Protecting Our Rights While Promoting Responsible Firearms Training

As the debate over the Second Amendment continues to heat up in various states, recent legislative developments in New York raise critical concerns for law-abiding firearms owners and patriotic Americans everywhere. A newly proposed bill—championed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg—seeks to criminalize the online sharing of blueprints and files related to machine gun conversion kits. While portrayed as a safety initiative, this sweeping legislation is yet another example of government overreach that potentially infringes on constitutionally protected rights.

The Broad Reach of the Proposed Law

The New York bill, introduced on May 16, 2025, would make it illegal to upload digital files or share blueprints that could allow individuals to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, otherwise known as machine guns. This includes instructions for using “Glock switches” or other parts used to alter firearms. While it’s important to discourage criminal misuse of firearms, this legislation casts a wide net that could easily entrap responsible gun owners and hobbyists engaged in lawful activities such as gunsmithing or parts manufacturing.

There are serious dangers in legislative overreach like this:

• Vague language in the bill opens the door to arbitrary enforcement and potential abuse by anti-gun authorities.
• The intent may appear aimed at criminals, but in practice, it risks criminalizing law-abiding gun enthusiasts and trainers who share knowledge to promote safety.
• This sets a precedent for future firearm-related bans and restrictions, further eroding constitutional protections.

Freedom of Information Under Threat

This bill doesn’t only affect physical gun parts—it attacks free speech and the exchange of information. Blueprints, CAD files, and educational materials have long been a part of responsible firearms manufacturing, gunsmithing, and training communities. Criminalizing these materials not only chills those activities but also opens up a broader question about government control of the internet and online forums. If lawmakers can target this information today, what’s to stop them from banning discussions on assembly, cleaning, or safe storage practices tomorrow?

Responsible Firearms Training is Key

At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we believe in promoting responsible gun ownership through proper training and education. Making people safer doesn’t come from suppressing information or passing anti-gun laws—it comes from teaching the right way to handle, store, and use firearms. Our courses emphasize:

• Safe handling techniques for all skill levels
• Legal and ethical responsibilities of gun ownership
• Situational awareness and self-defense tactics
• Understanding state and federal firearm laws

Our trainers are not only passionate about the Second Amendment—they’re deeply invested in building a safer, more informed community. That’s what real, lasting gun safety looks like—not top-down restrictions from politicians and prosecutors who understand little about lawful gun culture.

Firearms Culture Is Not the Enemy

Let’s make one thing clear. Most gun owners in America are not interested in converting their weapons into machine guns or circumventing laws. Pinning the blame for rising urban violence on law-abiding citizens only serves to distract from the real contributors to crime: weak enforcement of existing laws, policies that fail to prosecute repeat offenders, and a justice system more concerned with politics than public safety.

Gun control advocates continue to target the tools instead of the actions. But responsible gun owners understand that safety comes from education, not restriction. Banning online files doesn’t take illegal firearms off the streets—it simply makes it harder for honest people to share knowledge and learn legally.

A Slippery Slope for Liberty

The logic behind this New York bill is deeply flawed and sets a dangerous precedent for similar legislation in other states. Today it’s machine gun blueprints—tomorrow it could be semiautomatic parts, then magazines, and eventually even basic maintenance manuals. As a nation built upon the principle of individual liberty, we must ask whether we’re comfortable trading freedom for feel-good policies that fail to address root problems.

This isn’t about making streets safer—it’s about controlling a fundamental right.

South Carolina Stands for Liberty

That’s why organizations like Fortress Firearms Training remain vigorously committed to defending Second Amendment freedoms. We believe in protecting our God-given rights while ensuring our students—the next generation of responsible gun owners—are equipped with the skills and knowledge to uphold those rights wisely.

If you’re in Fountain Inn or anywhere in the Upstate South Carolina region, we encourage you to explore our available training programs designed for concealed carry permit holders, families, first-time shooters, and advanced marksmen. We believe that informed citizens are the cornerstone of liberty—and that includes knowing how to handle a firearm safely and effectively.

Visit our main website to learn more about our mission, schedule, and values.

The Path Forward

Calling out harmful legislation like the one proposed in New York isn’t just about pushback—it’s about standing up for the future of responsible gun ownership in America. Let’s be honest: this bill won’t stop criminals. What it will do is penalize the law-abiding and open the floodgates for more sweeping restrictions down the line.

Real safety is created when individuals are trained, informed, and empowered—not suppressed by bureaucratic authority. Fortress Firearms Training remains proud to serve those who understand that the Second Amendment isn’t just about hunting—it’s about liberty and the right of self-defense. It’s about keeping America, and local communities here in South Carolina, safe through education and preparedness.

We invite you to stay informed, stay trained, and stand strong. The preservation of freedom requires vigilance—and it begins with each of us.