Empowering Citizens While Politicians Undermine Gun Rights

In today’s climate, where the Second Amendment is increasingly under attack, offering free community self-defense classes may seem like a positive step—but it’s also a glaring contradiction. While officials like state Senator Joseph Addabbo support initiatives such as self-defense and stress-relief workshops, they simultaneously stand by legislation that makes it more difficult for law-abiding Americans to exercise their right to bear arms.

The recent announcement that free self-defense classes will be available to the public in Queens, led by fitness and self-defense instructor Viviana León, highlights a growing trend. The events promise to teach basic self-defense tactics, including de-escalation techniques, movement strategies, and situational awareness training. That’s commendable—but let’s be honest: such programs are no substitute for the empowering right of armed self-defense.

The Illusion of Empowerment Without the Second Amendment

Programs like the one Addabbo promotes are often portrayed as empowering communities. On the surface, they sound helpful—especially for women, seniors, and those in high-crime areas. But without the legal means to carry a firearm, real empowerment is limited. Preparing citizens with martial arts or de-escalation tips while simultaneously restricting access to firearms is the equivalent of giving someone a life jacket after punching holes in their boat.

Let’s not overlook the irony: Free Self-Defense Classes Offered While Gun Rights Face More Restrictions. We are led to believe that we are being given tools to feel safer, while behind closed doors, lawmakers are stripping away the only tool proven to level the playing field between criminals and law-abiding citizens—firearms.

The Case for Firearms Training Over Feel-Good Workshops

At Fortress Firearms Training, we proudly stand behind the Second Amendment and offer comprehensive firearms training that provides real-world tools to defend yourself and your loved ones. While learning how to de-escalate a situation is important, knowing how to defend yourself when those tactics fail is essential.

Firearms are the great equalizer. Whether you’re a petite woman walking alone at night or a senior citizen defending your home during a break-in, the ability to responsibly carry a firearm is the strongest deterrent to violent crime. Here’s what real self-defense training includes:

• Firearms Safety and Handling: Empowering individuals with knowledge and respect for firearms use.
• Situational Awareness: Understanding how to avoid danger before it escalates.
• Live-Fire Range Time: Preparing individuals for real-life encounters under pressure.
• Legal Education: Knowing your rights, the law, and the legal aftermath of a defensive shooting.

Contradictory Democrat Policies

Self-defense classes offered by left-leaning politicians are little more than public relations moves. These same lawmakers are pushing legislation that makes it harder than ever to obtain a concealed carry permit, own certain types of firearms, or purchase ammunition. While they offer you a yoga mat and a few defensive maneuvers, they take away your constitutional protections.

Let’s be clear: violent criminals don’t care about new gun laws. They don’t attend community workshops. They carry illegally obtained firearms and prey on the defenseless. The only people these restrictive gun laws affect are law-abiding citizens like you and me.

The Reality Behind Self-Defense Classes

While the free classes are a start, they acknowledge a societal truth that the Left often denies: violence is real, and personal safety is your responsibility. What they fail to acknowledge, however, is that adequate self-defense often requires more than just verbal techniques.

We should never rely solely on politicians to ensure our safety. Instead, we must invest in our own preparedness through dedicated firearms training. Programs like the one Senator Addabbo is promoting offer short-term solutions while long-term rights are being eroded at the state and federal levels.

Free Self-Defense Classes Offered While Gun Rights Face More Restrictions—it’s not just a headline; it’s a call to action for every law-abiding American who values freedom, safety, and personal responsibility.

Training with Purpose at Fortress Firearms Training

Unlike feel-good workshops, at Fortress Firearms Training, we offer skills that can truly save lives. Our training courses provide legal, tactical, and practical instruction for those who take self-defense seriously.

With rising crime and increasing restrictions, now is the time to stop outsourcing your safety to others. We don’t believe in symbolic safety—we train you to be ready.

Here’s why real training matters more than ever:

• Criminals Don’t Wait: Crimes occur quickly, often giving victims only seconds to respond. Effective training prepares you to act fast and decisively.
• Police Can’t Be Everywhere: Response times vary by location. You are your own first responder.
• Rights Are Being Eroded: Every new law chips away at your ability to defend yourself. Don’t wait until it’s too late to prepare.

If lawmakers truly cared about your safety, they would support your right to trained, armed self-defense—not just offer low-impact workshops while supporting bills that disarm the public.

Conclusion: Take Your Safety Into Your Own Hands

It’s time we cut through the political theater. Free Self-Defense Classes Offered While Gun Rights Face More Restrictions creates a dangerously misleading narrative. Fortress Firearms Training stands by the principle that true self-defense begins with the freedom to lawfully carry and use a firearm. That’s what the Second Amendment guarantees—and it’s what we train our students to uphold every day.

Don’t settle for partial solutions. Prepare with purpose. Train with integrity. Arm yourself with knowledge—and with the right to protect yourself. Train with Fortress Firearms Training today.