Month: August 2025

Uncategorized

Tomorrow Is The Override Day (Updated)

August 25, 2025 by 1 Comment

The NC House has released its calendar for tomorrow. On the agenda are six veto overrrides including that of SB50- Freedom To Carry NC.

If you haven’t called your representative and if you have not called the wavering Republicans, do it first thing in the morning. Send them an email tonight as well. You can find the full directory of House members here and my post on the wavering three. Rep. Howard Penny has indicated for sure he will vote to override.

UPDATE: The override vote on the veto of SB50 has been re-calendared. New date for the override vote is September 22nd. This means we have some work to do to gather the necessary votes. Keep the pressure on on the recalcitrant Republicans.

Uncategorized

2025 NRA Nominating Committee Report

August 25, 2025 by 4 Comments

The NRA’s Nominating Committee met this past weekend to evaluate candidates for the 2026 Board of Director’s election. Out of 53 nominations, they selected 30 candidates of whom only 25 can be elected. Further, two candidates of the 30 nominated, former NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Steve Schreiner, were only nominated contingent to receiving an attendance waiver from the Board of Directors. Article IV, Section 1(a)(3) states that no existing director who has missed more than one-third of the meetings during his or her term is eligible for nomination absent a waiver. In other words, you need to have attended two out of three Board meetings per year.

Looking over the list which is embedded below, I am gratified to see that three out of the four people I nominated for the Board were nominated. I am very disappointed that Todd Vandermyde was not nominated. Based upon my conversation this afternoon with Todd, he is considering a run by petition. If he decides to do so, he will have my full support.

There are a number of other candidates whose petition drives I have supported on the list as well. These include Charlie Brown, Randy Luth, Todd Figard, and, of course, Amanda Suffecool. There are some good petition candidates out there in addition to Todd. One in particular would be Huey Laugesen of Colorado. I work with Huey on the Membership Committee and we need more like him on the Board. The job he has done in recruiting members for the Colorado Shooting Sports Association is fantastic.

The full report from the Nominating Committee is below:

Nominating Committee Report – 2025Download

Uncategorized

Keeping Up The Pressure On An Override

August 25, 2025 by

The veto of North Carolina’s permitless concealed carry bill, SB-50 – Freedom to Carry NC, was overriden quite quickly in the NC Senate. However, the NC House is another matter. There are still some holdout Republican lawmakers who have not signaled that they will vote for override. I understand one of the lawmakers is mad at Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico) over an agricultural pesticide bill even though SB50 was a Senate bill and permitless carry has nothing to do with agricultural pesticides. Such pettiness is dismaying.

While the NRA-ILA is wishy-washy on SB-50 for their own arcane reasons, other national organizations such as CCRKBA and NSSF are stronger in their support of an override. As Larry Keane of NSSF notes, “Now, North Carolina is at a crossroad. Lawmakers can trust those who overwhelmingly obey the law or cave to gun control pressure.”

On the state level, both the official NRA affiliate North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association and the independent Grass Roots North Carolina support an override of the veto. Having NCRPA on the side of a veto override is encouraging.

GRNC is pushing hard on the holdouts in the State House along with Speaker Destin Hall. In their latest alert, they had this to say.

It’s time to let the NC House Speaker Destin Hall that we want a floor vote on SB50. It’s time for Republicans to step up.
 
And, we have more holdouts that we want to feel the heat and see the light so they vote to uphold constitutional rights by overriding the veto of SB50 “Freedom to Carry.

Your pressure is working Rep Howard Penny felt the heat and saw the light and will now support the Veto Override. We need to keep the pressure on.


Take Immediate Action:

 CALL REPS Jimmy Dixon and Stephen Ross & Speaker Hall Immediately, let them know that you want them to vote YES to the SB 50 veto override. See phone numbers and message below.

emailicon.png Email REPS Jimmy Dixon and  Stephen Ross & Speaker Hall  Immediately, let them know that you want them to vote YES to the SB 50 veto override. See phone numbers and message below.

 If you reach voicemail, leave a firm and clear message—let him know you expect him to be present and support your rights. 

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
CALL THESE REPS LISTED BELOW IMMEDIATELY

Call and e-mail: Numbers and e-mails below.

DONATE TO GRNC: We are spending precious funds delivering phone and text messages into your districts. Please donate by going to: grnc.org/wp/2012/06/donate-to-or-join-grnc/                                                     
 CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone numbers:

Jimmy Dixon: (919) 715-3021
Stephen Ross: (919) 733-5820

Phone Message for Reps Dixon and Ross 

“I urge you to vote YES on the SB50 Veto override. I thank you for showing common sense on the HB193 Veto override, and I want you to show your resolve and support for common sense for freedom, the Second Amendment and your oath of office with a positive vote to override the SB50 Veto!” 


Phone Number for Destin Hall NC House Speaker

Speaker Destin Hall: 

Destin Hall: (919) 733-3451

Phone Message for Destin Hall

“Speaker Hall I implore you to get SB50 to the floor and rally support within your party to push the veto override of SB50 over the finish line. Now is not the time for a delay or backpedaling. The DEMS don’t seem to have a problem getting their party in line so we are wondering why you do” 



IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

E-MAIL THESE REPS LISTED BELOW IMMEDIATELY

Email and Messages 

Email to Speaker Destin Hall 

Destin.Hall@ncleg.gov

Subject: Bring SB50 Veto Override to the House Floor Immediately

Dear Speaker Hall,

I am writing to strongly urge you to bring SB50, the “Freedom to Carry NC” bill, to the floor for a veto override vote without delay. North Carolinians expect their elected Republican leadership to defend constitutional rights with courage and resolve.

The Democrats have no hesitation in rallying their caucus when it comes to restricting liberty. Why should Republicans falter when freedom itself is on the line? It is past time to prove that our state’s commitment to the Second Amendment is more than empty words.

Your leadership is critical. We are asking you to move SB50 forward now, and to ensure that your caucus stands together to override the Governor’s veto.

Now is not the time for delay or hesitation. We expect action. I will monitor your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,
 
Email to Reps. Jimmy Dixon and Stephen RossStephen.Ross@ncleg.gov; Jimmy.Dixon@ncleg.gov

Subject: Support the Override of SB50

Dear Representative [Dixon/Ross],

I am urging you to stand firm and vote YES on the override of SB50, the “Freedom to Carry NC” bill. Gun voters are paying close attention, and we expect our Republican leaders to deliver on the promise of constitutional carry.

We appreciate your common-sense support on the HB193 veto override, but now we need you to show that same resolve by upholding your oath of office and protecting the rights of North Carolina citizens.

This is not the time for wavering. SB50 represents freedom, the Second Amendment, and the will of the people who elected you. We need you to be counted as a supporter of liberty and to vote YES to override the Governor’s veto. . I will monitor your actions via Grass Roots North Carolina legislative alerts.

Respectfully,
Uncategorized

Would There Have Been Ruby Ridge Without The NFA?

August 23, 2025 by 4 Comments

Thursday marked the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of the siege of the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge (Idaho). As most readers know, Randy Weaver had been charged with a violation of the National Firearms Act for selling shotguns with less than the mandated minimum length.

Photo from The Spokesman-Review

This leads to the headline question of whether there would have been a Ruby Ridge if there had been no NFA.

Yes and no.

Without the NFA and its prohibition on untaxed shortened shotguns, the original charges against Weaver would not have existed and the US Marshals Service would have had no reason to attempt to apprehend Weaver for missing his court date. That said, given the many attempts to entrap Weaver so he would be forced to be an informant against Aryan Nation and other white supremacists in Idaho, the Feds would have found something.

I don’t want to go into much about the history of these groups nor of the role of Federal law enforcement in their investigation and prosecution. Suffice it to say, agencies like the FBI and the BATFE were actively investigating these groups in Idaho, used undercover agents, and sought to entrap those who could provide more information on them. Randy Weaver was one such an individual and eventually was arrested for a violation of the NFA for selling two shotguns to an undercover agent who had befriended him in an attempt to gain information. In the later Federal trial after the siege, Weaver was acquitted of all charges except for the failure to appear for his court date. A later wrongful death lawsuit ended with an out of court settlement to the remaining Weaver family members for $3.1 million. This was for the deaths of Vicki and Sammy Weaver.

With this as background and without trying to sound like a conspiracy theorist, getting rid of the most onerous parts of the NFA will not stop the Deep State. That said, I think both the lawsuits against the NFA have legs. The latter of the two, Brown v. ATF, brought by a coalition of the NRA, Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, and the American Suppressor Association, appears to me to be the one with the most chance of success as it covers both the tax issue and the historical issues of gun control. We shall see.

Uncategorized

Slow Blogging This Week

August 22, 2025 by

The Complementary Spouse and I are engaged in “grandparent duty” this week. In other words, we are minding the granddaughters, taking Livi to dance class, adjudicating sisterly disputes, and watching lots of animated TV programs. I have learned about Kpop Demon Hunters, She-Ra, and the Princesses of Power.

My son-in-law, the athletic trainer, has been getting up at 5am for 6am football practices while our daughter is off to school by 7:30am for teacher work days.

School for the granddaughters starts next week so this week they are getting in the last bit of sleeping late and iPad time. We took the girls to their school open house yesterday afternoon where they found out their teachers for the coming year. (They knew but had to act surprised as my daughter formerly taught at their school and got a head’s up.)

Uncategorized

These Four (Now Three!) Stand In The Way Of Permitless Carry

August 16, 2025 by 4 Comments

When it comes to whipping the vote and voting as a solid bloc, the Democrats are damned good at it. The GOP not so much or at least not in the NC House of Representatives.

Such is the case of the override vote of Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of SB 50 – Freedom to Carry NC. That bill would allow permitless concealed carry in North Carolina. Permitless open carry has been legal in the state since the early 1920s. Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger did his work in the NC Senate which did vote to override the veto in a party-line vote.

However, the North Carolina House is one short of a super-majority which means all the Republicans must stick together and either get a Democrat to join them like with the override of HB 193 or have a couple be absent that day.

Currently, four Republicans stand in the way of overriding the veto as Speaker Destin Hall is not going to call a vote when he isn’t sure of success. You may remember that when the bill passed the House, two Republicans voted against it and 10 other Republicans were absent. One of the dissenters, Rep. William Brisson (R-Bladen & Sampson) has now indicated he will vote to override the veto. That now leaves Rep. Ted Davis, Jr. (R-New Hanover), Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Duplin & Wayne), Rep. Howard Penny (R-Harnett & Johnston), and Rep. Stephen Ross (R-Alamance) as being the roadblocks.

Rep. Ted Davis Jr.

Rep. Davis’ office phone is 919-733-5786. His email is teddavis@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Martha Jenkins whose email is Martha.Jenkins@ncleg.gov.

Rep. Jimmy Dixon

Rep. Dixon’s office phone is 919-715-3021. His email is jimmydixon@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Michael Wiggins whose email is michael.wiggins@ncleg.gov.

Rep. Howard Penny – will vote to override

Rep. Penny’s office phone is 919-715-3015. His email is howard.penny@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Grace Rogers whose email is grace.rogers@ncleg.gov.

Rep. Stephen Ross

Rep. Ross’ office phone is 919-733-5820. His email is stephen.ross@ncleg.gov. His Legislative Assistant is Tammy Ross whose email is tammy.ross@ncleg.gov.

Grass Roots North Carolina suggests using this phone message:

“We sent you to Raleigh for you to support our Second Amendment rights. Not for you to support the issuance of permission slips to exercise our rights. You need to stand up and support these rights and the will of the voters who put you in office.”

While Representatives Davis and Ross are in more urban/suburban districts, Representatives Dixon and Penny are definitely in rural (and more conservative) districts. None of these four are in marginal districts where a Democrat could use this vote against them. Indeed, that all won their seats in 2024 with 55% or greater percentage of the vote.

We have until the end of the 2025-2026 session to override the veto but I sure as heck don’t want to wait until next year. So call and email these four to make them see the light. Be polite but assertive.

UPDATE: I have learned from my friend John Petrolino that Rep. Howard Penny has now seen the light and will vote to override Stein’s veto of SB50. Thus, you should stop calls to his office unless it is thanking him for committing to vote for an override.

Uncategorized

Your Weekend Task – Sign These Petitions

August 15, 2025 by 4 Comments

The clock is ticking on the time limit to gather the required 363 valid signatures to be placed upon the NRA Board of Directors ballot for 2026. The Nominating Committee meets on August 23rd and then 45 days later the window closes. Article VIII, Sec. 3(b) of the Bylaws provides NO leeway to the deadline and it is a black letter bylaw at that. A black letter bylaw can only be changed by a vote of the members and it has a very high bar to even get on the ballot.

The first three here are candidates that I have either nominated directly or strongly encouraged to run for the Board

Todd Vandermyde

Todd is the president of the Aurora Sportsman’s Club which is the largest gun club in Illinois. More importantly, Todd spent years in the trenches of the Illinois General Assembly lobbying for gun rights. Few people know more Illinois gun laws than Todd. Additionally, Todd has helped bring many lawsuits that have helped advance gun rights. While not a lawyer, his out of the box thinking on legal and legislative strategy is desperately needed on the Board of Directors. I was happy to nominate Todd for the Board last year and am happy to do it again. We need him on the Board.

Rob Beckman

Rob brings so many things to the table as I said in my post endorsing him back in June. He has business experience, he has a social media presence as a podcaster, he is a trainer, he is a hunter, and the list keeps going on. Most importantly, Rob is solidly on the side of reform and rebuilding the NRA. Frank Tait has a more extensive biography of Rob on his Substack site.

Jacqueline Janes

I have known Jaci since we met at the Lucky Gunner Blogger Shoot in 2011. As I said in my post endorsing her, we have kept in touch ever since at various events. Jaci brings industry experience, competitive experience, non-profit experience, and marketing experience to the table. She is currently the Director of Marketing for Apex Tactical Specialties in Arizona. Importantly, she brings with her significant grassroots organizing experience. Indeed, she and her partner Robert were co-winners of the NRA-ILA’s Jay M. Littlefield Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award for 2012.

The next five names on my list were not nominated or recruited by me but are people I’ve worked with to improve the NRA over the past few years.

Huey Laugesen

I serve with Huey on the NRA’s Membership Committee. He is the Executive Director of the Colorado Shooting Sports Association. He has increased their membership by 170% by the smart use of social media and targeted emails. Sadly to say given how Colorado politics have trended recently, he is now on the front lines of the battles to preserve our Second Amendment rights. If anyone knows how a state can go from good to bad in a short period of time, it is Huey and he is fighting it tooth and nail. Huey is, I believe, on the younger end of the Millennial age range. Frank Tait published a bio for Huey on his website found here.

Charles Brown

Charles was part of the NRA 2.0 slate in 2024-25. Unfortunately, due to back to back hurricanes, he was not able to get his petitions in by the deadline and had to run as a write-in candidate. He has been in the firearms industry for decades as the owner of MKS Supply and Hi-Point Firearms. You can scoff all you want about Hi-Point pistols but they work and they serve a niche in the market. Charles would bring needed management and marketing experience to the Board if he is on the ballot. Frank Tait has more here.

R. Todd Figard

Todd was part of our NRA 2.0 ticket in 2024-25 running by petition. He is a retired quality engineer from Ohio, a firearms safety examiner for the Great American Outdoor Show, and an instructor. Unfortunately, Todd did not make the cut to be elected in 2025 but would make an excellent candidate for 2026. He comes highly recommended by my friend Amanda Suffecool.

Randy Luth

Randy was one of the first within the firearms industry to break from the “all is well with the NRA” theme pushed by Wayne LaPierre and his cohort. As far back as 2021, he called for Wayne to leave. Randy currently owns Luth-AR and was the founder of DPMS-Panther Arms which is now a sister company to Palmetto State Armory. I think Randy has confirmed his reformer credentials and I think his management and entrepreneurial experience speaks for itself.

LtCol Robert Brown

What more can I say about Col. Bob that hasn’t already been said? Founder of Soldier of Fortune Magazine, shooting raconteur, former dissident Board member, and burr under the saddle of the Old Guard. When I decided to run for the Board, he was one of those who encouraged me to just do it.

You can find the rest of Col. Bob’s endorsements here. I don’t know some of them so I have to trust his recommendations which have always proved valid.

As a final aside, Amanda Suffecool is not on this list because she has made her numbers. Way to go, Amanda!

Just as a reminder, only voting members of the NRA can sign these petitions. A voting member is a Life Member of whatever level or an Annual Member with five years of continuous, unbroken membership or more. I hate to say it but if you had a break in your Annual Membership, the clock started again.

Uncategorized

Julie Golob Switches From S&W To Springfield (Updated)

August 12, 2025 by

Reading the Tactical Wire this morning I was surprised to see champion pro-shooter and former NRA Board member Julie Golob was now on Team Springfield Armory. For years, Julie had been team captain of the Smith & Wesson shooting team as well as a brand ambassador.

From the press release:

Taking her place alongside Springfield Armory’s legendary pro shooter Rob Leatham, Golob will employ her proven skills as a professional shooter and content creator in addition to helping guide new product development for the company in this new role.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have Julie join the Springfield Armory team,” said Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory. “With her wealth of knowledge, voluminous skill and extensive experience in the shooting industry, she will bring an invaluable and unique perspective to the company’s efforts to continuously innovate and grow.”

“I’m thrilled to be joining Springfield Armory,” said Golob. “I’ve long admired the company’s values, vision, innovation, and leadership. I’m honored to have the opportunity to be a part of that heritage and excited to shoot Springfield Armory’s exceptional firearms.”

Having met Julie at both SHOT and the NRA Annual Meeting, she is an all-around nice person. Over and above her role as a pro-shooter, she has brought attention (and money for research) to the rare children’s disease of Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) which has impacted her family. Julie uses her fame as a shooter wisely and that is just one example. I hope the switch to Springfield Armory is a good one for Julie.

UPDATE: Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor of the Outdoor Wire Network, has more on Julie’s switch to Springfield Armory here. He calls Julie a “force multiplier for your marketing team”.

Julie, herself, has more on the switch in the YouTube video below.

Uncategorized

GOALS 2025!

August 5, 2025 by 3 Comments

I am headed to the Gun Owners of America event called GOALS tomorrow. As with last year, it is in Knoxville, Tennessee or just across the mountains from me. The first couple of days are strictly for the media and then Saturday and Sunday are open to the public.

Other than it just being two hours or so away, one of the major reasons I want to go this year is to hear Missouri AG Andrew Bailey speak as well as hopefully meet up with Johnny B and Paul from Legally Armed America. All three were banned from GunCon 2025 by the venue’s management to the disgust and anger of Jon Patton of the Gun Collective who organized the event. You can hear his detail of this in the video below.

On Saturday and Sunday I will be hanging out for good parts of the day at the Grass Roots North Carolina booth. If you are there, stop in and say hello.

Just so we are clear, GOALS has nothing to do with this guy though they ought to hire him to advertise the event!