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Would There Have Been Ruby Ridge Without The NFA?

August 23, 2025

by John Richardson 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.

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.

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Slow Blogging This Week

August 22, 2025

by John Richardson

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.)

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

August 16, 2025

by John Richardson 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. 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. 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. 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.

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It’s A Rescue

August 16, 2025

by John Richardson

If you go to the gun show this weekend and decide you can’t live without that second-hand firearm, remember you are doing a service giving it a second life.

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Your Weekend Task – Sign These Petitions

August 15, 2025

by John Richardson 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.

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

August 12, 2025

by John Richardson

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.

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GOALS 2025!

August 5, 2025

by John Richardson 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!

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Learning From Others

August 5, 2025

by John Richardson 2 Comments

I have watched for years how other Second Amendment organizations would use postings about court filings or letter writing campaigns to not only advance gun rights but also to fund raise. Tying information about a new court case such as the joint effort to get rid of the NFA with a request for donations to help support the litigation seems like a smart marketing move. It is not only an ask but it is an ask for a specific purpose that donors will want to see succeed.

It has bugged me that the NRA has not done something similar in recent years. I started bugging John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA, about this and he responded positively. It may only be a trial but it is one that I really would like to see work.

Thus, if you want to see the National Firearms Act as it relates to suppressors, any other weapons, and short barreled rifles and shotguns be found invalid, you need to step up and help support this litigation. I don’t care if it is $5 or $500 as it all helps. The government has all the money in the world to fight our lawsuit. In other words, your tax monies! Our side only has what the NRA, the Second Amendment Foundation, the Firearms Policy Coalition, and the American Suppressor Association can raise to fund it.

The appeal below is a start and one I’d like to see used by the NRA and NRA-ILA again and again. Please help it succeed by donating.

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Churchbourne Named NRA Foundation Executive Director

August 1, 2025

by John Richardson 9 Comments

Peter Churchbourne has been named as the Executive Director of the NRA Foundation. Prior to this, he served as the Managing Director of the NRA’s Hunting, Conservation, and Ranges Division as well as heading the Hunters’ Leadership Forum. He had previously served with Ducks Unlimited for a number of years.

From the press release announcing his appointment by the NRA Foundation:

“We’re excited to welcome Peter Churchbourne to the team,” said Tom King, NRA Foundation President. “His proven track record of relationship building, fiscal responsibility, fundraising and an innovative mindset will be instrumental as we continue to grow the Foundation while providing funding, education and leadership within the Second Amendment community.”

In his new role, Churchbourne will oversee all the NRA Foundation operations, helping to increase awareness, expand outreach, and grow opportunities within the Second Amendment community. This appointment reflects the NRA Foundation’s commitment to sound governance, transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. We remain dedicated to strengthening our trust with our stakeholders and upholding the principles that will determine our long-term success.

I should point out that the NRA and the NRA Foundation’s relationship has changed in the last two years since the Foundation agreed to a consent decree with the Attorney General of DC. I would characterize the relationship between the two organizations as more of an arm’s length relationship than the previous hand in glove relationship. For example, the NRA Board of Directors no longer elects and appoints the trustees of the Foundation. As I understand it, they are more of a self-perpetuating board now. The two organizations still work together but not as closely as previously.

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Jacqueline Janes For NRA Board

July 30, 2025

by John Richardson 3 Comments

I am proud to endorse Jacqueline “Jaci” Janes for the NRA Board of Directors. I have known Jaci since we both attended the Lucky Gunner Blogger Shoot all the way back in 2011. We have kept up with one another over the years whether it was running into one another at a NRA Annual Meeting, the SHOT Show, or another event.

When I began to seek out people who I thought could bring something to the Board of Directors to nominate, I was looking for not only reform-minded individuals but people who could bring multiple talents to the Board. Jaci is such an individual.

Obviously from her shirt you can tell she is a competitor. Participation in competition is just one thing the Nominating Committee is seeking.

Jaci goes well beyond that.

She was a volunteer for the NRA-ILA in Arizona for 14 years. Indeed, she was the co-recipient of the Jay M. Littlefield Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award for 2012 along with her partner Robert Messenger. She knows the grassroots and has helped organize it.

She served a 3-year term as a director of the Phoenix Rod & Gun Club including one year as membership director.

Jaci has been a marketing professional for over 30 years including 10 within the firearms industry. She is currently the Director of Marketing for Apex Tactical Specialties in Peoria, AZ. Along those lines, she knows social media and how to use it for marketing.

Jaci is running for the Board by both petition and is seeking nomination by the Nominating Committee. I encouraged her to do it both ways.

Her petition is below and I think you should sign it if you are a voting member of the NRA. Both the Complementary Spouse and I have signed.

As a reminder, a voting member is either a Life Member or a 5-year, continuous with no breaks, Annual Member.

https://nra.directnominations.net/Petitions/Sign/8f440d9c-a25b-4f14-8583-8616be5f4fab