I think he is probably right when he says that americans AS A WHOLE, are more ambivalent about gun ownership than they have been in the past. Whether that is a good or right thing is another matter.
Do you need to protect yourselves against the Federal government? It seems an odd thing, in a democracy, to feel you have to protect yourself against your own elected government. In fact, some of the posters on these boards are almost paranoic about this need.
Personally, I think there are far more dangerous threats to freedom out there. There is a rising beauracracy, a stultifying legalism, a greed for material wealth and a denying of justice to others. There is increasing secularism leading to a denial of the spiritual and a consequent meanness in personal relationships. There is an all consuming selfishness that puts the individual and his or her personal happiness as the measure of success.
And of course, there are enemies external. Neo-fascist regimes, communist regimes, islamist regimes - all of them want to see us ruined, if not bury us.
Ok, first a correction, we are a Republic not a democracy.
Do we need to protect ourselves against our elected government? I don’t see that, they are paderers and cowards. They will do what they can to stay in power (ie. be re-elected). It is the un-elected federal government that we have to worry about. We can always recall or elect someone else when it comes to the elected government. When it comes to the BATFE (more accurately the BFE, as I have not heard them doing anything in recent years with Alcohol or Tobacco), etc. in which unelected people work. They abuse and grow their power both with and without the help or consent of elected officials.
The 2nd was not just about our government but all enemies. The threat against the 2nd is the most important, because even if society were to crash and all your firearms have been taken from you, how will you defend yourself or survive.
That is why I say that repeal of RoeV.Wade and a marriage amendment to the Constitution (both of which I think are important) can wait until after eliminating gun control laws/executive orders and securing our borders.