Stossel: Black Guns Matter

We know about Black Lives Matter. This column is about a group called Black Guns Matter.

Maj Toure, a Philadelphia high school dropout turned activist, tells me he started it after he got tired of hearing people endless chanting, “Black lives matter” but saying nothing “when it’s time for Black people to defend their lives.” Toure carries a gun wherever he goes.

“This is my human right,” he says. “If anybody wants to come chase me down about that, let’s go to court.”

He encourages others to arm themselves, especially people who live in high crime neighborhoods. I point out that means he wants more guns in places where there are already more shootings. That’s the point, says Toure. “The only thing that’s going to stop evil are good, solid people strong enough to stop them.” He sells a T-shirt with the slogan “make criminals afraid again” printed on the front.

“Criminals should be deathly afraid,” says Toure. “If you’re robbing people and carjacking, I want you to know that we’re gonna arm our community to deal with you very, very properly.”

More guns in the hands of citizens, he says, deters criminals. There is evidence for that. Economist John Lott, author of “More Guns, Less Crime,” points out that crime usually drops in states that approve concealed carry laws. The explanation is that criminals in those states fear that their victims could be armed. I push back at Toure, pointing out that more guns also may lead to more accidental shootings.

“That’s under the assumption that those gun owners aren’t getting training,” replies Toure.

Training is what Toure does. In 2016, he held his first Black Guns Matter event. He expected 30 people, but 300 showed up. “It was beautiful,” he says. His group now teaches classes all around America.

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