Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) dropped a bombshell on Bloomberg’s Balance of Power Thursday, claiming China’s eyeing Taiwan like a predator because the U.S. is sanctifying violations of the international rules-based order amid the Iran conflict—making it open season on the island democracy. His exact words: it looks like open season on Taiwan, as we sanctify, basically, violating the international rules-based order, attacking… (the clip cuts off, but the implication is clear). This from a Democrat who’s long pushed for Taiwan aid while voting against key American self-defense measures at home. It’s a wild pivot: Krishnamoorthi frets over Beijing’s aggression when U.S. focus shifts abroad, yet his party routinely demonizes the very tools—firearms—that keep nations free.
Zoom out for context: China’s not just saber-rattling; they’re ramping up military drills around Taiwan, testing U.S. resolve while we’re bogged down in Middle East flare-ups. Krishnamoorthi’s right that perceived weakness invites predators—history’s littered with examples from Pearl Harbor to Ukraine. But here’s the 2A tie-in: if America projects frailty overseas by violating rules (read: enforcing red lines), it mirrors the domestic disarmament push. Anti-gunners like those in Krishnamoorthi’s orbit argue for rules-based gun control to prevent open season on streets, yet that same logic erodes deterrence everywhere. A nation that can’t arm its citizens won’t credibly arm its allies or deter Xi Jinping. Pro-2A folks see the parallel: strength through self-reliance, whether it’s a Taiwanese farmer with a rifle or an Illinois concealed carrier staring down threats.
Implications for the 2A community? This is red meat for recruitment. As global tensions spike, remind fence-sitters that the Second Amendment isn’t just about hunting—it’s the ultimate rules-based order for sovereignty. Krishnamoorthi’s slip exposes the hypocrisy: Democrats cry open season abroad while engineering it at home via ATF regs and red-flag laws. If we’re serious about Taiwan (and we should be), start by fortifying America First—pass national reciprocity, crush pistol brace bans, and show the world we’re armed, vigilant, and unapologetic. Weakness invites war; readiness preserves peace. Who’s with me?
