A hoplophobe is a person who fears guns (or at least claims to). A hoploclast is one who hates guns. At least guns in the possession of anyone except a government, badged employee or a on-duty, serving combat-related person serving in the military.

Our guest commentary today is in the form of a graphic from CCRKBA.org’s Pen Patriot, which PP published in August:

This is all very good news. It is also difficult for people to believe, in a time when a news story about two or three people being gunned down by a madman is broadcast to all Fifty States within a half-hour (“Bottom of the hour” news alerts) or an hour (the next regular reading of the news).

We are left with the impression that violence, gun and other violence, is exploding at a phenomenal rate. We hear about these killings faster, more frequently, and often phrased in a way to push the hoploclastic agenda. But this is not the case, according to various government agencies.

Are they lying? We have to make an assumption that no government agency tells the truth all the time, or even much of the time. But if we examine why governments generally lie, we don’t see this particular item as being a reason. Perhaps the FBI is just kissing up to Trump and the MAGA crowd? The Donald’s views on RKBA is not a consistent one, and we suspect that is not a reason the Feebes would put out this sort of false claim.

And it is backed up by other studies and analysis.

Of course, it is not a uniform decline in violent crime across the Fifty States. Areas and communities previously with low rates are showing signs of peaking violence. Many inner urban zones are as violent as ever; some urban areas are showing increased violence. But overall, and in most States, and certainly rural and frontier areas, gun violence is declining.

Which brings us to the question in the headline. How desperate are those who fear and hate guns going to become? And how will those politicians and deep-pocket people and organizations who pander to them react to their increasing disconnect from both reality and the general population?

We must remember that most people, including voters and influencers, in the States do NOT see this information: they are beguiled and bamboozled by the mainstream media and the rest of those who see armed people as a threat to their power and wealth.

So we must educate, inform, and not just once but constantly. We must also make sure that we, as lovers of liberty, take advantage of these trends and the increasing recognition (even by Politicians!) of the wisdom of keeping and bearing arms.