Pro-gun rights

Senator Willis Pulls Machine Gun Bill from Consideration Gun owners are left feeling betrayed

Things are changing moment by moment in Charleston.

Earlier this morning I encouraged you to thank Senate Judiciary Chairman Tom Willis for scheduling a vote on SB 1071, the bill allowing WV to sell machine guns to residents.

But remember how I indicated in the alert that, previously, he had not been making plans to bring the bill up for a vote?

Well after promising a vote on SB 1071 today, he has left gun owners feeling betrayed. Why?

Because as I type this … just moments ago … Sen. Willis pulled the bill from consideration, claiming there is not enough “consensus.”

You know what GOA’s answer to him is?

Senator Willis: We don’t care if you think there’s not enough consensus. That’s why legislators vote on bills. Put it up for a recorded vote and let the chips fall where they may!

This is what GOA is communicating to the Senator, but we need you to contact his, as well. Because you are the ones who Senator Willis will rely upon when he tries to be your next U.S. Senator.

So please call Sen. Tom Willis at (304) 357-7867.

Demand that he bring up SB 1071, the machine gun sales bill, for a recorded vote TODAY.

I am trying to keep you informed as the situation changes. Thank you as always for standing with us in this fight for freedom.

Your Calls Changed Everything — Vote Taking Place Today in Charleston!

Your hard work is paying off, and they are listening to you in Charleston!

Even though there were no initial plans to bring up SB 1071 for a vote, your emails and calls have changed everything.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will be voting today (maybe this morning) to allow West Virginia to sell modern firearms to state residents!

So once again, I need you to make one last round of phone calls to the Judiciary Committee members in favor of SB 1071.

Here’s what you can do:

1. IMPORTANT: Call Senator Eric Tarr  at (304) 357-7901 and demand that he support this bill as written. Reports from Charleston indicate that Sen. Tarr is using tactics to slow down the bill and delay it, which at this late date would threaten to kill the bill.
2. Thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Tom Willis for scheduling a vote on SB 1071. Do NOT take this action item. See why here.
3. Thank Senator Chris Rose for his leadership as chief sponsor in pushing SB 1071 behind the scenes.  (304) 357-7902 chris.rose@wvsenate.gov

The Senators listed below are members of the Judiciary Committee who have not yet cosponsored SB 1071. So if you have time, please politely urge one or more of them to vote SB 1071 out of committee today:

Senator Tarr – (304) 357-7901
Senator Bartlett – (304) 357-7841
Senator Charnock – (304) 357-7854
Senator Deeds – (304) 357-7959
Senator Garcia – (304) 357-7961
Senator Hart – (304) 357-7843
Senator Martin – (304) 357-7845
Senator Taylor – (304) 357-7914
Senator Weld – (304) 357-7984
Senator Azinger – (304) 357-7970
Senator Chapman – (304) 357-7918
Senator Fuller – (304) 357-7937
Senator Helton – (304) 357-7807
Senator Rucker – (304) 357-7957

Thank you so much for your activism. We couldn’t do all that we do without your help!

Thank you for your help.

Kentucky just took a major step forward for the Second Amendment.

Representative TJ Roberts has introduced HB 749. Nearly identical to the bill GOA authored in West Virginia, it would create an Office of Public Defense within the Kentucky State Police to acquire and transfer machine guns to qualified, law-abiding Kentuckians.

This is exactly the kind of bold, lawful leadership we need right now, using a clear process grounded in existing federal law to expand access to arms protected by the Constitution.

HB 749 is also a direct challenge to the unconstitutional burdens created by the NFA tax and registration regime that has done nothing to improve public safety, but has absolutely been used to punish and gatekeep lawful ownership.

Rep. Roberts announced this bill on X, saying “Law-abiding Kentuckians should be able to own any type of firearm they choose (including machine guns), as this is our constitutional right.”

Kentuckians should not have to beg permission from bureaucrats to exercise a fundamental right. We applaud Rep. Roberts for leading from the front, and we also thank the bills primary co-sponsors Rep. Steve Doan and Rep. Ryan Dotson for standing with Kentucky gun owners.

Now we need a strong, unified show of support to keep HB 749 moving.

Please contact your State Representative and urge them to support HB 749 and help advance it through committee.

Tell them you support restoring lawful access to protected arms for responsible citizens and you want Kentucky to lead.

Kentucky has a chance to set a national example by standing firmly for the Second Amendment and restoring lawful access to constitutionally protected arms. Please take action today and contact your Representative to support HB 749.

When lawmakers hear from thousands of grassroots Kentuckians, good bills move and bad politics fails.

A “Pro-Gun Group” in Charleston is Trying to Kill the Machine Gun Bill! Please take IMMEDIATE action!!!

GOA has learned that a “pro gun lobbyist” is trying to poison the well and kill SB 1071—a bill which would allow West Virginia to sell machine guns to law-abiding citizens like you.

This misguided lobbyist is telling Senators that this violates federal law, which is simply NOT true.

Let me get technical here for a second:

Section 922(o) in federal law contains an explicit exemption regarding the prohibition on transferring machine guns made after 1986—that is, the prohibition “does not apply with respect to … a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of … a State.” 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)(2)(A).

That language matters. It means Congress chose not to apply the machinegun ban to transfers made by a state government—like West Virginia.

So please call your state Senators at (304) 357-7800 and urge them to strongly support SB 1071.

You can even share this GOA Fact Sheet with them to answer questions about the bill’s consistency with federal law.

Also, thank you for taking the poll earlier today. We are sharing the results with legislators at the Capitol. The results are astounding:

• 96 percent of you would be MORE LIKELY to vote for a legislator who supports this legislation.
• And likewise, 93 percent of you would be LESS LIKELY to support a legislator who works to kill this legislation.

Again, please call your state Senators ASAP at (304) 357-7800 and urge them to strongly support SB 1071.

This very same bill has now been introduced in Kentucky. But the Mountain State deserves to be the first state to push this into law.

So please call your state Senators ASAP.

Thank you for your help.

What: Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a new FPC-backed challenge to the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, Roberts v. ATF.

Virginia lawmakers are trying to push HB 217 into law, and it’s a sweeping attack on the ability of law abiding Virginians to buy and sell many commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard capacity magazines.

HB 217 bans the importation, sale, manufacture, purchase, and transfer of firearms the bill labels “assault firearms,” using a broad feature-based definition that sweeps in many rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

It also bans the sale and transfer of magazines over 15 rounds.

Existing owners are treated as second class citizens under a forced grandfathering scheme, where you can keep what you already own but you cannot freely buy and sell the same lawful arms and magazines after July 1, 2026.

This bill has already passed the House, and just yesterday passed the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

If the Senate passes it, it goes to the Governor, and anti gun leadership in Richmond will be eager to sign it into law.

The window to stop HB 217 is closing fast.

We must act NOW.

We are asking you to join our email campaign to tell your Senator to vote NO on this blatantly unconstitutional attack on our rights to keep and bear arms in this state.

Every gun control bill like HB 217 moves one step at a time, and this is the moment where your voice can be heard loud and clear.

Do not assume someone else will speak up. Contact your Senator today and urge a NO vote on HB 217.

If enough Virginians flood Senate offices now, we still have a slim chance halt this ban before it reaches the Governors desk and becomes law.

Earlier this week the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) opened the application window for their 2026 Shooting Range Improvement Program (SRIP) Grants. Similar to years past, PGC is advertising that $500,000 will be awarded to applicants, with a maximum of $50,000 per applicant - although that does not guarantee that every applicant will receive a grant, … Continue reading PA Game Commission Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Shooting Range Improvement Grants →

On March 15, 2026, Firearms Industry Consulting Group Chief Counsel Joshua Prince will join Ron Mest Sports and several other presenters for the 5th Annual Firearms Safety and Law Seminar at Pike Township Sportsmen's Association to speak on a number of topics relevant to both new and experienced firearms owners, including use of force in … Continue reading Annual Firearms Safety and Law Seminar with Ron Mest Sports on March 15, 2026 at Pike Township Sportsmen’s Association →

Under normal circumstances, federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms and ammunition. 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(5)(A) and (g)(5)(A) says that:

“It shall be unlawful for any person… who, being an alien… is illegally or unlawfully in the United States… to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition…”

This is perfectly consistent with the Second Amendment. While everyone has a natural right to self-defense (and even an illegal has a natural right to fight off a rapist or a murderer), illegals and foreigners are not a part of “the People” whose right to bear arms is protected by the Second Amendment within the jurisdiction of the United States. It would be absurd to say that an army of foreign invaders somehow have a Second Amendment right to possess and use firearms. After all, the Second Amendment is largely about the security of our free state and our ability to protect against tyrannical and foreign governments.

Federal Law Permits Armed Illegals to Work as Law Enforcement Officers—However, there are at least three major cases where an illegal alien has been hired in some law enforcement capacity. Recently, illegal immigrant Radule Bojovic was caught working as an armed police officer in a Chicago suburb.[i] Earlier this year, the Trump Administration caught more illegal aliens acting as law enforcement officers (Massachusetts reserve police officer Jon Luke Evans[ii] and Maine corrections officer Gratien Milandou-Wamba[iii]). And California law, enacted in 2022, also specifically authorizes the hiring of illegals as law enforcement.[iv]

These cases of illegal immigrants working as armed law enforcement have drawn attention to a glaring issue with current federal law. While there are nine federal categories of persons prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition,[v] only one of these prohibitions currently applies against police.[vi] In fact, these prohibitions do not apply to anyone carrying firearms or ammunition working for the federal government.[vii]Title 18 Section 925(a)(1) clearly states that:

“[The prohibited person categories] shall not apply with respect to the transportation, shipment, receipt, possession, or importation of any firearm or ammunition imported for, sold or shipped to, or issued for the use of, the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof.”

Therefore, 18 U.S.C. 925(a)(1) means it is currently 100% legal for an illegal immigrant to possess a firearm as a police officer as far as federal gun law is concerned, because the prohibited person categories[viii] do not apply.

The Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act Would Protect Gun Owners from Disarmament by Foreigners—Anti-gun states and law enforcement agencies are intentionally hiring and arming illegal aliens—who cannot otherwise own firearms—to enforce unconstitutional gun control laws, including “red flag” gun confiscations and so-called “assault weapons” bans. It is frightening that the governments of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, and perhaps others are using illegals to infringe on the right of the People to keep and bear arms. This unacceptable state of affairs renders Americans less able to defend themselves from a tyrannical government. It is a threat to liberty to allow large numbers of armed foreigners—who do not have Second Amendment rights—to participate in the disarmament and infringement of the People’s Second Amendment rights.

That is why Gun Owners of America has proposed the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act. Our bill would criminalize the possession of firearms and ammunition for illegal aliens even in their capacity as law enforcement officers. This would rebalance the scales of justice so no illegal alien may ever be able to lawfully use a firearm to disarm an American citizen ever again. It will also allow the Trump Administration to prosecute anti-gun states for arming illegals and hiring them to work as armed law enforcement officers.

[i] https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/oct/19/illegal-immigrant-cop-sparks-debate-migrants-access-guns/

[ii] ICE arrests illegal alien serving as a local police officer after attempting to unlawfully purchase firearm in Maine, ICE.gov, July 28, 2025.

[iii] Former Cumberland County corrections officer in ICE custody at New Hampshire jail, WMTV.com, June 20, 2025.

[iv] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB960

[v] 18 U.S.C. 922(d) and (g).

[vi] NOTE: The only legal exception is for convictions of domestic violence misdemeanors at 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(9) and (g)(9). In fact, it is common for law enforcement officers charged with domestic violence to plead up their charges to DV felonies (rather than pleading down their charges to DV misdemeanors) in order to protect their employment.

[vii] 18 U.S.C. 925(a)(1).

[viii] 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(5)(A) and (g)(5)(A).a

Call The Senate Judiciary Committee, Move GOA Drafted SB 1071 Forward! 

Fine Citizens of West Virginia,

SB 1071 is one of the most important opportunities our state has had in a long time to restore freedom, strengthen our economy, and show the rest of the country what responsible lawful leadership looks like.

To recap, SB 1071 creates an Office of Public Defense that would have the authority to sell and transfer machine guns to qualified law-abiding adults.

This bill is built on a smart, lawful approach that operates within the language already written into federal law. We are not rewriting rules, and we are not inventing new authority; we are using the framework that already exists, and that makes this effort hard for opponents to challenge!

Just as important, SB 1071 is a serious economic opportunity for West Virginia. It can generate major revenue for the state, firearm manufacturers, and gun dealers, attracting new residents and new businesses, and helping relieve budget pressure without raising taxes. It does not require new buildings, new staff, or a large expansion of government.

We’re asking that you call the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell him how eager you are to see a bill like this move forward. Share your excitement about SB 1071, and request the committee to advance it without delay.

Also, remind him that West Virginians are watching for real leadership. The record you build in Charleston is the record that follows you everywhere, including on the federal stage!

Senate Judiciary Chairman Tom Willis – (304) 357-7867
tom.willis@wvsenate.gov

We’d also like you to reach out to rest of the Senate Judiciary Committee members and tell them to support SB 1071.

Senator Bartlett – (304) 357-7841
Senator Azinger – (304) 357-7970
Senator Chapman – (304) 357-7918
Senator Charnock – (304) 357-7854
Senator Deeds – (304) 357-7959
Senator Fuller – (304) 357-7937
Senator Garcia – (304) 357-7961
Senator Hart – (304) 357-7843
Senator Helton – (304) 357-7807
Senator Martin – (304) 357-7845
Senator Maynard, Z. – (304) 357-7939
Senator Rose – (304) 357-7902
Senator Rucker – (304) 357-7957
Senator Tarr – (304) 357-7901
Senator Taylor – (304) 357-7914
Senator Weld – (304) 357-7984

SB 1071 has massive potential to move the needle and put West Virginia on the map as the state that leads when it comes to the Second Amendment.

But, it will only happen if Senators hear from you now.

The Senate Judiciary and Senate Finance must move SB 1071 quickly so it can reach the House and then the Governors desk. This is our moment to lead with confidence, prove that good policy can be both pro freedom and pro growth, and show the country what West Virginia stands for.

This is the moment to be loud, positive, and persistent. Tell the committee members that West Virginians are watching and we are excited to see SB 1071 advance. When constituents flood the phone lines, bills start to move.

Lets lead the way and get SB 1071 across the finish line!

Early Voting in Texas has begun, and it is critical that we stand with the Gun Owners of America–endorsed candidates who have proven they will not compromise when it comes to our Second Amendment rights.

To view the full list of GOA Texas endorsed candidates, please visit:
https://texas.gunowners.org/elections/

Two congressional races in particular will directly impact the strength of GOA’s voice in Washington: CD 2 and CD 23.

In CD 2, Representative Steve Toth represents exactly the kind of principled leadership we need in Congress. He has been clear and unwavering in his opposition to any measure that strips Americans of their constitutional rights.

On the other hand, Dan Crenshaw earned the nickname “Red Flag Dan” because of his public support and openness to federal Red Flag or Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) policies following high-profile shootings. Red Flag laws allow firearms to be seized based on accusations before a person is convicted of a crime — a direct threat to due process and the presumption of innocence.

If elected to Congress, Steve Toth will be a reliable, unapologetic ally for GOA — someone we can count on to stand firm when pressure builds and compromises are being negotiated behind closed doors.

In CD 23, Brandon Herrera is challenging Tony Gonzales because Texans deserve representation that does not bend when it comes to core constitutional liberties.

Brandon did not set out to pursue a political career — but when he saw backroom deals and weak positions on gun rights, he stepped forward out of principle. He would bring conviction and clarity to Congress — strengthening GOA’s ability to stop bad legislation, advance pro-2A reforms, and build a true constitutional firewall in the U.S. House.

When we elect unapologetic defenders of the Second Amendment, we do more than win races — we build influence. We expand GOA’s coalition. We increase the number of members of Congress who will stand with us when it counts.

Every seat matters.
Every primary matters.
And your vote absolutely matters.

Let’s send fighters to Congress — not compromisers.

Paid for by Gun Owners of America. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. 

BREAKING NEWS GOA Files Legislation In West Virginia to Create Legal Machinegun Ownership

And how we’re fighting back with your help today…

State Legislators in West Virginia have just introduced a bill, authored by Gun Owners of America, to sell machineguns to citizens legally.

This bill, SB 1071, sponsored by Senators Rose & Maynard, would create State-Operated Machinegun Stores.

We’re asking all West Virginia gun owners to urge their State Senators and Reps to pass this bill!

Read on and learn more…

ICYMI: On May 19th 1986, the purchase of new machineguns was banned by the federal government.

But, within this ban there is an exception.

States, and those who are “under their authority,” may possess machineguns according to federal law.

While a transfer of a machinegun from a dealer or a fellow citizen might be prohibited, an exception exists for the States to transfer machineguns to individuals.

The best part? The federal government agrees.

In a recent lawsuit, the Department of Justice argued that the ban on machineguns does not apply to transfers done by the government.

This means you can own a machinegun, no more ridiculous prices, no collectors tax.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,”

What could be a better “well regulated Militia” than a citizenry armed with machineguns?

Our legislation fully comports with the text history and tradition of the Second Amendment.

West Virginia should be incentivized to maintain the security of a free state by arming its citizens with the most modern equipment possible.

And while this bill would raise revenues for West Virginia as well, it’s still going to be a fight.

Here’s what you can do to help…

We’ve been working to gut the National Firearms Act for decades.

Last year, GOA spearheaded efforts in Congress to repeal most of the NFA’s taxes. Then, we filed suit to challenge the registration requirements with our One Big Beautiful Lawsuit.

Now, we’re tackling the prohibition on machineguns with West Virginia.

If you aren’t already, please consider becoming a GOA member so that we can fight for your right to own machineguns.

GOA-Backed Legislation in West Virginia Would Restore Lawful Machine Gun Transfers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 23, 2026 

Springfield, VA – Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to support the introduction of GOA-drafted legislation in West Virginia by Senators Chris Rose and Z. Maynard that would authorize the creation of a state entity to purchase and transfer machine guns to qualified law-abiding citizens pursuant to existing federal law. 

The legislation utilizes a clear statutory exception contained in 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), commonly known as the Hughes Amendment. While that provision generally restricts civilian possession of post-1986 machine guns, it expressly states that the prohibition “does not apply with respect to … a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of” a State or any department or political subdivision thereof. 

Under the bill introduced in West Virginia, the State would establish state-run distribution centers authorized to acquire machine guns and conduct transfers “by” the State to qualified members of the general public. By structuring transactions within the text of the federal exemption, the legislation seeks to restore access to constitutionally protected arms while adhering to existing federal law. 

The proposal is rooted in both statutory construction and the historical understanding of the Second Amendment. Beginning with the Militia Act of 1792, and continuing with surplus military sales throughout American history, federal and state governments have repeatedly supplied military-grade arms to civilians. Supporters argue that the Founders envisioned a citizenry equipped with arms suitable for militia service and national defense. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“For decades, Americans have been told that the 1986 machine gun ban permanently stripped them of access to modern arms. But Congress included an explicit exemption for transfers ‘to or by’ a State, and that language matters. West Virginia is demonstrating that states have both the authority and the responsibility to defend the Second Amendment, restore parity between citizens and the government, and lead the way in dismantling unconstitutional federal overreach.” 

Chris Stone, Director of State Affairs for Gun Owners of America, added: 

“The plain text of Section 922(o) makes clear that its prohibition does not apply to transfers conducted by a State. By carefully structuring this legislation within the existing statutory framework, West Virginia lawmakers are advancing a serious, legally grounded effort to vindicate the rights protected by the Second Amendment while exercising the State’s sovereign authority.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit, grassroots lobbying organization representing millions of members and activists nationwide, dedicated to preserving and defending the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center. 

-GOA- 

Critical Time for Second Amendment Bills in the Wyoming Senate! Please Contact These Senators!

Over the prior four Wyoming Legislative Sessions, GOA has worked with Second Amendment supporters to pass some of America’s best Second Amendment legislation including a Repeal of Gun Free Zones in schools and most government buildings, a Second Amendment Protection Act (which includes criminal penalties) to reduce local cooperation with federal gun control, and strong laws that stop local governments from having gun control.

As we promised a few days ago, GOA is on track to expand our Rights even further in the 2026 Wyoming Legislative Session, and we have great news to report!

This past Saturday, 4 GOA-backed pro-Second Amendment bills passed the Wyoming House and moved to the Wyoming Senate.

These bills will lower the required age to 18 for concealed carry permits (HB096) and increase protections against Red Flag Laws (HB0098).

Furthermore, HB0095 would establish Constitutional Carry at Colleges and Universities. This is an expansion of last year’s Repeal of Gun Free Zones which enabled firearms carry at Colleges and Universities with a Wyoming Concealed Carry Permit.

Firearms carry at K-12 Schools will still require a Wyoming Concealed Carry permit in order to comply with federal laws.

Finally, HB0130 will add a civil process to Wyoming’s existing Second Amendment Protection laws that GOA helped pass in 2022. The 2022 law made the enforcement of unconstitutional federal gun control a crime under Wyoming criminal statutes. If HB0130 passes, citizens will also have a clear path to sue for civil damages, which can be enforced against those agencies. This is a huge deterrent to local cooperation with federal gun control because of the potential impact on an agency’s budget!

NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME TO CONTACT KEY WYOMING SENATORS.

The fate of these bills rests in the hands of Senators Biteman (Senate President), Salazar (Senate Vice President), and Nethercott (Majority Floor Leader). These Senators have the ability to ensure passage or failure of these bills depending on procedural moves like committee assignments and floor assignments.

Please click take action here and contact these key Senators now and ask them to give these bills favorable consideration in the Senate. 

 

P.S. Click here to contact key Senators.

Tennessee lawmakers are pushing HB 1971, a bill that would make it far harder to remove unconstitutional laws from the books, including unconstitutional gun laws.

Right now, Tennessee law gives citizens and organizations a clear legal pathway to ask a court whether a state law violates the Constitution. This allows unconstitutional laws to be challenged and stopped before anyone is arrested, fined, or prosecuted.

HB 1971 would eliminate that pathway.

If this bill passes, Tennessee law would no longer clearly allow citizens to challenge the constitutionality of state statutes in court. Instead, the bill rewrites the law to allow constitutional challenges only against local governments, while expressly excluding challenges to laws passed by the Legislature itself.

In plain terms, unconstitutional gun laws passed by the state could remain on the books with no clear way for citizens to ask a court to strike them down.

This is especially dangerous for the Second Amendment. Many gun laws restrict or chill lawful conduct without ever resulting in an arrest. Under HB 1971, those laws could avoid meaningful judicial review, not because they are constitutional, but because the Legislature has blocked access to the courts.

Courts exist to stop unconstitutional laws, not to shield them from review.

Use the form at the top of this page to email your legislators and ask for a NO vote on HB 1971.

Unconstitutional gun laws should not be protected, and Tennesseans should not lose their ability to defend the right to keep and bear arms in court.

We also want to extend special thanks to our friends at the Tennessee Firearms Association for leading the charge on this issue. Together, we have previously been successful in challenging anti-2A proposals with our shared goals of protecting the right to keep and bear arms, and this is no different.

We’ll keep you updated with where this legislation goes in the future.

Governor Shapiro’s Budget Funds Backdoor Gun Control

Once again, Governor Shapiro is trying to assault your Article 1, Section 21 rights in his proposed 2026-2027 Pennsylvania budget.

Shapiro proposes to fund $1M for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Pennsylvania Commission for Crime and Delinquency. This office would be nothing more than a propaganda machine to justify more calls for gun control through legislative advocacy.

If that wasn’t bad enough, Shapiro’s budget also calls for doubling the funding for the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) to $8.9M that would likely result in expanded bureaucracy that would quickly outpace the funding.

The PICS budget increase could lead to higher costs passed on to gun owners through fees and taxes such as the unconstitutional $2 fee for every PICS check and the $3 tax on the purchase of new firearms.

Instead of increasing funding to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for PICS, the Pennsylvania General Assembly should eliminate funding for the PICS “Record of Sale” system entirely. This system creates an illegal handgun registry through use of the “Firearm Application/Record of Sale” form (SP4-113).

Without appropriated funds, the PSP cannot continue their handgun registration scheme, ending this unconstitutional infringement on your God-given rights.

That’s why I need gun owners like you to send a message to your state representative and senator (by using the form above), demanding that they slash funding for Governor Shapiro’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention and to zero-line the “Record of Sale” handgun registry.

Let’s slash gun control from Shapiro’s budget!

What: Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a motion for summary judgment in FPC v. Platkin, its lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s total prohibition on “short-barreled rifles” (SBRs), defined in state law as those with a barrel shorter than 16 inches or an overall length under 26 inches.

The Virginia General Assembly has reached the crossover point in the 2026 legislative session.

Crossover is the halfway mark of the session where each chamber has voted on its own legislation. From this point forward, only bills that passed their original chamber are eligible to move ahead.

This means that there’s now a final list of gun control bills that can realistically become law if not stopped.

While several extreme proposals were defeated, many dangerous bills are still alive and now advance to the opposite chamber for consideration:

• HB 19 and SB 160 Removes firearm rights for three years following a misdemeanor dating relationship conviction, which includes battery offenses as slight as spitting on someone or tearing their shirt pocket in an argument
• HB 21 and SB 27 Allows frivolous civil lawsuits against the firearms industry undermining federal liability protections
• HB 40 and SB 323 Requires serialization of homemade firearms
• HB 110 and SB 496 Criminalizes firearms left in vehicles through fines towing or misdemeanor charges based on vague storage standards
• HB 217 and SB 749 Prohibits the sale, transfer, or purchase of so-called assault firearms and magazines over ten or fifteen rounds depending on the bill version
• HB 229 and SB 173 Prohibits firearms and certain knives in mental health and developmental service facilities
• HB 702 Establishes a state run firearm give back program
• HB 901 Expands Virginia red flag laws
• HB 909 Creates a one hundred foot gun free zone around polling places
• HB 1015 Permanently strips gun rights based on certain hate crime convictions
• SB 38 and HB 93 Requires firearm surrender under protective orders to third parties
• SB 115 Severely restricts concealed handgun permit recognition for out of state permit holders
• SB 272 and HB 626 Bans firearms in buildings of public institutions of higher education
• SB 348 and HB 871 Mandates firearm storage requirements in homes including biometric only storage in some versions
• SB 364 and HB 969 Creates new gun control agencies and workgroups under the guise of violence prevention
• SB 643 and HB 1525 Bans handgun and assault firearm purchases by adults aged eighteen to twenty using an expansive and arbitrary firearm definition
• SB 727 and HB 1524 Prohibits the public carry of various categories of firearms including rifles and shotguns
• SB 763 Imposes an eleven percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition

GOA members must act immediately.

We are asking you to join our email campaign and contact your Delegates and Senators urging them to vote no on every gun control bill listed above.

Early voting in Texas has officially begun for the upcoming Texas March 3 Primary Election.

Early voting runs from February 17 through February 27.

To view information about candidates who have received endorsements from Gun Owners of America in Texas, please visit: Texas.GunOwners/Elections

This is an important opportunity for Texans to participate in the process and help decide who will represent us in Austin and in Washington.

If you plan to vote early, I encourage you to check your local county’s voting locations and hours here: https://www.votetexas.gov/

Key Dates to Remember:

Early Voting: February 17 – February 27

Primary Election Day: March 3

Thank you for staying engaged and standing with us in this fight.

PFA Weaponization Bill Passes House

HB 1909—a bill that uses Pennsylvania’s Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders to strip citizens of their firearm rights—has passed the House by a 104–94 vote.

Five Republicans crossed party lines to join anti-gun Democrats in advancing the measure: Sheryl Delozier, Natalie Mihalek, Brenda Pugh, K.C. Tomlinson, and Martina White.

The bill now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

If HB 1909 passes the Senate, PFAs — orders often entered ex parte with only one party present before a judge — would trigger automatic criminal penalty enhancements for certain offenses.

That means things like simple harassment, disorderly conduct, or reckless behavior alleged to have occurred “during the violation” of a PFA could be upgraded to higher-level misdemeanors or felonies simply because a PFA exists, regardless of whether a firearm or violence was involved.

These upgraded convictions can then:

• Result in automatic loss of firearm rights under Pennsylvania law, and
• Qualify as federal “misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence” (MCDV) — triggering lifetime federal gun bans with no restoration process under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).

Make no mistake — this bill isn’t about serious violence, it’s about turning PFAs into a backdoor mechanism for gun prohibition. A civil protective order would become the predicate for enhanced criminal penalties and permanent gun rights loss.

Gun owners across Pennsylvania should not be silent on this legislation. If you value your rights, now is the time to take action.

That’s why I need you to contact your State Senator today (by using the form above) and urge them to oppose HB 1909. Let them know you will not stand for legislation that uses PFAs to strip away your constitutional rights.