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[armedallies-blog]

THE ARMED ALLIES CHALLENGE

White Supremacy has had a chokehold on the United States since the country’s founding. White people, rich or poor, gay or straight, country or city living, benefit from the white privilege made possible only through the white supremacy baked into the government and society of the nation. One of the most dangerous beneficiaries of this privilege is the white liberal. White conservatives have only a thin veil of religion or love of freedom to mask their overt racism, but liberals claim to be allies. They are tainted with a willful ignorance of history that has laid the groundwork for the systemic racism keeping black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) people down to this day. They refuse to look honestly at the plight of their BIPOC neighbor, hindered in buying property, killed by police, paid less across every industry, and blamed for society’s problems. They believe supporting BIPOC communities through voting for their representation in government and demonstrations of allyship over social media is enough. They are wrong.

A group of white people has emerged from the racist ignorance of their upbringing. We are dedicated to directly and powerfully making our society more just for all people. Because of this dedication we are determined to repay what was stolen from our BIPOC neighbors, but we are often frustrated in the effort. It is not enough to donate to advocacy organizations, vote for leaders who claim to care about minorities, and attack racism in our daily lives. We must do more. We must directly challenge white supremacy and fight state sanctioned violence. We must commit to a radical form of reparations to the people our ancestors took part in killing and enslaving. Like the radical abolitionists who came before us, we must repay until it hurts. We must repay in a way that matters, in a way that enrages and terrifies the white supremacist establishment. We must do what we can to enable minorities to defend themselves and their communities. We must be allies in more than name.

 The Armed Allies Challenge is the following:

1. Connect with a BIPOC friend or loved one who does not own a gun but wants one. They must be legally allowed to own a gun. 

2. Before all else, take them to the range. Teach them safe gun operation and handling. Teach them thoroughly and freely. The Armed Allies Challege requires time and effort as well as a financial burden.

3. Conduct a private party transfer of a gun you originally bought for yourself at a gun store with a federal firearms license or buy a gift certificate for your friend. It must be conducted with a background check and it must follow all local and national laws, in particular 18 U.S. Code § 922. Unlawful acts. There are many laws, but of particular importance are: you cannot buy a gun for another person directly and lie about it on the forms given you at the store, this is a felony. You cannot ship across state lines. You cannot give to a minor, felon, alien, or fugitive from justice. Some states have additional laws. You must familiarize yourself with the law and make sure what you do is legal.

4. Make it known to trusted anti-racist friends that you have stepped up to the Armed Allies Challenge.

 The Armed Allies Challenge rejects:

1. Illegal gun transfer. For this challenge to continue, it must be within the law. We cannot allow straw purchases. White supremacists will try to stop this by any means available to them. We must not give them the ammunition to do so. 

2. Fund transfer as an organization. The giving must be from person to person.

3. The white savior complex. The challenge gives back to those who were stolen from. It is not charity.

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