A growing number of LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized Americans are turning to gun ownership as fears of Trump-era authoritarianism rise. NPR reports liberals who once rejected firearms now feel unprotected by institutions. The report documents 27 transgender or gender-nonconforming people killed this year, most by gunfire. Charles, a Black physician in Maryland, now trains weekly, saying the possibility of being targeted “is not out of the question any longer.” Gun-rights groups like the Pink Pistols say interest is surging as safety anxieties deepen.
