1. Gun rights are stronger today more than ever.
On the national level, with regard to federal laws, and looking at the handful of states that have actually strengthened the RKBA, it might appear so. But, dig deeper. The battles are on the state level now.
So, sorry, but cannot agree. You would be wrong on several levels.
When a state that always had a flourishing firearms culture, excellent gun laws, state preemption, original shall-issue state,
within a span of nine short years:
- foists universal background checks with all firearms transactions necessitating going through an FFL (killing private sales),
- red flag (ERPO) laws,
- restricts concealed carry in many public places previously authorized,
- restricts magazine capacity for all firearms,
- bans
all semi-auto centerfire rifles and shotguns as "assault weapons,"
- bans all firearms, including pistols, that are now considered "assault weapons,"
- mandates a training requirement simply to purchase any firearm
- and is now pushing a permit to purchase requirement with ridiculous requirements...
...gun rights are far more restricted today than ever.
But those of us in embattled states such as New York, Illinois, Colorado, Oregon, Washington who anxiously await the next court ruling or injunction to tell us what we can buy, carry, shoot - for now.
SCOTUS does not appear eager in the slightest to put all our fears of further draconian gun laws to rest. The appeals that actually get heard get reversed. SCOTUS doesn't grant review of a writ of certiorari.
Municipalities and states are ignoring
Bruen with seeming impunity. Governors in states such as New Mexico, Washington, California, Minnesota and Illinois become even bolder and start pushing even more heinous gun control. New York's governor signs legislation that could end up killing the state's hunting culture over little objection.
Everyone in Arkansas or Tennessee sits back and with the hubris of those that can't see the deeper picture, say, "It can never happen here." For those in states, red as they may seem, with large urban populations, i.e., Texas, Georgia and a few others, look out. The model has been established, tested and proven to work. Your Democrat led cities with progressive city councils and county commissions, high concentration of young, minority and immigrant voters know how to take issues statewide.