Gun Owners of America

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Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America Logo.svg
FoundedNovember 9, 1976; 44 years ago (1976-11-09)[1]
52-1256643[2]
Legal status501(c)(4)[2]
HeadquartersSpringfield, Virginia, US
Coordinates38°48′27″N 77°13′11″W / 38.8075°N 77.2196°W / 38.8075; -77.2196Coordinates: 38°48′27″N 77°13′11″W / 38.8075°N 77.2196°W / 38.8075; -77.2196
Membership
2,000,000+ [3]
Founder
H.L. Richardson
Senior Vice President
Erich Pratt
Revenue (2015)
$2,152,940[2]
Expenses (2015)$2,319,763[2]
Employees (2015)
14[2]
Websitewww.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.

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 PAC, 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 whose main goal is to preserve and defend the Second Amendment. Gun Owners of America sees the right to bear arms as a fundamental freedom issue. GOA's stance is to not to accept the status quo.[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. Gun Owners of America has been building a nationwide network of lawyers to aid in challenging gun control legislation in the courts. Gun Owners of America has been involved in legal proceedings in almost every state in the hopes of maintaining and advancing pro-gun legislation and rights.[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]

Gun Owners of America publicly denounced then-President-elect Barack Obama, stating that "Based on his voting record in the Illinois state senate and in the U.S. Senate, President-elect Barack Obama will be the most anti–Second Amendment president in the history of America."[12] Gun Owners of America was worried that with the Democratic Party majority in the 111th Congress, having Obama alongside Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (both rated F− by the GOA[13][14]), will mean Second Amendment–protected rights could be affected. Gun Owners of America concerns about the Obama administration and current Congress include:

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.[22]

On June 27, 2007, the Pence Amendment passed. The bill, named after then-Representative 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.[23]

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.[24][dead link]

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.[25]

2010, GOA campaigns for and helps pass the Firearms Freedom Act laws across the country including Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.[26]

References[]

  1. ^ "C0802572 Gun Owners of America, Inc." Business Search. Office of the Secretary of State of California. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax". Gun Owners of America. Guidestar. December 31, 2015.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "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. ^ Jump up to: a b c "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. ^ "Gun Rights in Peril". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-19.
  13. ^ [1] Archived October 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ [2] Archived October 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ John Velleco. "Gun Grabbing Legislation—The Capitol Hill Report". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  16. ^ Craig Fields. "Pro-gun Champion Under Attack—Current Alerts". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  17. ^ Craig Fields. "Senate to Vote on Kagan—Current Alerts". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  18. ^ John Velleco. "Is Harry Reid pro-gun or anti-gun?—The Capitol Hill Report". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  19. ^ Craig Fields. "Radical 'Regulatory Czar' Could Pose Problems for Gun Owners—Current Alerts". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  20. ^ Craig Fields. "Huge Power Grab Underway in Washington—Current Alerts". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  21. ^ Craig Fields. "GOA's CIFTA Treaty Analysis—Fact Sheets". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  22. ^ "No Gun Confiscation During Emergencies". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  23. ^ "Vetoing the Unfairness Doctrine". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  24. ^ "No Funds for Anti-gun UN". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  25. ^ "No Funds for Gun Control". Gunowners.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  26. ^ "2010 End of the Year Report | GOA". Retrieved 2021-06-05.

External links[]

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