Citizens periodically vote in a broad array of elections, and these results are widely reported for all to see. But there’s another form of voting, a much more powerful statement, that is largely overlooked.
The people express themselves with their checkbooks and their feet. Nothing exposes a state’s suppression of its citizens’ rights more than watching the population flee for greener pastures.
Pastures that respect the right to keep and bear arms.
Anti-gunners are uprooting longstanding sporting traditions
Washington state has a fine sporting tradition dating back to when the first settlers arrived in the Pacific Northwest and even longer. But now, in 2026, the state is controlled by anti-gun forces bent on placing every conceivable barrier between the good people and the free exercise of Second Amendment rights.
The Gun Mag used figures provided by the Washington Department of Licensing to reach a startling conclusion.
The number of active concealed carry permit licenses in the state plummeted by over 10,000 starting December 1, 2025. In less than four months, many Washington residents decided that the hassle imposed by politicians was not worth the trouble.
States that respect gun rights are enjoying a healthy population boom
Or did they?
Gun rights advocates note the sharp demographic reversal underway in The Evergreen State. According to National Taxpayers Union Foundation data, it now ranks number 43 nationally in population loss, with a taxpaying citizen pulling up stakes every 30 minutes.
Who’s number 50? California, of course, with a resident leaving every one minute and 44 seconds. And what do both Western states have in common? A fierce opposition to Second Amendment rights.
And these travelers are moving en masse to gun-friendly climates such as Texas and Florida. If you want to determine what people truly believe, an issue that will cause them to uproot and move hundreds or thousands of miles away is near the top of the list.
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.