The National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) is considering expanding its mission into the political arena. By forming a political action committee, they could raise money to support politicians they see as sympathetic to their cause. NPR reports that the PAC’s main objectives would be to improve relations between the police and black gun owners.
According to NAAGA’s website, the organization was founded in 2015. “The goal of the National African American Gun Association is to establish a 2nd Amendment Organization that educates and trains our community on the rich legacy of gun ownership of African Americans, offering education, training, support, safety standards, and cultural inspiration.”
In the last four years, membership has shot to about 30,000 people in 75 chapters across the country. Texas, Florida, and Ohio each have six chapters. Most are gun clubs and they hold events and shoot regularly to further their mission of training responsible gun owners. While it is an African American organization, “We welcome people of all religious, political, social, and racial backgrounds,” and they include a handful of non-black members.
The organization’s long-term goal is to introduce every African American to firearms for protection, recreation, and hunting. They are a pro-2nd Amendment organization. A 2017 study by the Pew Research Center says that just 24% of African Americans report owning a gun, so NAAGA has a long way to go. That’s contrasted with 36% of whites and 15% of Hispanics.
“Black folks and guns usually get a negative stereotype reaction like: ‘What is that guy doing with a gun?’ “Philip Smith told NPR. He’s the president and founder of the group.
After the publicized police shootings of several African Americans in the last few years, NAAGA wants to help change the social situation between the police and black gun owners. “Our organization was formed to advocate self-defense with the use of firearms based on the 2nd Amendment,” the About Us page reads, “but a secondary and very important function of NAAGA is to be active on social issues. By collectively working together with a defined strategy, we can begin correcting social injustice.”
Forming a PAC and fundraising for candidates and causes could help their mission.
“Does law enforcement, or more importantly larger society, view black men with firearms in a certain way? Let’s have that discussion,” Smith Says. “That’s a hard discussion, but that’s a discussion we need, as an organization, to be involved with.”
Smith continued, “My job, and it’s a very long-term wish, is to change that socialization process where [when] people see a black guy or a black woman walking with a gun, they won’t automatically say, ‘He or she is a thug’ or ‘He or she is doing something illegal.’ “
Casandra Light, a 23-year-old female member of the group is concerned that becoming more involved politically could change the culture of the group and drive away members.
“One of the main things we’re trying to do is change the perspective of black gun ownership into a positive mindset,” she told NPR. She continued that forming a PAC could drive some members away. “I would hate to see that happen.”
“I think if the organization wants to maintain the openness that we have to everyone regardless of their race, gender, political affiliation,” Light says, “we also need to be careful about having a political stance because it’s real easy for that to get blown out of proportion.”
Michael Doyle, a white member of the Atlanta, GA chapter says it’s impossible for a group like this to stay out of politics. “The idea that an African-American gun association would be blithely silent on matters of race and gun ownership, would be absurd.”
NAAGA’s executives are discussing the details of the PAC but they’ll let the members weigh in, too, NPR reports.
Oh, and as for the group’s controversial acronym: N-A-A-G-A, Smith believes it gives the group an “edge.”
“Some people thought it was offensive. I thought, and still do think, there’s kind of an edge to it,” he said.
I am interested in joining your program thank and have a safe and wonderful life.Melvin k. Williams jr. also black lives matter it is always good to no how to use a firearm and no when to use a firearm in protecting your self and others that’s around you at the time of uses of a firearm.
I love the initials. It fits these NAAGAs perfectly.
Black Rifles Matter is another black gun-rights organizations and they go to the places like south-central L.A. to educate people. There’s at least one video of a pro-gun rally sponsored by the NRA in a south-central neighborhood. But that doesn’t fit the leftist media’s agenda or narrative. so it’s neatly buried and ignored.
Link Lackluster I have owned a gun since i was 21 and now at 50 i have never committed a violent crime or illegally owned a gun. Your problem is you think all.ppl of color are criminals and do illegal stuff your are the problem.
Four old white guys..
Haha that name is AMAZING! We need more responsible people out there like them exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. Take note anti-American liberals, the 2nd Amendment is for all races, not just whites as you claim
Make that 3 old guys
Richard I agree with you, first thing I thought of when I read it. How about instead National Association of Black American Gun Owners? As someone else mentioned can I start a National White Association of Gun Owners?
Make that two old white guys!
Agree!
I am glad these American organizations are standing up for the 2A.
LOL!
Any American that stands for the Constitution is an American to stand by and support. What is ironic in this story is that if this was a bunch of white folks, somewhere they would be associated with the Aryan Brotherhood, Nazi’s or some other white supremacist group.
It’s great for the most part, but I would like too know if there was a gun club for whites how that would fly? Need all the organizations people we can get that fight with us for we’re all Americans, not black not white, not Asians etc but AMERICANS! They need too get too the inner cities too train black kids when young too handle, respect a firearm when young, and too stay away from gangs etc. start up a gun club in the cities like they have for boxing, basketball etc clubs too keep them out of trouble. I’m glad that there getting out too enjoy the freedoms endowed too us all. AMERICANS! Amen
Support of 2A is great, I’m all for it. But, please do NOT ignore the rest of the Constitution.
Naaga please. I cant help but believe the acronym was intentional.
I would like to know how to join. I’m not African American, but I believe that we need to support these organizations that align with our values.
This is absolutely a good thing for all gun owners and 2A supporters. I strongly believe that the formation of a visible and vocal PAC will help to change the commonly held perception about a black person with a gun.
I believe that the hesitation on the part of some members may be due to the fact that they would most certainly be supporting almost exclusively Republican candidates but as most of us already know, Democrats have never been the friend of African-Americans and certainly not in favor of encouraging them to become armed citizens.
Get the word out and get involved. We need all hands on deck to save our Second Amendment rights.
Brilliant! They probably have the heads of all those stupid demoncrap litards exploding! Wonder if they’ll accept an application for membership from this old white guy who supports them wholeheartedly?!
Great idea! The more the merrier. The NRA needs some serious competition and less money in their officers retirements.
I think that to really change the public’s image of a black guy with a gun, on the whole, fewer of them need to commit violent crimes while illegally possessing guns and using guns. It is a real problem, not just some public perception PR problem.
Hell yeah!! Need more of this happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!