Today we recognize the ratification in 1791 of the Bill of Rights, a foundational moment in the history of Liberty, not just in America but around the world. At a time when most nations were dominated by monarchies, the idea that human beings are born with natural rights that cannot be taken away by government was revolutionary.

The Second Amendment recognizes the right of self-defense against crime or government tyranny. That right protects all the other rights. The Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” That seems pretty clear to us, but our humble shop is also full of gun-owning Patriots who prize the Constitution.

The good news is that those ranks are growing, and in demographics you might least expect.

Recent polling from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal highlights this, even more so because many gun owners don’t answer polls (especially about guns), which makes the numbers likely an undercount. Here are some key takeaways:

Households with a gun: 52% (up from 46% just four years ago)
Republicans with guns: 66%
Independents with guns: 45%
Democrats with guns: 41%
Whites with guns: 56%
Blacks with guns: 41% (an astounding 17-point jump from four years ago)

It’s the first time in two decades of asking the question that a majority of households report owning a gun, and the number has grown 10 points in just 10 years. But it is that last number that deserves the most attention. Blacks are increasingly buying firearms, and the largest subgroup is urban women. Why?

Well, since the 2020 death of George Floyd and the ensuing riots by Black Lives Matter goons, American urban centers have experienced a deadly rise in violent crime. Murders are up, largely fueled by black-on-black violence in Democrat-controlled cities.

Instead of honestly and forthrightly dealing with the issue, Democrats have gone after so-called “assault weapons” and touted other questionable gun control measures, to go along with demonizing and demoralizing police — all while totally ignoring the crises of fatherlessness, gangs, and drugs that drive young people to crime.

The fact that more black women are taking matters into their own hands is good news because an armed citizenry will eventually deter and control crime, and because gun owners tend to vote to protect their own rights.

That’s also true of people who carry firearms, and that number is also growing. As more states enact constitutional carry, eliminating the need for a permit, more people are electing to carry a gun.

“What that means is it’s a lot less costly, a lot less difficult, for people to carry, and that primarily impacts poor people that live in high-crime urban areas,” says John R. Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. “If you want to reduce crime, you have to make it that the likely victims of crime will be carrying. That’s what constitutional carry does.”

Fundamental rights don’t depend on polls, but on the other hand, it helps if a solid majority of Americans understand, support, and exercise those rights.