Ayesha Roscoe

When we come back, NPR's roving national correspondent, Frank Langfitt, tells us what's driven Charles to embrace guns and the growing national trend he represents.

We'll be right back.

We're back with the Sunday Story.

Frank Langfitt, welcome to the program.

So, Frank, what drew you to this topic and to Charles?

So what's Charles, like, specifically afraid of?

I mean, that's really striking to hear.

Of course, you know, Charles, he's just one person.

How do we know that he represents something bigger?

Like, how many people did you talk to?

So can you tell me more about these clubs for liberal gun owners?

So you have people who are telling you they're afraid of President Trump's policies and his rhetoric, as well as, you know, potentially what some of his supporters may do.

What does the White House have to say about all of this?

I mean, it is a fact, though, that President Trump does also speak very harshly about the many people and groups that he doesn't like, right?

Frank, so the people that you talked to, these were people who had until recently been maybe anti-gun or didn't really have experience with guns?

How do you get to this point of, I'm going to go out and buy a gun?

You know, this is a father-daughter day at the gun range in 2025 and not who you would necessarily expect.

Now, this trend of, you know, Black people, liberals, LGBTQ folks, you know, buying guns, it didn't just start on election night in 2024, right?

But isn't it also true that, you know, when Democrats get in office, then a lot of right leaning people go out and buy guns?

Is there any way to know just how many people are actually buying guns these days because they're scared of the political environment?