A gun owner's hopes for 2022 :: 01/02/2022

By now, 2021 is in the books and dead as a doornail. Thank God.

I mean, it was better than 2020, but that’s like saying syphilis is better than AIDS. It may be true, but it’s a pretty low bar to clear.

Now we get to 2022, which some people are already calling “2020 too.”

However, I’m an optimistic bastard, for the most part, and I like to look forward to new things in the coming year. There are also plenty of things to hope for.

1. An end to the pandemic

Yeah, it’s not a gun thing, but this pandemic crap is for the birds. I’m absolutely sick of it, and not just because of the political thing. I really don’t like the feeling that I’m gambling either way I go.

Especially since the way people are acting, it may well become a gun thing sooner or later. I can imagine someone trying to pressure the right to get vaccinated by requiring you to provide proof you have been before getting a gun permit or something.

I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen.

2. Constitutional carry

Right now, a number of states have constitutional carry bills pre-filed. One of those is my home state of Georgia.

As legislative sessions fire up soon, I expect we’ll see a couple more bills be introduced. My most sincere hope is that we’ll see most or all of these measures pass so that the constitutional rights of millions of Americans can be that much closer to being fully restored.

Realistically, not all of the bills will pass. Someone will introduce a bill in Illinois or New Jersey just to make a point but will go nowhere, and I get that. I don’t like it, but I get it.

Yet a guy can dream.

Still, if only one state is going to get constitutional carry, I sincerely and selfishly hope it’s Georgia.

But I don’t think it’ll be just one state that passes it.

3. The Supreme Court kills “may issue” laws

At some point this year, the Supreme Court will rule on NYSRPA vs. Bruen. This is the case that takes issue with New York’s requirement that people have a “good” reason to get a carry permit.

Of course, in the states that have such requirements, “the Second Amendment” isn’t considered a good cause.

Now, with the court deliberating on the issue, most folks figure this is the end of such laws. In fact, it’ll probably put an end to all subjective criteria for concealed carry permits.

There’s a slight chance that it’ll put an end to permitting requirements, which would be great, but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one. The Court is notorious for very narrow rulings.

Still, it’s highly unlikely that “may issue” laws survive 2022, and that’s a huge win.

4. A good result in the midterm elections

Our Second Amendment rights have been under constant assault this year. The only thing that’s saved us has been there being enough Republicans in the Senate to hold firm via the filibuster.

However, 2022 is a midterm election year. This is a chance to change both the House and the Senate so that pro-gun lawmakers control it. Having enough folks there to override a veto would be huge, but it’s not going to happen. There aren’t really enough seats up for grabs in the Senate for that to happen, for one thing. For another, the House is unlikely to flip that severely.

Still, having a Congress that isn’t interested in President Joe Biden’s gun control agenda would be a significant win for 2022. It won’t impact anything until 2023, of course, but still…

 So what about you? What do you hope to see in 2022?

https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2022/01/01/a-gun-owners-hopes-for-2022-n53983