I didn’t watch the presidential debate last night. The only thing I hate more than the theatrics of presidential debates is the State of the Union address, which I abhor and religiously avoid.

I spent my time productively, researching bipods, but kept checking X (formerly Twitter) to see how the debate was going. By all accounts, it was a Kamala Harris victory. The election betting markets, which have an excellent track record of predicting election outcomes, reacted sharply and swung from about 51%-47% Trump-Harris yesterday morning to 52%-47% Harris-Trump as of this writing – a net 9-point swing.

To add to Trump’s troubles, a pop star with a cult-like following named Taylor Swift, who my children listen to and like, endorsed Harris with a Darwinian “Childless Cat Lady” signature. I am of the opinion that little things like Swift’s endorsement will matter in an election in which the margin of victory is likely going to be very tight. In other words, I’m in prepper mode for a Kamala Harris victory.

It is not just enough to assume that Harris will win in 2024. With the sheer weight of incumbency and positive macroeconomic trends continuing after the COVID bust, Harris could be on track for re-election in 2028. That means we could be looking at another 8 years of Democrat rule until 2032 (!!!). That means another 8 years of federal judicial appointments by an anti-Second Amendment Democrat president, and that’s assuming that Democrats don’t pack the Courts outright as they have promised. Over the next 8 years, the actuarial tables will start causing problems for Justices Alito, Thomas, and Chief Justice Roberts.

A Harris presidency from 2024 to 2032 also means further entrenchment of gun control groups in the White House “Office of Gun Rights Infringement,” formally known as the “Office of Gun Violence Prevention.” Our tax dollars will be marshaled against our rights. Remember how the CDC removed all references to Defensive Gun Uses (DGUs) from their website? Along that deceitful vein, expect more federal funding for “research” that lies to the public about how horrible gun ownership is. It’s disgusting, it’s unbelievable, but it is happening and will get worse. To paraphrase Thomas Paine from Common Sense, “we will furnish the means by which we suffer.”

There are multifarious moves in play. In another 8 years, the Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) that are being implemented by credit card companies will be expanded. In the worst case, transaction summaries will be tied to digital records of what was inside the transactions, allowing the private sector to construct a detailed list of purchases done at gun shops. If such data is collected, it will absolutely be shared with the federal government, with a smile and without a warrant.

In another 8 years, there could be total ghettoization of firearms related content into obscure websites after being chased out of the biggest platforms like YouTube and Facebook. What was done to Gun Tubers over the past few years will look like acts of kindness.

Harris and Walz are doing a feint on guns. Like Obama, who lied about not supporting marriage for gay couples in 2008, Harris and Walz are lying about their loyalty to the Bill of Rights, especially the Second Amendment. During the debate, Harris claimed that she owns guns, a revelation that may or may not be true. Tim Walz said the same thing also, about how they won’t come after anyone’s guns.

Kamala Harris and I are both gun owners.

We’re not going to take away your Second Amendment rights — we’re going to prevent your kids from getting shot at school.

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) September 11, 2024

They are lying. Given their track record, we have no choice but to assume they are lying. Harris has promised “mandatory” gun buybacks, i.e., confiscation. She has promised “universal” background checks, which requires a gun owners’ registry. This was left out of past gun laws because it requires probing into intrastate commerce, something the federal government isn’t authorized to do. However, it will be rubber-stamped by new federal judges appointed during 8 years of a Harris presidency.

Therefore, we need to be acting like we will lose everything. So how do we go about Kamala-proofing the Second Amendment? There are several things you can do, but you must do it now, without hesitation:

1) Consider becoming a Certified Firearms Instructor.

I never touched a gun until I was in my 30s, and I am now a Certified Firearms Instructor. If I can do it, so can you. You don’t need to become a tactical instructor or even a concealed carry instructor. Just go through the training needed to become an instructor for basic, introductory courses. It’s worth it. Think of firearms instruction as a pyramid, with basic instruction at the bottom, and specialized instruction at the top. There is a massive demand at the bottom, and you can help fulfill it.

2) As a Certified Instructor, consider volunteering your time and teaching for free.

I mostly teach for free or volunteer as an instructor at my range. The only costs I pass along to my students are for printed materials, ammunition, range fees, etc. Not everyone can afford to do that. But if possible, consider it. Money should not be a barrier to training for non-gun owners, so if your financial situation permits, consider donating your labor.

3) Even if you’re not a Certified Instructor, take non-gun owners to the range.

If you’re unable to spend the time and money to become a certified instructor, you can still teach newbies to shoot. Try to bring non-gun owners to the gun range. Be polite, be professional, stay non-political. Use common sense and gently bring people on board. Start them out with a .22LR. Don’t hand them a large caliber and scare them on the first try. The larger calibers can wait until after 4, 5, or even 10 range trips.

I have an extended family member who took his wife to a gun range recently. He handed her a large caliber handgun to shoot. As a first-timer, she was startled and left the range after firing only 3 rounds. When I talked to her, she told me she was done with guns and was not going to visit a range, ever. That was an unforced error and a loss for the Second Amendment.

4) Involve yourself in political activities.

Call your legislators: local, state, and federal. Again, be polite and professional. Express your gratitude for a right vote and politely express your consternation for a wrong vote. Be patient; effecting political change is like planting an acorn and watching an oak tree grow, not microwaving a frozen meal. What you desire may happen after you're long gone, but will be available for your children to enjoy.

Get your friends to call your legislators. Get gun owners registered to vote. Educate them on Second Amendment issues. Drive gun owners to the polls.

5) Join and support Second Amendment groups.

The NRA has taken a beating over the past 5 years. They are in the process of a course correction. Consider joining and supporting them. There are also other excellent groups, such as Gun Owners of America, Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and the National Association for Gun Rights. Do not forget your state gun rights groups. They are extremely important to protect your rights in your own backyard. 

You can also stay informed and engaged by becoming a VIP or VIP Gold member here at Bearing Arms. Use the promo code FIGHT to take 60% off your VIP or VIP Gold membership, which gives you access to members-only stories, an ad-free experience, and other benefits, all while helping us take on the rampant media bias and Big Tech censorship seeking to silence the voices of gun owners.

I think this election is a make-or-break election. I thought the last one was dangerous and wrote about it. My fears were partially right given what came out of the federal government in the past 4 years. The judiciary, fortified by the first Trump presidency, helped stop some of that damage. However, as I described above, a potential Harris presidency until 2032 will be an unprecedented danger to our rights as a free people.