GOA: Where Are The Pro-Gun Democrats?

For decades, “pro-gun Democrat” wasn’t an oxymoron.

In fact, according to a recent commentary from Gun Owners of America (see below), there was a time when even lawmakers who generally supported gun control occasionally backed major Second Amendment initiatives when common sense demanded it.

Today? That’s a different story.

In a recent Minuteman Moment video, GOA’s Ben Sanderson argued that the modern Democratic Party has become so committed to gun control that many elected Democrats are increasingly out of step with their own voters.

And that’s where things get interesting.

One of Sanderson’s biggest points is that America’s gun-owning population has changed dramatically.

During the COVID-era buying surge, nearly 30 million Americans purchased firearms, according to figures cited by GOA. Roughly 11 million of those buyers were first-time gun owners.

Many weren’t the traditional demographics gun control advocates often imagine.

Women, minorities, younger Americans, and urban residents all entered the firearms community in significant numbers.

Black women, in particular, have been frequently cited as one of the fastest-growing segments of new gun owners.

In other words, the guy in camouflage at deer camp isn’t the only person buying guns anymore.

Sanderson pointed to several high-profile political figures as evidence that attitudes toward firearms are changing.

Former Democratic congresswoman and former Trump administration official Tulsi Gabbard openly discussed how her views on the Second Amendment evolved after spending time with gun owners around the country. During a podcast appearance cited by GOA, Gabbard said she came to better understand concerns that many so-called “common sense” gun laws were ultimately aimed at restricting gun ownership itself.

GOA also highlighted changes by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noting his decision to remove federal funding streams previously used for gun control-related public health research initiatives.

Perhaps the most surprising examples came from current Democratic candidates.

GOA pointed to a New York gubernatorial candidate who has publicly called for rolling back the state’s SAFE Act and restoring New York gun laws to their pre-2013 status. The organization also highlighted Virginia Democrat Mark Moran, who has criticized his own party’s approach to gun rights.

Now, let’s be clear. We’re not exactly witnessing a stampede of Democrats rushing toward constitutional carry. But GOA’s argument is that something has shifted.

As firearm ownership continues spreading across demographic and political lines, the traditional “guns vs. Democrats” equation may be getting harder to maintain.

GOA’s message ultimately boils down to one challenge:

If millions of Democratic voters own firearms, hunt, carry, compete, and support the Second Amendment, how long can Democratic politicians keep treating gun ownership as a fringe issue?

That’s the debate GOA says is coming. Whether Democratic leadership listens is another story.

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