Preserving Our Second Amendment Rights Amid Rising Restrictions

It should come as no surprise to gun owners across America that yet another attack on our Second Amendment rights is being waged—this time from California Attorney General Rob Bonta. In a recent press release, Bonta formally backed Maine’s new law enforcing a mandatory three-day waiting period for firearm purchases. The reasoning? Allegedly to prevent impulsive acts of violence or suicide. However, we know better than to accept these justifications at face value. This strategy is just another step in a broader agenda to erode gun ownership rights, one inch at a time.

For responsible gun owners and Second Amendment advocates, the idea of punishing law-abiding citizens with blanket restrictions like a firearm waiting period sets a dangerous precedent. In truth, these delays do little to prevent crime and everything to infringe upon our constitutional liberties. At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we believe that every citizen has the right to defend themselves without government interference or needless delays.

The Reality Behind Waiting Period Laws

The argument used by AG Bonta and other supporters of such legislation is that a cooling-off period gives people time to reconsider committing acts of violence, particularly self-harm. But let’s look at the facts. According to numerous studies, including analysis from the CDC, the majority of firearm-related crimes are committed with illegally obtained weapons—not by lawful gun purchasers after a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Bonta glossed over this reality in his endorsement. Instead of focusing efforts on controlling real threats—like inner-city gangs, drug trafficking, or poorly enforced red flag laws—we’re now criminalizing the immediate right to self-defense. That is unacceptable.

Understanding the Consequences for Gun Owners

Enforcing a universal three-day delay on firearm purchases brings several negative implications for responsible Americans. Here’s what policies like Maine’s really do:

• Inhibit self-defense: A woman escaping an abusive partner may need a firearm immediately, not after a 72-hour waiting period that could cost her her life.
• Overburden gun dealers and law enforcement: More bureaucracy means longer queues, more paperwork, and increasing errors in background checks.
• Create a slippery slope: If a three-day waiting period sounds justifiable, what’s next—ten days? Two weeks? Permanent licensing requirements?

Let’s be blunt: criminals aren’t respecting gun laws. Waiting periods don’t apply to them. These laws only delay legal access for law-abiding citizens. AG Bonta should be focusing on prosecuting illegal gun violence, not turning everyday Americans into suspects by default.

How Fortress Firearms Training Empowers Gun Owners

At Fortress Firearms Training, we’re not just about safety—we’re about empowerment. We train South Carolinians in everything from the basics of firearms handling to the advanced situational awareness skills needed to protect themselves and their families.

We stand in stark contrast to disarmament-minded politicians like AG Bonta. He and his peers claim to promote public safety while ignoring how legally-trained gun owners are some of the greatest protectors of society. Here’s what you gain when you train with us:

• Confidence in firearm control through hands-on instruction
• Comprehensive legal education covering South Carolina gun laws and your rights
• Realistic scenario training to prepare for emergency situations, not fantasy conditions dreamed up in a court chamber

Rather than assuming Americans are not capable of rational decisions, our philosophy trusts you. We trust your judgment, your right to defend yourself, and your interest in acquiring firearms without unnecessary government barriers.

Training: The True Way to Save Lives

If lawmakers truly cared about reducing accidents or suicide rather than undermining rights, they would support firearms education and training—not bureaucratic waiting periods. At Fortress Firearms Training, we’ve seen firsthand how proper education, responsible ownership, and a respect for constitutional rights provide the only long-term solution to gun-related incidents.

Ironically, while AG Bonta celebrates a superficial “cooling off” law in Maine, California continues to witness rising rates of violent crime and a surge in smash-and-grab robberies. His stance feels more like political posturing than genuine concern for national safety.

Stand Up for Your Rights

This is not the time to sit on the sidelines. As AG Bonta backs Maine’s three-day firearm waiting period, more lawmakers may follow suit unless we make our voices heard. The narrative being pushed assumes that Americans can’t be trusted with the freedoms our Founders died to protect. That kind of thinking weakens our society, not strengthens it.

Americans need to responsibly and relentlessly defend their rights—or risk losing them one “temporary” restriction at a time. Firearms are more than tools of protection. They symbolize liberty, deterrence against tyranny, and the God-given right to self-preservation. Policies like this waiting period mock that legacy.

Join Us in the Fight for Freedom

If you believe in the preservation of your rights, start by taking responsibility for them. Get trained. Get informed. Forge a community. And stand strong against legislation that labels you part of the problem simply for wanting to protect yourself.

Visit Fortress Firearms Training today to learn how you can stay one step ahead of anti-gun laws, sharpen your skills, and be part of the solution rooted in liberty, not control. The time to act is now, before more misguided laws take effect under the guise of “public safety.”