Written by Jordan Stein Published: 20 May 2020

GOA Celebrates Passage of Anti-Red Flag Law in Oklahoma

Springfield, VA – Gun Owners of America and its Sooner members are celebrating the passage of Senate Bill 1081 in Oklahoma, which prohibits funds for Red Flag gun confiscation orders.

“Oklahoma, which recently became a Constitutional Carry state, has been showing the way in restoring and reaffirming the right to keep and bear arms,” Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of GOA said. “At a time when the anti-gun Left and even some on the right are pushing these dangerous Red Flag gun confiscation orders, it’s very encouraging to see a state stand up for the Constitution and Bill of Rights.”

While GOA supported this legislation, we thank the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association for its leadership in getting this legislation passed. GOA is also grateful to the all gun owners and activists in the Sooner State who worked hard to press their legislators – and the Governor – to support this legislation.

Erich Pratt, or another GOA spokesperson, is available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

— GOA —

Congratulations for Your Hard Work!

Thank you so much for being part of GOA’s grassroots team.

Written by Erich Pratt Published: 17 April 2020

This week GOA activists responded to threats by Democrats to stick gun control into a COVID-19 relief bill.

And wow, your response was huge!

Together, GOA activists generated one million emails into the Senate, urging Republicans to kill the radical gun control agenda of the anti-gun Left.

And now, we have good news to report.

We are hearing from Capitol Hill insiders that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Senate GOP leaders are blocking plans to stick red flag gun confiscation orders onto the COVID-19 relief bill.

“You don’t pop the cork until they’ve banged the gavel,” said GOA Legislative Counsel Michael Hammond in a published oped.

“But we are cautiously optimistic that we are in a good place with respect to any effort to add gun control to the successive coronavirus bills,” Hammond said.  “And if we win this battle, this will presumably be the last chance for gun control advocates to push their agenda before the November elections.”

Again, thanks so much for all your hard work.

Click here to Upgrade Your Membership so we can multiply our efforts even more!

GOA Takes the Fight into Repressive States

We told you that GOA would continue to bring you updates about what our legal team has been doing.

You will remember that we have reported on some incredible victories from around the country — including North Carolina and Pennsylvania to name a few.

The battle began in earnest after several states closed down gun stores and ranges using the Coronavirus pandemic as an excuse.

Officials in these states claimed their actions were justified when federal guidance failed to list these establishments as “essential.”

The events which followed were reported by Jared of Guns & Gadgets, which is one of the premier sources of news about Second Amendment-protected rights in the country:

Gun Owners of America and Gun Owners of California sent a letter to Donald Trump asking him to reconsider….

That same day Trump responded to the letter; and the Department of Homeland Security changed their designation and [included] gun shops, retailers, manufacturers [and] shooting ranges.

Officials in several jurisdictions responded by reversing themselves. But other officials in very repressive states dug in their heels.

So thanks to your support, GOA’s legal team has been active in these anti-gun states, including:

• Massachusetts
• New Mexico
• New York
• Virginia
• Washington

Again, we want to thank you for your support. That keeps Gun Owners of America on the frontlines, fighting for your rights which are protected by the Second Amendment.

We can’t do all this without your help!

GOA in the Media

Even though the Trump administration declared gun stores and ranges to be “essential,” several jurisdictions across the country refused to comply.

This was one of the big reasons that GOA and Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC) threatened several lawsuits in the Tar Heel State.

As a result, gun grabbers were furious with Gun Owners of America.

In one of the more comical articles, the headlines blared:

“Gun Nuts Demanded That Durham Declare

Gun Shops Essential. Durham Gave In.”

Well, if you guessed that GOA and, by inference, that YOU are the aforementioned “gun nuts,” then advance to the head of the class!

Reading the article, you sense the disgust of the author for GOA and GRNC.

And the article ends with this lament by the mayor of Durham, Steve Schewel, who is a virulent anti-gunner:

“Our lawyers said we couldn’t win,” Schewel [said]. “And not only that they were gonna win, but that we were gonna have to pay [GOA and GRNC’s] legal fees.

“And so that’s why we made the decision [to reopen gun stores] — which is, you know, awful. Gun stores are not essential. In fact, they are damaging. It’s terrible to be forced into this position.”

Again, GOA is able to take on cases like this because of our members generous donations.

If you’d like to contribute to GOA’s Legal Defense Fund, please go here.

And finally, if you would like to view or read a sample of GOA’s media appearances, here are a sample:

1) Antonia Okafor, GOA’s Director of Outreach, takes on several liberals in discussing the spike in gun sales and government restrictions in the era of COVID-19.

2) Ammoland questions why Virginia’s Governor is running scared from Gun Owners of America.

3) GOA Legislative Counsel Michael Hammond explains that while gun owners can be cautiously optimistic that firearms restrictions will not end up in the COVID-19 relief bill, we still need to remain vigilant.

4) View two brief videos announcing some of the victories that GOA and its members have achieved together. Be sure to check out these videos here:

* Are You Tired of Winning Yet

* GOA Fights Against Petty Tyrants

5) Jared of Guns & Gadgets announces GOA’s plea to the Trump administration to declare gun stores and gun ranges as “essential businesses.”

6) Gun author Dan Wos explains why GOA is pushing Constitutional Carry as to the answer to combat the gun restrictions that Americans are experiencing during this COVID-19 crisis.

7) GOA’s Rachel Malone joins the Jim & Michael Show to discuss GOA’s response gun store closures and other threats to the right to keep and bear arms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

8) Alan Rice, GOA’s New Hampshire State Director was interviewed by America’s Voice News about the spike in gun sales and the inability of NICS to handle the workload which resulted in multi-day delays. Alan explained that GOA has opposed NICS for over twenty years precisely because it can prevent people from obtaining guns when they need them.

As you can see, there’s a whole lot going on.

Thanks again for staying with us in the fight!

Victories in CA, NC, NJ and Elsewhere!

Written by Erich Pratt Published: 02 April 2020

There’s a lot happening right now. We’re advancing freedom all across the country and achieving great success.

But we’re not doing this alone. We couldn’t realize these victories without your help.

You have been an indispensable support. And I certainly hope you won’t get tired of winning.

Yesterday, we reported good news out of North Carolina. The mayor of Greensboro reversed herself and now agrees that gun stores within city limits can remain open, after being contacted by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC).

The Mayor had previously told the media that gun stores were not “essential” businesses.

Likewise, Wake County, North Carolina, reopened its gun stores after a similar legal opinion sent by GOA and GRNC.

And the sheriff in that same county began reissuing permits after receiving a legal “shot across the bow” from Gun Owners of America.

These victories are just the tip of the iceberg.

GOA and Gun Owners of California sent a joint letter last week urging the Trump administration to list gun stores as “essential businesses.”

Thankfully, the administration responded favorably and issued a revised guidance that now classifies gun stores as “essential.” As reported by The Washington Times on Saturday:

“That [revised] guidance came on the heels
of a Friday letter to the Trump administration from the
Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners of California (GOC),
which requested such classification.”
— The Washington Times, March 28, 2020

This revised classification has created ripple effects from coast to coast. In Los Angeles, the sheriff has done an about-face and is allowing gun stores to remain open.

And states like New Jersey have now reversed themselves and declared that gun stores can remain open.

GOA’s legal team is currently looking at other states which are refusing to abide by the federal guidance regarding gun stores.

We will bring you updates as news develops.

GOA grassroots making a huge difference in regaining freedom in Pennsylvania

After some sheriffs stopped issuing Licenses to Carry Firearms (LTCF) in March, GOA sprang into action.

I coauthored a letter with our Pennsylvania State Director, Dr. Val Finnell, and sent it to every sheriff in the state.

We explained to them that, by law, they are required to process these applications. Not only that, Dr. Finnell outlined specific measures that other sheriffs were taking to reduce the risk of infection.

But bottom line: Our letter served as a reminder to these government officials that it is imperative they carry out the letter of the law and issue concealed weapons permits — even during the Coronavirus pandemic.

GOA followed this letter with a grassroots action alert in the Keystone state. Our activists deluged their sheriffs, demanding that they get back to work and preserve their constituents constitutional rights protected by the Second Amendment.

Well, the sheriffs were amazed at outpouring of support for the Second Amendment.

Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said: “Wow, we got a lot of blowback” from residents of the county.

And guess what? Sheriff Albert has started reissuing permits, and so have many other sheriffs as well.

This shows the power of grassroots activism. We are VERY THANKFUL to our Pennsylvania members for taking action and making a difference in their state!

And we are grateful that many Sheriffs have resumed issuing permits to their county residents.

Constitutional Carry would fix the COVID-19 fears in Pennsylvania

Tragically, this snafu in the Keystone State is the inevitable result of the government forcing good people to get permission from local officials before exercising their rights.

In the latest episode of Bullet Points with Dan Wos, he explains why the current Coronavirus crisis shows the need for Constitutional Carry.

Whenever our natural rights are infringed, you can expect there to be negative repercussions.

But in 17 states, law-abiding citizens can carry firearms without permission and without a permit.

Permitless carry means no delays … no infringements … and no denials of people’s God-given rights.

All of which underscores the need for passing Constitutional Carry all across the nation.

GOA in the News

I recently discussed the need for Constitutional Carry on The Dove TV. I explained what a difference permitless carry would make in Pennsylvania and other states, because the right to keep and bear arms shouldn’t be suspended in times of emergency.

I also spoke about the efforts some state organizations have taken to defend your rights, as well.

For example, the Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC) has been doing a great job lobbying officials in the Pennsylvania capitol.

The Governor initially shut down the state but left gun stores in limbo. So FOAC did a lot of behind the scenes lobbying … their attorney launched a lawsuit … and GOA members supplemented these efforts through grassroots activism.

The good news is that the Governor reversed himself last week and specifically exempted gun stores from the shutdown (for the purpose of selling firearms).

As you can imagine, there are many other states and localities that GOA is involved in defending right now.

We can’t report on them all yet, so please stay tuned for future updates.

In the meantime, we thank you for standing with Gun Owners of America.

Please make sure to distribute this alert to encourage your pro-gun family and friends. Let them know that with their support to GOA’s Legal Defense Fund, grassroots organizations can make a huge difference!

GOA Submits Comments to ATF on February 24, 2020:

On behalf of two million law-abiding gun owners, Gun Owners of America is writing to object to the proposed revisions to the Firearms Transaction Record/Registro de Transacción de Armas de Fuego—ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) promulgated on December 26, 2019. 

Particularly, our concerns are with the revised placement of sensitive information. 

 The proposed draft would record firearm manufacturer, model, and serial number information about the firearm to be transferred in Proposed Section A on the same page as the transferee’s full name, address, skin color, ethnicity, race, sex, weight, height, place and date of birth, and social security number in Proposed Section B.  

 This consolidation of sensitive information significantly reduces the effort necessary (1) to transfer ATF Form 4473s to facilities owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof or (2) to establish a system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, firearms transactions, or firearm dispositions in direct violation of the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, found in Title 18 U.S.C. § 923(g) and § 926. 

Our concerns are emboldened by past Federal Firearms License holders’ allegations of harassment, involuntary duplication of sensitive records, and involuntary removal of sensitive records in direct violation of the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act by ATF Industry Operations Investigators. 

 While this proposed draft purports to increase ATF compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, consolidating this sensitive information onto one page does not fulfill any of the stated “purposes” of the law in Title 44 U.S.C. §3501(1)-(11). 

 In fact, since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) was launched, this information has been separated by several pages on the ATF Form 4473. This caused no burden on, inefficiency of, or drop in productivity for individuals completing the form and in no way diminished the effectiveness of the ATF Form 4473’s role in the firearm transfer process.

 Thus, the revised placement of this sensitive information on the same page is not warranted. Considering (1) the intent of and strong language used by Congress in the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act to prohibit the creation of a firearm registry, (2) the clear degree to which these revisions might serve to facilitate future firearm or firearm owner registration in violation of these statutes, and (3) the lack of clear “purpose” for reforming these sections of the ATF Form 4473 under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives should reject the proposed draft. 

In Liberty, 

Michael Hammond 
Legislative Counsel 
Gun Owners of America