Vote Accordingly: Open Borders Plus Gun Rights Restrictions is a Recipe for Chaos

Late last week, more than 70,000 Moroccans surged past the border fence and seaway barriers at the tiny Spanish enclave of Ceuta — located on the northern most tip of Africa, bordering Morocco, the Mediterranean Sea and across the Strait of Gibraltar and mainland Spain.

The incursion is a mixed bag of blame, with some parties pointing to Spain’s lax immigration policies and others singling out online rumors of open borders. The result was border invaders, fueled by human smugglers, pouring across the border by land and sea. Spain now says most of the 70,000 have been returned to Morocco. But, according to news reports, nearly 2,000 remain in Ceuta or already slipped through.

Fox News reported an ominous fact of the situation, revealing “the unprecedented crossing was fueled by criminal smuggling networks and disinformation spread through social media, as Spanish authorities were examining whether known criminals or suspected jihadists exploited the scale and disorder of the crossing to enter Ceuta undetected.” It doesn’t take much imagination to think about what kind of atrocities could take place in Europe or beyond if those fears are closer to reality.

Separately, it’s worth knowing that Spain has extremely restrictive laws for its citizens to own firearms for self-defense purposes. People in Ceuta and a short distance across the straight into mainland Spain have little ability to protect themselves against criminals slipping through porous borders.

Déjà Vu Across the Atlantic

Some European Union member countries called for stricter border closures in Ceuta since it offers usually easy travel into the heart of Europe. But the macro view of the unfolding situation offers similar dynamics to what has been experienced right here in America. And it should be fresh in the memories of most Americans.

During former President Joe Biden’s administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded approximately 11 million total border encounters nationwide over the course of his four-year term. Approximately 8 million to 8.5 million of those occurring specifically at the Southwest land border. The actual number of illegal border crossing is likely much higher.

That dwarfs what was just seen in Ceuta. On top of that, it is a fact that some illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. southern border did have terrorist ties and violent plans.

In just one instance, according to Reuters, a smuggler with ties to a foreign extremist group helped migrants enter the U.S. from Mexico. That smuggler was based in Turkey and had links to the jihadist Islamic State, also known as ISIS. These are just two of the near countless examples America has dealt with over the past several years.

In fact, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, since fiscal year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has apprehended nearly 400 individuals on the federal terrorist watchlist that were attempting to cross the U.S. southern border illegally. Over the same period, CBP intercepted tens of thousands of individuals with prior criminal convictions, though exact total numbers of individuals who successfully crossed un-apprehended remain unknown.

Of note too, it’s not just along the southern border where these violent people are coming into America. During the Biden administration, the U.S. northern border with Canada experienced a dramatic surge in migrant encounters and apprehensions.

The threats facing law-abiding citizens of one country by the actions of others is real. The decision by a government to disarm its citizens from the means of protecting themselves, their families and their property from those violent criminals is a choice.

Choose to be Prepared

The difference between the illegal border crossings in Spain and America is that Americans aren’t left defenseless. Americans enjoy the right to keep and bear arms. Wherever law-abiding Americans live, their constitutional rights protect the ability to lawfully purchase firearms for their own protection. That’s why the firearm industry exists—to provide the means of exercising the Second Amendment.

Examples of governments choosing to render their citizens defenseless against violent criminals and terrorists isn’t limited to nations across the ocean. That’s happening closer to home than many may realize. Within America’s borders, gun control activists and elected politicians are choosing to ban commonly owned firearms, including rifles, shotguns and handguns, limiting the ability of law-abiding Americans exercise their rights because of the criminal actions of those who ignore the law.

In states like Rhode Island, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, California, New York, Delaware and Maryland, there are constant attacks and unconstitutional limitations that chill Second Amendment freedoms. Millions of Americans are at the mercy of government bureaucrats who care little for constitutional rights.

Owning firearms is a God-given right. NSSF encourages all law-abiding Americans to exercise that right and to do so responsibly. Educate and train. Practice and understand how firearms operate. Be prepared.

You may not live in a state with strict gun control laws, or one that borders another country. But you’re only one election away from losing your freedoms. NSSF encourages all lawful gun owners to #GUNVOTE in November.