2015 Gun Rights Policy Conference in Phoenix – one of the best

As I sit on my flight from Phoenix (PHX) to Cleveland (CLE) on my way home from the Second Amendment Foundation’s (SAF) Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) my head is swirling with ideas from the weekend. This is my normal state of mind returning from this conference, as it’s always entertaining and educational - but this year was exceptional.

The NRA has seen record attendance at its annual meetings, and we’ve had record gun sales, and a record number of American’s have concealed carry licenses. Clearly gun owners are growing both in sheer numbers, and personal involvement. But I was still shocked to see the large room full with new arrivals standing in the back with no seats to be found.

There seemed to be a higher level of excitement in the air this year. There are many of us who attend this conference every year, and it’s always nice to see old friends and catch up on the various projects we have all been working on and exchange ideas. Phoenix in particular, and Arizona in general, are both very friendly to gun owners. Their laws impose minimal restrictions or infringements on gun owners. Phoenix is not some small town in the middle of the desert, it’s the 6th largest city in the United States and a cosmopolitan oasis. There is no wonder so many people are moving there. With such a strong gun-owning community, the room was packed with many proud gun owners attending their first GRPC.

This year’s panel of speakers included many new people who had never spoken at a GRPC before. This helped give the event a fresh feel and provided those of us who attend every year with new contacts and ideas. The speakers that we hear from regularly did a great job updating us on projects they have worked on during the past year.

The tone of the meeting was two-fold. Gun owners had another great year legislatively at the state level. Restrictions on concealed carry continue to be repealed in state after state, and victories continue to rack up in court cases across the country. Politicians and bureaucrats who continue their bigoted attack on peaceable gun owners are paying our legal bills. (Note I did not say “law-abiding.” gun-owners - more on that later.) The facts and data and statistics are all on our side and polls continue to show the public perception is clearly in support of gun ownership and growing stronger. Even President Obama and the most anti-freedom administration in our nation’s history have failed to advance their gun-control agenda.

Still, dark clouds loom on the horizon. In his last year in office, with no progress on a cornerstone of his plan to “fundamentally transform” our country, expect Obama and federal agencies under his control to move into desperation mode. An administration so callus to life that they instituted “Fast and Furious” is likely to try even more dangerous schemes to manufacture phony reasons to enact draconian laws aimed at gutting our individual rights.

The GOP in control of the U.S. House and Senate have failed to move needed firearm reforms that are supported by a strong majority of Americans.

Michael Bloomberg and his puppet agencies Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Sensible Gun Laws remain a threat. Add in the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and foreign countries working with the United Nations and it’s easy to see how the average gun owner can feel like they are in a David versus Goliath battle, with Goliath funded by billionaires like Bloomberg and George Soros. If left to battle alone, there is no chance for the individual to win this fight.

What the gun community lacks in funding, we make up for in grassroots activism. Bloomberg gets 100 people to an event because he lies and misleads (and sometimes pays) people to push a false claim about gun owners being a danger to society. Grassroots groups get 100 people (and more) to rallies because we know the facts, we are sick of being maligned in the media, and we ban together to give a face and a voice to the people and stories that exemplify why the Second Amendment is so important, and how it is ingrained into the fabric of our nation.

There were many lawyers who presented on a multitude of legal issues. Federal, state and local lawsuits aimed at overturning illegal restrictions on our rights. And personal stories of individuals harmed by prosecution for peaceable actions. These cases are expensive and many have been ongoing for 4-5 years. Support of organizations that fund them is critical for continued success.

“Law-abiding” is a label most gun owners proudly wear, but with laws such as New York’s Gun Safe Act and Connecticut’s gun registration requirement, many gun owners are exchanging that label for “conscientious objector.” They are refusing to follow these new laws, and the states are unable to do anything about it. They are peaceable, but may not comply with unjust gun laws that discriminate against good people. Like Dr. Martin Luther King and his followers, they are refusing to obey unjust laws, bringing attention to the bigoted haters who look to control large segments of the population because they fear them or don’t understand them.

Contrast that with Rashad Gray, leader of the Ohio Chapter of National African-American Gun Association, who is working with Joe Tartaro and the SAF on an urban initiative to work with and educate those in urban areas. Education is the key for our side this looks to be an exciting project with as much potential as any idea I’ve heard in recent years.

Dr. John Lott gave a great talk titled “Facts vs. False Claims” where he explained the bogus studies we see promoted in the media. He warned that there will be a wave of such “studies” (financed by Bloomberg) next year in the run-up to the 2016 presidential elections. It is imperative that gun owners are educated and debunk the nonsense and speak to the truth. Lott and others make this job easy for those who visit the Crime Prevention Research Center web site.

This year’s entire conference was broadcast on YouTube and is podcast at The Polite Society Podcast. Rob Morse does a great job and I encourage you to check out his podcasts at www.politicsandguns.com.

Mark Walters of Armed American Radio did a great job as Master of Ceremonies for the awards lunch, and assured me he will be talking about the conference and going into longer segments with many of the weekend’s speakers on upcoming “Armed American Radio” show, filling your daily prescription for freedom. Mark’s show is broadcast on over 200 stations nationwide at www.armedamericanradio.org.

Plan to attend next year’s GRPC in Tampa, Florida on Sept 23, 24 and 25, 2016. It’s a fun and educational weekend to network with gun owners and leaders in our movement. It’s free and you will go home with a mind full of knowledge and ideas and bag full of books and other goodies. Learn more at www.saf.org.

Special thanks to Allen Gottlieb, Julianne Versnel and the entire Second Amendment Foundation team for a great event.

Jim Irvine is the Buckeye Firearms Association President, BFA PAC Chairman and recipient of the NRA-ILA's 2011 "Jay M. Littlefield Volunteer of the Year Award" the CCRKBA's 2012 "Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award," and the SAF's 2015 "Defender of Freedom Award."

Help us fight for your rights!

Become a member of Buckeye Firearms Association and support our grassroots efforts to defend and advance YOUR RIGHTS!

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

Get weekly news and instant alerts on the latest laws and politics that affect your gun rights. Enjoy cutting-edge commentary. Be among the first to hear about gun raffles, firearms training, and special events. Read more.

We respect your privacy and your email address will be kept confidential.

Mission

Buckeye Firearms Association is a grassroots organization dedicated to defending and advancing the right of citizens to own and use firearms for all legal activities, including self-defense, hunting, competition, and recreation. Read more.

JOIN