As our ongoing Not Just a Gun activism campaign ramps up, we’ve been blown away by the positive response we’ve gotten from from all of you in the SFL network — from students to our supporters, and even friends around the liberty movement. As we suspected, the world was due for a new conversation on gun control. Anyone who’s been paying attention to the gun policy debate knows, things have gotten heated in the past few years, but yet there’s been little progress on either side.

Part of the problem is that we’ve forgotten why we fight for the right to bear arms. We’ve forgotten that this crucial right — the backstop of liberty — is not only about gun nuts and Doomsday preppers. It’s about every single human being’s right to protect themselves, their property, and the people they love. This is the compassionate case for gun rights.

So first of all, thanks for your help in bringing life (and critical thinking) back into the conversation on gun control. It is only by sharing the real stories of self-defense and dignity that we can make a compelling case for the right to bear arms. We want to lift up these voices by bringing them to college campuses around the world and so are offering a variety of resources to help you tell these stories at your school. In addition to activism ideas, which we’ll continue to share throughout November, the Not Just a Gun landing page provides a one-stop-shop for all of the gun-rights related resources offered by SFL’s partner organizations. Here’s a look at some of what’s available: 

• One easy way to get involved is to host a movie screening and discussion. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education produced a short film on gun speech censorship that works great as a conversation starter for roundtable events with other political groups thanks to its neutral tone on guns themselves. It also does a good job of summarizing why the conversation has gotten so convoluted in recent years.  Or, if you want something a bit more aggressive, the documentary Assaulted (narrated by Ice-T!) gets into how the recent debate has shifted away from reality, and reminds viewers of times when citizens have needed guns to protect themselves from the state.
• Everyone should be sure to check out the Students for Concealed Carry (SCC) online resources, which provide some well-thought-out talking points and background research on the issue of concealed carry. These are particularly useful for tabling events, but you’ll also find information on hosting an empty-holster protest. If you’re feeling really motivated about this issue, volunteer to help with SCC activism.
• We would be remiss to leave out NRA University on Campus. Until recently, the NRA University was only available to NRA supporters, but they’ve started hosting events on campuses around the United States. The NRA U consists of a two-hour training seminar on the Second Amendment, gun safety, legislative threats to gun rights and the gun control debate. For something more low-key, you could invite someone from the NRA Speaker’s Bureau to your campus.
• To do something a little different, check out the Pink Pistols, a nation-wide gun club “dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community.” Consider locating a local chapter to invite to a group meeting or for a speaker event. Here’s a brief statement about what they stand for: “We no longer believe it is the right of those who hate and fear gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or polyamorous persons to use us as targets for their rage. Self-defense is our RIGHT.”
• You could put on your professor hat and teach fellow students about the future of firearms with resources from Defense Distributed on 3-d printed guns and weapons technology.
• If you’re outside the United States, be sure to check out the International Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights to locate pro-gun resources and speakers near you.

If you know of a great gun-rights resource and don’t see it on the list, feel free to email [email protected] with suggestions and we’ll add them to the landing page!

Whether you’re holding an on-campus protest, hosting a roundtable, or doing something totally outside the box, Students For Liberty wants to help make your Not Just a Gun event great — apply for the $100 grant if you haven’t already, and be sure to keep checking back for new activism ideas or stories that help make the compassionate case for gun rights.

Applications for this program are now closed.