The Left Made Trump’s Attempted Assassination All About AR-15s, But Americans Are Done Listening

Trump showed his grit and resilience on July 13, and the Left quickly tried to counteract the situation by highlighting “gun violence” in America.

As Americans grapple with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and begin to perceive him as a bulwark between the authoritarian left and the American republic, “progressives” instead vilify the weapon of choice in an attempt to shift the narrative in their favor.

Can you blame them?

(Read more: The Progressive Assault on Our Words is Real. Just Take “Gun Control.”)

President Trump demonstrated to the American people that he remains the resolute leader he professes to be, even under gunfire—an authenticity that cannot be fabricated. The Left’s intent to shift the narrative towards “gun violence” detracts from the notion that Trump endures attacks on behalf of the American people (a rather formidable image) and continues to stand stubbornly against his adversaries—even at the potential cost of his own life.

In comparison, President Joe Biden does his best to walk up stairs, take enough naps, and not soil himself—a pretty stark contrast in the constitution of two men going head-to-head in a few months.

Politicians, celebrities, activists, and news outlets are now spending their waking hours shoving so-called “assault weapon” bans and AR-15 propaganda down the throats of Americans because this event cannot be remembered as a victory for Trump. It must be a reminder that guns are bad, and more specifically, “gun violence” happens because Republicans block gun laws (Read: Protect the Second Amendment).

Alongside calls for increased gun control, many so-called “progressives,” the very individuals championing the war on “gun violence,” lament that the shooter missed. The irony is almost beyond belief.

It’s The Guns Fault

To no one’s surprise, gun control advocacy groups, amongst others, have used the attempted assassination to call for heightened gun control.

After news emerged that shots were fired at former President Trump, the gun violence advocacy group Brady condemned the incident—but emphasized that “democracy and safety” are at stake in the upcoming election. It’s clear from Brady’s past work that they are supporting Biden, who has called for so-called “assault weapon” bans over 70 times.

It’s unsettling to see the group appear empathetic towards Trump while simultaneously suggesting that Biden is the solution to ending “gun violence.” They blame Trump and Republicans for the prevalence of guns instead of condemning the individuals committing violent acts.

“Our country is in the grip of a gun violence crisis and our democracy and safety are on the ballot. We must work together to free America from gun violence,” the group said.

But that’s how they work. Blame the gun and not the person. After all, personal responsibility and leftist ideals don’t exactly see eye to eye.

Everytown for Gun Safety sang a similar tune—“condemning” the act but also using the situation to call for gun control.

“This is an unacceptable and tragic reminder of our nation’s gun violence crisis. Violence of any kind has no place in our political process,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “This horrific act is another reminder that no one is immune from experiencing gun violence. When guns are everywhere, for anyone, with no questions asked—no one is safe.”

The Left skillfully uses crises to push for policies that negatively impact everyday Americans, leveraging emotion-based appeals to influence a large audience. Much like the calls for AR-15 bans following school shootings, they shift the focus back to the gun rather than addressing the individual responsible.

Mainstream Media and Celebrities

The mainstream media did their usual excellent job at downplaying the assassination attempt on July 13. They have simultaneously berated the American people with stories that focus on the weapon of choice.

Let it be known, there are many firearms, including standard hunting rifles, that could have been more effective. But the AR-15—which in reality is just a semiautomatic rifle that looks really cool—conveniently fits their own narrative.

One opinion piece in Bloomberg, owned by long time gun control donor Michael Blomberg, was titled “What Motivated Trump’s Shooter Is Irrelevant. It’s About Guns.” Law-abiding Americans don’t try to assassinate presidents—it’s definitely about more than the tool an assassin chooses.

A piece in The Wall Street Journal put the AR-15 on a pedestal in an article titled “A Divisive Symbol Behind Trump’s Attempted Assassination: The AR-15.”

The Los Angeles Times spun the assassination as the story of America in an article titled “Trump shooting shocks, but a gunman striking terror in the U.S. is nothing new. Now what?”

Celebrities also chimed in on the incident with legendary horror writer Stephen King saying the gun used is being protected by Trump and Republicans. We can only hope he meant it is being protected by the Constitution that ensures Americans are not governed by tyrants.

“An AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle was used in the Butler shooting. These are the guns the Republican party—and Trump—want to protect,” King said.

The Firearm Policy Coalition (FPC), a leading advocacy group that works to protect the Second Amendment, responded to King and didn’t pull any punches.

“Semiautomatic weapons like AR-15s are constitutionally protected. That means you can go fuck yourself, washed storyteller,” the group responded on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Kyle Glass, Jack Black’s bandmate in Tenacious D, shared a destructive sentiment over the weekend. He chose to use his birthday wish during a concert to wish the assassin had killed Trump.

Notice the Sleight of Hand

As further details regarding the shooter emerge, it is imperative to acknowledge that the type of firearm used is of little meaning when juxtaposed with the underlying motivations of the perpetrator.

We must resist the Left’s goal of vilifying firearms, given that only a minuscule number of Americans choose to exercise their constitutional rights in a malevolent manner.

We must safeguard law-abiding citizens against the persistent efforts of the Left, who have consistently demonstrated their intent to advance disarmament by any means necessary.

(Read more: Biden Blabs About “Gun Violence” While Ignoring the Gun Owners He’s Victimizing)