Clark Aposhian – “Utah’s Top Gun”

Clark Aposhian, dubbed “Utah’s Top Gun” by the Salt Lake Tribune, is one of the most influential voices in Western firearms policy. A Utah State registered lobbyist since 2001, Clark has spent over three decades shaping gun legislation and use-of-force laws through his work with the Utah State Legislature, the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, the Utah Attorney General’s Office, and both House and Senate leadership.

He serves as Chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council—referred to by the Tribune as “The Powerful Gun Lobby”—and represents the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and other pro-Second Amendment organizations on Capitol Hill.

Clark is the host of the nationally recognized iHeart radio show Gun Radio Utah, No Apologies, currently ranked #6 in the firearms genre and #2 in Utah for law podcasts. He is also the owner of Fairwarning Tactical, a training company specializing in concealed carry, bail enforcement, armed security, and armored truck officer instruction.

A certified firearms instructor for nearly 30 years, Clark holds credentials from the NRA (Master Training Counselor, Chief Range Safety Officer), Legal Heat, Raptor Training, and multiple state agencies including Utah DOPL, Utah BCI and Arizona DPS. He is one of the first instructors certified in Utah for both concealed carry and bail enforcement. He has trained thousands, including the largest concealed carry class in Utah history, and regularly educates legislators, media, and school employees on gun laws and use-of-force principles.

Clark’s expertise extends to the courtroom, where he has served as an expert witness in high-profile cases such as Dell Schanze v. City of Draper and Herland v. Izatt (2015 UT 30). His legal insight is currently central to Aposhian v. Garland, a case that was before the the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the ATF’s bump stock ban.

Beyond policy and training, Clark has worked as a weapons consultant and armorer on major motion pictures including Con Air, Independence Day, Vengeance, Jack’s Law, and the Machete series, collaborating with actors like John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, Danny Trejo, Bill Pullman, Jodie Russel, and Ving Rhames. He’s a frequent guest on local, national, and international media, and has participated in public safety campaigns such as Utah’s Live-On suicide prevention initiative.

Clark holds a 3rd Dan black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a graduate of California POST and the a dozen Law Enforcement Training Camps (LETC). He studied Administration of Justice, Political Science, and International Relations at Cal State Hayward, UC Berkeley, and the University of Utah, with a focus on the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

He lives splits his time with homes in Cottonwood Heights and Uintah Co, Utah with his wife Dr. Kasey Aposhian—whom he met while teaching a concealed carry course to over 300 school employees—and their Australian Shepherds, Kanga-Roo and Chancy.

A committed advocate for the Second Amendment, Kerrie Ann Auclair is a firearms instructor who focuses on helping others build confidence through responsible gun ownership. She is certified as a Basic Firearms Safety Instructor for the state of Massachusetts, as well as by the NRA and USCCA, and is an NRA Range Safety Officer. Additionally, she holds certifications in “Refuse to Be a Victim” and Pepper Spray, which enable her to provide a comprehensive range of training for individuals seeking enhanced personal safety. Range Safety Officer.

Kerrie Ann serves as the Outreach Director and Women’s Program Assistant for Gun Owners’ Action League (GOAL), where she focuses on education, community engagement, and advocacy. Alongside her work with GOAL, she also serves as the Massachusetts State Director for Women for Gun Rights (WGR) and Armed Women of America (AWA). She is a board member of the Second Amendment Institute (SAI) and a member of the leadership team with The Civil Rights Coalition. She hosts Sisters in Arms – A Firearm Story on YouTube, where she highlights voices in our community, educating the public with the truth about firearms. Each year, she also travels to Washington, D.C., to stand with Women for Gun Rights (WGR) in advocating for the Second Amendment.

Beyond advocacy, Kerrie Ann is a devoted wife, mother of two, and small business owner. Her passion lies in education, not legislation, and she believes that stronger, safer communities are built through knowledge, empowerment, and responsibility.

Massad Ayoob has been handgun editor of GUNS magazine and law enforcement columnist for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER since the 1970s, and has published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications, and law enforcement journals. He is the author of some twenty books on firearms, self-defense, and related topics, including “In the Gravest Extreme” and “Deadly Force,” widely considered to be authoritative texts on the topic of the use of lethal force.

The winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner of the Year Award in 1998, Mas has won several state and regional handgun shooting championships. Ayoob was the first person to earn the title of Five Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association. He served 19 years as chair of the Firearms Committee of the American

Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and several years as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. In addition to teaching for those groups, he has also taught for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Homicide Investigators seminars.

Mas has received judicial recognition as an expert witness for the courts in weapons and shooting cases since 1979, and served as a fully sworn and empowered, part time police officer for 43 years, mostly at supervisor rank. Ayoob founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and served as its director until 2009, and now trains through Massad Ayoob Group. He has appeared on CLE-TV delivering continuing legal education for attorneys, through the American Law Institute and American Bar Association, and has been retained to train attorneys to handle deadly force cases through the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Ayoob served for two years as co-vice chair of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also appeared in each episode of Personal Defense TV (Sportsman’s Channel).

Mas has served for decades on SAF’s Board of Trustees, and in September 2020 was named President of the Second Amendment Foundation.

Will Bergstrom is an attorney with the firm of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, in Washington, D.C. He has successfully litigated a variety of Second Amendment cases in courts around the country, including challenges to bans on modern semiautomatic firearms and standard capacity magazines, laws restricting the rights of 18-to-20-year-olds to carry or purchase firearms, bans on nonviolent felons possessing firearms, and so-called “sensitive places” restrictions on carrying firearms in certain designated public places.

Chris Boeck is the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Silencer Shop, the nation’s leading distributor of firearm silencers. Through their nationwide network of Powered By Silencer Shop Dealers and their famous kiosks, Silencer Shop has revolutionized the NFA process to help more Americans lawfully acquire silencers than anyone else. Silencer Shop is a steadfast advocate for the Second Amendment and is driving national efforts to preserve constitutional protection for firearm components like silencers. Prior to joining Silencer Shop, Chris Boeck was a partner at Locke Lord LLP, an AMLAW 100 law firm, where he provided commercial and regulatory guidance to clients in the firearms industry. Mr. Boeck serves as a Director for the American Suppressor Association Foundation and the Firearms Regulatory Accountability Coalition (FRAC). He graduated with Honors from The University of Texas School of Law after receiving his undergraduate degree in criminal justice, Summa Cum Laude with top-tier University Honors.

Charlie Cook is a certified instructor with the NRA, MA State Police, Utah BCI, SABRE, & USCCA. His YouTube channel “Riding Shotgun With Charlie” features him conducting interviews in the “stagecoach” while driving in various locations around the country with his “shotgun passengers”, which have included Masaad Ayoob, Phil Schreier, Cam Edwards, Ashley Hlebinsky, and many others. RSWC is published on Ammoland, and repurposed with Armed Lifeatyle Magazine for a column called “Writing Shotgun With Charlie”. He also writes articles for News2A.com.

Bobby works as Chief Government Affairs Officer and Senior Vice President for SIG SAUER. In this role he directs strategic advocacy issues for SIG SAUER and the firearms industry at the international, federal and state levels. Bobby considers it an honor to work for a company that supports the mission of the nation’s warfighter, law enforcement, and our Constitutional Freedoms.

Bobby Cox is a South Carolina native and a distinguished military graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. After the 9/11 terrorists’ attacks, Bobby joined the U.S. Army as an Army Ranger with combat tours in the Middle East serving in units such as the 75th Ranger Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. Bobby continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Bobby also serves as a State Legislator in the South Carolina House of Representatives. In his role as a Legislator, Bobby has led on 2nd Amendment efforts including passing Constitutional Carry in South Carolina as the primary sponsor in 2024. He serves on the American Suppressor Association Board and as an Executive Councilman on the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. He is the recipient of the NRA Defender of Freedom Award, the Safari Club International Legislator of the Year Award, and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Legislator of the Year Award.

Chris is widely regarded as one of the most successful strategists in Washington, marrying legislative tactics to navigate Capitol Hill with cutting edge communications strategies to move public opinion. Today, he helps Fortune 500 companies and the C-suite leaders of emerging brands position their companies for success – and fend off legislative threats. For 18 years, Chris was the legislative field general for the gun rights movement, an effort that saw a nearly 100 percent success rate in the halls of Congress and in most state legislatures.

Away from politics, Chris founded an effort to enlist leading cultural brands and talents in the country music industry to promote a wholesome American lifestyle that includes a legacy of responsible gun ownership. Chris has appeared on a variety of national news programs, including Fox News Sunday, Fox & Friends, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Hannity, The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS, to name a few. He has been published in The New York Times, the Washington Post, and other publications and was a primetime speaker during the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Chris got his start in Washington in the 1990s as a senior legislative aide to a veteran congressman, managing issues relating to the judicial system and criminal justice reform. He is a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis. Chris also serves on the board of GrabAGun an online retailer of firearms, ammunition and related accessories. A Tennessee native, Chris resides in Virginia with his family.

Attorney Martha Dean is known for her firm’s successful defense of outdoor shooting ranges. Her clients’ cases have established national precedents favorable to ranges under the federal hazardous waste laws and Clean Water Act. She has successfully defended ranges in state and federal court over long-distance stray bullet claims, range safety, zoning, permitting, noise, and environmental issues. Dean has taught “Outdoor Shooting Ranges: Winning Defense Strategies” for the NSSF’s Industry Summit and “Defending Shooting Ranges: Winning Litigation Strategies,” NRA National Firearms Law Seminar. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the University of Connecticut School of Law. Dean is a member of the Connecticut bar and is admitted to the U.S. District Courts for Connecticut and the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second and Sixth Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Originally from Vermont, Dean’s law practice is based out of Avon, Connecticut.

Cam Edwards is the editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the Cam & Company podcast, which has been running for many years. With 30 years of experience as a journalist and broadcaster, Cam has covered Second Amendment news on a daily basis since 2004. In addition to his reporting, he is also an advocate and serves on the board of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He currently lives on a small farm in central Virginia with two of his five kids and a motley collection of critters; including Mario the rooster, who can regularly be heard on Cam & Company.

Ava Flanell is a respected advocate for Second Amendment rights in Colorado, widely recognized for her unwavering commitment to defending constitutional freedoms. Over the past several years, she has become a prominent presence at the State Capitol, where she regularly testifies against restrictive gun legislation and engages directly with lawmakers—particularly Democrat representatives—with the goal of educating and encouraging informed, bipartisan dialogue. In recognition of her impact, Ava was appointed Vice President of Legislative Engagement by the Colorado State Shooting Association in 2024, a role that amplifies her voice and leadership in shaping policy and mobilizing grassroots efforts.

Ava is the founder and owner of Elite Firearms & Training, which she established in 2013 after becoming a certified firearms instructor. Her passion for education and outreach also led her to launch The Ava Flanell Show in 2017, a politically focused podcast that explores firearms legislation and developments within the shooting industry.

In addition to her work in firearms education and advocacy, Ava holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Fordham University. She contributes to leading firearms publications and produces engaging content for her social media audience—amplifying her mission to inform, empower, and mobilize responsible gun owners nationwide.

Kenyon Gleason is the president and secretary of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW), headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. He joined NASGW in January of 2015.

NASGW is a trade association comprised of wholesalers, manufacturers, independent sales reps, media and service providers – both national and international – primarily focused on shooting sports equipment and accessories.

He is a board member for the American Suppressor Association (ASA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and board member for Walk the Talk America (WTTA). He is a former board member for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) in Washington, D.C.

Prior to taking over at NASGW, he was the VP of development and field operations for the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) in Washington, D.C.

Gleason has also been an active participant in the political arena, serving as a campaign advisor and coalition director for U.S. House and Senate races. He was himself elected to an at-large seat on the Sioux Falls (S.D.) City Council from 2000-2004.

Gleason has over 30 years of media, communications, marketing, public and government relations experience in a variety of industries including healthcare, education, transportation, agriculture and the shooting sports.

He’s the owner of Connect Consulting, LLC, a business and association management service provider. He and his wife live in Topeka, Kansas, and are the proud parents of five grown sons.

Alan Merril Gottlieb is an American author, conservative political activist, gun rights advocate, and businessperson.

Since 1971 Alan has been Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), an organization that he expanded into a national force as the “Common Sense Gun Lobby” focusing on grassroots lobbying.

In 1974 Alan founded the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) with a unique and innovative vision for its time – building the necessary foundation to bring a case addressing the Second Amendment to the United States Supreme Court through scholarly pursuits, public education programs, publications, and legal action. Since its inception, SAF has been the leader in the legal arena, having participated in over 260 different legal actions, leading to the continued defense, restoration, and expansion of the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States.

CCRKBA and SAF co-operate to organize the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference.

Alan graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering and attended the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown University. Besides guiding CCRKAB and SAF, he is a member of the Board of Directors of CPAC (American Conservative Union), Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, the International Association for the Protection for Civilian Arms Rights and other non-profit organizations. He is also the author or co-author of almost two dozen books. He has written opinion pieces for hundreds of newspapers and appeared on thousands of radio and television shows and innumerable other media appearances.

Alan is a passionate philatelist (stamp collector) and has an impressive collection of antique firearms. He has been recognized as a distinguished alumnus and taught classes at University of Tennessee. He is a fan of all things “Volunteer.”

Alan and his wife Julianne Versnel have worked side by side for 48 years and been married for 45 years. He is the proud father of Amy, Sarah, Alexis, and Andrew. He is the lucky grandfather to Alex, Caroline, and Felix. He is known for his bowties and series of white dogs named Winston.

Joseph Greenlee is the Director of the Office of Litigation Counsel at the National Rifle Association – Institute for Legislative Action. Greenlee has worked on over 140 Second Amendment cases and has filed more than 40 briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court. Greenlee has authored 18 scholarly articles on firearms law. He has been cited in over 150 cases, including 5 U.S. Supreme Court cases (Bruen, Rahimi, Cargill, NYSRPA v. NYC, and Chiafalo). Greenlee has also authored dozens of short articles on the right to keep and bear arms, which have appeared in The Hill, Washington Post, Washington Times, and SCOTUSblog, among others.

Jim Giudice is an avid hunter, firearm enthusiast, and Marine Recon combat veteran. He joined PublicSquare as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel in March of 2024. Prior to PublicSquare, he served as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of Credova Financial, LLC, and spent time as an M&A transactional attorney and practiced with the firearms industry group at Williams Mullen. He continues to serve as an officer in the United States Marine Corps reserve. Mr. Giudice received his B.S. in Business Administration from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business with a specialization in Finance and received his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio, a Pulsar Night Vision pro-staffer, and the director of global marketing for Lone Star Hunts. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal in 2010 and has a Ph.D. in Military History (focus: the Vietnam War, U.S. Navy Since Inception, Civil War, and Early Modern Europe). His speaking engagements have included addresses to Young America’s Foundation students at the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, the keynote speech to the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus on Capitol Hill, participation in Sig Sauer Legion and Freedom Day events in New Hampshire and Arizona, as well as speeches to the Hillsdale College student body and Hillsdale College supporters.

On April 28, 2025, Doug Hamlin was re-elected unanimously by the NRA Board to be the NRA’s CEO and Executive Vice President at a decisive moment in American history, a time when the future of our constitutional freedoms depend, in part, on the success of the NRA.

Hamlin is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a U.S. Marine Corps Infantry officer who served with the 1st & 3rd Marine Divisions and as Officer Selection Officer Los Angeles from 1980 to 1986. He was then recruited by Petersen’s Publishing Company Chairman Robert E. Petersen. He became publisher of Guns & Ammo in 1991. In 1995, he was promoted to executive vice president and group publisher of the Motor Trend Group. In 2000, Hamlin founded AutoMedia Solutions, Inc. In 2014, he joined the NRA Publications Division as its executive director. 

Hamlin’s mission today is growing the NRA, as the strength of this association of millions of freedom-loving Americans is vital to our nation’s continued struggle to remain free.

Donald Kilmer is admitted to practice law in Idaho (where he now lives), Washington, and California. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all U.S. District Courts located in California. He is co-author of the law school casebook: Firearms Law and the Second Amendment: Regulation, Rights, and Policy, 3rd Ed. He is a professor of Constitutional Law at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. He has been litigating constitutional law (primarily 2nd Amendment) cases for more than 25 years. He is proud to have been affiliated with the Second Amendment Foundation for more than 20 of those years.

Austin Knudsen was sworn in as Montana’s 25th Attorney General in January 2021. He is a 5th generation Montanan who grew up a farm and ranch kid in Northeast Montana. Austin received his undergraduate degree from Montana State University and his law degree from the University of Montana. He opened his own law firm in Culbertson and served as Speaker of the House before running for county attorney in Roosevelt County, where he prosecuted criminals and saw the drug and crime issues up close. Then, Austin decided to put his legal skills and leadership abilities to work for all Montanans and ran for Attorney General. As the head of the Montana Department of Justice, which includes the Highway Patrol and the Division of Criminal Investigation, Austin has made public safety one of the agency’s top priorities and is working to keep Montana safe and a great place to live and raise a family. Holding the federal government accountable, he sued the Biden administration 60 times during his first term to defend Montanans’ constitutional rights. Now, he’s supporting President Trump’s efforts to make the federal government more efficient and secure the southern border. Attorney General Knudsen is a staunch defender of Americans’ Second Amendment rights and has and led or joined numerous amicus briefs in firearms-related cases.

Adam Kraut is the Second Amendment Foundation’s Executive Director. He brings more than a decade of experience in the Second Amendment realm as a litigator and educator. Throughout his career, Kraut has represented individuals, companies, and institutional plaintiffs in state and federal litigation and regulatory matters. In addition to his legal background, Kraut draws management experience from his time in the non-profit world, where he was responsible for overseeing the programmatic functions of a liberty-based non-profit, which concentrated on Second Amendment issues. He also managed a federal firearms licensee. Kraut comes with a variety of media experience, having written for publications such as Recoil magazine, Recoil Web, and other online publications, writing and hosting a YouTube series, hosting and appearing as guest on multiple podcasts, and appearing on television.

Joe is a passionate grassroots activist, freelance writer and speaker. He has testified numerous times before the NJ legislature, written articles and policy papers on a variety of Second Amendment, civil liberties and civil rights issues and is a regular guest on Gun For Hire radio. He is a director of the Civil Liberties Policy Research Center of New Jersey, a state level think tank.

Joe spent 14 years on Wall Street as an advisor to large, multinational, institutional clients. He then owned a small business in New Jersey for over a decade. He has served on a variety of nonprofit and educational institutions’ boards and municipal boards and is volunteer first responder.

He is a member of the National Rifle Association, a life member of the Second Amendment Foundation and a member of the Federalist Society.

Joe is lifelong resident of New Jersey. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s University and Seton Hall University School of Law. He lives with his wife and four children in Bergen County.

Owen Miller joined the American Suppressor Association in 2016 as the Director of Outreach and was promoted to Vice President in 2022. A chance exposure to suppressors at a local indoor range sparked his interest in the hearing protection devices in 2000 while working for one of the largest dot-coms in the Seattle area. He grew up shooting regularly, participating in NRA youth shooting events, but never shot with suppressors as a child. At the time, Washington was the only state that allowed ownership but not use of suppressors due to conflicting sections of state law. Although the law did not change until 2011, he purchased his first suppressor in 2000. For the next six years, every time he wanted to use his suppressor he drove to Oregon.

Owen left the technology field and moved to Boise, ID in 2006 to join Gemtech Suppressors – a founding member of ASA. He served in various roles supporting Customer Service, Sales, Accounting and Compliance for nearly 11 years. While at Gemtech, he worked alongside ASA on advocacy, supporting legislative demonstrations and direct lobbying efforts in several states and Washington, D.C.

Owen is passionate about suppressor advocacy for both personal and professional reasons. His father-in-law, a career police officer, retired on disability due to hearing loss from years of firearms training and qualifications. During his tenure at Gemtech, Owen was able to sell suppressors to his father-in-law’s department, helping address their concerns about the risk of hearing damage for their officers.

Owen lives in Boise with his wife and two children. He has been a volunteer with mountain rescue teams for over 30 years, first in Washington state, and now Idaho as a Rescue Specialist, conducting high-angle rescues in the remote wilderness of Idaho and he served as an EMT for nine years. He is also a licensed private pilot. He enjoys shooting, hunting, flying, hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, and other outdoor pursuits. Owen holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Boise State University.

I’m Braxton Mitchell, a State Representative from Montana, Majority Whip, and Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. My political advocacy began in high school when I organized a pro-gun walkout to counter the nationwide anti-gun walkouts. Elected at 20, I’ve led efforts to eliminate red flag laws and defend the rights of law-abiding gun owners. As a legislator, I take an America First approach, standing up for rural values, personal freedom, and limited government. I’ll never back down from protecting our Second Amendment rights.

Steve Montenegro was born in El Salvador and at age four immigrated to the United States with his family. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Arizona State University with a B.S. in Political Science. He also holds an Associate of Arts in Theology from CBAN and Logos Christian University.

He was first elected to the Arizona State House in 2008, returned to the private sector in 2018, then was called back to serve in 2022. Most recently, he was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Arizona’s next Speaker of the House starting January of 2025.

Steve serves as a Ministry Pastor at Catalyst Church. He has served as Executive Director for Desert Reach, an organization helping inner-city high school students graduate high school and succeed in life. He has also worked with national groups to improve the integrity and accuracy of our elections. Steve is a frequent guest on national TV news shows on topics related to Arizona and border security.

He and his wife, Melissa, have been married for 16 years. Melissa is a Charter School Administrator, and they have two beautiful daughters (Addy and Emmy).

Mr. Moros is an accomplished attorney who has recently begun work as Second Amendment Foundation’s Director of Legal Research and Education. Prior to that, he contributed to several high-profile victories for gun rights litigants, including cases vindicating the right to carry and providing an avenue for visitors from other states to be able to carry in California for the first time. Other cases affected the types of firearms Californians can purchase and possess, and even one lawsuit that stopped California from blocking access to the courts for Second Amendment claims. Mr. Moros has also helped draft several amicus briefs at the appellate and Supreme Court levels. Aside from litigation, he has also written numerous articles about the Second Amendment and gun culture generally. He co-authored a law review article focused on the anti-tyranny roots and history of the Second Amendment. See Michel, C.D. and Moros, Konstadinos (2024) “Restrictions “Our Ancestors Would Never Have Accepted”: The Historical Case Against Assault Weapon Bans,” Wyoming Law Review: Vol. 24: No. 1, Article 3.

Dianna Muller is a 22-year retired veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, where she served with distinction in a variety of roles including patrol, street crimes, gangs and narcotics. Her extensive law enforcement background gives her a unique, real-world understanding of firearms, public safety, and the importance of self-defense.

As a professional competitive shooter, Dianna has earned national and international recognition in the shooting sports community. She competes in major matches across the country, proudly representing her sponsors and setting an example for responsible firearm ownership and skill development.

Dianna is also the founder of Women for Gun Rights (formerly known as the DC Project), a national, nonpartisan organization of women committed to safeguarding the Second Amendment. Through advocacy, education, and storytelling, WGR highlights respectful female voices to change the narrative around guns and gun ownership.

A once stay-at-home mom whose sons have grown, Susan now spends her time serving as Missouri’s State Director for Women for Gun Rights. Throughout the legislative session, you’ll find her hitting offices and working the phones, advocating on behalf of Missouri’s female firearms owners on Second Amendment issues in the Missouri General Assembly. Her short time in 2A advocacy has led to her testifying on almost all firearms related bills heard in the Missouri House and Senate, often being the only woman showing up in person to provide testimony in support of good firearms legislation, always with the goal of ensuring the female firearms owner’s perspective is expressed and on record. Along with her role as Women for Gun Right’s State Director for Missouri, Susan serves as a Chapter Leader for Armed Women of America, helping women become confident and competent concealed carriers. She also currently leads her church’s volunteer Safety Team. Before advocacy, Susan spent many artistic years, first as an award winning sugar artist, then needlework pattern designer, praised for her intricate 3-D designs, finally combining it all into several years as an online art instructor. But she will be the first to tell you that none of those previous hobbies or endeavors have brought near the satisfaction that becoming an advocate for women’s gun rights has given her. Susan and her husband Darren have been married 37 years, raised two sons, enjoy their grandson, Colt, and eagerly await the expected arrival of a second grandchild. She credits Darren for giving her the freedom to go where this 2A advocacy journey keeps taking her.

Phil Nelsen is an attorney, former prosecutor, and expert witness who has devoted his career almost entirely to firearms and self-defense law. In 2006, he co-founded Legal Heat, a nationwide firearm training company, and led its growth from a single location to more than 240 monthly training sites across 46 states by 2020, certifying over 500,000 students for carry permits through in-person instruction. He authored Legal Heat: 50 State Guide to Firearm Laws – published from 2009 to 2023 in print and app formats – which sold over 100,000 print copies and reached approximately 500,000 app downloads. Phil holds certifications from more than 40 state and private organizations to teach firearm courses.

Today, Phil serves as Senior Vice President at U.S. LawShield, which has supported over 2 million members in their self-defense journey. There, he helped create the industry’s first Concealed Carry Instructor Credential (CCIC) program, designed to equip instructors with the tools to effectively teach the legal components of firearms training.

Beyond the firearms industry, Phil received tenure as an associate professor of law and business in 2021.

Edward Andrew Paltzik earned a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School in 2006, where he won the Scholastic Excellence Award. He earned a B.A. from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences in 2003, where he was a history major and graduated with Distinction in All Subjects. Ed is honored and proud to serve as outside counsel to SAF since 2023. He practices as Of Counsel to Houston-based firm Taylor Dykema. Ed authored one of the leading studies about Red Flag Laws, “Red Flag Laws: the Retrograde Justice of America’s 21st Century Witch Trials”, which he presented at the Duke Center for Firearms Law 6th Annual Firearms Law Works-in-Progress Conference in 2024. He has also notched significant victories in defense of our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, most notably as lead counsel on behalf of SAF in Robert Hunter et al. v. Cortland Housing Authority et al., 714 F.Supp. 3d 46 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 30, 2024) (preliminary injunction granted against firearms ban in public housing); Robert Hunter et al. v. Cortland Housing Authority et al., Case No. 5:23-cv-01540-GTS-ML (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 18, 2024) (Document 89) (permanent injunction granted against firearms ban in public housing). Ed’s amicus brief–concluding that right-to-carry laws and associated growth in firearms carriage outside the home have no statistically significant effect on violent crime rates and may even decrease violent crime rates–was cited in New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (Alito, J., concurring).

Ryan Petty is a school safety advocate and technologist who, after the tragic loss of his daughter Alaina in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, has become a prominent voice in promoting effective safety measures in educational institutions. He has been featured in national media outlets, sharing his insights and experiences to drive change. Ryan is the Chairman of the Florida State Board of Education.

Through these media engagements, Ryan Petty continues to advocate for policies and practices aimed at preventing school violence and ensuring the safety of students nationwide. Ryan is a strong advocate for conservative policy and the Second Amendment. His policy positions have been featured on Fox News, The Federalist, Washington Times. Ryan is a contributor to Bearing Arms, a frequent guest on Cam & Company. Ryan is also a member of the Roundtable on Armed American Radio with host Mark Walters

Bill Sack is the Director of Legal Operations at Second Amendment Foundation, and is a practicing attorney and graduate of The George Washington University and Widener Law School. He brings five years of direct experience in the Second Amendment advocacy space, including as Director of Legal Operations for a liberty-based advocacy non-profit as well as a decade of experience in management, marketing and PR. As Director of Legal Operations, Bill is responsible for oversight of SAF’s legal program to include litigation inception and management, tracking active cases, educating the public and cultivating SAF’s attorney referral network.

Robyn Sandoval is one of the most influential voices in the Second Amendment community and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, safety, and self-reliance. She is the President, CEO, and Owner of A Girl & A Gun, the largest and most influential organization in the country dedicated specifically to firearms education and training for women. Under her leadership, A Girl & A Gun has grown into a powerful force—empowering thousands of women nationwide through accessible training, competition, and a vibrant community built on confidence and capability. What makes Robyn’s voice especially powerful in political circles is her personal journey from once supporting gun control to becoming a staunch defender of the Second Amendment. She brings that unique perspective to Capitol Hill, where she regularly meets with lawmakers to speak on behalf of responsible gun owners across the country. As she puts it, “Moms who make demands to take our rights don’t speak for moms like me.” Her leadership and advocacy have earned national recognition. Robyn has been a honored with the Defender of Liberty Award from the Second Amendment Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Women for Gun Rights, further amplifying her impact on the national stage. Robyn is a true champion for freedom, for families, and for the future of our rights.

Professor Mark W. Smith is a constitutional lawyer and hosts the popular The Four Boxes Diner YouTube Channel, which addresses Second Amendment scholarship, history, and legal issues. Mark is a New York Times bestselling author who frequently appears on the Fox News Channel. His books include ISRAEL DISARMED: What the October 7 Attack Teaches Americans about the Right to Bear Arms; DISARMED: What the Ukraine War Teaches Americans about the Right to Bear Arms; First They Came for the Gun Owners; and #Duped: How the Anti-gun Lobby Exploits the Parkland School Shooting. Mark has spoken at some of the world’s most recognized universities including Princeton University, the Harvard Law School, the Yale Law School, the U. Penn Wharton School of Business and the Columbia Law School. Mark is a Visiting Fellow in Pharmaceutical Public Policy and Law in the Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University (England) and a Distinguished Scholar and Senior Fellow of Law and Public Policy, Ave Maria School of Law.

Eric J. Soskin is the Senior Advisor to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as the State of Florida’s DOGE team leader. As part of the Governor’s senior leadership team, he fights every day to protect the constitutional rights of Floridians, roll back intrusive government, rein in excessive spending, and support the Trump administration in securing the border and removing illegal aliens.

Eric was previously nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate as the 7th Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation. As IG, he headed one of the 100+ federal law enforcement agencies, leading approximately 100 sworn law enforcement officers and ensuring the responsible exercise of their authority to make arrests, execute warrants, and enforce federal criminal laws. During his tenure, he introduced mandatory training for law enforcement in the First and Second Amendments and educated all agency staff in the Constitution as well as America’s history, founding ideas, and her tremendous achievements of the last 250 years.

Previously, Eric served 14 years as a constitutional lawyer at the Department of Justice, litigating cases nationwide on behalf of over 60 federal agencies. His practice included a decade of defending against lawsuits brought by Al Qaeda terrorists seeking their release from Guantanamo Bay. During his tenure, he became one of DOJ’s leading experts in firearms and Second Amendment litigation (an opportunity he received as his office’s only non-closeted NRA member and firearms owner). Although this meant defending federal firearms laws on behalf of the United States, Eric worked to ensure respect among his colleagues for the rights protected by the Second Amendment. He remains steadfast in his personal commitment to securing our constitutional inheritance of freedom, life, and liberty.

A native Hoosier, Eric earned his bachelor’s degree from Williams College and his law degree from Harvard, where his lifelong pro-freedom views – and his time in the law school’s Target Shooting Club and Federalist Society chapter – shaped his understanding of the Constitution. He and his wife Miran live in Tallahassee with their two sons.

Cheryl Todd has an extensive history as a Second Amendment Advocate and serves many roles in the firearm community. She is the owner of AZFirearms Auctions, Executive Producer & Co-Host of Gun Freedom Radio, and the founder of the grassroots movement Polka Dots Are My Camo. Cheryl speaks to the value of our Second Amendment Rights through the lens of self-protection and instilling those values in future generations. She is the AZ State Director for the DC Project, the President and CEO of the AzCDL Foundation, the AZ Coordinator for FASTER Saves Lives, the Vice President of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, and sits on several other boards which protect our gun rights. She is service-driven and has been recognized with several awards. Cheryl is passionate about preserving and protecting our precious Second Amendment and has traveled the country as an invited speaker, Panel-Moderator, and Guest Commentator. She has appeared at The National Gun Rights Policy Conference, the NSSF Industry Summit, the DC Project in our Nation’s Capital, the NRA Women’s Leadership Forum, The Western Conservative Conference, The Heller 10th Anniversary Celebration at the United States Supreme Court, and The Armed Woman of America Conference. Cheryl has also been instrumental in organizing the 2A Rally in Washington, DC and the Annual Celebrate and Protect the Second Amendment 2A Rally at the Arizona State Capitol. Local and national news programs seek her opinion in the on-going debate over gun rights and the important contribution women make to the national conversation. Cheryl is a champion for our Second Amendment Rights and is a driving force in preserving the Legacy of Freedom for generations to come.

Mark Walters is the nationally syndicated host of two popular Second Amendment based talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense. Distributed by Salem Radio Network, Mark airs 6 days per week on hundreds of radio stations across the nation for seventeen years running. In July Mark was named to the prestigious Talkers Magazine Heavy 100 list of the 100 most important radio talk show hosts in America for 2025 joining the likes of Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Glenn Beck, Charlie Kirk, Mike Gallagher and others. He is the CEO of CCW Broadcast Media, LLC, the co-author of three books, a member of the Board of Directors for the CCRKBA, a father and husband and resides in the free state of GA with his family where he broadcasts to the nation.

Hayes is a board-certified Otolaryngologist and fellowship trained Neurotologist recently retired after a 35-year career diagnosing and treating hearing and balance disorders. He received his undergraduate degree in English from Dartmouth College and his medical training from SUNY Upstate Medical Center and the Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota Florida. Hayes is past president of his hospital medical staff, the New York State Society of Otolaryngology, and served as Chair of socioeconomic and grassroots affairs for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Board of Governors. He is now utilizing the leadership and advocacy skills learned in local, state and national organizations to further second amendment rights, particularly in his home state of New York where he successfully lobbied the county Sheriff’s Department to remove unnecessary personal information from the permit application. He is the Associate Director for Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (a project of the Second Amendment Foundation), and a co-author of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s policy statement endorsing the use of suppressors to reduce the risk of hearing loss. Access to suppressors is both a professional and personal issue for him as someone who himself experiences hearing loss and tinnitus.
Hayes is a certified range safety officer and volunteer instructor at his local training center, teaching risk assessment and decision making under stress.

Sara Weaver, born March 16, 1976, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is the eldest daughter of Randy and Vicki Weaver. She survived the 1992 Ruby Ridge Federal Siege, losing her mother and brother. At 16, she witnessed her mother’s death by an FBI sniper. Overcoming depression and PTSD, Sara found healing through faith and forgiveness. A published author and speaker, she shares her story to inspire hope and healing, educating others about Ruby Ridge to prevent future tragedies. Learn more about Sara’s story at: rubyridgetofreedom.com

Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than 15 years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project, and a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter, and a proud member of the Staccato cult. He lives in Sarasota, Florida with his wife and their extremely unruly Boston Terrier, Willa.

Jared Yanis is the founder and host of Guns & Gadgets, one of the nation’s leading sources for Second Amendment news and analysis. With a background in law enforcement and a passion for constitutional rights, Jared has built a trusted platform that reaches millions of viewers across YouTube and social media. His in-depth reporting, expert legal breakdowns, and advocacy have made him a prominent voice in the fight to preserve and restore the right to keep and bear arms. Through his work, Jared empowers citizens with timely, accurate information about legislation, court cases, and regulatory developments impacting gun owners nationwide. He is also an co-owner of Blackout Coffee Company and a respected speaker at events focused on liberty, patriotism, and the Constitution.