U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “This looks like a pretty good resource for more than that,” I commented on my WarOnGuns blog. I was referring to a website a correspondent had sent me a link to that gave information about 2019 Florida gun laws.
That’s just a small piece of everything American Gun Owner Alliance offers. This work-in-progress has sections on state and federal laws, ATF rulings, case law, and legal reviews. AMGOA lists resources for state and national gun groups, shooting ranges, social media groups, and blogs. They present informative maps, information, and analyses about state and federal legislation. They include business listings, to find an attorney, a gun dealer, a trainer and more. They have an events section for rights rallies and gun shows. They also link to important news and opinion pieces and have fact check information.
“What we intend to build is an alliance between all of these gun-related organizations, no matter how large or small and non-affiliated gun owners to create a voice for all of America’s law-abiding gun owners,” AMGOA says. To that end they share their “simple goals”:
“Educate and inform both gun owners and non-gun owners about any new proposed laws that may infringe on our rights. Bring like-minded groups of 2nd amendment supporters together to stand up against unconstitutional law. Use the numbers of our membership to show legislators we will not be silent. Call out the media and anyone that would mislead the public on gun-related facts or information.”
My only caution, I noted at the time, was that I had no real way to establish their bona fides, something I’d need to see before encouraging donations and the like. It’s not like we haven’t seen “gun groups” needing a deeper look before.
AMGOA Founder Dave Dalton was quick to reply and invite me to ask him anything. So in the spirit of “trust but verify,” I did, asking him things like how long they’ve been around, are they incorporated, are they a registered non-profit, who knows them and what legal work they’ve been involved in.
His answers were candid and comprehensive. Rather than paste the entire back-and-forth here, I’ve posted our conversation on Scribd for any who might want to take a closer look.
These people are the real deal. So is the attorney they are working with Joshua Prince, a leader in defending and advancing the right to keep and bear arms I’ve had occasion to write about over the years (and chief counsel for the Firearms Industry Consulting Group in the bump stock challenge to the Trump administration whose Guedes case has been paired with one I’m a plaintiff in).
“AMGOA is growing into a new role by becoming a non-profit organization,” the group announced Monday. “Over the years as our site and membership have grown there have been many calls for us to convert to a 501c4 and now we think the time is right. We are currently asking for donations and seeking new supporting members…”
The change will facilitate fundraising to allow for greater litigation support. The expansion will also allow for coordinating smaller groups to work together on local matters.
I don’t make endorsements lightly. Dalton and his team have been working tirelessly at great personal cost for years and they have an exciting vision that has great potential.
Longtime readers know I never ask them for a dime for myself, and I don’t even view contributions I solicit for others as donations: They are payments for value received.
Here’s what I’m going to ask readers here to do: First, go over to the AMGOA website. Bookmark it, because it’s going to merit a thorough examination, and serious activists are going to want to return and use resources that help them in their advocacy.
If, after seeing what AMGOA offers – and what it can offer if allowed to grow – you agree that you get value from the efforts, then simply do the right thing. Join and help. But that’s not all.
Please spread the word. If you’re on it, use social media. Tell your gun-owning friends. Tell your gun club. Tell the gun shops and ranges you patronize. If you belong to a state or national group, ask them to start a mutually beneficial relationship with AMGOA. Remember, we’re doing this for “ourselves and our Posterity.”
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.