Gun owners of America

[MayorQuimby]

Not familiar. In conservative Tennessee, I never had to worry about it.

Really? Why not?

 

[kc48]

Interesting, why do you say that sir?

You know why, Mayor.

 

[Robert W]

Hello. Just wondering what the board's general impression is, of the organization known as the Gun Owners of America. I donated to them a few times. Seems that they are different NRA. What is your impression of them? Thanks.

Don't know about them, but the NRA has magnificent training programs.

Firearm Training

From beginner to developing competitor, the NRA Training Department develops safe, ethical, responsible shooters through a network of more than 125,000 instructors and range safety officers and coaches.

firearmtraining.nra.org

NRA Firearm Training​

The NRA is recognized nationally as the gold standard for safe firearm training, developing hundreds of thousands of safe, ethical, responsible shooters and instructors. Whether you're a new gun owner in search of training, or an experienced marksman looking to support others, the NRA has a course for you.

Gun owners of America are outstanding doing things like this. From their webpage.

RE: Dispelling Common Law Enforcement Misconceptions About Constitutional Concealed Carry and Our Second Amendment Rights

25 November 2025

Dear Speaker Mike Johnson,

I write to you today on behalf of more than two million members and supporters of Gun Owners of America to support Representative Richard Hudson’s H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025, against the unwarranted and ill-considered criticisms of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).1

After decades of unconstitutional attacks, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is necessary to restore the Second Amendment right to carry a firearm for self-defense nationwide and without fear of harassment by law enforcement in anti-gun states.2 The FOP supports nearly identical protections for law enforcement to carry firearms nationwide, yet it opposes those same protections for ordinary Americans here.3 That smacks of hypocrisy and elitism. “Shall not be infringed” does not just apply to law enforcement – it is the God-given, constitutionally protected right of the People!4

Gun Owners of America has always supported Constitutional Carry.5 As we fought to expand permitless carry from Vermont to the present 29 Constitutional Carry states, we have consistently dealt with the same law enforcement “concerns” as are being raised by the FOP now. Historically, anti-gun law enforcement organizations have almost always raised “public safety” concerns with permitless concealed carry. In reality, those concerns have never panned out in states that have enacted GOA-backed Constitutional Carry legislation.6 Permitless carry did not make any of the 29 Constitutional Carry states any more dangerous, and neither will H.R. 38 decrease public safety nationwide.

It must be understood that the FOP has taken a minority position among law enforcement officers, who overwhelmingly support the Second Amendment right to carry. A 2021 survey of chiefs of police and sheriffs nationwide showed almost 90% of respondents supporting concealed carry reciprocity.7 Furthermore, a survey of more than 14,000 police officers proved that the majority of rank-and-file law enforcement believe that “armed citizens” are the most effective way to stop mass shootings.8 On behalf of the millions of gun owners and law enforcement officials who support the Second Amendment, we will address and correct each of the Fraternal Order of Police’s concerns.

States Do Not Have a Right to Infringe on the Second Amendment

First, the FOP claims that H.R. 38 would “strip states of their ability to set and enforce their own standards for concealed carry” such as unconstitutional gun, magazine, and ammunition bans.9 But, those states never had constitutional authority to set those restrictions in the first place. This bill restores the right to carry firearms nationwide, which “shall not be infringed” even by the states.10 Hypocritically, the FOP has also endorsed a bill that would override unconstitutional state gun control laws in a nearly identical manner to H.R. 38—but only for law enforcement.

In a letter to the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year, FOP President Patrick Yoes praised the LEOSA Reform Act for exempting law enforcement officers from state and local restrictions on concealed-carry firearms and magazine capacities, stating it would remove conflict and confusion for those constituents. Going even further, the LEOSA Reform Act allows eligible persons to carry within federal buildings, a step beyond what H.R. 38 would allow. But the Second Amendment does not grant special privileges to law enforcement. Congress should protect and restore the right to carry handguns free from local gun, magazine, and ammunition bans for all the People—not just police.

H.R. 38 Does Not Prevent Police from Conducting Lawful Investigations

Next, the FOP misleadingly asserts that H.R. 38 “prohibits law enforcement officers from making any arrest or detaining a suspect for any violation of state or local laws pertaining to the possession, transportation or carriage of a firearm.”11 But nothing in H.R. 38 will prohibit officers (1) from making lawful arrests of criminals and prohibited persons who are carrying firearms illegally or (2) from enforcing the many local firearms laws that are not preempted by the bill.12

FOP further misleadingly states that H.R. 38 prevents the “securing of a firearm from a person” while investigating “other criminal activity unrelated to the firearm.”13 This is also incorrect, as H.R. 38 only prohibits the detention or arrest of those engaged in the lawful possession, transportation, or carrying of a firearm. Officers may still, consistent with the Second and Fourth Amendments, secure firearms during the lawful investigation of “other suspected criminal activity” that is unrelated to firearm possession, transportation, or carrying.14 To use the FOP’s example, if police pull a driver over or determine that a “driver is impaired,” nothing will prohibit the police from investigating or making a lawful arrest for driving under the influence.

H.R. 38 Does Not Override the Gun Free School Zones Act

The FOP also misstates that H.R. 38 would override “laws such as carriage in school zones.”15 This is blatantly false. In no way does this language prohibit law enforcement from arresting persons with a firearm in a school zone in accordance with state and federal law. H.R. 38 makes no changes to the federal regulatory scheme prohibiting the possession of a firearm in a school zone, which categorically excludes out-of-state permit holders and permitless carry from its exemption.16 Further, as H.R. 38 states, “[t]his section shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that … prohibit(s) or restrict(s) the possession of firearms on any State or Local government property, installation, building, or base.”17 Hypocritically, the FOP does support overriding the Gun Free School Zones Act, but only for its own members.18

Identifying Lawful Concealed Carry Is No More Difficult than Identifying Valid Driver’s Licenses Under H.R. 38

The FOP complains that “law enforcement [will be] unable to confirm lawful possession during encounters [with gun owners], creating confusion.”19 HowHowever, verification of nonresident concealed carry permits is not a problem in the 39 states that have some degree of concealed carry reciprocity already.20 Officers will be able to confirm the lawful permitless carry of a firearm as quickly as they are able to confirm the validity of an out-of-state driver’s license, something law enforcement does nationwide almost a million times per day.21

For example, FOP specifically raises concerns about a hypothetical scenario where “a driver from Vermont… is stopped by a Virginia State Trooper.” In Virginia, it is lawful to openly carry a firearm without a permit. So, respecting the permitless concealed carry law of the Vermont resident is as easy as applying Virginia’s open carry policy.

Dispelling Common Law Enforcement Misconceptions About Constitutional Concealed Carry and Our Second Amendment Rights | GOA

Download the official letter here. To: The Honorable Mike Johnson Speaker United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 From: Tim Macy President and Chairman of the Board Gun Owners of America 8001 Forbes Place, Suite 202 Springfield, Virginia, 22151 RE: Dispelling Common Law...

www.gunowners.org

 

[MayorQuimby]

You know why, Mayor.

Haha. When you say things like that, it makes me think that you hacked into my computer and/or you otherwise know about me and my lilfe intimately.

 

[White 6]

Really? Why not?

Tennessee has never been a state, bent on prohibiting gun rights, or making exorbitant fees, supposedly for rights you had, as your father, grandfather and on back had, before you. I was raised and trained with rifles and shotgun early, knowing the rules and proper methods of handling, using and being accurate, from being a little kid on up, taught by my father.

 

[kc48]

Haha. When you say things like that, it makes me think that you hacked into my computer and/or you otherwise know about me and my lilfe intimately.

Intimately?! lol That's a rather disturbing choice of words, hoss.

 

[MayorQuimby]

Intimately?! lol That's a rather disturbing choice of words, hoss.

Why do you think DHS should be disbanded? And no, I do not know why you should think that, sir.

And what the heck is "hoss"? Sounds like a part of a pig, lol.

 

[Robert W]

think of the picture of Obama's birth certificate, published back when that idiot trump tried saying he was from Kenya.

Hillary's team started that trying to defeat Obama and she wanted to be president.

 

[MayorQuimby]

Tennessee has never been a state, bent on prohibiting gun rights, or making exorbitant fees, supposedly for rights you had, as your father, grandfather and on back had, before you. I was raised and trained with rifles and shotgun early, knowing the rules and proper methods of handling, using and being accurate, from being a little kid on up, taught by my father.

I see, but doesn't an organization like the GOA protect your state as well? I believe they oppose laws on not just state but also federal level. Maybe your state is gun-friendly, but what if tomorrow there is something hostile happening on the federal level?

 

[kc48]

Why do you think DHS should be disbanded? And no, I do not know why you should think that, sir.

And what the heck is "hoss"? Sounds like a part of a pig, lol.

Dude, you're kinda funny in your schtick. I won't blow your cover. Carry on!

 

[MayorQuimby]

Dude, you're kinda funny in your schtick. I won't blow your cover. Carry on!

I am starting to like you. Are you hot?

 

[White 6]

Hillary's team started that trying to defeat Obama and she wanted to be president.

I don't remember that, but glad she did not become President. That was one election, kind of like our last, where I wished both party's candidates could lose.

 

[White 6]

I see, but doesn't an organization like the GOA protect your state as well? I believe they oppose laws on not just state but also federal level. Maybe your state is gun-friendly, but what if tomorrow there is something hostile happening on the federal level?

No sweat on me. There is not a weapon in my house registered with anybody, and the way this supreme court is going, I feel pretty safe, like always.

 

[MayorQuimby]

No sweat on me. There is not a weapon in my house registered with anybody, and the way this supreme court is going, I feel pretty safe, like always.

Ok, how about if I put it this way: I want to decide whether to donate money to GOA, or the SAF. So, if I were a friend of you, which one would you recommend?

 

[White 6]

Ok, how about if I put it this way: I want to decide whether to donate money to GOA, or the SAF. So, if I were a friend of you, which one would you recommend?

Put the money into a new scope. Christmas is coming. A new holster is always nice. Everybody can always use more ammunition. Don't forget, there is really good range training available, out there, bound to make you a better shooter.
Are those organizations really going to do you any good, in your country?

 

[MayorQuimby]

Put the money into a new scope. Christmas is coming. A new holster is always nice. Everybody can always use more ammunition. Don't forget, there is really good range training available, out there, bound to make you a better shooter.
Are those organizations really going to do you any good, in your country?

Wow, can't believe that you still remember that I am Canadian,

And the answer is, yes, I believe by donating money to a true pro-gun group will do more good to the 2nd amendment than me spending a few hundred dollars on a firearm. A firearm will only allow me to shoot as one person, but that same amount can do hugely amplified amount of good when spent on, say, the GOA.

 

[Robert W]

I don't remember that, but glad she did not become President. That was one election, kind of like our last, where I wished both party's candidates could lose.

Despite becoming a staple of Alt-right propaganda, the conspiracy is believed to have started on the other side of the fence. Per BBC News, fact-checkers have traced the origins of the rumors to Hillary Clinton supporters.

Read More: The Barack Obama Birthplace Conspiracy Explained (& Debunked) - Nicki Swift


Obama's stance on Trump has always been crystal clear. There is definitely no love lost between the two — as evidenced by the choice words Obama reportedly used to describe Trump. In his book "Battle For the Soul," Edward-Isaac Dovere quotes Obama referring to the former reality TV star as "a racist, sexist pig" and "f****** lunatic."

Read More: The Barack Obama Birthplace Conspiracy Explained (& Debunked) - Nicki Swift

 

[MayorQuimby]

LaPierre was corrupt and compromised and stayed far, far too many years. He spent millions on personal items; jet travel, clothes, etc.
GOA is a smaller but more efficient organization. And has fought hard against compromises that the NRA shrugged their shoulders at.

Dude, you're kinda funny in your schtick. I won't blow your cover. Carry on!

Hi. Do you guys think I should donate money to GOA? Thanks.

 

[westwall]

See title. Seems that they are for different areas, the Gun Owners of America is more about litigation and the NRA is more for lobbying and political activism. Which do you think is more effective at upholding the 2nd amendment? Thanks.

The GOA has been far more effective than the NRA over the last two decades.

Now that the NRA has finally dumped that POS Wayne lapierre, they may get better.

 

[MayorQuimby]

The GOA has been far more effective than the NRA over the last two decades.

Now that the NRA has finally dumped that POS Wayne lapierre, they may get better.

Hi westwll, thanks for the response. Can you tell me why you think the GOA is much more effective than the NRA? Also, I am thinking about donating money to the GOA, but I kind of am put off by the fact they don't give public audits. What are your thoughts on that? Much thanks.