Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) took to CNN’s News Central Thursday to lament the recent attack on a Michigan synagogue, claiming he’s not surprised it happened—and pinning part of the blame on a federal government shutdown crippling DHS operations. It’s never good to have security apparati across the federal government shut down, he said, before swiping at the Trump administration’s wrong priorities. The clip cuts off mid-sentence, but the message is clear: in Auchincloss’s world, more bloated federal bureaucracy is the cure for rising antisemitism and violent crime, and any pushback on endless spending or open borders is just misplaced focus.

This is peak progressive deflection, and it’s a masterclass in why the Second Amendment community needs to stay vigilant. Auchincloss isn’t wrong that a shutdown disrupts some federal functions—DHS handles everything from border security to grants for faith-based protection under programs like the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. But let’s contextualize: antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed 300% since October 7, 2023, per ADL data, fueled by unchecked immigration from terror-hotspot regions and a cultural embrace of anti-Israel rhetoric on the left. Trump-era policies slashed illegal crossings by historic margins, while Biden’s reversal unleashed chaos—FBI stats show a 20%+ spike in hate crimes overall. Shutting down DHS spending isn’t the villain; it’s a symptom of Congress’s failure to prioritize real security over pork-barrel waste. Auchincloss dodges the root causes—failed vetting, sanctuary cities, and DEI rot in law enforcement—to cry for more government cash, ignoring how armed synagogue security teams in states like Texas have thwarted attacks without waiting for Uncle Sam.

For 2A advocates, this is red meat: it underscores why self-reliance trumps federal dependency. Places like Michigan, with its strict gun laws and no shall-issue concealed carry until recently, leave synagogues as soft targets relying on underfunded feds. Contrast that with pro-2A strongholds where armed congregants and rapid private response have saved lives—think the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue hero who charged the gunman. Trump’s wrong priorities? Hardly. His push for border walls and defunding sanctuary nonsense directly bolsters community safety, freeing up resources for actual threats. The implication is stark: as Dems like Auchincloss demand endless DHS bloat, 2A folks must amplify the data—armed citizens deter 2.5 million crimes yearly (CDC estimates)—and fight for concealed carry reciprocity and synagogue arming reforms. In a world of shutdowns and surging hate, your AR-15 at the ready beats a government check any day.