Following two mass shootings last weekend — one on the campus of Brown University in Rhode Island, and another at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, Australia — President Trump’s Assistant Attorney General, Harmeet Dhillon, circulated an article titled “The Weekend’s Gun Tragedies Show Why You Must Buy (Even More) Guns.”
The piece, written by lawyer, retired Army infantry colonel, and conservative blogger Kurt Schlichter, argued forcefully against gun bans. It included the statement: “We’re not having a discussion about banning guns. There’s not going to be any gun ban. We’re not giving up our guns. You can come take them. Otherwise, kiss our collective [expletive].”
Schlichter’s author bio adds personal notes about his interests, including: “He loves military history, red meat and the Second Amendment. His favorite caliber is .45.”
For decades, many Republicans have warned that Democrats would enact sweeping gun prohibitions if given the opportunity. After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, President Barack Obama pushed for major legislative measures — including universal background checks for all gun purchases and reinstating a federal ban on military-style assault weapons — but no universal gun ban was introduced.
Dhillon shared Schlichter’s article and added a short endorsement: “More guns please.”
She also boosted a post from American Jewish activist Shabbos Kestenbaum, a political consultant for PragerU, who wrote: “Here is a sentence I never once thought in my wildest, deluded dreams I would ever say. It almost pains me to have to write it: I am planning on buying a gun. I encourage most Americans to do the same. No one is coming to protect you except you. Any advice is appreciated.”
Dhillon replied: “Arm yourselves — it’s the right of every law-abiding citizen and indeed your duty to protect your family and yourself!” The NRA later reposted her comment and added, “It’s your God-given right!”
On Monday, the NRA celebrated the Justice Department’s creation of a new section within its Civil Rights Division — led by Dhillon — described as the first unit dedicated specifically to protecting the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Gun violence prevention nonprofit Brady — named for the Reagan-era White House press secretary who was shot during an assassination attempt — condemned the new ‘gun rights’ office in a press release. The organization said it believes the new office “will endanger gun violence prevention laws” with “policies [that] are in no way inconsistent with the Second Amendment.”
Brady disputes the idea that widespread gun ownership makes society safer, arguing: “If guns made us safer, we’d be the safest country in the world. We’re countering disinformation and educating the public so that we can create a safer America for us all, gun owners and non-gun owners alike.”
Criminologist James Alan Fox of Northeastern University has said mass shootings “make up about 1% of all gun deaths in the United States.” In a typical year, Fox says, “they claim between 100 and 200 lives, compared with roughly 17,000 lost to gun homicides.”
