The accepted media narrative is that you can't question someone's opinions on gun control if they've had a bullet fly in their direction. Unless their name is Kyle Kashuv. Or Steve Scalise. Probably Ronald Reagan as well who, two years after an assassination attempt, addressed the NRA in 1983.

It’s a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun control laws. I happen to know this from personal experience. [The NRA lives] by Lincoln’s words: ‘Important principles may and must be inflexible.’ … The NRA believes that America’s laws were made to be obeyed, and that our constitutional liberties are just as important today as 200 years ago. And, by the way, the Constitution does not say that government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution says ‘the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'

Well put. All the beers to the Gipper.

Now, before you leftists light up the comments section, we're well-aware Reagan's post-presidency wasn't perfect when it came to gun rights. We know he supported the Brady Bill and signed a letter supporting an "assault weapons" ban. That doesn't make this speech any less powerful.

Leftists are fond of mocking Ronnie Ray-gun having Alzheimer's, calling him a senile old fart who didn't know what he was doing. Yet, they're perfectly content to accept Ron's late-life switch on boomsticks as gospel. Pick a narrative and stick with it. Now, back to the speech.

The left probably thinks it's crazy to double-down on gun rights after being shot. Except being shot is a stark reminder of the very real threat of, you've got it, being shot. For some people, knowing firsthand there's loons out there waiting to pop a cap in your hindparts only makes them want a gun more. Common sense dictates having the ability to return fire beats crossing your fingers and hoping the gunman is a piss-poor shot.

Sure, Reagan didn't have the best track record on gat rights. Nobody's perfect. However, one thing Ronald did understand was the true purpose and importance of the Second Amendment. For that, we salute him.

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