Michael Cargill | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Gun rights activist Radio host |
| Employer | Central Texas Gun Works |
| Organization | Log Cabin Republicans (Austin chapter) |
| Known for | Hosting the radio show Come And Talk It, challenging a federal bump stock ban, and his overall gun rights activism |
| Political party | Republican |
| Movement | Gun rights movement |
| Website | michaelcargill |
Michael D. Cargill is an American gun rights activist. [1] [2] [3] He is the host of the gun rights radio show, Come And Talk It. [2] [4] He is also the owner of Central Texas Gun Works. [5]
Cargill was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [6] He spent his early life in Florida. [7] Later, he joined the U.S. Army and served for twelve years, earning Army Achievement Medals, Commendation Medals, and Good Conduct Medals. [6] [7] He also qualified as a marksman and as a parachutist. After an honorable discharge as Sergeant, he moved to Texas, where he initially worked in telecommunications and later started a freight company. [6]
Cargill became interested in firearms education following an assault on his grandmother, which led him to focus on teaching self-defense. [7] [8] In 2011, he founded Central Texas Gun Works in Austin. [6] [9]
In 2014, Cargill ran for the Texas House of Representatives to represent the 50th district in a special election held in January, but he was unsuccessful. [10] In the same year, his store was named America's first Bitcoin gun store. [11]
In 2015, Cargill initiated a lawsuit against the City of Austin for its decision to declare City Hall a gun-free zone following the statewide legalization of open carry in most public places. [12] The legal dispute concluded in 2019, with Judge Lora Livingston of the 261st Civil District Court ruling in Cargill's favor and fining the city $9,000 for denying entry to licensed gun holders on multiple occasions. [13]
In 2017, a member of the Austin City Council nominated Cargill to a board addressing traffic issues in Austin, but he was rejected by other council members due to his views on the Second Amendment. [14]
In June 2022, Cargill served as the chairman of the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) of Texas, a group of gay Texas GOP members. [15] [16] [17] He continues to serve as the president of LCR's Austin chapter. [15]
In June 2024, Cargill successfully challenged a federal ban on bump stocks, culminating in a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision. [18] The court determined that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) could not classify bump stocks as machine guns under existing legislation. [18] This ruling came after Cargill, who had surrendered two bump stocks to the ATF, filed a lawsuit arguing that the agency had exceeded its authority. [18] [19] The challenge was supported by the New Civil Liberties Alliance. [18] [19] The ATF's inclusion of bump stocks under the "machinegun" category followed the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. [18] [19]
Cargill also provides firearm training for disabled individuals across Texas. [20] [21] [22]