Interesting idea

I think it's a wonderful idea. But as is everything free, is a lesser item maybe? For example, a bonafide poor person, if given extra funds, would most likely purchase a single shot shotgun or bolt action rifle in 22LR.

Added, IMHO this is more a topic for the General Discussion Furums

GratefullyBlessed said:

Hello, everyone. I have an idea for something that I would like everyone's thoughts about.

What would stop someone from starting a nonprofit whose mission was to provide a firearm to every American Citizen over 18? For simplicity, let's not even go so far as a firearm. Let's say 80% lowers? Would something like that be feasible?

Every 2nd Amendment nonprofit that I have found are all about advocacy or education. But none are actually helping people to get a firearm.

A little bit about me, I'm a Quality Director for a weapons manufacturer. We have our FFL currently. I've managed the supply of full AR 15 and 10 components and builds to some of the well known manufacturers in the industry. So I'm very familiar with the FFL requirements relating to business. If I were to pursue this, it'd be independently.

I've spoken to an attorney, and even some people at some well known organizations. No one is currently doing anything like it. But no one could provide solid reasons why it couldn't be done.

Thoughts?

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The entirety of the current federal government will oppose this. You will need a bazillion dollars to pay your attorney bills. Every anti-gun group in the country will file lawsuits against you. Cross those hurdles and it's a great idea.

I have reservations about the 80% lower. How many have the tools or knowledge to finish the device? Which would mandate expenses to do so. I suppose that might be less outlay than a finished rifle, but is limiting.
I have 'enough' firearms, but were I just starting, I would be more desirous of a person arm for self and home defense than anything in the AR line. Perhaps even a hunting rifle or shotgun. As DoubleMag suggested, perhaps a .22 lr rifle or pistol.
On a personal note, I have no interest in an AR, fully finished or not.

Good way to destroy the firearms industry. If something is "free," that means it's devalued.

How in the world would something like this be funded? How many billions of taxpayer dollars would be needed?

There would be unanimous opposition from both the Left and the Right -- the Left because it would result in a proliferation of guns, and the Right because it would break public finances.

Probably 50% of the public would not even want the free guns. And of the rest, a good percentage shouldn't have them (children, mentally ill, felons, etc.).

Anyway, this proposal should be treated as the joke that it is.

Remember that there are folk like me that wouldn't take a rifle like that even if it was free. And honestly an AR or any rifle for that matter is not a good choice if the goal is self defense. Something that the owner would be able to carry regularly like a handgun might do more.

But a non-profit that was educational instead of hardware specific and that provided free education and training about firearms might actually do some good.

Admirable perhaps but I'm with @kidneyboy, the logistical hurdles, negative publicity and mainstream media angst would be monumental. That's if the ATF isn't turned against you as well. All the best, regardless.

The tort side of things would be super risky. For every million guns distributed, there will be that one that gets used in a crime and then suddenly your nonprofit is bankrupt from the lawsuits and legal representation even if you win your case. I can’t imagine anybody being willing to tie their name and their money to the idea in the cancel culture world we live in because Joe Bigshot would instantly be Joe Kid Killing Gun Guy.

GratefullyBlessed said:

What would stop someone from starting a nonprofit whose mission was to provide a firearm to every American Citizen over 18? For simplicity. . . Let's say 80% lowers?

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You've just described Palmetto State Armory, but I think your proposal would be hampered by being a non-profit.

PSA is almost solely responsible for the existence of the sub-$1k AR market; Colt et al was perfectly happy to keep selling $300 ARs for $1500+, until PSA used all that filthy profit to dilute supply costs with high volume and flood the market with cheap ARs. Along the way they bought up their supply chain to insulate themselves from economic sabotage, and are quietly moving into banking and payment processing to guard that front.

If you want a model of politically savvy Americans putting their money where their mouth is, and succeeding wildly, you can't do much better than PSA.

No thankyou. Lets just fight for the freedom for every American to buy or do what they want.

Nice idea but totally unworkable for reasons mentioned.

And welcome to the monkey house.

Unwritten rule #1 : Pictures, or it didn't happen! Don't describe it...post pictures of it and THEN describe it.

Aside from all the logistical problems, half the people given free guns would sell them the next day.

GratefullyBlessed said:

Interesting idea ... a nonprofit whose mission was to provide a firearm to every American Citizen over 18?

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Welcome to THR.

AlexanderA said:

Good way to destroy the firearms industry. If something is "free," that means it's devalued.

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Actually, the first "free" firearm could be a "starter" firearm to whet the appetite of those interested. Many of us started out with 22LR pistol/rifle and that introduced us to the wide world of guns in terms of sports, hunting and collecting.

GratefullyBlessed said:

Hello, everyone. I have an idea for something that I would like everyone's thoughts about.

What would stop someone from starting a nonprofit whose mission was to provide a firearm to every American Citizen over 18? For simplicity, let's not even go so far as a firearm. Let's say 80% lowers? Would something like that be feasible?

Every 2nd Amendment nonprofit that I have found are all about advocacy or education. But none are actually helping people to get a firearm.

A little bit about me, I'm a Quality Director for a weapons manufacturer. We have our FFL currently. I've managed the supply of full AR 15 and 10 components and builds to some of the well known manufacturers in the industry. So I'm very familiar with the FFL requirements relating to business. If I were to pursue this, it'd be independently.

I've spoken to an attorney, and even some people at some well known organizations. No one is currently doing anything like it. But no one could provide solid reasons why it couldn't be done.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

What about the American citizens over 18 who don't want one?

Not to rain on anyone's parade...but the U.S. population was projected to be about 333,000,000 (333 million) by January 1st, 2022. If you were to provide every one of those people a Cricket single-shot .22 at some point in the next 18 years, your costs would run into the tens of billions of dollars.

There's a reason the firearms industry is NOT a not-for-profit.

You all make me laugh. What a bunch of wet blankets!

To buy a $40 Anderson lower, for every single American is only $13B.
We’ve sent over $40B to the Ukraine.

We could fund this tomorrow.

The Swiss, blah, blah, blah, already do this, blah, blah.

And for the reading inept, a non-profit charity doesn’t use tax dollars, it uses donations.
So “We” wouldn’t be doing this, HIS organization would.
Another fun thing about charity, it doesn’t seek you out, like the .gov.
If you don’t want one, don’t call them for one.
Strangely, the same thing I say to the antis I come across…


I think it’s a great idea! I’d like to be on the beneficiary list if I could.
With the serial number made out in my name, that’d be neat! Further devaluing the charitable rifles and increasing value on commercial rifles.
One per American human upon birth.
Has quite the ring to it!

This hypothetical is interesting because from what I understand, FFLs are in the business of making and/or selling firearms. Giving firearms away isn't selling them, nor is it making a profit, which means I'm not entirely certain an individual or nonprofit organization would even require an FFL if their intent is to give all of their firearms away.

I believe an organization set up to educate, train and provide no cost access to a firearm and ammunition for training would be great place to start. The organization would have firearms available and instructors, to properly train the safe handling of firearms. With no charge to the person desiring the will to experience the shooting sports.

I think many, many people live their lives in the hope that they will never need a gun. In a similar way, I have arranged my live in the hope that I will never need an ax, or a great deal of other equipment, for wiliderness survival. Yet I am sure that it can be argued that hope is idle, and that everyone should be equipped so as to be prepared for any desperate emergency where their lives, or the lives of their families, might be on the line. So if we pursue equipping everying one with guns, I suggest we must also consider providing similar necessities for every other situation.

We will also need to greatly increase the national supply of storage lockers.

BTW, how do you feel about providing national medical care? Medical care is something I have not figured out a way to avoid the need for. Nor have I met anyone else of my age (admittedly advanced) who has done so.

Monac said:

So if we pursue equipping everyone with guns, I suggest we must also consider providing similar necessities for every other situation.

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This suggestion even goes beyond socialism!

Actually, guns are a zero-sum game. That is, realistically, the goal is for you to be armed, but your potential opponent to be disarmed. (Whether your opponent is a criminal, a tyrant, or someone who just disagrees with you.) That's what gives you the advantage. If everyone is armed, then in effect no one is armed. We reach equilibrium, but at a much greater cost.

In a nutshell, this is what gun control is all about: an attempt to disarm your enemies. Unfortunately, the "enemies" have other ideas.

The notion is an interesting one, if with some limitations.

A self-funding sort of deal, obviates the costs somewhat, but also limits the product that can be provided.

The real problem is the "coat/car" economic one. Say you want to give every American a coat. Well, the coat that suffices in Arizona is likely hopeless in Montana or Buffalo; and you'll get any number of Floridians who would be thanks, but no thanks, what do I get instead?

There's a similar problem if you make it a car. A person in Wyoming probably needs a truck; in Queens, a bus pass. Where I live in DFW, I might could get by with a hybrid SMART, but, the a/c systems are junk and seldom last a season of 100°F heat (and their accident history in DFW is atrocious)

Back to the topic at hand, supposed this charity lets me get a Jimenez or Jennings "for free." I, like a number of folk in DFW are likely going to just donate that to the boy scouts or some similar organizations. Who will then be awash in such things, and not what they might actually want.

The notion is not bad. But, it might be misapplied. Now, supposed this was a deal where "we" could through some organization we support, GOA, SAF, etc. could provide local assistance for training, for getting CHL, or the like. That might yield better results.

What would stop someone from starting a nonprofit whose mission was to provide a firearm to every American Citizen over 18?

I don,t think that's a good idea. I don,t know where you live and what kind of access you have to the public but have you paid attention to all the whakos walking around? Many of them may have no background to prohibit them from owning a firearm but their actions and history in public suggests they shouldn't. I see it's your first post so I'll say welcome. But this kind of question and idea seems like Troll bait to make us look like we want to give guns to any body. Let them decide to go buy one and go through what ever local checks they need.