Gregory Kielma • August 6, 2024
Billionaires Laura and John Arnold – through Arnold Ventures, a Houston-based for-profit corporation are Anti Gun and funding Flawed Research
Laura and John Arnold
Billionaire Backing Biased Anti-Gun Research
“In this world, you get what you pay for,” said Kurt Vonnegut in Cat’s Cradle, his fourth novel. And when billionaire philanthropists are involved, Mr. Vonnegut is more than right. Nowadays, billionaires get exactly what they pay for.
An investigation by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project reveals how a former Enron trader and his wife are quietly paying millions of dollars every year to colleges, universities, think tanks and other groups for biased anti-gun research, which is then cited as gospel by the corporate media and used as propaganda by anyone who wants to infringe upon law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
Billionaires Laura and John Arnold – through Arnold Ventures, a Houston-based for-profit corporation the couple founded to “proactively achieve social change” and their nonprofit, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation – are quietly bankrolling research that promotes and supports their radical anti-gun views. Their Foundation has more than $3.5 billion in assets.
Despite their predilection to work in secret, the couple’s actions have not gone unnoticed.
“Arnold Ventures is the gun control backer most Americans have never heard of. They quietly work behind the scenes, unlike Michael Bloomberg. However, their influence on trying to shape gun control policy rivals that of the biggest backers of antigun efforts. They regularly donate money to think tanks and academia to propel biased research into the policy arena. Arnold Venture’s philanthropic outreach sounds well-intentioned, but they’re serving up snake oil when they peddle firearms as a disease,” Mark Oliva, public affairs director for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said last week.
The Arnolds’ massive financial clout creates an unholy alliance between grantor and grantee. Their paid researchers publish findings that support the couple’s views, or they risk the cash spigot being turned off and the loss of millions of dollars to their organization.
When it comes to their donations, it is clear who determines where the money goes.
“Laura and John established the Laura and John Arnold Foundation in 2010. They believe philanthropy should be transformational and should seek through innovation to solve persistent problems in society. As co-founders, Laura and John actively engage in the organization’s overall direction and daily execution,” the group’s website states.
John Arnold started as a trader for Enron, according to Influence Watch. He quit before the company imploded and was never accused of wrongdoing. In addition to gun control, the couple supports health care reform, criminal justice reform, prison reform and several nonprofit media groups.
The RAND Corporation is a major recipient of the Arnolds’ funding. RAND now maintains a gun-policy page. Much of their research is sponsored by the Arnolds.
According to the Laura and John Arnold Foundation’s 2022 IRS form 990, the couple paid RAND at total of $2.8 million, of which $1.7 million was for anti-gun research, including:
• $1,261,269 “to conduct research on how to reduce gun violence.”
• $99,000 “to support the first national conference on gun violence prevention research.”
• $89,000 “to support a convening relating to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Bruen case.”
• $283,546 “to provide objective information about firearm violence and how state laws reduce or exacerbate this violence.”
That same year, the couple paid more than $1.8 million for anti-gun research from other groups, including:
• $28,040 to the National Opinion Research Center “to support the NORC expert panel on reducing gun violence and improving data infrastructure.”
• $219,122 to the University of California at Berkeley “to evaluate the advance peace gun violence reduction program.”
• $1,065,933 to Princeton University “to develop a research infrastructure that helps cities better understand and respond to waves of gun violence.”
• $475,093 to the University of Maryland “to support the center for study and practice of violence reduction.”
In total, the Foundation donated more than $185 million, according to their 2022 IRS Form 990.
Arnold Ventures public relations director, Angela Landers, declined to be interviewed for this story, arrange an interview with the Arnolds or discuss the gun-control research they funded. Instead, Landers chose to send a written statement, which is unedited and reprinted in its entirety:
“Philanthropy can play a unique role in supporting research regarding the impact of many public policies, including those related to gun violence. In this instance, Arnold Ventures partnered with RAND Corp., a nonpartisan and widely respected research institution, to conduct scientific research that offers the public and policymakers a factual basis for developing fair and effective gun policies in the interest of public safety. Sound research is an important part of building evidence-based solutions,” Landers said in her statement.
RAND’s Response
While there were infrequent gun-related projects over the years, the RAND Corporation as a whole did not research “gun violence” until 2016, when there was a mass-shooting near their California office, according to Andrew R. Morral, PhD, a senior behavioral scientist at RAND and the Greenwald Family Chair in Gun Policy.
“A lot of our staff were rattled by it, as were RAND trustees and friends of RAND,” Morral told the Second Amendment Foundation last week. “They contacted our president and asked what we were going to do about it.”
RAND set aside some internal funds because the work was not yet sponsored and investigated, Morral explained. In 2018, they released their first tranche of research.
“Arnold Ventures picked it up and has funded us since then,” he said.
Today, Arnold Ventures is RAND’s largest sponsor of gun-control research. Together with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the two groups pay RAND more than $1.5 million annually, Morral said. Federal grants from the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Justice provide additional “gun-violence” research funding.
None of RAND’s estimated 1,900 employees are researching gun-control full time, Morral said. Although he estimated between six to eight staffers are studying gun-control topics “as part of their research portfolios.”
Morral denied that Arnold Ventures or any other donor interfered with their research.
“We are very careful to not allow that to happen,” he said. “We haven’t experienced any pressure and we have not been asked to share our findings with Arnold Ventures or any other sponsor. We aren’t held accountable for producing results in a certain direction. Our donors, generally, are interested in us being neutral and objective, which is part of the reason they came to RAND.”
Still, Morral acknowledged that their sponsors can use their research however they see fit.
“We realize it’s used for advocacy, of course. We’re producing scientific results. We can’t control how they’re used. People will use that in a variety of ways. Our results are used by both advocates for more restrictive gun laws as well as advocates for less restrictive gun laws.”
Morral said RAND takes no position on the right to keep and bear arms. “We don’t have policy positions on that or on gun laws or anything else,” he said. “We don’t advocate. We don’t do any advocacy.”
However, it is RAND’s opinion and Morral’s that “gun-violence” constitutes a public health crisis.
“I certainly think there’s a crisis in terms of the number of people dying and being injured each year,” he said. “The numbers are high enough to call that a crisis.”
RAND, Morral said, stands by the validity of their gun-violence research, “subject to the limitations reported in our reports. All research has limitations, and we try to be upfront about that,” he said.
RAND’s position on two frequent gun-control targets is clear, concise and published on its website.
• Concealed-carry laws increase homicides rates: “Evidence shows that concealed carry laws – when states implement more permissive concealed carry laws, there’s a small increase in homicide rates. Our own research has found evidence of that – some suggestive evidence,” Morral said.
• Stand-your-ground laws increase homicide rates: “The current evidence is that when states implement stand-your-ground laws, firearm homicide rates increase,” he said.
RAND researchers published a report last Wednesday, which was funded by Arnold Ventures and a National Institute of Health grant, titled “State Policies Regulating Firearms and Changes in Firearm Mortality.”
Morral was one of the scientists involved in the project.
The objective was to estimate the effects state firearm policies have on gun-related deaths. The researchers examined six policies: “background checks, minimum age, waiting periods, child access, concealed carry, and stand-your-ground laws.”
The findings were mixed. Child-access prevention laws can reduce gun deaths by 6%, and stand-your-ground laws can increase firearm deaths by 6%, the authors claimed.
“Our finding that most of these individual state-level firearm policies have relatively modest and uncertain effect sizes reflects that each firearm policy is a small component of a complex system shaping firearm violence. However, we found that combinations of the studied policies were reliably associated with substantial shifts in firearm mortality,” the authors noted.
All of the authors – Terry L. Schell, PhD; Rosanna Smart, PhD; Matthew Cefalu, PhD; Beth Ann Griffin, PhD and Morral – work for RAND at either its Santa Monica, California, or Arlington, Virginia, offices.
All of the authors except Morral disclosed conflicts of interest: “Dr Schell reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism during the conduct of the study. Dr Smart reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures and the National Institutes of Health during the conduct of the study. Dr Cefalu reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures during the conduct of the study. Dr Griffin reported receiving grants from Arnold Ventures during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.”
The authors claimed that neither Arnold Ventures not the NIH exercised any control of their work.
“The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication,” the report states.
RAND’s NIH Grant of $790,100 was awarded Sept. 25, 2020, and is ongoing.
“Don’t Get Mad About Guns …”
Three months ago, the Trace – the propaganda arm of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun empire – announced they were creating a Gun Violence Data Hub, which would “help journalists access data on one of America’s most critical – and opaque – public health crises.”
“The Data Hub is a multiyear project to increase the accessibility and use of accurate data on gun violence in journalism. Its team of editors, reporters and researchers will proactively collect and clean datasets for public distribution, write and share tip sheets, and serve as a resource desk to other newsrooms, assisting journalists in their pursuit of data-informed reporting,” the Trace reported.
Arnold Ventures was one of the Data Hub’s top sponsors.
To be clear, Arnold Ventures has radical anti-gun views. The group believes “firearm violence” constitutes a public health crisis. “Gun violence,” it claims, has become the leading cause of death of “young people,” not children, the group states on its website. By referring to young people rather than children, they can include 18- to 20-year-olds in their data set to make the numbers work.
Arnold Ventures wants to bridge the gap in anti-gun research, which they say was created by the 1996 Dickey Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from conducting anti-gun research.
Don’t Get Mad About Guns — Get Funding for Research, the group offers on its website.
“It isn’t enough to get mad about gun violence,” Asheley Van Ness, Arnold Ventures former director of criminal justice, wrote in The Houston Chronicle.“Change starts with adequate funding for research, or else policymakers may end up spending time and money on programs that simply don’t work.”
In 2018, to streamline its funding efforts, Arnold Ventures launched the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research (NCGVR). Its mission is to “fund and disseminate nonpartisan, scientific research that offers the public and policymakers a factual basis for developing fair and effective gun policies.”
“At Arnold Ventures, we use our resources to confront some of the most pressing problems facing our nation,” Arnold Ventures President and CEO Kelli Rhee stated on the group’s website. “Five years ago, we, like many others, recognized that our understanding of gun violence was suffering from a severe lack of investment in research, and we joined together with our partners to try and fill some of the gap. While more investment from both public and private entities is undoubtedly needed, the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research has made significant progress in building the gun policy evidence base.”
Since 2022, the NCGVR has issued more than 50 grants, including “13 dissertation research projects and seven post-doctoral research fellowships, as well as awards for large new studies on domestic gun violence, officer-involved shootings, harms to firearm owners associated with gun laws, gun suicides, gun policy analysis and urban gun violence.”
Arnold Ventures chose RAND to administer the NCGVR, and RAND put Morral in charge. Today, Morral co-leads the NCGVR, which he says brings RAND “a couple hundred-thousand dollars per year.”
“It was an opportunity to improve research in the field,” Morral told the Second Amendment Foundation. “It was something that seemed like an interesting project to work to elevate. There wasn’t much research going on, and it was an area we were trying to make some headway in with our own funding. We recognized there was a gap in knowledge about gun policy that wasn’t being studied.”
Takeaways
There is certainly nothing unlawful about a well-heeled couple sponsoring gun-control research or research of any kind. The Arnolds are free to spend their millions as they see fit. However, since their largesse can negatively impact the civil rights of millions of law-abiding Americans, the Arnolds should be prepared to answer for their philanthropy.
The couple has created a pipeline of sorts, cash goes in one end and anti-gun propaganda comes out the other.
The risks they’ve created are dire.
“When a cable TV news actor cites some farcical statistic about guns or gun owners, it’s important to understand how that number made it onto the teleprompter,” said Second Amendment Foundation founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “It starts with donor dollars sent to researchers at left-leaning colleges, universities or other groups, who publish reports that mirror their donors’ views, which are then regurgitated by the corporate media. It’s a factory-like process. We don’t have anything like that. We don’t need it. We simply rely upon the truth.”
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Brothers indicted for trafficking firearms Thursday, January 15, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Kansas KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging two brothers with illegal firearms trafficking. According to court documents, Markeese Fluker, 27, of Independence, Missouri, and Markel Fluker, 29, of Kansas City, Missouri, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful trafficking in firearms and four counts of possession and transfer of machine guns. Markeese Flucker is also charged with one of count of possession and sale of a stolen firearm. From September 2025 to December 2025, the Fluker brothers are accused of conspiring to provide firearms to people who they allegedly knew were legally prohibited from possessing firearms and that their acquiring firearms would result in a felony offense. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Updated January 15, 2026
Haitian Nationals Charged With Unlawfully Smuggling Firearms From United States Tuesday, January 6, 2026 U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Francesca Charles, 28, a U.S. citizen residing in Florida; Jacques Pierre, 32; and his brother, Jeff Pierre, 34, both citizens of Haiti residing in FL, with conspiracy to smuggle goods and unlawfully ship firearms, smuggling goods from the United States, and unlawfully shipping firearms. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. According to court documents, in February 2025, officials in the Dominican Republic seized 18 rifles, 5 handguns, firearms magazines, over 36,000 rounds of ammunition, and a silencer from inside a container that had been shipped from Miami, Florida. The shipping container was destined for Haiti. The firearms and ammunition were not listed on the shipping manifest, which instead listed household goods. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), learned that the defendants were the purchasers of at least 20 of the 23 firearms seized from the shipping container. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that the defendants purchased at least 46 firearms between May 2024 and February 2025, most of which were the same make and model as the firearms recovered in the Dominican Republic. Thirty-seven of those firearms were purchased between August 9, 2024, and February 10, 2025. Agents also obtained records that Jacques Pierre purchased two Barrett .50-caliber rifles, which are heavy-duty military-style weapons that are typically mounted to the tops of vehicles and used in furtherance of violence by gangs and cartels. One of the Barrett rifles was recovered in the aforementioned shipment in February 2025. Travel and shipping records showed that the co-conspirators would facilitate a shipment to Haiti shortly after purchasing a large number of firearms, then would travel to Haiti around the time the shipment was scheduled to arrive in Haiti. Travel records also showed that the defendants traveled to the Dominican Republic three days before the shipping container was intercepted. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the ATF and HSI with assistance from U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince and the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Updated January 6, 2026
Safety Starts With Everyone: It’s All About Awareness at Home or Work 01-16-2026 By Gregg Kielma Some gentle reminders that are the foundation of safety at home and work. Let’s Take a LOOK Safety depends on consistency, not complexity. Most accidents occur when warning signs are missed, so staying alert at home and work is key. Always be aware of your environment and keep these points in mind when planning for safety. A safe environment starts with simple habits: keeping walkways clear, maintaining working alarms, checking equipment regularly, and making sure everyone knows basic emergency procedures. Clear communication matters just as much. When people speak up about hazards or concerns, problems get solved early instead of after something goes wrong. Is your alarm system functioning at home? Have you checked that your fire extinguisher or extinguishers are up to date? Do you have fire blankets available? Is there a designated safe meeting place outside where your family can gather in case of a fire or home invasion? Responsibility ties it all together. Each of us plays a role in keeping our homes and workplaces safe. When you take ownership of your space and lead by example, others follow. As I always say, Stay Situationally Aware. Stay Prepared and ALWAYS, Stay Safe. Gregg Kielma
Why Owning a Firearm Is a Proactive Choice 01-16-26 ----By Gregg Kielma, Owner & Lead Instructor, Tactical K Training and Firearms My philosophy has always been and has never changed, being proactive means taking responsibility for your safety, your preparedness, and your peace of mind long before a crisis ever occurs. In my decades of training students across Florida and beyond, I’ve seen one truth stand out: owning a firearm—paired with proper training—is one of the most proactive steps a person can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. Let's Take a LOOK, My thoughts: Preparedness Begins Before the Emergency Most people lock their doors, install smoke detectors, and keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Not because they expect danger every day, but because they understand that preparation saves lives. A responsibly owned firearm fits into that same mindset. It’s a tool you hope you never need, but one that can make all the difference when seconds matter and help is minutes away. Training Builds Confidence, Not Fear Proactive firearm ownership isn’t about paranoia or aggression. It’s about education, skill, and confidence. When you train regularly, you develop: • Safe handling habits • Clear decision making under stress • Respect for the responsibility that comes with carrying a firearm • The ability to protect yourself without hesitation or uncertainty Confidence is not built in the moment of crisis. It’s built on the range, in the classroom, and through consistent practice. A Mindset of Responsibility Owning a firearm proactively means embracing a higher standard of responsibility. That includes: • Secure storage • Understanding the law • Maintaining your equipment • Staying current with training and best practices This mindset doesn’t just make you safer — it makes your household and your community safer as well. Empowerment Through Knowledge Knowledge is power, and proactive firearm owners invest in learning. They understand situational awareness, conflict avoidance, and de-escalation. They know that the best fight is the one you never have to be in. A firearm is simply the final tool in a layered approach to personal protection. Kielma’s Parting Shot: Protecting What Matters Most At the end of the day, being proactive is about protecting the people you love. It’s about refusing to leave your safety entirely in the hands of others. A firearm, when paired with proper training and a responsible mindset, gives you the ability to act decisively when it matters most.
AED's For Home and Business Why? Let's Take a LOOK Gregg Kielma January 15, 2026 As someone who is certified to teach CPR and sells Defibrillators, I'm often asked if you should have an AED at home. The answer is yes—during a heart attack, every second counts. Using CPR with an AED can save the precious lives of family friends and loved ones. The cost of home defibrillators is minimal compared to the alternative. Most home AED’s cost $700.00-$1000.00 depending on make and models. Expensive? Not really when lives matter. Having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in both your home and business is one of the most powerful steps you can take to protect the people who matter most, family, friends, coworkers and customers. Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, and every minute without intervention dramatically reduces the chance of survival. Emergency responders do incredible work, but even in the best conditions, they may be minutes away and those minutes are critical. During a cardiac event every second counts. An AED bridges that gap by giving everyday people the ability to deliver life‑saving action before help arrives. Modern AEDs are simple, intuitive, and designed for anyone to use, even under stress. For families, having an AED at home means you’re prepared for the unexpected, especially if you have loved ones with heart conditions, active lifestyles, or higher risk factors. For businesses, an AED demonstrates a commitment to employee and customer safety, strengthens your emergency response plan, and can significantly reduce liability by showing you took reasonable steps to safeguard your environment. At Tactical K Training and Firearms, I believe preparedness is more than equipment, it’s a mindset. An AED is not just a device; it’s a life‑preserving tool that empowers you to act decisively when seconds matter. Thank you for reading if you like this article please let me know. Gregg Kielma, Tactical K Training and Firearms
Gregg Kielma The Smart Gun Owner: A Model of Responsibility and Preparedness By Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms 01/14/2026 I regularly teach my philosophy, "Always Be Safe," focusing on safe and responsible firearm handling. A smart gun owner is more than someone who simply possesses a firearm. They embody a mindset—one built on responsibility, awareness, and a commitment to safety. In communities across America, smart gun owners play a vital role in promoting safe practices, protecting their families, and setting a positive example for others. Their approach to firearm ownership reflects maturity, discipline, and respect for the tools they carry. Knowledge First, Always: Smart gun owners understand that education is the foundation of safe firearm ownership. They seek out training, stay informed about current laws, and continuously refine their skills. Whether it’s mastering safe handling, improving marksmanship, or learning about situational awareness, they recognize that knowledge is their most valuable asset. Safety as a Way of Life: For the smart gun owner, safety isn’t a checklist, it’s a lifestyle. They store their firearms securely, handle them with care, and follow established safety rules every time. Their habits reduce risks, prevent accidents, and set a standard for others to follow. By modeling safe behavior, they help create a culture where responsibility is the norm. Protecting What Matters Most: Many people choose to own firearms for personal and home defense. Smart gun owners take this responsibility seriously. They understand that a firearm is a tool of last resort, used only when escape or avoidance is impossible. Their focus is on protecting loved ones, not seeking conflict. This mindset reinforces the true purpose of responsible ownership: preserving life. Commitment to Skill and Discipline: Smart gun owners know that proficiency doesn’t happen by accident. They practice regularly, maintain their equipment, and stay sharp. Their discipline extends beyond the range—into how they think, plan, and prepare. This dedication ensures they are capable, confident, and ready to act responsibly if the need ever arises. Leaders in Their Community: By sharing knowledge, encouraging safe practices, and supporting others, smart gun owners strengthen their communities. They help dispel myths, promote responsible behavior, and demonstrate that firearm ownership—when paired with education and respect—can be a positive force. Their leadership inspires others to follow the same path of responsibility. Kielma’s Parting Shot: A smart gun owner is defined not by what they carry, but by how they think and act. Their commitment to safety, education, and responsibility sets them apart. They are protectors, learners, and role models—individuals who understand that owning a firearm is both a right and a profound responsibility. Gregg Kielma
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Why Real Estate Agents Should Prioritize Safety Training Gregg Kielma 01/11/2026 Please stay safe Friends in the Real Estate Business. Here are my thoughts and what I teach. Kielma advises real estate agents spend their days meeting strangers, entering unfamiliar properties, and working alone in unpredictable environments. While the industry focuses heavily on sales skills and market knowledge, personal safety is just as essential. Safety training equips agents with the awareness, confidence, and practical tools they need to protect themselves while serving clients professionally. A High-Risk Profession • Agents often meet clients they’ve never met before, sometimes in vacant or remote locations. • Open houses and showings can attract anyone—including individuals with harmful intentions. • Many incidents involving assaults, robberies, and threats occur during routine real estate activities. Situational Awareness Saves Lives: These skills help agents avoid dangerous situations before they escalate. Safety training teaches agents how to: • Recognize suspicious behavior early • Maintain control of their environment during showings • Use safe positioning and exit strategies • Trust their instincts without feeling unprofessional Professionalism Includes Personal Protection Clients trust agents to guide them through major financial decisions. An agent who prioritizes safety demonstrates responsibility, preparedness, and professionalism. Safety trained agents are more confident, make better decisions under stress, and reduce liability for themselves and their brokerage. Empowerment Through Education: This knowledge benefits them not only in their career but in everyday life. Safety training empowers agents with: • De-escalation techniques • Communication strategies • Legal considerations for self defense • Practical tools for staying safe on the job Kielma’s Parting Shot Real estate agents face unique risks that can’t be ignored. Safety training isn’t optional, it’s a critical investment in personal well-being, professional credibility, and long-term career success. Brokerages that encourage or require safety training show they value their agents and are committed to creating a safer industry.
