Woke rival to NRA soars in popularity as panicked progressives arm up ahead of Trump inauguration

Across the country, panicked progressives are arming themselves ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, fearing that escalating political rhetoric and targeted legislation will come their way.

The Socialist Rifle Association (SRA), the National Rifle Association (NRA), has seen a surge of new members in Philadelphia in the final weeks of 2024, prompting the Delaware Valley chapter to add more gun safety classes due to the sudden demand.

The Pennsylvania city has also seen an influx of gay-oriented Facebook groups and forums become hubs for discussions about gun training and gun ownership just weeks before the newly elected president returns to power.

Along with the SRA, the Pink Pistols – a long-standing LGBTQ gun advocacy group founded in 2000 with the slogan “Armed Gays Don’t Get Bashed” – have also seen an increase in investigations with more than two dozen chapters in the United States.

“There’s definitely a feeling among LGBTQ individuals: ‘If I can’t protect myself, who can?’” Madeline Shearman, a trans woman who leads a gun safety group in Pennsylvania, told the Philadelphia Inquirer. ‘I experience it myself too.’

A therapist, identified only as Doug, who decided to join the SRA after the election, has raised similar concerns.

Doug, a former Boy Scout, purchased their first gun, an AR-15, in early December, fearing he might be targeted for identifying as gender non-specific.

In particular, Doug is concerned that authorities could label him for being non-binary, potentially preventing them from purchasing a firearm in the future.

“This country, I wouldn’t say, doesn’t have a very solid foundation. As a Boy Scout, I prefer to be prepared,” Doug told the outlet.

As the Republican Party has pushed for increasingly restrictive gender-affirming care policies and divisive policies, some LGBTQ Americans are turning to self-defense as their ultimate safeguard.

“It’s all about survival,” says Matthew Thompson, a 36-year-old gay man from Oakland, New Jersey.

“We have no intention of arming ourselves and storming the Capitol. We just don’t want to end up in concentration camps.’

Thompson’s words reflect an increasingly vocal sentiment within the LGBTQ community, especially in states where conservative lawmakers have passed bans on gender-affirming care and portrayed transgender people as societal threats.

For many, the idea of ​​armed self-defense is no longer theoretical, but something that feels essential.

A 24-year-old trans woman from Philadelphia, identified only as “A,” made the decision to purchase her first firearm after months of turmoil.

‘Three months before the elections, the alarm bells started ringing

As Texas enforced a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and Florida limited access to hormone therapies, she felt an urgent need to prepare for her own safety.

On November 2, she had purchased a Ruger Security-380 pistol, driven by the belief that “armed minorities are harder to legally suppress.”

At an outdoor shooting range at French Creek State Park in Pennsylvania, ‘A’ practiced her aim.

Rainbow hearts and a “Protect Trans Kids” sticker adorned her water bottle as spent bullet casings piled up at her feet, each shot she took reaffirming her sense of agency.

She admitted that she never imagined herself at a shooting range, but when anti-LGBTQ rhetoric reached a fever pitch across the country in 2024, she decided she couldn’t wait for protection to come from someone else.

“In the event of hate crimes or terrorist attacks, I know that I am personally armed and can protect my property and people close to me,” she said.

“I try not to live in fear, but if no one else is going to protect me, then I will.”

After purchasing her first gun at Delia’s Gun Shop in Northeast Philadelphia in November, “A” said she is now applying for a concealed carry permit in Pennsylvania, although she does not plan to carry her gun daily.

Her story is part of a larger movement, as another non-traditional gun group has also reported strong interest recently.

The Liberal Gun Club, a national organization that promotes firearms training for progressive Americans, has received thousands of new training requests, with LGBTQ individuals accounting for nearly a quarter of these requests.

Shearman leads a growing “2A social group” for LGBTQ individuals, focusing on responsible gun ownership and self-defense.

Experts note that America’s gun culture is undergoing a seismic shift. Traditionally associated with hunting and recreation, firearms are now increasingly seen as self-defense tools, especially by marginalized groups.

David Yamane, a professor of sociology at Wake Forest University and author of the book “Gun Curious,” calls the shift among LGBTQ gun owners part of “Gun Culture 2.0” — with self-defense replacing traditional hunting and recreation as the primary motivator for purchase of firearms.

He points to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial justice protests and the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando as pivotal moments that reshaped the country’s relationship with guns.

“It was a period of enormous social unrest and uncertainty,” Yamane said. “A large number of people in the United States are looking to firearms under these circumstances to restore a sense of safety and security.”

He added that racial and gender minorities led the charge for new gun ownership during this period.

For many in the LGBTQ community, the Pulse shooting remains a terrifying reminder of their vulnerability.

Survivors like Brandon Wolf have since become outspoken advocates for preparedness, while others like Thompson have taken matters into their own hands.

After Pulse, Thompson began practicing firearms drills at home, setting timers to simulate emergency situations and sharpening his ability to respond quickly.

Despite the rush to arm, critics warn of the dangers associated with greater access to firearms.

Studies consistently show that higher rates of gun ownership correlate with higher rates of gun-related suicides, homicides and accidents.

Groups like the SRA emphasize responsible gun ownership, mental health awareness and safe storage to reduce these risks.

At a recent SRA training session in West Philadelphia, participants learned the basics of Pennsylvania’s gun laws, safe handling practices and the realities of firearm ownership.

Organizers emphasized the duality of weapons as a means of defense and as a potential source of harm.

“Guns are weapons, and they are very good at what they do, which is kill things,” said one instructor. “85 percent of suicide attempts with firearms result in death. So you have to pay close attention to whether this is something you want to bring into your life.”