A spokesman for the Gun Owners of America discusses the new grassroots coalition, announced this past weekend during its GOALS 2025 event.
GOALS 2025 has come to a close, once again proving to be a strong, well-attended event in Knoxville, Tennessee. Thousands paid the show a visit, listening to speakers and partaking in the conversation surrounding the importance of gun rights. But GOALS was also the home for groundbreaking announcements, including one for “Fuerza 2A.”
This is a new grassroots coalition “dedicated to educating, empowering, and mobilizing Hispanic gun owners across the nation,” according to the Gun Owners of America, the group behind GOALS.
“This new initiative will be led by Chair Alisabet Valdes and Co-Chair Luis Valdes, two dynamic voices for liberty and unapologetic defenders of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is not just a constitutional right—it is a universal right to self-defense and personal freedom,” the group noted in a press statement.
“For millions of Hispanic Americans, it represents a powerful shield against the tyranny many of their families once fled. Fuerza 2A exists to ensure that no one is silenced, disarmed, or left defenseless—regardless of language, background, or zip code. We are a voice. We are a force. And we are here to make it clear: self-defense has no language barrier—and freedom knows no compromise.”
Sam Peredes, who serves as Gun Owners of California Executive Director, noted, “States like California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Florida have large populations of freedom-loving Hispanic Americans—people who have been ignored or misrepresented by so-called leaders claiming to speak for them. Fuerza 2A will be a strong and unapologetic voice for these communities, ensuring that every American, regardless of background, can fully exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
A spokesman for the group – either Mark Jones or Stephen Willeford – joins us now to discuss the new coalition further. We welcome them to the show!
Q&A:
- Why are Hispanics so poorly represented by states when it comes to recognizing and upholding their gun rights?
- Would you say that such a move was done politically, or simply as part of a “bigger picture” by politicians to withhold gun rights altogether?
- How well was the Fuerza 2A announcement received during GOALS 2025 this past weekend?
- What is your hope for Alisabet Valdes and Luis Valdes in terms of getting forward movement on this coalition?
- That said, where do you see the battle surrounding gun rights going as the year presses onward? Are some states still being stubborn when it comes to certain gun laws?
- What are your thoughts on this year’s GOALS 2025 event? Are you potentially looking forward to another one next year?
- FOR STEPHEN: 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.
- FOR STEPHEN: Where can people find your book?
- You can purchase the book here on Amazon, both in paperback and Kindle format.
- FOR MARK: Tell us more about the Hunter Outreach program.
- 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 Mark Jones…
Mark Jones is National Director for the Gun Owners of America, and also directs the National Hunter Outreach Program across the United States. He also manages legislative responsibilities in Wyoming and is a Certified Wildlife Biologist.
Mark built GOA’s National Hunter Outreach Program almost four years ago after retiring from his first career as a Big Game and Small Game Biologist. Mark has nearly three decades of experience performing wildlife research, publishing peer-reviewed scientific papers, managing wildlife resources, working with hunters and recreational shooters, and engaging in legislative issues with governmental policy.
Mark has been very active in helping GOA take on a National role in protecting the American Hunting Traditions. He is also well known in the Legislature and political circles where he has worked to pass a variety of pro-Second Amendment and pro-hunting Legislation in recent years.
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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