by The 2025 Gun Rights Policy Conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend. Preceding the actual conference was AMM-Con which is an event for bloggers, writers, podcasters, YouTubers, and other firearms related social or alternative media. I have attended both events for some years. I will go into detail on both later as I took extensive notes but these are my first impressions.
The first AMM-Con as I remember it was in Dallas in 2017. There were discussions on how to monetize our work using Patreon, how to use a iPhone to record a YouTube video, and how a gimbel could be used to stabilize your video. It was very hands on and very oriented to everyone helping everyone else get going. This year it was less about the tools than about how to market your product, build a fan base. how to work with editors, rebranding, and on the pluses and minuses of AI or artificial intelligence. My impression was that alternative mass media had matured and now it was time to be more professional about it.
Moving on to the actual Gun Rights Policy Conference, the format has changed. It still starts with a reception on Friday night, speakers all day on Saturday, another reception, and then a half day on Sunday. However, the format has changed from groups of 4-5 speakers on a topic spread out over 20-25 minutes to a minimum of 15 minutes dedicated to one topic with one speaker. Having attended a number of GRPCs since 2010 and spoken at quite a few, I love the new format. Rather than a presenter being cramped for time and having to compress their topic into essentially bullet points, one can now go into more detail. This allows the presenter to flesh out their topic and the listener has a better understanding.
Another change was the addition of two fireside chats. One featured the Attorney General of Montana Austin Knudsen, Speaker of the Arizona House Steve Montenegro, and Utah State Representative Karianne Lisonbee. The other was with Sara Weaver, daughter of Randy Weaver, who lost her brother and mother at during the Federal siege in Ruby Ridge. Both were great for different reasons. The former showed what state officials could do to advance the Second Amendment and the latter the long-term consequences of deadly Federal mistakes.
I was impressed by the number of state representatives that attended the conference. In addition to those above, there were Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-AZ) aka “The Shredder”, Rep. Bobby Cox (R-SC), Rep.-select Ava Flanell (R-CO), and longtime attendee Rep. Rebecca Schmoe (R-KS). Having legislators participate as both speakers and as participants was useful for the ideas generated and connections made. For example, Rep. Bobby Cox was the primary sponsor of South Carolina’s successful permitless carry bill. He has agreed to help make calls regarding the override of SB50 – Freedom to Carry NC. Likewise, the Arizona legislature has joined a number of pro-gun amicus briefs arranged by Attorney General Knudsen as their own AG is anti-gun. Given that North Carolina’s AG Jeff Jackson (D-NC) has been joining anti-gun amicus briefs along with the usual suspects from California, NY, Massachusetts, etc., it is time for the NC General Assembly to emulate Arizona and join pro-gun briefs.
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that NRA EVP/CEO Doug Hamlin gave a very well received speech. He went out of his way to recognize people like Alan Gottlieb of SAF and former NRA-ILA Director Chris Cox. More importantly, he said that the NRA was working together with other 2A organizations on multiple court cases as well as the elimination of the NFA. Doug gave a speech that AckMac would never have allowed Wayne to give which I think is an indication that things have changed at the NRA.
I’m glad I went. I had a great roommate in Charlie Cook (Riding Shotgun with Charlie). Met up with a lot of old friends and former colleagues. I also made some new friends and am coming home with a lot of ideas on how to advance the 2A here in NC. Saw some “interesting” people in the hotel who were attending the comic-con across the street from the hotel. All in all, it was a great long weekend.
PS: I don’t know where the 2026 GRPC will be held. Rumor is it might be heading to the East Coast after two years in the West.
