Gun ownership among LGBTQ individuals and left-leaning groups has surged in recent months as fears of targeted violence and political oppression escalated ahead of the 2024 election, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer and also covered by the New York Post. And with the pending inauguration of Donald Trump’s second term, those numbers continue to climb among some groups.
Organizations such as the Liberal Gun Club, the Socialist Rifle Association and Pink Pistols are experiencing a significant uptick in interest. The Liberal Gun Club reported receiving thousands of firearms training requests since the election season began, a sharp increase compared to the entirety of 2023. Approximately a quarter of these inquiries have come from LGBTQ individuals.
“Three months before the election, that’s when the alarm bells started to ring,” said a 24-year-old trans woman identified only as “A” in the Inquirer report. She recently purchased a firearm for self-defense, citing fears of hate crimes or terrorist attacks.
“Minorities that are armed are more difficult to legally oppress,” she added.
Some are reportedly taking up arms out of unbased fears they will be put in “concentration camps” under the new Trump administration according to the Post article. As crazy as that idea may sound to the majority of Americans, it’s no more ludicrous than some of the far-right conspiracy theories floating around as well that has driven others to purchase guns. Crazy, it seems, is not on short supply these days,. Maybe it isn’t even all bad either if it spurs people to become more self-reliant and and take responsiblity for their protection from all manner of dangers in the world.
Fear and Self-Defense Drive Gun Purchases
The Philadelphia chapter of the Socialist Rifle Association, which positions itself as a left-wing counterpart to the NRA, reported a surge in paid memberships and gun safety class attendance. Similarly, the Delaware Valley chapter of Pink Pistols, a pro-gun LGBTQ group founded in 2000, has seen increased demand for training. The organization’s slogan, “Armed Gays Don’t Get Bashed,” reflects its mission to empower the LGBTQ community through self-defense.
Matthew Thompson, a 36-year-old gay man from Oakland, NJ, told the Inquirer he was inspired to buy his first gun after the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, which claimed the lives of 49 people. The attack was carried out by a homegrown Islamic terrorist and remains the second worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
“The people I’ve been seeing on the left and the gay people who are out purchasing guns for the first time, it’s all about self-defense and fear,” Thompson said. “We’re not looking to arm up and storm the capital. We just don’t want to be put in concentration camps.”
Thompson has since been sharpening his gun skills at home, practicing quick draws and self-defense scenarios. He and others in the community see gun ownership as a vital measure of safety amid what they perceive as rising social and political threats.
A Broader Cultural Shift in Gun Ownership
Sociology professor David Yamane of Wake Forest University, author of Gun Curious, noted that minority groups, including LGBTQ individuals, have been at the forefront of a broader cultural shift in gun ownership since 2020. He attributes the trend to growing social unrest and uncertainty, which have prompted many Americans to seek firearms for security.
“This is a period of tremendous social unrest and social uncertainty,” Yamane said. “A large number of people in the United States, under those conditions, look to firearms to reestablish some sense of safety and security.”
Changing Gun Ownership Demographics
While LGBTQ gun ownership is rising, broader shifts in gun ownership demographics reveal contrasting trends. A recent Gallup poll indicates that gun ownership among Republican women has grown significantly, from 19% between 2007-2012 to 33% between 2019-2024. Meanwhile, gun ownership among Democratic men has declined, dropping from 36% to 29% over the same period.
The emerging trend of LGBTQ individuals and left-leaning groups embracing gun ownership underscores a shift in how various demographics view self-defense and personal safety. For many, owning a firearm is no longer just about exercising a constitutional right—it’s about ensuring survival in uncertain times—kind of the same reason a lot of people buy and own firearms. It’s a right that belongs to everyone.
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