Gun Owners of America

Last updated
Gun Owners of America
FoundedNovember 9, 1976;48 years ago (1976-11-09) [1]
52-1256643 [2]
Legal status 501(c)(4) [2]
Headquarters Springfield, Virginia, US
Coordinates 38°48′27″N77°13′11″W / 38.8075°N 77.2196°W / 38.8075; -77.2196
Membership
2,000,000+ [3]
H.L. Richardson
Erich Pratt
Revenue (2015)
$2,152,940 [2]
Expenses (2015)$2,319,763 [2]
Employees14 [2] (in 2015)
Website www.gunowners.org

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a gun rights organization in the United States. It makes efforts to differentiate itself from the larger National Rifle Association (NRA) and has publicly criticized the NRA on multiple occasions for what it considers to be compromising on gun rights.

Contents

The GOA was outspoken in opposing John McCain's 2008 presidential bid, describing his gun-rights voting record as "abysmal, wretched, and pathetic" [4] and giving him an F− grade on Second Amendment issues since 2004, while the NRA (through its political action committee, the NRA-PVF) gave him a C+. [5]

The GOA has been described by Congressman Ron Paul as "The only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington." This quote from Paul is displayed on the home page of the Gun Owners of America website. Paul was the only 2008 presidential candidate to receive an A+ grade from Gun Owners of America. [6]

History

Gun Owners of America (GOA) was founded in 1976 by California State Senator H. L. Richardson. The GOA lobbies both state and federal legislatures to promote Second Amendment rights. Richardson was chairman of Gun Owners of America until he retired in 2017. Tim Macy, who had been on the board since the organization’s founding, then became chairman. [3]

Tim Macy [7] is President and Chairman of the Board of Gun Owners of America. He has been on the Board of Directors for over 35 years since the inception of GOA. Macy is involved with GOA’s sister organization as well. Serving on the boards of Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of America’s Political Victory Fund and Gun Owners of California.

John Velleco [3] serves as the Executive Vice President. He previously served as the Director of Federal Affairs for the organization.

Erich Pratt [3] is the Senior Vice President for GOA, having worked in gun politics for over three decades. Erich served under several titles at GOA – from Federal and State Directors to Communications Director for the organization. He now serves as the chief national spokesman and focuses on policy for both the federal and state levels of government.

Sam Paredes [3] is a board member of GOA and currently serves as the Executive Director for GOA’s sister organization, Gun Owners of California. Paredes is a certified firearms instructor.

Activities

Gun Owners of America is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. [8] According to Gun Owners of America's website, its board contends that Americans have lost some of their gun rights, and GOA strives to get them back. [8]

By its own account, Gun Owners of America spent over $1.75 million lobbying Congress in 2004, and over $18 million between 1998 and 2004. [9] Gun Owners of America's Federal Political Action Committee is "Gun Owners of America Inc. Political Victory Fund" (C00278101). [10] It raises funds to support the election of pro-gun candidates at all levels of government.

Gun Owners Foundation is an educational nonprofit foundation. It acts as the research arm for GOA. Its main objective is to hold seminars around the country to inform the public, media outlets, and various government officials on Second Amendment issues. [8] The Gun Owners Foundation around 2008 began a new campaign by creating Public Service Announcements to promote what it calls "PROPER Gun Safety". According to Gun Owners Foundation, its campaign objective is "to generate public awareness of the dangers of not having a gun ready for protection and to encourage gun owners not to lock up their best means of self-defense". [11]

GOA victories

On July 13, 2006, Senator David Vitter saw an 84–16 vote for his amendment prohibiting the use of federal money for federal agents to confiscate weapons during a declared state of emergency. [12]

On June 27, 2007, the Pence Amendment passed. The bill, named after then-Representative and future Vice President Mike Pence, was passed by a vote of 309–115. According to Gun Owners of America, the amendment blocked the Federal Communications Commission's ability to use the Fairness Doctrine to limit the free speech allowed by organizations like Gun Owners of America over the airwaves. [13]

On August 9, 2007, Gun Owners of America supported Vitter's work in pushing through a bill stating that no U.S. funds can be used by the United Nations or any group affiliated with the United Nations to restrict or tax Second Amendment rights. If they attempt to do so, the U.S. can withdraw their funds from the organization. This bill, HR-2764, also known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act, passed by an 81–10 vote. [14]

On February 25, 2008, Senator Jim DeMint amended bill S-1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The act stated that the funds were to be used for "violence prevention". Once the funds were attempted to be used for gun buybacks, DeMint pushed through an amendment to the act stating that the money cannot be used for any anti-gun programs. DeMint's amendment passed by a margin of 78–11. [15]

2010, GOA campaigns for and helps pass the Firearms Freedom Act laws across the country including Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Rifle Association</span> American nonprofit organization

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent gun rights lobbying organization while continuing to teach firearm safety and competency. The organization also publishes several magazines and sponsors competitive marksmanship events. According to the NRA, it had nearly 5 million members as of December 2018, though that figure has not been independently confirmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gun Control Act of 1968</span> US federal law

The Gun Control Act of 1968 is a U.S. federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearms ownership. Due to constitutional limitations, the Act is primarily based on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by generally prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except by manufacturers, dealers and importers licensed under a scheme set up under the Act.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Musgrave</span> American politician (born 1949)

Marilyn Neoma Musgrave, American politician, is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who served from 2003 to 2009, representing the 4th District of Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Vitter</span> American politician (born 1961)

David Bruce Vitter is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Louisiana from 2005 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Vitter served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1999 and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gun politics in the United States</span>

Gun politics in the United States is characterized by two primary opposing ideologies regarding private firearm ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woody Jenkins</span> American politician

Louis Elwood Jenkins Jr., known as Woody Jenkins, is an American newspaper editor in Baton Rouge and Central City, Louisiana, who served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 2000 and waged three unsuccessful races for the United States Senate in 1978, 1980, and 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Firearm Owners Protection Act</span> 1986 United States federal gun control law

The Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 is a United States federal law that revised many provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Sullivan (U.S. attorney)</span> American lawyer and politician

Michael J. Sullivan is an American lawyer and politician who served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts (2001–2009) and Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (2006–2009). His work as U.S. Attorney largely focused on national security and health-care fraud. A native of the Holbrook–Abington region, Sullivan served earlier in his career as the Plymouth County District Attorney, and as a Republican member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Amendment Foundation</span> United States nonprofit organization that supports gun rights

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is a United States nonprofit organization that supports gun rights. Founded in 1974 by Alan Gottlieb and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, SAF publishes gun rights magazines and public education materials, funds conferences, provides media contacts, and has assumed a central role in sponsoring lawsuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Hunters and Shooters Association</span> American non-profit organization

The American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA) was a United States–based non-profit 501(c)(4) organization which operated from 2005 to 2010. The group described itself as a national grassroots organization for responsible gun ownership and advocated for increased gun control. The organization's president, Ray Schoenke, said the AHSA was intended to bridge the gap between urban liberals and rural gun owners, but closed down due to a lack of support from the Obama administration.

Clifford Neal Knox was a board member and officer of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), gun magazine writer and editor, gun rights activist, and prolific author of technical firearms articles and articles related to his interpretation of the Second Amendment and views on firearms laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Missouri Proposition B</span>

Proposition B in Missouri was a failed 1999 ballot measure that would have required local police authorities to issue concealed weapons permits to eligible citizens. It was a contentious issue and was narrowly rejected at the time by the electorate, but the legislature later approved similar legislation in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dudley Brown</span> American gun rights lobbyist

Dudley W. Brown is an American gun rights lobbyist. He is the founder and president of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and president of the National Association for Gun Rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everytown for Gun Safety</span> United States gun control advocacy organization

Everytown for Gun Safety is an American non-profit organization which advocates for gun control and against gun violence. Everytown was formed in 2013 due to a merger between Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris W. Cox</span> American lobbyist

Christopher William Cox is an American lobbyist and public relations consultant. From April 2002 to June 2019 he served as executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), the lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). As executive director Cox encompassed the roles of chief lobbyist and principal political strategist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd J. Rathner</span> American activist

Todd J. Rathner is an American Second Amendment lobbyist and former member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) Board of Directors, where he was elected in 1999 and served until 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political positions of Harry Reid</span>

Former United States Senator Harry Reid declared his position on many political issues through his public comments and his senatorial voting record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mountain Gun Owners</span> US gun rights advocacy group

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit gun rights advocacy group in Colorado, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Association for Gun Rights</span> American gun group

The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is a gun rights advocacy group in the United States. They maintain an affiliated PAC and a nonprofit legal foundation. Officially incorporated in Virginia on March 29, 2000, NAGR was founded by Dudley Brown as a national companion organization to Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. NAGR is a rival to the more moderate National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and considers itself to be a more "conservative alternative" to the NRA. The group spends most of its energy focused on lawmakers and moderates who are deemed too compromising on Second Amendment issues. This is achieved via direct mail, robocalls and low-cost television ads. The group has gained notoriety for its lobbying tactics and attack ads.

The Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is the political action committee (PAC) of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). Founded in 1976, the Fund endorses political candidates on behalf of the NRA and contributes money to those candidate's campaigns. It maintains a rating system which awards grades to political candidates based on their support or opposition of gun control measures.

References

  1. ↑ "C0802572 Gun Owners of America, Inc. Archived 2021-05-02 at the Wayback Machine " Business Search. Office of the Secretary of State of California. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". Gun Owners of America. Guidestar. December 31, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "About GOA | GOA" . Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  4. ↑ "GOA's Take on John McCain | Gun Owners of America". gunowners.org. Retrieved Mar 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Project Vote Smart - National Rifle Association Ratings". Oct 22, 2004. Archived from the original on October 22, 2004. Retrieved Mar 31, 2020.
  6. ↑ "GOA House Ratings For The 110th Congress". Gunowners.org. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  7. ↑ "About GOA | GOA" . Retrieved 2021-06-09.
  8. 1 2 3 "Who Is GOA" . Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  9. ↑ "Gun Owners of America on LobbyWatch". Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  10. ↑ "FEC Disclosure Report on GOA". Query.nictusa.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  11. ↑ "GOF Public Service Announcements Promoting PROPER Gun Safety". Gunowners.org. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
  12. ↑ "No Gun Confiscation During Emergencies". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  13. ↑ "Vetoing the Unfairness Doctrine". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  14. ↑ "No Funds for Anti-gun UN". Gunowners.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-12. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  15. ↑ "No Funds for Gun Control". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  16. ↑ "2010 End of the Year Report | GOA" . Retrieved 2021-06-05.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.