Black Guns Matter is an activist organization that promotes gun ownership, firearms training, and conflict resolution among African Americans. ¹ Activist Maj Toure founded the organization in 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has traveled the United States to promote the organization. ² He has testified before Congress and state legislatures in opposition to gun control laws and support for the Second Amendment. ^{3 4}

Toure argues that “Gun control is racist.” ⁵

Background

Black Guns Matter was founded by activist Maj Toure in 2016 to encourage more Black Americans to educate themselves about firearms and self-defense. ^{6 7}

Toure and Black Guns Matter support providing more access to guns, proper training, and education about people’s Second Amendment rights. ⁸

Toure held the first Black Guns Matter event in 2016. He said he anticipated 30 people would show up, while 300 ended up attending. ⁹

Toure’s work with Black Guns Matter includes seminars around the nation about conflict resolution, as well as firearm safety. ¹⁰

Black Guns Matter also promotes what it calls a narrative shift to view firearms less as a sign of masculinity and more as a tool for self-defense or shooting sports. ¹¹

Toure contends gun control laws in cities such as Chicago are not working. By contrast, he contends “an armed society is a polite society,” and pointed to New Hampshire as an example of a safe state due to its les restrictive gun laws. ¹²

Founder

Black Guns Matter founder Maj Toure is a Philadelphia high school dropout who became an activist. He said he became tired of hearing chants of “Black lives matter” but never hearing “when it’s time for Black people to defend their lives.” ¹³

Toure said, “When I hear ‘unarmed Black man,’ I’m sad. Because there should be no such thing.” ¹⁴

Toure sells T-shirts with the slogan “make criminals afraid again” on the front. ¹⁵

Toure has argued, “Gun control is racist” and noted that such laws were “started to literally stop Black people from having the means to defend themselves.” During the Jim Crow era, some southern states passed laws limiting or prohibiting firearm ownership by Black Americans. ¹⁶

In his classes, he informs his listeners that Black people must be extra clear they own a firearm to defend themselves. He tells students to carefully “Follow the rules, and communicate with law enforcement.” ¹⁷

Toure said, “The gun control debate was done when the Second Amendment was written. It’s not a debate anymore. It never was a debate. … Government is not the authority.” ¹⁸

After a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd in 2020, Toure argued, “The police, as we see, will leave. They will not come to save you. They will not save our businesses.” ¹⁹

Political Activity

Black Guns Matter founder Maj Toure has argued the answer to violence is not more gun regulation, but more gun owners. ²⁰

Toure ran for a seat on the Philadelphia City Council as a candidate for the Libertarian Party. He has also spoken about the Second Amendment with conservative lawmakers. ²¹

Toure has testified before the House Judiciary Committee about the need for more arms and firearms training in the Black community in September 2019 in a hearing titled “Community Responses to Gun Violence in our Cities.” ²²

In April 2023, he testified to the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee in opposition to proposed state gun control laws. ²³

Toure has spoken to the Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual gathering of conservatives. ²⁴

Toure previously claimed that the Black Lives Matter movement was defrauding Black Americans and laundering money to Democrats. ²⁵

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2. Sher, Isaac, et al. “A group called ‘Black Guns Matter’ is teaching Black Americans how to use firearms.” Business Insider. July 15, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/black-guns-matter-maj-toure-second-amendment-2020-6.
3. “Community Responses to Gun Violence in our Cities.” House Judiciary Committee. September 26, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=2267
4. “Community Responses to Gun Violence in our Cities.” House Judiciary Committee. September 26, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=2267
5. Stossel, John. “Black Guns Matter.” Creators Syndicate. December 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/22/black-guns-matter
6. Chan, Melissa. “Racial Tensions in the U.S. Are Helping to Fuel a Rise in Black Gun Ownership.” Time. November 17, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://time.com/5912612/black-gun-owners/
7. Sher, Isaac, et al. “A group called ‘Black Guns Matter’ is teaching Black Americans how to use firearms.” Business Insider. July 15, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/black-guns-matter-maj-toure-second-amendment-2020-6
8.  Wisner, Matthew. “’Black Guns Matter’ Founder: An Armed Society is a Polite Society.” Fox Business. February 23, 2017. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/black-guns-matter-founder-an-armed-society-is-a-polite-society
9.  Stossel, John. “Black Guns Matter.” Creators Syndicate. December 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/22/black-guns-matter.
10. Fink, Jenni. “After Nipsey Hussle’s Death, Black Guns Matter Founder Pushes for Conflict Resolution Skills.” Newsweek. April 2, 2010. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.newsweek.com/after-nipsey-hussles-death-black-guns-matter-founder-pushes-conflict-1383947
11.  Fink, Jenni. “After Nipsey Hussle’s Death, Black Guns Matter Founder Pushes for Conflict Resolution Skills.” Newsweek. April 2, 2010. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.newsweek.com/after-nipsey-hussles-death-black-guns-matter-founder-pushes-conflict-1383947
12. Wisner, Matthew. “’Black Guns Matter’ Founder: An Armed Society is a Polite Society.” Fox Business. February 23, 2017. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/black-guns-matter-founder-an-armed-society-is-a-polite-society
13. Stossel, John. “Black Guns Matter.” Creators Syndicate. December 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/22/black-guns-matter
14. Sher, Isaac, et al. “A group called ‘Black Guns Matter’ is teaching Black Americans how to use firearms.” Business Insider. July 15, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/black-guns-matter-maj-toure-second-amendment-2020-6.
15.  Stossel, John. “Black Guns Matter.” Creators Syndicate. December 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/22/black-guns-matter
16.  Stossel, John. “Black Guns Matter.” Creators Syndicate. December 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.creators.com/read/john-stossel/12/22/black-guns-matter
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18. Altus, Kristen and Wulfsohn, Joseph A. “Black Guns Matter founder says only ‘acceptable’ gun control is more ‘safe, responsible’ owners saving lives.” Fox News. July 22, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/media/only-acceptable-gun-control-more-safe-responsible-owners-maj-toure
19. Sher, Isaac, et al. “A group called ‘Black Guns Matter’ is teaching Black Americans how to use firearms.” Business Insider. July 15, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/black-guns-matter-maj-toure-second-amendment-2020-6
20. Allyn, Bobby. “’Black Guns Matter’ Focuses On Firearms Education To Decrease Violence.” NPR. June 20, 2016. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2016/06/20/482750884/black-guns-matter-focuses-on-firearms-education-to-decrease-violence
21.  Sher, Isaac, et al. “A group called ‘Black Guns Matter’ is teaching Black Americans how to use firearms.” Business Insider. July 15, 2020. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.businessinsider.com/black-guns-matter-maj-toure-second-amendment-2020-6
22. “Community Responses to Gun Violence in our Cities.” House Judiciary Committee. September 26, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=2267
23. Levine, Molly. “Leader of Black Guns Matter testifies on Rhode Island gun legislation.” 10 WJAR. April 17, 2023. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://turnto10.com/politics/black-guns-matter-nonprofit-gun-control-firearm-legislation-rhode-island-house-judiciary-committee-lawmakers-assault-rifles-safety-training-conflict-resolution-governor-dan-mckee
24. Schreckinger, Ben. “New CPAC stars: Black gun rights activists.” Politico. March 1, 2019. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/01/gun-rights-african-americans-1197153
25. Schwartz, Ian. “Black Guns Matter Founder Maj Toure: Black Lives Matter “Designed Specifically To Fleece The Black Community.” Real Clear Politics. May 24, 2021. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2021/05/24/black_guns_matter_founder_maj_toure_black_lives_matter_designed_specifically_to_fleece_the_black_community.html#!