PSN Special Report: The John Brown Gun Club

A look at the network of left-wing gun clubs named after the abolitionist John Brown — how they blend community defense, activism, and controversy in a divided political climate.

The Story

What Is the John Brown Gun Club?

The John Brown Gun Club (JBGC) is a decentralized network of left-wing, pro-gun organizations that promote what they call community defense.
Members say they aim to protect marginalized groups and counter racism and fascism.
They take their name from John Brown, the 19th-century abolitionist who believed armed resistance was justified against slavery.

Origins and Evolution

The first JBGC appeared in Kansas in the early 2000s, organizing firearm safety and self-defense training for working-class people.
After a few years, it inspired the broader Redneck Revolt network (founded in 2009), which shared the same philosophy but used the term “gun club” for local branches where firearms training was legal.

By the mid-2010s, new JBGC chapters had spread across the U.S.
Some remained tied to Redneck Revolt; others became fully independent.
Each operates independently, utilizing local leadership and funding.

What Chapters Do

Typical chapter activities include:

• Firearm safety and first-aid training

• Providing volunteer security at protests or community events

• Mutual-aid projects like “brake-light clinics” and free-meal programs

• Education on de-escalation and anti-racist organizing

Because the network is loosely structured, practices vary widely.
One chapter may focus on teaching safety; another may emphasize protest defense.

Publicly Known Chapters

Public reporting has documented active or recent chapters in:

• Puget Sound (WA) – one of the most visible, separated from Redneck Revolt in 2019

• Mid-Missouri – known for community safety workshops

• Steel City (PA), Elm Fork (TX), Wisconsin, and Los Angeles County

Chapters typically maintain social media pages and announce public events, rather than operating underground.

Legal Standing

The JBGC is not a designated extremist or terrorist organization in the United States.
However, armed groups at protests can trigger state anti-paramilitary laws, and several lawsuits — notably after Charlottesville (2017) — have sought to limit armed group appearances at demonstrations.
Most chapters emphasize legality and firearms training within state laws.

The John Brown Gun Club represents a new wave of left-wing gun ownership framed around anti-racism and self-defense.
Its decentralized nature makes it difficult to categorize — part firearm safety group, part activist network.
To some, it’s a bulwark against fascism; to others, a risky experiment in mixing activism with arms.

Either way, the JBGC is a reminder that America’s gun culture now spans both sides of the political divide.

How to Identify Chapters (Publicly)

Look for:

• Local websites or social-media pages using “John Brown Gun Club – [City/State]”

• News coverage of mutual-aid or protest-security events

• Public training or community announcements

Always verify information through multiple open sources.