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.”
The Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project wouldn’t be possible without you. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support pro-gun stories like this.
Amtrack: Firearms in Checked Baggage 3/22/2026 Amtrak accepts reservations of firearms and ammunition for carriage between Amtrak stations and on Amtrak trains within the United States that offer checked baggage service and a ticket office. Amtrak Connection bus services are not to be included in this service. The following policies are in effect: • Notification that the passenger will be checking firearms/ammunition must be made no later than 24 hours before train departure by calling Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL. Online reservations for firearms/ammunition are not accepted. • The passengers must travel on the same train that is transporting the checked firearms and/or ammunition. • All firearms and/or ammunition must be checked at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled train departure. Some larger stations require that baggage be checked earlier. Please contact your departure station for more details. • All firearms (rifles, shotguns, handguns, taser guns, starter pistols) must be unloaded and in an approved, locked hard-sided container not exceeding 62" L x 17" W x 7" D (1575 mm x 432 mm x 178 mm). The passenger must have sole possession of the key or the combination for the lock to the container. The weight of the container may not exceed 50 lbs/23 kg. • Smaller locked, hard-sided containers containing smaller unloaded firearms such as handguns, taser guns and starter pistols must be securely stored within a suitcase or other item of checked baggage, but the existence of such a firearm must be declared. • All ammunition carried must be securely packed in the original manufacturer's container; in fiber, wood, or metal boxes; or in other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition. The maximum weight of all ammunition and containers may not exceed 11 lbs/5 kg. • The passenger is responsible for knowing and following all federal, state, and local firearm laws at all jurisdictions to and through which he or she will be traveling. • All other Amtrak checked baggage policies apply, including limits on the number of pieces of checked baggage, the maximum weight of each piece (50 lbs/23 kg). • Firearms/ammunition may not be carried in carry-on baggage; therefore, checked baggage must be available on all trains and at all stations in the passenger's itinerary. • At the time of check-in, passengers will be required to complete and sign a two-part Declaration Form. • BB guns and Compressed Air Guns (to include paintball markers), are to be treated as firearms and must comply with the above firearms policy. Canisters, tanks, or other devices containing propellants must be emptied prior to checking and securely packaged within the contents of the passenger's luggage. Passengers failing to meet the above-mentioned requirements for checking firearms will be denied transportation.
Gregg Kielma Tactical K Training and Firearms “Don’t Lie for the Other G uy” 3/22/26 A Message From Gregory Kielma, Tactical K Training and Firearms In the firearms community, trust isn’t optional—it’s the foundation everything else is built on. As the owner and instructor at Tactical K Training and Firearms, I’ve seen firsthand how responsible gun ownership protects families, strengthens communities, and preserves our rights. But that responsibility comes with a simple, non negotiable rule: Never lie for someone who can’t legally buy a firearm. The campaign “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” exists for a reason. Straw purchases —when someone buys a gun for a person who isn’t allowed to earn favors. They’re federal crimes. They put innocent people at risk, and they undermine the integrity of every law-abiding gun owner who does things the right way. At Tactical K Training and Firearms, I teach more than marksmanship and safety. I teach accountability. I teach the importance of understanding the law, respecting the process, and making decisions that reflect the values of responsible ownership. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned shooter, the message is the same: If someone asks you to buy a gun for them, walk away. If something feels off, trust your instincts. If you’re unsure, ask questions—your FFL, your instructor, or your local authorities can help. Protecting your rights means protecting the system that upholds them. Every background check, every form, every step exists to keep firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. When we cut corners, we don’t just break the law—we break trust. My commitment, both as an instructor and as an FFL, is to educate, empower, and guide people toward safe, legal, and ethical ownership. That includes saying the hard things when necessary. It includes reminding people that integrity matters even when no one is watching. So let’s keep our community strong. Let’s keep our rights secure. And let’s keep repeating the message that saves lives and protects freedoms: Don’t lie for the other guy. — Gregory Kielma Owner & Instructor
Columbia Felon Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Glock Switch, Guns, and Drugs Thursday, March 19, 2026 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina COLUMBIA, S.C. — Laclarence Lamarcus Anderson, 43, of Columbia , has been sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison following a jury trial where Anderson was convicted of 12 counts of drug and gun offenses. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Anderson sold 10 firearms and quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine to confidential informants on four occasions in May and June 2024. One of the firearms that Anderson sold contained a Glock switch, converting the weapon into a machinegun. Two of the firearms he sold had been linked to an attempted homicide and homicide in surrounding counties in the weeks prior. Anderson was found guilty of unlawfully possessing all of these firearms due to his status as a convicted felon . Anderson has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, assault and battery – 1st degree, and other drug and gun offenses. United States District Judge Cameron Currie sentenced Anderson to 297 months (25 years) imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ### Updated March 19, 2026
Hillsborough County High School Teacher Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Provide Firearms to Trinidad-Based Transnational Criminal Organization Friday, March 13, 2026 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Tampa, Florida – Shannon Nicole Samlalsingh (47, Temple Terrace) was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to make false statements to a firearms dealer. The court also ordered Samlalsingh to forfeit the firearms purchased as a result of the offense. Samlalsingh pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Samlalsingh, then a Hillsborough County high school teacher, bought seven firearms for a Trinidad-based transnational criminal organization. Samlalsingh falsely stated on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives forms that those firearms were for her. In actuality, Samlalsingh gave the firearms to members of the transnational criminal organization. Those individuals then smuggled the firearms into Trinidad. On April 21, 2022, Trinidad authorities seized a shipment from the United States containing two punching bags and other goods at Piarco International Airport. Concealed within the two punching bags were approximately eleven 9mm pistols, two .38 caliber special revolvers, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, three AR-15 barrel foregrips, 19 lower pistol grip assemblies, 11 forearm bolt assemblies, three AR-15-style barrels with forearm grips, 32 AR-15 magazines, one AR-15 drum magazine, 470 rounds of AR-15 ammunition, 34 9mm magazines, three 9mm drum magazines, 284 9mm rounds, fifteen .38 caliber rounds, 36 shells, six magazine couplers, and two shotgun chokes. Samlalsingh had purchased four of the seized firearms: a SAR-9 9mm pistol, a Ruger-9 9mm pistol, a Taurus G3 9mm pistol, and a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, including HSI’s Attaché, Caribbean, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance provided by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (Transnational Organized Crime Unit and Special Investigations Unit), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall. Updated March 13, 2026
Former Fort Myers Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Role in Firearm Trafficking Scheme Tuesday, March 17, 2026 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Fort Myers, FL – Osnyson Desrosiers (Atlanta, Georgia), formerly of Fort Myers, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to two years in federal prison for his role in a firearm trafficking scheme. Desrosiers pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025, to conspiring to make a false statement to a firearms dealer and making false statements to a firearms dealer. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, in early-to-mid 2022, Desrosiers and his co-defendant, Derick Desir, collaborated to “straw purchase” several dozen Glock handguns from licensed firearms dealers in Florida. While making these firearm purchases, they falsely represented to each firearm dealer that they were the “actual buyer or transferee” of the firearms, even though they knew that the firearms they were purchasing were being unlawfully trafficked to a third party. Evidence uncovered by investigators revealed that these firearms were later smuggled into Canada, where several have since been recovered during various Canadian law enforcement investigations. In November 2025, Desir was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth. 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Updated March 17, 2026
Gov. Spanberger 4 Anti-Gun Measures Headed To Virginia’s Democrat Governor For Her Consideration Mark Chesnut We’ve chronicled several times this year how lawful gun owners in Virginia have been firmly in the crosshairs of gun-ban advocates this session, emboldened by the election of Democrat Abigail Spanberger as governor late last year. Four punitive anti-gun measures have recently been sent to Gov. Spanberger for her consideration after being approved in both the House and the Senate. And all will have dire consequences for law-abiding Virginians if Gov. Spanberger signs them into law. One measure, Senate Bill 727, would outlaw the carrying and transporting of many common firearms on public property. And according to a report from NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), this includes semi-automatic rifles and pistols that are equipped with any of the following features: A fixed magazine with over 10 rounds, a standard magazine over 20 rounds, a folding stock, the ability to accept suppressors, along with many other obscurities. Two other measures, Senate Bill 27 and House Bill 21, would have devastating consequences for firearms manufacturers, distributors and retailers by creating sweeping new standards of “responsible conduct.” “The bill requires these businesses to establish and implement vague and subjective ‘reasonable controls’ over the manufacture, sale, distribution, use and marketing of firearm-related products,” NRA-ILA explained. “Further, it establishes a broad civil cause of action, allowing the Attorney General, local government attorneys, or private individuals to sue firearm businesses for injunctions, damages, and costs. This is a direct attack on the firearm industry and is designed to regulate the industry out of existence through litigation—despite longstanding federal protections. “ The final bill that was sent to Gov. Spanberger, House Bill 40, would end the centuries-old practice of individuals building lawful firearms for personal use without government interference. “Transfer and possession of an unserialized or plastic firearm would be prohibited,” NRA-ILA explained. “This legislation would also penalize individuals who lawfully purchased unfinished frames and receivers before the bill’s effective date.” In a last-ditch effort to head off the bills, the NRA is hoping that enough calls to the governor from members and other gun owners could convince her to veto the measure. “It’s critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters contact the Governor today and urge her veto of these extreme anti-gun measures!” NRA-ILA concluded. “Contact the Governor by phone at 804-786-2211 and or clicking the Take Action button.” The “Take Action” button takes the reader to a web form where they can sign on to an email to the governor’s office. In part, the email states: “I urge you to veto SB 727, SB 27, HB 21 and HB 40. These bills do nothing to improve public safety and instead punish law-abiding Virginians who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
Alabama Left-Wing Journalist Seeks To Incite Over Proposed Firearms Tax Holiday Darwin Nercesian Left-wing journalist and self-described “disturbed editorial cartoonist” for Alabama’s AL.com, JD Crowe, recently wrote a piece so indicative of Constitutional ignorance that I felt the need to make fun of him, publicly. His piece (of trash), entitled “Bullets for breakfast? Alabama proposes ammo tax holiday while still taxing groceries,” is exactly the type of emotionally devious drivel used to sway those seen by leftist elites as easily manipulated, or useful idiots. The article even begins with the tagline, “Let them eat bullets. – Alabama GOP lawmakers, probably,” a deliberate double entendre undoubtedly meant to stoke fear and demonize political opposition, much like the fascist and Nazi rhetoric they’ve thrown at us for years. I’ll begin by saying that these aren’t just words on paper. This is a dog whistle, and it is a dangerous one at that. People like JD Crowe present these opinions as witty, even humorous, but the true intent and results of this irresponsible and dishonest bully pulpit are to create further division and publicly charge those they disagree with. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like them, and the fact that they don’t like me is a source of pride. The difference is that I don’t have to lie, create false equivalencies, or use hyperbole to refute their position, and I certainly don’t need to call upon an army of man buns, invaders, or transformers to do my bidding. If you think I’m wrong, you’ve already forgotten about Charlie Kirk. We all know the left is disproportionately responsible for political violence, including mass shootings, and that their disingenuous outrage and contempt for American gun rights are only fueled by their incessant thirst for power through subjugation. To be fair, many of those whom conservatives view as allies in the fight to restore our Second Amendment are anything but, and I think people are starting to understand that the real fight is not between Republicans and Democrats, but the haves and have-nots. Just ask yourself why President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is challenging the Big Beautiful Lawsuit and defending the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) while simultaneously claiming reverence and loyalty to the Second Amendment. Before I careen off track, let me get back to addressing Mr. Crowe’s (pardon me for assuming your gender) attempt to equivocate. Americans pay taxes on just about everything, and if you look closely, we pay them more than once. We pay taxes when we make money, and when we spend the money we’ve already been taxed on. We pay property tax forever, or at least as long as we want to keep our homes. Do we really own the property at that point? I believe that concept is called rent. The point is that we pay taxes on essentials and nonessentials every day, but consumer products are not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights, other than firearms, that is. So why am I on my soapbox today? The federal government and the states have all but buried the Second Amendment, rendering it a privilege. Every gun law, regulation, rule, statute, ordinance, restriction, or tax, no matter what obscure term is used to spit in our face and call us stupid, is nothing more than an infringement. If that rings familiar, that’s because it’s precisely what is forbidden in the Second Amendment. If you want to argue that it is not, let’s apply tax stamps, registration schemes, rosters, and all manner of these same controls to speech and expression, then sit back and bet on how long it takes for liberals to scream bloody murder over their blue hair dye. HB 360 proposes a sales tax exemption beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the last Friday in August and ending at midnight on the following Sunday. That’s two days in an entire year as a concession for the significant erosion of our gun rights. I don’t mean to seem unappreciative, but that’s the truth, no matter how it sounds. As minuscule as it is, however, it is enough to incite the left, who would see firearms entirely banned and confiscated. Don’t worry, they can’t, and if they could, they would have already.
Why Responsible FFL Dealers Are Being Targeted — And Why It Should Concern Every Law-Abiding Gun Owner By Gregory “Gregg” Kielma, FFL & Owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms In recent years, many of us in the firearms community have watched a troubling trend unfold, responsible, law-abiding Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) are increasingly being treated as if they are the problem, rather than partners in public safety. As an FFL who takes compliance, ethics, and community responsibility seriously, I’ve seen firsthand how the landscape has shifted. T his isn’t about politics — it’s about fairness, due process, and the survival of lawful small businesses that follow the rules. FFLs Are Held to the Highest Standards — And Most of Us Exceed Them Every legitimate FFL knows the rules are strict, detailed, and unforgiving. We: • Conduct background checks • Maintain meticulous records • Follow federal, state, and local laws • Report suspicious activity • Cooperate with inspections • Educate customers on safe and lawful ownership The overwhelming majority of FFLs take these responsibilities seriously. We are the front line of legal firearm transfers, and we play a critical role in keeping guns out of the wrong hands. Yet despite this, responsible dealers are increasingly being treated as if they are the source of crime — even when the data shows otherwise. A Shift Toward “Zero Tolerance” — Even for Minor, Unintentional Errors In the past, ATF inspections focused on identifying patterns of negligence or willful misconduct. Today, many FFLs report that the enforcement climate has changed dramatically. Under newer enforcement philosophies, even minor clerical mistakes — the kind that have no impact on public safety — can be treated as grounds for revocation. Examples include: • A customer writing “USA” instead of “United States” • A missing middle initial • A date written in the wrong format • A transposed digit in a ZIP code These are not acts of criminal intent. They are human errors that can occur in any paperwork-heavy industry. Yet some FFLs are being threatened with shutdowns over issues that historically would have been corrected with guidance, not punishment. When honest mistakes are treated the same as willful violations, good people get crushed while bad actors slip through the cracks. Why Targeting Good FFLs Doesn’t Make Communities Safer Shutting down responsible dealers does not stop crime. Criminals do not walk into licensed gun stores, fill out a 4473, and wait for a background check. They obtain firearms through: • Theft • Black market trafficking • Straw purchases • Illegal street sales Law abiding FFLs are not the source of these problems — in fact, we are one of the strongest defenses against them. When the government focuses its energy on punishing compliant dealers instead of targeting criminal networks, the result is predictable: • Crime continues • Small businesses suffer • Communities lose trusted professionals • Law abiding citizens face fewer legal avenues to purchase firearms This approach doesn’t enhance safety. It undermines it. The Real-World Impact on Small, Family Run FFLs Most FFLs are not giant corporations. They are: • Veterans • Retired law enforcement • Firearms instructors • Small business owners • Community members For many of us, this is not just a business — it’s a calling. We invest in training, compliance, and education because we believe in responsible ownership. When enforcement becomes punitive instead of corrective, small FFLs are the first to suffer. A single paperwork error can threaten a livelihood built over decades. That’s not justice. That’s overreach. Why This Matters to Every Law Abiding Gun Owner If responsible FFLs are pushed out of business, the consequences ripple outward: • Fewer legal avenues to purchase firearms • Longer travel distances for lawful buyers • Reduced access to safety training • Less community oversight • More power concentrated in fewer hands When the government makes it harder for good dealers to operate, it ultimately makes it harder for law abiding citizens to exercise their rights safely and responsibly. What I Stand For as an FFL A s the owner of Tactical K Training and Firearms, I stand for: • Full legal compliance • Ethical business practices • Community safety • Education over punishment • Respect for the law and the Constitution I believe in working with regulators, not against them. But cooperation requires fairness, clarity, and a recognition that responsible FFLs are part of the solution — not the enemy. A Call for Balance and Common Sense The firearms community doesn’t ask for special treatment. We ask for fair treatment. We ask for: • Clear rules • Reasonable expectations • Corrective guidance for minor errors • Enforcement focused on criminal activity, not paperwork mistakes • Recognition of the vital role responsible FFLs play in public safety Good FFLs should not be targeted. They should be supported, respected, and valued as partners in keeping firearms out of the wrong hands. Because when responsible dealers are shut down, everyone loses — except the criminals. Gregg Kielma Proud FFL
Why are officers forced to carry 9x19 despite it being terrible objectively requiring magdumping to be effective? Why can't they just carry .40 S&W which is far superior? If they need range they carry a 5.56 x 45 rifle. Ken Bradmon Why do people who have NO IDEA what they are talking about, make up stories that are not true, and then rant about it? That is what this question does. Most law enforcement agents are NOT FORCED to carry 9mm hand guns. That is the minimum caliber round they can carry, not the ONLY caliber they can carry. As for your thought and claim that .40 S&W is far superior - also nonsense. Extensive testing by THOUSANDS of people testing the two calibers in a wide variety of ways has proven beyond all doubt, that your claim is untrue. Yes the .40 S&W is a little larger than 9mm, but bigger isn’t always better. Depending on the shooter, some get much better results with 9mm. Which is better - a bigger hole in the bad guy, but the first three shots missed center mass, or a slightly smaller hole in the bad guy, and the first three shots were right on target? Personally, I own both. I am (much) more accurate with my 9mm Glock than I am with my .40 S&W Sig. Plus my 9mm is both lighter weight, and it holds the same number of rounds. That’s why I prefer my 9mm.
Staying Safe While You Travel By Gregg Kielma-Tactical K Training and Firearms 03/17/2026 When I talk about safety, most people think of their home, their workplace, or their personal protection plan. But the truth is simple: your vehicle is one of the most important places to stay alert and prepared. Whether you’re driving across the state or just heading into town, the habits you build behind the wheel can make all the difference. Let’s Take a LOOK! Plan Before You Go Safe travel starts long before the engine turns over. • Know your route and have a backup plan. • Let someone you trust know where you’re headed. • Check the weather, traffic, and road conditions. Preparation reduces stress and keeps you focused on the road—not on your phone. Maintain Situational Awareness Situational awareness doesn’t stop when you get in the car. • Keep your doors locked and windows up when stopped. • Scan your surroundings at gas stations, parking lots, and rest areas. • Trust your instincts—if something feels off, it probably is. Awareness is your first line of defense, and it costs nothing. Equip Your Vehicle A well-prepared vehicle is a safer vehicle. • Keep a basic emergency kit: flashlight, first aid, water, and tools. • Maintain your tires, fluids, and battery. • Ensure your phone is charged but avoid using it while driving. Small steps prevent big problems. Stay Smart at Stops Most incidents happen when people let their guard down. • Park in well lit, visible areas. • Avoid sitting in your car distracted after parking. • When fueling, stay outside your vehicle and stay aware of who’s around you. Your attention is your advantage. Kielma’s Parting Shot: Avoid Unnecessary Risks Your goal is always the same: get home safely. • Don’t engage with aggressive drivers. • If you feel followed, drive to a public, well populated location. • Never stop for strangers on the side of the road—call for help instead. Safety is about smart decisions, not heroic ones. Gregg Kielma
