The Gun Owners of America spokesman discusses the key victories for the gun group – and what comes next in 2026.
Even though this year was a turbulent one when it came to restrictive gun laws, the Gun Owners of America still believe 2025 was one in which it made significant progress securing the rights of private gun owners.
- Coast-to-Coast Carry Wins
GOF prevailed in key lawsuits in both New York and California, ending discriminatory denials of non-resident concealed carry permits. Together, these victories allow GOF members to lawfully carry from one coast to the other. - Huge Constitutional Carry Victory!
GOF successfully challenged Tennessee’s “going armed” statute, effectively making the state Constitutional Carry. While the state’s Republican Attorney General has appealed, this case puts us on the brink of a lasting expansion of freedom in 2026. - Bypassing NICS
GOF compelled the ATF to reinstate “Brady Alternative” status for carry permit holders in states such as Michigan and Alabama. Law-abiding citizens can once again bypass redundant NICS checks—pushing back against registration-style gun control. - GOF Ends DOJ’s “Zero-Tolerance” Assault on Gun Dealers
GOF litigation forced the Department of Justice to abandon the Biden-era “Zero Tolerance” rule that punished honest gun dealers for minor clerical errors. This victory safeguards FFLs across the country—preserving competition, access, and consumer choice for law-abiding Americans. - Red Flag Scheme Declared Illegal
GOF shut down an aggressive gun-control push in Memphis, Tennessee. The court ruled the city’s carry ban and Red Flag ordinance unlawful—memorably calling the effort “dead as a doornail.” - Universal Background Check Law Defeated
After a five-year fight alongside VCDL, GOF secured a ruling striking down Virginia’s Universal Background Check law. Private firearm sales are once again legal—without government permission slips. - Florida’s Open Carry Ban Overturned
Following GOF’s legal challenge, Florida acknowledged that open carry is protected by the Second Amendment and confirmed it will no longer enforce its ban. This long-overdue victory restores a fundamental liberty for Floridians. - Missouri County Forced to Repeal Youth Handgun Ban
GOF sued Jackson County, Missouri, for violating state preemption by banning handgun purchases for 18-to-20-year-olds. The county was forced to reverse course and remove the unconstitutional provisions.
While these are noteworthy wins, the fight is far from over. Still, there’s a lot to look back on. Joining us to discuss this further is Stephen Willeford, the 2017 “hero with a gun” who serves as spokesman for the group. We welcome him to the show.
Q&A:
- Out of these eight key victories, would you say there’s one that stands out the most for you? Or are they all worthwhile when it comes how they turned out?
- What does this say about those that try to set up restrictive gun laws? Like certain states and certain parties within the ATF?
- Do you believe private gun rights will be better protected as 2026 goes on, especially with the establishment of a new Civil Rights Division?
- Do you believe 2026 will be the year that more states will adopt the Open Carry rule, considering how effective it’s become?
- For those states that don’t accept the Open Carry law, could they possibly set up even more gun restrictions this year?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- You can purchase the book here on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle format.
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
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