Elon Musk said on X, “As tragic as the mass shootings are, armed citizens are essential to the defense of democracy.” Musk was responding to X user “End Wokeness” who said, “The past 3+ years have been one long infomercial for the 2nd amendment…,” then listed a series of events as possible reasons why more law-abiding American citizens have bought guns since 2020. The latest data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) shows that demand for firearms has surged in the U.S. since the beginning of COVID. Aidan Johnson, Director of Federal Affairs of Gun Owners of America, said, “It’s encouraging to see Elon Musk and many others finally understanding what a gift our Founding Fathers gave us with the Second Amendment. The right to keep and bear arms empowers individuals to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from tyranny.”
