A combination of growth and vocalization as a direct result of the growth.
I think we have grown more in numbers since the fall of the ban. The publicity over the attempt to make the ban permanent, and it’s final sun setting, put military style rifles in the spot light even more so than before, or during the ban.
Now, after the fall of the ban, more and more folks who were never interested in military style firearms, or were misinformed, thinking the ban put a complete restriction on them owning AR’s, are realizing that the ban really was BS, are actually seeing for them selves by purchasing their first AR. Take a look at how much the membership here has grown since the bans expiration.
With all of this taking place, stores that once did not cater to the “military rifle” crowd have rethought their approach to sales and have started including AR’s in their stores inventories. Manufacturers who never built and sold AR’s are now starting to produce them. This in itself has given AR’s a boost in the exposure needed for others to see that the ban was complete BS.
Comments like Mr. Zumbos, and the attempt to introduce legislation like HR 1022, should only motivate us even more so than ever before to stand up for our 2nd amendment rights! What part of the 2nd amendment do these folks NOT understand! Many members here can be quoted as saying “the fight is not over with the sun setting of the ban, we must remain vigilant!”
Well, here we are folks.