Complacency Kills the 2A: Sleeping Giants Do NOT win

“Nothing even touches the activity in Virginia right now. A lot of gun owners were sleeping, but now they’ve woke the sleeping giant. All these gun owners that have been sound asleep have suddenly woken up.”- VCDL President, Phillip Van Cleave (2019- on 2A Sanctuary Cities)

Some of us wonder, though, "Why was the giant asleep in the first place?"

Complacency is a silent threat to social change, y'all,

and 2nd Amendment activism is falling victim to it. In the fight for justice, equality, and progress, activism has always been the engine that drives change. From civil rights movements to climate change, it is the passion, persistence, and pressure of activists that have reshaped societies. But there is a quiet, insidious force that can bring even the most powerful movements to a halt: complacency.

Are YOU a Complacent Activist?

Are you?

Think about it for a second.

Complacency is the sense of satisfaction with the status quo, even when the goals of a movement have not been fully achieved. It often sets in after a few victories or when the urgency of a cause seems to fade.  (Sound familiar?) When this happens, some activists may feel that enough has been done and they can "take a break" until the next big social issue. OR once things become stagnant because they got a candidate in office that they really like, so the activist will become comfortable in their complacency and figure someone else will come along to carry the torch. This mindset is dangerous because it creates a false sense of completion and weakens the momentum needed to sustain change. We end up falling behind the opposition, looking unorganized and considered "old news" with repeated talking points.

Complacency IS Dangerous

In the 2nd Amendment arena, complacency is VERY dangerous because it halts progress and empowers the opposition. While laws may be passed and attitudes may shift, deeper systemic issues often persist, so activists never get a day off. When activists grow complacent, though, hey stop pushing for the structural transformations necessary for lasting impact. This lull in momentum creates space for opposition forces to regroup and potentially reverse hard-won gains, as history has shown time and again. Moreover, complacency can fracture movements from within—when some believe the work is done while others continue to struggle, unity is lost, weakening the collective power essential for intersectional progress. In the 2nd Amendment world, this happens very often. As soon as we achieve a win, we end up thinking we need to take a day off, which slows our momentum. In a constantly evolving world, new policies, technologies, and social dynamics introduce fresh challenges. A movement that fails to adapt risks becoming irrelevant and ineffective, making complacency not just a pause in action, but a step backward in the fight for justice.

How to Combat Complacency

There's nothing wrong with celebrating the wins we experience in the 2nd Amendment world, but we need to keep focused on the bigger picture at the same time. While Anti-Rights groups, like Moms Demand Action, Brady, Giffords, and so forth... work to eradicate our right to self-protection, WE Pro-2A folks need to be constantly thinking one step ahead of them. Continuous education is key; keeping communities informed about ongoing issues and the work still ahead helps combat apathy and sustain engagement. Bringing in new voices, especially from younger generations, injects fresh energy and ideas that can reignite that passion.

Holding each other accountable also plays a vital role, encouraging consistent involvement and solidifying our foundation for the future. We also need to be adaptable. No! This doesn't mean that you have to bend in your politics or faith. You can still stand in your beliefs, but the 2nd Amendment was never meant to encompass ONE single viewpoint or type of people. We need to understand and educate all that the 2nd Amendment IS FOR ALL. Not just one group of people. And Yes! I understand that historically, the provisions in our Constitution were written by a bunch of white men during a time of a lot of indifference in societal expectations, but to counter that, the document was written to transcend time, allowing for opportunities for the reconstruction OF SOCIETY... NOT our rights.

Folks, Activism is not a sprint—it’s a grand marathon. Complacency may feel like rest, but it is often the beginning of regression. Here in Virginia, our current governor, Glenn Youngkin, vetoed a dozen or so gun control bills during the 2023 AND 2024 legislative sessions. Since then, because Virginians have felt "safe" from any imposing gun control, activism and 2A support has dropped immensely. Here we are in a gubernatorial election year, with one of Michael Bloomberg's biggest Gun Control Candidates running for a stay in the Governor's Mansion, and so far, she's winning in the polls.

Complacency IS Dangerous!

To secure a better future, and to honor those who paved this path for us, WE MUST remain vigilant, engaged, and committed. The Anti-Rights folks understand this. They're fully involved and just waiting patiently for our giant to fall back to sleep.

Get involved, folks! Every day, do ONE thing to help better our cause. We're not working to restrict individuals of their liberties. We're working to protect them!