In a powerful and unsettling segment on USCCA’s YouTube channel, hosts Kevin Michalowski and Ed Combs tackled what many gun owners are quietly, and some not-so-quietly, asking: “Are we the enemy now?” The conversation kicked off with a reference to a newly declassified report made public by former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
According to Gabbard, the Biden administration, or elements within it, entertained strategies labeling lawful gun owners, particularly AR-15 owners, as “potential domestic terrorists.” Michalowski and Combs didn’t mince words. “Tyrants hate rifles they can’t control,” Ed said. Kevin added that the targeting of gun owners has become a go-to political tactic for those with anti-gun agendas.
Laying the Groundwork for Bans
Image Credit: USCCA
This report, Gabbard noted, exposed more than just political rhetoric – it revealed a quiet but intentional move to lay the groundwork for banning modern sporting rifles like the AR-15 and standard-capacity magazines. Ed and Kevin see this as part of a longer strategy that has been brewing since the Clinton-era Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, which was authored in part by then-Senator Joe Biden. But back then, there were fewer than a million AR-15s in circulation. Today, that number has exploded to over 30 million, making it the most popular rifle in America. That widespread ownership doesn’t sit well with those pushing gun control.
A Slippery Slope That’s No Longer Hypothetical
Image Credit: USCCA
Kevin Michalowski reminded viewers that in politics, the “slippery slope” is not a fallacy – it’s a guarantee. When the government starts categorizing law-abiding citizens as potential threats, it becomes easier to justify surveillance, restrictions, and eventually, confiscation. Ed noted that while political leaders may claim these discussions are “just war-gaming ideas,” the sheer fact that gun owners are on those lists should concern everyone. “They want to know what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how we’re doing it,” he said.
Both hosts believe that dismissing these developments as paranoia is dangerous. While not every policy proposal becomes law, these internal strategies shape public perception and influence future regulation. And history shows that once government powers are exercised, they’re rarely rolled back.
Weaponizing Credit Card Tracking
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From there, the conversation pivoted to another growing concern: financial surveillance of gun owners. Several states, including Alaska, have recently pushed legislation to block merchant category codes (MCCs) that flag gun-related purchases. These codes allow credit card companies to tag firearm and ammunition sales, creating a paper trail the government can access. Kevin summed it up bluntly: “This is just another way to make gun owners a separate class – a second-class citizen.”
Eleven states so far have banned or limited the use of these MCCs. But Michalowski and Combs emphasized that the bigger issue is normalization. The more data collected and categorized, the easier it becomes to regulate and, eventually, restrict. Even if you’re already on a government list, as many NRA or USCCA members assume they are, Ed warned against making it easier for authorities to track your behavior: “Let’s not give them another list.”
Are We Already Too Late?
Image Credit: Survival World
It’s not uncommon to hear a sense of resignation among gun owners. Many say, “I’m already on the list, so who cares?” But both Michalowski and Combs pushed back on that defeatist mindset. They argued that accepting surveillance as a given is a form of surrender. Ed brought up his own experience getting a DNR customer number when he purchased a deer hunting license decades ago. “Now they know for sure I own at least one rifle,” he said. “Commies always play the long game.”
The long game, according to the hosts, involves chipping away at privacy and gun rights incrementally – through financial codes, redefinitions of “assault weapons,” and media narratives that portray gun ownership as suspicious behavior. If you make enough lists, they warn, eventually someone will use them.
The Political Fight Is Ongoing
Image Credit: Survival World
“Rust and politicians,” Kevin said, “are the two biggest threats to guns.” That line resonated as a grim but accurate summary of the current climate. Ed added that the gun control fight is never over. Anti-gun lawmakers and activists are persistent, and gun owners must be just as vigilant in response.
Their call to action was clear: stay politically engaged. Join advocacy groups. Vote. Show up to state hearings. And keep educating others. They emphasized that political disengagement is a luxury gun owners can no longer afford, not when new laws and policies could change your legal standing overnight. (It continues on SurvivalWorld.com)
Believe it or not I caught this on Msn.com ! Kevin and Ed do a fantastic job laying it out the planned ATTACK and DISARMAMENT of ‘WE THE PEOPLE’
The Gun Grabber’s won’t stop, they will NEVER stop (until WE stop them).
We need to take the fight to THEM! Having President Trump in our corner helps but he can’t do it alone. Please don’t get complacent in this Battle. They are striping away at our GOD given Right to Keep and Bear Arms!
GUNNER’S UNITE!
GOD BLESS AMERICA
WWG1WGA
NCSWIC