The fact that a double standard on gun rights exists between the politically powerful and the rest of us is no surprise in 2026. Many U.S. leaders proclaim guns to be the root of all evil while living their lives behind a shield of armed protectors.
Nowhere is this irony demonstrated more clearly than in the Second City.
Mayor spends exorbitant sum on personal protection while opposing gun rights
As the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) noted, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) hardly practices what he preaches. Nary a day passes that he hasn’t railed against Second Amendment rights and vowed to get “weapons of war” off the streets.
But for him, it’s an entirely different song.
The NSSF report revealed that Johnson’s day-to-day activities are guarded by a rotation of up to 150 Chicago Police Department officers. The price tag for this extraordinary security detail? A cool $30 million per year.
Law-abiding citizens must fight to be able to defend themselves
NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Keane observed that Johnson supports “some of Illinois’ most restrictive firearm policies.” He said the signal to law-abiding citizens could not be more apparent.
“The practical message to Chicago residents was clear,” Keane declared. “Government officials and their armed details can enjoy lawful personal protection, but the public should accept tighter limits on the tools of lawful self-defense.”
The Second Amendment advocate is spot on.
Anti-gun crusaders love to proclaim their opposition to good guys with guns while depending on them to keep them safe. They miss the irony of seamlessly performing their duties under armed guard while the little people must defend themselves with sticks and rocks.
Johnson’s hypocrisy is hardly unique; it’s just on a massive scale that defies explanation. The Constitution does not provide for the protection of society’s elites more than the average taxpaying citizen, and the rank-and-file have every right to protect themselves and their loved ones.
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