cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/35481552
Justice Department leadership is prepared to use its rule-making authority to declare transgender people as mentally ill and deprive them of their Second Amendment right to possess firearms, according to two Justice officials who shared internal discussions with CNN.
Deliberations at the highest levels of the DOJ follow the recent mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, an attack police say was carried out by a 23-year-old former student at the church’s school who may have been a transgender person or a de-transitioned individual. Two children were killed in the attack, and 21 others were injured.
I hate to say I toad a so, but when everyone wanted mental health checks I said it was a bad idea because they would weaponize it exactly like this and they would do it fast. Well I kinda toad a so, because they seem to be skipping that step.
If you’re waiting for the NRA to speak up, keep waiting. They don’t even fight for the gun rights of cis people anymore, all they do is pay lip service and pay their execs.
(Edit: upon further review, the NRA actually has spoken up against it. Who knew?! They really usually do fuck all, this is a pleasant surprise! Now, if it happens, will they fight it in court with FPC? That remains to be seen, but that’s a good sign at least. Really, I didn’t even check before talking shit because they just never do anything, I’m honestly surprised so far let’s see if they keep it up.)
There are good gun rights orgs. FPC (Firearms Policy Coalition) and GOA (Gun Owners of America) might not be perfect but they do fight for our rights…usually…for cis people at least. It’s currently unclear to me if they’ll fight for trans people’s rights, but this post by FPC makes me hopeful, they seem to be saying they will, but don’t mention “trans” by name. Can’t speak on GOA as they’ve yet to release any statement… The SRA (Socialist Rifle Association) has yet to say anything regarding the subject as well, and frankly I’m unaware of them ever joining in legal action with the other groups when they do it or taking any of their own, so I’m not sure how much advocacy they actually do, but I presume if they do any this will be one they’re fighting. So far, it looks like if you’re going to support any, FPC might be the move.
But more importantly, especially if you have even minimal influence in these spaces, LGBT+ orgs need to fight this as if they were gun orgs, and use the 2a angle. Use the angle that this sets a dangerous precedent that leads to further gun bans that may one day affect them. Use the same language they do, call trump a gun grabber, remind them of the bumpstock ban that now threatens FRTs and the time he said “take the guns first due process second.” Most 2a advocates already are against this, it shouldn’t be a hard fight, actually, but someone needs to do it and it seems only FPC has made a statement so far, more is always better even if they’re LGBT+ orgs not “gun orgs.”
And go get one if you can, and practice.
NRA has to, basically. LaPierre turned the org into a mouthpiece for the firearms industry, and now that LGBTQIA+ people are a significant fraction of the gun-buying population, they can’t afford to lose that revenue.
Tbh they barely are even a mouthpiece anymore, much less do they actually do anything these days beyond line Wayne’s pockets (he still in charge?). That’s why I’m surprised they even said something this time, and I’ll further be surprised of they actually seek legal action about it. I know people think the NRA is some magical thing but they suck at actual advocacy most of the time, they just have the brand recognition.