The media would have you believe that all who value their Second Amendment rights are racists who are terrified of the idea of minorities. Of course, they almost never bother to talk to any of us to determine anything about us, but that would be actual journalism. Can’t have that, now can we?

That same media will often portray gun control as an issue that’s championed by minorities. It makes sense from their perspective, too. Minorities share the brunt of the cost of gun violence, after all. The typical victims of gang warfare–the root of much of our nation’s gun violence–aren’t white kids from the suburbs.

However, what happens when some in the African-American community start to recognize that their gun rights are essential for their own liberty? Well, they show up in interesting places.

Armed Black Lives Matter activists and right-wing groups came together in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday in a united show of support for the 2nd Amendment at an Open Carry rally.

At least 200 people, the majority proudly toting rifles, semi-automatic weapons and other firearms, gathered outside Capitol Square to protest against gun control and the violation of constitutional rights.

The rally, organized by activist group Virginia Knights, also served as a memorial for Duncan Lemp, a 21-year-old man who was fatally shot in his Maryland home in March during a no-knock police raid.

‘This rally on July Fourth is to show that gun owners will not be trampled on! We are citizens who demand our 2nd Amendment rights be protected by the very people who swore an oath to protect us. Any and all gun laws are an infringement and are unconstitutional!’ the Facebook event read.

…

Photos showed protesters, from both ends of the political spectrum, mingling as they exercised their right to bear arms.

That includes people explicitly wearing shirts saying “Black Lives Matter.”

Frankly, I’m damn happy to see it.

Look, I have issues with the Black Lives Matter organization, but the sentiment itself should serve as a catalyst for gun rights in the African-American community. After all, what is the crux of much of the anti-gun argument? The idea that ordinary citizens don’t need certain types of weapons–or any weapons at all, depending on how honest the gun control advocate feels–and that we should trust the military and police to take care of us.

Well, many in the black community don’t feel that way. They can’t trust the police for whatever reason. The military isn’t going to protect them from a thug on the streets.

So yeah, it makes sense for African-Americans to start buying guns and learning how to use them.

Especially in an era when anything with any roots in racism is being destroyed. While I oppose the destruction of statues on general principle, I at least get the sentiment itself. However, if we’re going to destroy things with their roots in racism, how about gun control for a good place to start.

After all, initial gun control laws weren’t created to fight growing crime or stop bank robbers. No, they were to disarm freed slaves who whites didn’t want to be able to resist tyranny from groups like the Ku Klux Klan. While the laws weren’t written expressly for black people, they were often written with the understanding that no white sheriff would enforce such a law on a white person, only blacks.

So yeah, gun control is racist.

I kind of wonder if that knowledge was behind these activists joining together to oppose Governor Ralph “Blackface” Northam’s gun control efforts in the state of Virginia. Lord knows, I sure hope so.

If that’s the case, Democrats and their love of gun control are going to be in for a very rude awakening.