West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading a coalition of 26 attorneys general in support of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Second Amendment Task Force, which United States Attorney General Pam Bondi created under the Trump administration.

The coalition drafted a letter to Bondi’s office praising and pledging support for the effort, calling the Task Force a “critical space for the federal government to devise innovative strategies to use litigation and police effectively in the fight to protect the Second Amendment.” 

Emphasizing the fundamental and Foundational significance of the Second Amendment as a natural right recognized by America’s Constitutional framework, the coalition of attorneys general cites the United States Supreme Court’s recognition of the right to bear arms as “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition,” juxtaposing this Trump administration’s stance on gun rights against Biden-era policies the coalition refers to as a “troubling animus against the Second Amendment.”

“I am incredibly proud to lead this group of 26 attorneys general in support of the Trump Administration’s creation of the Second Amendment Task Force… The Second Amendment is a foundation of our country’s civil liberties. It is crucial to protecting personal freedoms and maintaining a free society. The Constitutional framers included this vital amendment to ensure Americans would be able to protect and defend themselves. I look forward to helping Attorney General Bondi in every way to help secure Americans’ right to keep and bear arms,” says Attorney General McCuskey. 

Attorney General McCuskey of West Virginia is joined by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. 

“We are heartened to see that the federal government has now rejoined us in our fight for Second Amendment liberties… This Task Force will serve as a key reset of President Biden’s misguided approach and a crucial cornerstone of President Trump’s efforts to restore Second Amendment rights to its rightful place as a first-class liberty,” the attorneys general wrote to Bondi.

But this coalition isn’t just about kind words and lovely letters. The states involved have pledged to support and collaborate, providing their own resources and administrative expertise to broaden the Task Force’s capabilities and help structure the reformation in hopes of restoring the Second Amendment across the United States. 

“American people need to know their Second Amendment rights will not continue to erode over time,” the letter states. 

While I agree with this statement, I only do so if it’s true, as I’m not a fan of spreading false hope. I find the dilemma difficult to grapple with as, even now, we take a similar number of steps forward as we do backward. I’ve been told to be patient, as these matters take time, and just as the Second Amendment was chipped away at, so must it be rebuilt piece by piece over time.

I’m thrilled to play my small part in making America a better place for future generations; however, I’ll admit to a bit of selfishness as I understand that I may never see fruit of the effort in my lifetime, and that is a frustrating and sad notion for which the perpetrators of our current state of affairs will never stand trial or pay back. Their anti-Second Amendment agenda has scarred a lifelong pride associated with being an American, as I tend to laugh when I hear media or politicians refer to the United States as a beacon of democracy and freedom.

We may be able to make that claim relative to other countries I would never choose to live in, but relative comparison was not the bar set by the Founding Fathers, nor is it the promise this nation is obligated to keep with Americans.