Is it time for gun owners to leave the Republican Party?
And with tech mogul Elon Musk recently floating the idea of launching a new “America Party” as an alternative to the “uniparty” establishment, some see it as a tempting political lifeboat for disillusioned liberty voters.
But not so fast.
Betrayed, Backstabbed, and Sold Out — Again
Gun owners had every reason to believe the BBB would include the Hearing Protection Act and the SHORT Act — language that would remove suppressors and short-barreled rifles from the purview of the National Firearms Act (NFA).
That’s what we were promised. And that’s what the House partially delivered.
But when it came time for the Senate to act, establishment Republicans — led by Majority Leader John Thune — bent the knee to the unelected Parliamentarian, who absurdly ruled that the NFA provisions were “policy” and not eligible under reconciliation.
Instead of overruling her — as Democrats have done in the past for electric vehicle mandates and other progressive priorities — Republicans surrendered.
The end result? A watered-down “compromise” that zeroes out the $200 NFA tax… while leaving registration, regulation, and criminal penalties firmly intact.
Enter Elon Musk
Sickened by bloated spending and broken promises, Elon Musk took to X:
“If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.”
Gun owners are understandably intrigued. Musk has acknowledged the true intent of the Second Amendment in past comments, saying:
“I strongly believe that the right to bear arms is an important safeguard against potential tyranny of government.”
But that statement doesn’t come without red flags.
In the same breath, Musk has also advocated for “tight background checks” and special permits for ‘assault weapons’ — even suggesting bans on semi-automatic rifles with supersonic ammo and “large” magazines.
That’s the kind of contradiction gun owners have grown used to… especially from establishment Republicans.
Even President Trump’s first term saw the banning of bump stocks and flirtations with red flag gun confiscation — something the Trump team seems eager to course-correct in term two.
And to be fair, redemption is possible.
Politicians can evolve. They can learn — especially when they feel the fire of an angry, organized gun rights movement.
But for a new party? The bar must be higher.
Don’t Abandon the Battlefield — Take It Over
While Musk’s frustration with the “uniparty” is real — and shared by millions of Americans — gun owners should be cautious about hitching their political future to an unproven vehicle.
Starting a new party means starting from scratch.
No infrastructure. No elected officials. No committee assignments. No seat at the table.
That’s part of why the Libertarian Party, despite having a strong platform on gun rights, has struggled to gain real political traction.
The truth is, gun owners have more leverage inside the Republican Party than outside it — if they use it.
Time and again, grassroots gun rights groups have successfully ousted weak Republicans in primaries and replaced them with fighters who won’t back down.
If the GOP is to remain the party of the Second Amendment, it won’t be because they deserve it — it’ll be because gun owners force them to earn it.
Gun owners are right to be angry. Right to feel betrayed. And right to demand more than lip service and half-measures.
But before jumping ship, they should remember: it’s easier to take over a party than build one from scratch.
If Elon Musk’s “America Party” wants the support of gun owners, it better come with ironclad commitments to protect and expand Second Amendment rights — no more contradictions, no more compromises.
Until then, the fight for freedom is right where it’s always been: in the trenches, in the primaries, and in the halls of power — where gun owners must continue to fight without compromise.
