Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Growing the Gun Community in Unlikely Places

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Growing the Gun Community in Unlikely Places

We mentioned a Beverly Hills gun shop last week in an article about the continued increase in background checks and gun sales. We spoke with the proprietor of that shop, and he offered a very humanized take on a story often told with large numbers and broad strokes concepts.

Russell Stuart is the owner of Beverly Hills Guns. Stuart has appeared in several media interviews in the last few weeks, perhaps because his shop sits in one of the most exclusive zip codes in the country. Beverly Hills may seem an unlikely place for a gun shop to thrive, given the state’s zealously anti-gun policies and the perception of the city’s residents as wealthy celebrities in gated communities. Beverly Hills, like a lot of other areas, is suffering from an increase in crime. The glitz and glamor Beverly Hills make for a clickbait headline but gun stores serve a real need, and shops in seemingly unlikely places offer an opportunity to grow our community.

Stuart opened Beverly Hills Guns in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic and societal unrest presented real threats that gave people cause to take responsibility for their own safety. California is a bastion of anti-gun policies and sentiment but that’s changing, at least on an individual level. Stuart, and other gun dealers in the state, report that even some people with very strong political beliefs who had never held a gun now recognize the value of their own safety. Stuart’s gun shop may be in Beverly Hills, but his story is the same as any other shop in the country. His customers come from every socio-economic class, from the person barely getting by to the very wealthy. Gun owners, including first time gun owners, come from every race, ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and political affiliation. If nothing else, they have a common interest in protecting themselves and their families – and the protection of the Second Amendment.

Some gun owners in places like California have always kept their status and hobby to themselves, as it isn’t easy to be a gun owner in anti-gun locales. Stuart has heard stories of customers bumping into friends or neighbors in his shop or the parking lot, surprised to discover a shared but unspoken interest. Another increasingly common scenario happens at a get-together or party. Someone mentions a recent firearm purchase and other people chime in to acknowledge that they, too, are gun owners – or want to be.

This reveal is important, as responsible gun owners are our community’s best advocate. Some people may consider themselves anti-gun because that’s the message pushed by local media, their politicians, and perhaps even outspoken activist friends (or professional activists).  Learning that friends, family members, or neighbors are gun owners can help them recognize that gun owners are just like them. A trusted friend could offer a comfortable introduction to firearms. This is how we grow our community.

That is especially important when soft-on-crime policies empower criminals and put people at risk. Gun ownership and carrying are common in the United States and becoming more common when elected leaders and bureaucrats fail their communities.  People, including anti-gun people in anti-gun places, want and should have the options to protect themselves available.

TRENDING NOW
Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

As the mid-year mark of 2025 hits, a promising report on crime trends has come out of the City of Baltimore. Surprising news at first glance until you dig deeper into the policy direction the ...

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

U.K. Moves to Legally De-suppress Suppressors

On July 4th, President Donald Trump signed into law his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which included a provision that eliminated the tax stamp fee of $200, but did not deregulate suppressors under the National Firearms ...

President Trump Supports Hunting and Resource Protection with Executive Actions

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

President Trump Supports Hunting and Resource Protection with Executive Actions

Just as the United States was preparing to celebrate 249 beautiful years, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on July 3rd establishing the “Make America Beautiful Again" Commission supporting hunters, outdoorsmen, and outdoor recreationists by prioritizing the ...

Legacy Media Finally Acknowledges Politization of Public Health

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

Legacy Media Finally Acknowledges Politization of Public Health

It appears the editors of The Atlantic are finally willing to entertain an idea that has long been obvious to gun rights supporters.

House Annual Appropriations Process Update

News  

Monday, July 14, 2025

House Annual Appropriations Process Update

As the House Appropriations Committee is putting together legislation to fund the government, NRA-ILA has worked closely with policy makers to ensure several long-standing priorities for gun owners were included in the underlying bills.

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

Thursday, July 10, 2025

DOJ Declines to Seek Supreme Court Review of Decision Striking Down Federal Laws Prohibiting FFLs From Selling Handguns to 18-to-20-Year-Olds

In Reese v. ATF, the Fifth Circuit held that 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(b)(1) and (c)(1)—which together forbid Federal Firearms Licensees from selling handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds—violate the Second Amendment.

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

NRA-ILA July 2025 Litigation Update

Thursday, July 10, 2025

NRA-ILA July 2025 Litigation Update

In the second quarter of 2025, the National Rifle Association filed two cert petitions in the U.S. Supreme Court and five amicus briefs, while continuing to litigate dozens of ongoing lawsuits across the country.

Maine: Lawmakers Call for Anti-2A Progressive Professor to Be Fired

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Maine: Lawmakers Call for Anti-2A Progressive Professor to Be Fired

In case you missed the media firestorm last week, a progressive professor at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, Maine, has come under fire for her emails belittling a student for her religious beliefs and views ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.