Up in arms: Biden administration uses Russophobia to limit American gun rights

The latest sanctions against Russia do more than attempt to tarnish the country’s image over unproven allegations. They are a clear shot across the bow of the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association.

For those Americans who thought the Democratic Party could not possibly get any more mileage out of the tired bogeyman known as Russophobia, they had better start stocking up on Russian-made rifles and ammunition before store shelves are empty. 

Earlier this month, the Biden administration slapped new sanctions against Russia – and, indirectly, American gun owners; more on that shortly – over last year’s alleged ‘Novichok poisoning’ of Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny. As often happens with US sanctions, no proof has been provided to back up the allegations.  

The latest raft of punitive actions against Moscow should surprise exactly nobody. After all, even the 1,200-kilometer Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a completely legitimate bilateral project between Russia and Germany to supply Western Europe with energy supplies, has attracted the wrath of Washington.