Pandemic Winners

The rising crime levels across the country, as detailed in the Wall Street Journal’s study earlier today, no doubt has convinced many other previously reluctant Americans to exercise their right to self-defense. In the bigger cities especially, a retreat by police — fueled by local politicians’ pandering on #DefundthePolice — has made it clear that government is less interested in public safety than they are in pandering to outrage mobs. That means more and more Americans will either decide to be victims-in-waiting by default, or at least having the option to defend themselves if they so choose.

That means that more and more American voters will have a personal investment in the gun-control debate, too. How will that shape the debate and the agenda? Let’s just say that the same progressives that have pushed gun control for decades might suddenly realize that they’ve painted themselves into a corner by demanding the defunding of police — that they claim had the only legitimate claim on firearms to “defend” citizens. That circle could never be squared anyway, but that claim will ring particularly hollow after this year’s riots over law enforcement. A whole lot more Americans are personally experiencing the necessity of the Second Amendment in 2020, and that will resonate for decades.