Black gun ownership is rising

'You are your own first responder'

African Americans, especially Black women, are the fastest-growing demographic of new gun owners, according to a Pew Research study. With the increasing attacks on immigration, DEI and women’s rights, some are wondering if the current political climate has anything to do with these numbers.

617 Defense Firearm Instructor and National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) New England Chapter President Anthony Nolan Howard said that he’s seen the change but attributes it to more people becoming more aware of what’s happening today.

“There’s been a huge uptick, mostly for Black women. People are paying attention to what’s going on around the world. You are your own first responder. The police are not here to save you. They just have to put the pieces together. In the Black community, because of all the trauma, we’re all now deciding to take our own lives into our own hands now, especially with what’s been going on,” he said.

Firearm safety instructor and the Don Firearms owner Donkor Minors said he’s hearing similar statements from his students.

“Our students are really starting to realize, ‘Man, if I call 911, it could take 7, 10 or 15 minutes before they arrive, depending on where I’m at in the city.’ And you know, a lot of folks are desiring to put that control or ability to protect themselves in their own hands,” he said.

Members of the Northeast Chapter of the National African American Gun Association enjoy a day at the shooting range. PHOTO: ANTHONY N. HOWARD

Minor said gun ownership helps some of his students regain a sense of control over their lives. One example he pointed to was a mother who had lost her son to gun violence. She decided to take his gun safety class a few days later. He asked her why.

“She said, ‘If those punks could kill my son, what’s stopping them from coming back and trying to kill the rest of us.’ She also said, ‘I refuse to allow them to have that power over those of us that are still living.’ That’s the way that a lot of the women that come and take my classes feel,” he shared.

Howard said the first step to gun ownership is taking a firearms safety class. He recommends applying for your gun license soon after taking the class because wait times can be long depending on where you live in the Commonwealth.

“Don’t wait too long to fill out your application. Because it’s about a twelve-month waiting list in the Boston PD area. It varies if you live in the suburbs, and I lived in Framingham, it took me four months. So it just depends on the municipality,” he said.

He said the uptick in firearm interest can attributed to the longer wait times but mostly blames procrastination.

“For us as Black people, we don’t take it seriously until they take something like our rights away, or something really drastic happens to us. Unfortunately, God forbid, that’s when we decided to move,” Howard said.

It’s important to think about everything that goes along with being a gun-owner besides the weapon itself, Minor said.

“Sadly, a lot of people don’t think of the financial burdens that come with firearm ownership, meaning that if you actually have to use this tool,  you are going to end up in court. Do you have lawyer fees? Do you have civil court lawyers on retainer? Criminal court, not as much of a big deal, but civil court, especially in a state like Massachusetts, you could be fighting that case for six days to six years, you know?” he emphasized.

For more information on upcoming firearm safety classes visit, 617defense.com or thedonfirearms.com Both companies also offer “Stop the Bleed’ wound care classes. If you are interested in finding out more about the New England Chapter of the National African American Gun Association, go to NAAGANE.org.