in the second quarter. NSSF estimated nearly 2.5 million are first-time buyers. At the same time, Brady solicitations for donations have been nonstop and Giffords spokesperson David Chipman has made multiple media appearances denigrating gun buyers.
Tax Dollars
American small businesses have done their best to navigate the unprecedented hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A near economic stall-out means millions have been temporarily laid off as businesses large and small shuttered. The firearm industry was hit as well, but most states followed Department of Homeland Security guidance deeming firearm-related businesses “essential” and, therefore, open. This was significant, as gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers employ more than 330,000 Americans and every employee has been critical during these uncertain times.
To help bridge the troubled waters for businesses, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provided Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for employers to keep workers on their payroll. Watchdogs have zeroed in on companies that received loans but could’ve gone without them. Brady and Giffords are using taxpayer dollars to keep their operations afloat, while spending millions to buy the gun control candidates they want, including Mark Kelly. Because money is fungible, American taxpayers are underwriting gun control organizations and their efforts to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of those taxpayers.
When asked about receiving PPP loans, Brady’s spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon, “We just applied and were approved, obviously, under the same sort of criteria as others with concerns for payroll.”
Larry Keane is Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs and General Counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association.