Black Violence
After the Civil War many communities formed black militias to protect themselves from white terrorism. These black militias were the primary targets of white resistance ranging from other white militias to organizations of white supremacy such as the Ku Klux Klan. Often times these black militias were deprived of supplies due to interception of supplies by other white militias. They were then attacked and if they lost white groups were able to take immediate control the area.
"Almost universally the first thing done was to disarm the negroes and leave them defenseless" -Albion Tourgee
The KKK's objective was to disarm all blacks and leave them unable to defend their other rights. Unable to defend themselves they would then be subject whatever other oppression the KKK tried to impose. This was important because it showed how gun rights were unequal at the time. Only white men were really able to own guns without fear of being attacked. This is also ironic because white groups were doing this out of fear of blacks with guns. At this time, many southern white men saw a black man with a gun as the most dangerous thing possible. The Congressional Report detailed one arms roundup like this,
"Almost universally the first thing done was to disarm the negroes and leave them defenseless" -Albion Tourgee
The KKK's objective was to disarm all blacks and leave them unable to defend their other rights. Unable to defend themselves they would then be subject whatever other oppression the KKK tried to impose. This was important because it showed how gun rights were unequal at the time. Only white men were really able to own guns without fear of being attacked. This is also ironic because white groups were doing this out of fear of blacks with guns. At this time, many southern white men saw a black man with a gun as the most dangerous thing possible. The Congressional Report detailed one arms roundup like this,