The fastest-growing segment of the Second Amendment community is Black Americans—and here in Massachusetts, I believe we are the missing piece of the political conversation. Personal safety is a fundamental civil right. When the state imposes complex licensing barriers, high fees, and ever-shifting legal hurdles, it disproportionately disarms law-abiding citizens in urban and minority communities. As an NRA Certified Basic Pistol, Home Firearm Safety, and Assistant Shotgun Instructor—and through my work highlighted in The Boston Globe with 617 Defense—I see this shift every day on the range. But I am far from alone: a growing, dedicated coalition of Black firearms instructors across the Commonwealth is leading this charge alongside me. Together, we are meeting an unprecedented demand for certified safety education and legal self-defense training across Boston, Springfield, Brockton, Stoughton, and Randolph. We are taking action where it matters most—building community safety from within, training responsible gun owners, and challenging lawmakers on Beacon Hill. That is why a 'NO' vote on Question 9 is imperative for civil rights. Question 9 is a veto referendum on Chapter 135 (H.4885). In a Massachusetts veto referendum, voting 'NO' is the vote to repeal the law. Repealing Chapter 135 is critical because its expanded restrictions, bureaucratic burdens, and licensing hurdles create arbitrary barriers that disproportionately strip minority and working-class citizens of their constitutional right to protect themselves and their families. Equal protection under the law must include the right to self-defense, and our movement is ensuring our voices can no longer be ignored."