Riding Shotgun With Charlie #165 Hank Yacek Point of Impact Group   One day last fall, I got a message via LinkedIn from Hank Yacek.  He said he’s been in the gun business for years and wanted to be a guest on the show. I thought he would be an interesting passenger, offering insight that others haven’t had on the show. He said he lives in Lexington, KY. I replied that this was great timing as I was heading to Nashville that weekend and I could ‘swing by’ Lexington on the way home.    Hank grew up shooting. At a very young age, Hank was doing competitive shooting at 9 years old!  He was traveling the country and doing rifle shooting inside schools with school rifle teams!  I really don’t remember that even though Hank and I are around the same age. But I do remember some guy who had shotguns in the trucks to hunt before school.    Then he started making money in the gun industry as a shotgun judge making $150-$300 a week!  Maybe it’s not a lot now, but as a 14 year old in the 1980’s he was rolling in it. (Says the guy who was making $3.35/hour at ’the arches’). While visiting a local gun shop, one of the store owners asked Hank not only if he would work for them, but do some of the retail work. Eventually he went to college for wildlife biology, but got back into firearms and the gun business. Hank thought that after working at gun shops, he could open one and run it better.  He was in for quite a learning experience.    After years of experience and learning, his shop wasn’t really big but was doing about 3 million dollars in business every year. Hank sold the gun shop and started a consulting business helping gun stores and ranges around the country find a better way to do business. I really love this idea of finding your customers, or audience, and what best serves them. He points out that the first step to good customer service is ‘being open’ and having a business!    One of the things he thinks gun stores need to do is to get out there and participate in local competitions and matches interacting with potential and current customers. One advantage is that people are aware of the store. Another is that you’ll know what your customers need to buy. Another is that if a store says they’re ‘family friendly’ but then has a logo with a skull and crossbones that they may need to do some rebranding. They also need to stay away from the ‘male, pale, and stale’ that many gun stores have a history of being. He’s got several pointers that can be useful to gun stores all around the country.    Point of Impact goes around and does presentations at a lot of conventions and industry events including SHOT Show. I was able to catch Hank in Vegas, but wasn’t able to watch his presentation as I had a meeting myself. I was bummed, but I needed to get my work done, too.    We do spend some time talking about how the gun issue should be a non-partisan issue. He was involved with a study that found that 25% of the gun buying public identifies as Democrat. But Hank has an idea for “Arm a Democrat” Month, a month to show them what we’re really like, not like the yahoos out there slinging guns all the time. I shared a story about a Democrat colleague who said he wanted to do some training to buy a gun and was shocked that I’d take him to the range and have him in a class. Maybe our political beliefs aren’t the same, but I still believe that he should own a firearm.  Or seven!   I’m glad that I was able to connect with Hank and have him in the stagecoach. There is a lot to take in about the business side of the gun community. And I’m taking some notes and revisiting my thoughts after watching the show.    Favorite quotes:   “The consulting work is helping folks that are growing a hobby into a business on how to be better business people.” “You can’t give any customer service if you’re not open.” “Everybody should be able to have the right to protect themselves.” “People have more opportunity, more places to go shoot, then ever before.” Point Of Impact Group Firearm Range & Retail Consulting https://pointofimpactgroup.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #164 Dianna Muller The DC Project   I first met Dianna Muller, founder of The DC Project (DCP), back in 2019, when I was headed down to DC and filming a show in Philadelphia on the way down, then some of the DCP ladies in DC. I’ve run into her and several of the DCP ladies across the country at Gun Rights Policy Conference, NRA Annual Meetings, Florida Carry events, the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival, and almost any 2A event I’ve been to. Last fall, I was going to the Rod of Iron event in Greely, PA, and I was asked if I could pick up Di at the Wilkes-Barre Airport. How can I not? Since I was going to be driving a 2A personality, I had to film a show.    The month before we filmed the show, Di and the DCP ladies all went to Washington to do some work. Their work consists of talking to politicians about the women’s side of gun ownership, the reason women own firearms, and why it's important for women to own and carry firearms. She also talks about why we need to take back the reins through school boards, local, state, and federal positions. This year, there were several new ladies who joined them in Washington. What she really wants to do is get the gun owners unified so we can all talk about why we believe what we believe.    Di talks about more than the DCP, but what some of the objectives are for the group and probably for any of the other 2A groups that are out there. The DCP was started to be a countermeasure to the ‘red shirts’ (the Moms Demand Action group).  Di wanted to have a sea of teal shirts to be everywhere the red shirts were going. She wanted to be the pro-gun side of the women’s voice, the side that has common sense and civil rights on its side.    One of the things we talk about is how the pro-gun side gets the blame everytime there’s a mass shooting somewhere.  Why are we responsible for the actions of a murderer? Why do we have to defend the murders because we own firearms? Why do we often hold back 72 hours after a shooting before we make a statement, before all the facts are out? Usually the media has moved on to another story and do not retract their stories.  And the retracted stories certainly don’t get the same amount of press as the incident itself gets.    Di also talks about the times testified in front of Congress. Certainly it’s intimidating. Once she testified in front of David Chipman, who was a failed candidate for the head of the ATF. She also testified last year with Chris Cheng (RSWC #155) and Maj Toure. She’s also had some of the DCP ladies testify or be prepared to testify, including Holly Sullivan (RSWC #036) and Gabby Franco (RSWC #117).   Finally Di gets to share with us about the Ambassador Academy. It’s a week-long training for folks in the 2A community. The courses cover things like some media training and handling tv and radio/podcast interviews, making videos, handing your social media accounts. The Academy is held at W.O.F.T., which stands for West Orlando Firearms Training… or Where Our Families Train. W.O.F.T. has become known as “Tactical Disneyland”. It’s outside of Orlando and it's a place where you can get all sorts of self defense training. They’ve got courses on low light training, empty hands combat, situational awareness, first aid, anti-car jacking, home defense, and much more. People that attend Ambassador Academy walk out with all this training and some professionally done photos and videos. The cost is hefty, but the people you’re learning from are at the top notch in the firearm community.    I’m glad that I was able to give Di a ride that day. I’m honored that she thought of me to help her out.  This is what the firearm community is all about, supporting those who support you.  Favorite quotes:   “The Second Amendment is a non-partisan issue. It's a constitutional issue.” “It’s up to us, you, me, and everyone listening, to right the ship.” “Everybody wants to be safe. The only difference is that there are people that want to feel safe, and there are us that actually want to be safe.” “The training that you get (at Ambassador Academy, anybody can use it in their life.” Di 3 GunGirl Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Di3GunGirl   Di 3 Gun Instagram https://www.instagram.com/di3gun/   The DC Project Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thedcproject   The DC Project Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dc_projectfoundation/   W.O.F.T. West Orlando Firearms Training https://woft.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#163Frank ScavoCoalition for Election Integrity   I’ve been going to the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival at the Tommy Gun Warehouse in Greely, PA, for about 4 years.  A couple years ago, the emcee duties went to Frank Scavo. Every year there are plenty of 2A big name folks at the festival and there are some conservative speakers and presenters as well. They have some live music, lots of food vendors, a gun raffle, and much more. Oh…and you can shoot some guns for free, too! In 2022, they had Alan Keyes and Sebastian Gorka as keynote speakers.    Frank Scavo was in Washington DC on January 6, 2021. That year, he had a bad year. And he missed the Rod of Iron.  In 2022, he was back with a vengeance and was able to take some time to hop in the stagecoach and tell me about his experience on that historical day.    On November 3, 2020, after the election,the secretary of state was told not to commingle the ballots. She did. She put different ballots in together. Frank’s Congressman invited him and some others down to Washington to contest the vote. Frank organized four busloads of people to head down from Scranton, PA, to Washington DC for January 6, 2021. When they went to leave at 5 am, the media including the Scranton Times was there, and asked if they could be embedded with them.  Frank said no.    When the buses got to DC and everyone was out, he and his crew noticed there was some confusion and no organization with anything or anyone.There were maybe 350,000 people, not 5 million like they thought there would be. There were not any port-o-potties so the city was punishing the people who did go to DC.  The lines to get into the places where they did have facilities were forever long.  While having lunch near the RNC, the police came and kicked them out. That was where there was a pipe bomb scare so they needed to evacuate.    By 1 pm, anything they were going to go to, including speeches by Teddy Daniels, was canceled and didn’t happen. Frank and the folks he’s with find their way to the Capitol. Frank ends up in a crowd near the doors, which were locked. Somehow the doors open and everyone sort of falls in. Frank realizes that this isn’t going to be good and he heads out, asking some of the police how to get out of the building. By the evening, he gets back to the buses, hoping that everyone makes it back.  The cell service was shut down so they couldn’t communicate about getting out of DC before everything else shut down. At some point, Frank’s picture was taken and it was all over the internet   When Frank gets home, he reports to his wife that there wasn’t anything big or exciting going on.  His wife tells me that it wasn’t reported that way. He was being interviewed by the press about the day but never mentioned that he was in the Capitol.  Eventually, the FBI reached out to him and that’s when he called his attorney, a former PA Attorney General. The legal fees he paid cost him $60,000 with 4 instances of being in a restricted zone, but pleaded to ‘parading in the Capitol’. He ended up serving 2 months in jail. He’s got his Rights to vote and own a firearm.    You’ll be able to get all the details about someone who ended up in the Capitol on January 6, 2021. And how it all played out and the aftermath of what happened. Frank is a great story telling and this is a great story.  Favorite quotes:  “If you’re being ruled by ruthless and corrupt people, then when you take it back, that’s a good thing.”“If we’re in here, then they’re going to lock these doors and we’re all going to jail!”“You do not talk to anybody, anytime, without an attorney, for any reason.”“I always carry this: The Declaration and The Constitution.” Coalition for Election Integrityhttps://coalitionforelectionintegrity.org/   Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/   Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #162 Antonia Okafor Gun Owners of America   Back in 2017, I drove out to a very liberal college in western Massachusetts to hear Antonia Okafor speak.  She was out here doing some speaking at some colleges about campus safety. Just the day before, one of the schools canceled her speech because the topic was too controversial. I approached her about filming a show, but her schedule was too hectic that week.  This past summer, we were able to connect again in central Massachusetts at a Flag Day Rally, but couldn’t make it happen again.  Finally in Detroit at Rick Ector’s (RSWC #032) Ladies Event, we were both there and made the time.    Antonia’s parents are Nigerian immigrants and were very much in the playbook that they’re supposed to support Democrats and be anti-gun. She grew up in Dallas,Texas. During her college years, her attitude changed, particularly after she survived a sexual assault. She became much more interested in firearms, in Christianity, and empowering herself.    She wanted to be able to protect herself, but also to teach this to other women in college. She became active in the 2A area and became the southwest director of Student for Concealed Carry. She was early on with 18-21 year olds are adults and need to protect themselves as adults. This was a big issue for her because she was able to carry off campus where she spent 90% of her time.   Attending grad school in Dallas, the campus carry wasn’t much of an issue.  But it became more of a hot topic when she started touring and talking about this at other colleges. Antonia points out that often her opposition felt that everyone can have their own truth as long as it aligns with the other person’s truth. If not, then it’s not truth at all. (insert eyeroll emoji here)   Antonia did some work with Turning Point USA, PragerU, and the NRA. All this experience led to her wanting to start an organization geared towards college women which is EmPOWERed 2A. The organization focuses on college aged women and why the Second Amendment empowers them, before they get married, have kids, and become a mother. Of course, her life changed when she became a mother, but her attitude hasn’t.  She’s still working to help women get involved in the defense of their home and families.   Earlier this year, Antonia testified in front of Congress. She shares some of that experience.  Particularly, when she was going up against the folks who combed through her social media to find things to hold against her. She tried to image all the things they could have found since she was younger. What they dug up was a post where she said she wanted to abolish the ATF.  They grilled her and asked if she still felt that way.  And the answer was “yes, I still feel that way.”   Currently, Antonia is working for Gun Owners of America, helping educate women with her EmPOWERed 2A program and teaching it around the country. It’s great that GOA has someone like Antonia who isn’t giving up on her principles or her 2A stance, getting out there and speaking with women.  Neither Anontia or GOA are not compromising on our 2A Rights! Favorite quotes:   “One of the biggest things (during college), is realizing this preciousness of life.” “You’re a human. You have every right to defend your life.” “If I can go off campus, literally step off campus, and have my concealed carry and it be ok, why can I not use that same means of defense on campus?” “It’s ok to have ‘your truth’ as long as your truth correlates with their truth then it’s ok to have your truth, but if it doesn’t then it not truth at all, apparently.” “You can speak the truth in love.” “Women are the most empowered and get the most benefit from being Second Amendment believers and actually exercising that Right.” Antonia Website https://www.antoniacover.com/   Antonia on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonia_okafo   Antonia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/antonia_okafor   Antonia on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/AntoniaOkafor   emPOWERED 2A on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/empowered_2a   Antonia’s testimony against Assault Weapon Ban of 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPBkRsxLUUU   Gun Owners of America https://www.gunowners.org/   Gun Owners of America https://www.facebook.com/GunOwners/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#161Renee Gagne & Kerrie Ann AuclairSisters In Arms, DC Project After I had Kerrie Ann Auclair (RSWC #139) on the show, we became friends. She invited me to an Armed Women of America chapter anniversary celebration and I met Renee Gagne there.  The party was fun and I even danced! Then one of them had the idea that they should get in the stagecoach for a dual interview. After Renee became the Rhode Island representative for the DC Project we talked more about making it happen.  Then they started their own local access show. They hoodwinked me into having them on my show, then they took me to be a guest on their show, Sisters In Arms.  Kerrie Ann and Renee are Sisters In Arms. Really!  They both got into shooting and had a yearning for more training. But after several trips to a local club and having several of the guys want to take them out for a date rather than help them, they decided they needed to learn somewhere else.   Kerrie Ann learned about The Well Armed Woman  (now the Armed Women of America - AWA) and started a chapter.  They both became NRA and MA State Police certified instructors through the Gun Owners Action League. And they started training more women.  Sometimes, a woman wants to learn about firearms from another woman because they may be domestic abuse survivors or getting out of a bad relationship or divorce, which is very understandable.  They have built their chapter with in person and online/virtual training sessions. The ages of their members are from young women up to women in their 70’s! Their group meets once a month. They have a learning segment and they hit the range, too.  Their training has helped them realize that there are folks that are ‘casual’ gun owners and that many people don’t dry practice (dry fire) in between meetings.  We spend time talking about some training issues and family issues about having a firearm in the home. It’s very important that everyone is familiar with firearm safety and that there is a safety plan and everyone knows what it is, too. One of the big things in the family is to not make owning a gun taboo. We need to make firearms a normal part of life. We need to let new (and non-)gun owners know that firearms have several uses, from self defense, recreation, and competition shooting.  Starting a chapter led to activism and The DC Project. Kerrie Ann took the role in Massachusetts and Renee just took the Rhode Island spot. Their chapter got some local recognition on the front cover of the newspaper, which led to an interview on the local access station.  While they were filming as guests, they had the idea to host their own TV show. They took the newspaper article title, Sisters In Arms, and made that their show name.The show is going to focus on getting the word out about firearms, safety, and activism, but also that gun owners are regular people that you see around town.  Many people in MA are closet gun owners who don’t want it to let others know that they own firearms.  This is a show that was fun to film and make a better connection with Renee and Kerrie Ann. These ladies are out there doing; instructing, activism, and leading. In the middle of the show, we stopped to grab a selfie of a billboard someone has on their property. Of course, since we’re in Massachusetts, we had to stop and get a Dunkin’!   Favorite quotes:Renee: “We just wanted to learn. We were really super excited about learning. And that was just getting in the way of our learning.” Renee: “The reality is most of us will never shoot anyone.”Kerrie Ann: “You have to be your own first responder and understand what that means.”Kerrie Ann: “Some of the women that come to us are domestic violence survivors…” Email: [email protected] Armed Women of Americahttps://armedwomen.org/   The DC Projecthttps://www.dcproject.info/   SIsters In Arms, Episode 1 on TCAMhttps://vimeo.com/772136657 Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/ Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.  Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store!http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters Veteran Owned, American Madehttp://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #160  Dustin Hayes Red White and Badass Brew Coffee   I heard Dustin Hayes on Gun Owners Radio earlier this year.  When I was going to California for San Diego County Gun Owners GunProm, I knew I was going to film some shows, so I reached out to Dustin to see if he was interested and he was! The California trip was non-stop once I got there. John Petrolino (RSWC #093) and I met in San Diego. At GunProm, he was awarded the Media Figure of the Year. He also let me use his rental ‘stagecoach’ while we were out there.    Dustin grew up in Oklahoma, in the same town as Garth Brooks. After dropping out of high school, his father encouraged him to join the military.  It was tough to decide which he wanted to join, but the Navy said he could see the world and that’s where he went.  After 13 ½ years in the Navy, he was medically retired due to some injuries. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do so he ended up getting a degree in business.    The business degree led him to get a concrete business going with his then father in law. Dustin knew how to run the business, but he didn’t know anything about concrete. That was his father in law’s part of the business.  However, he did learn about concrete.  Doing sales, he was selling over $100,000 in 3 months and things were going well.  Unfortunately, his father in law passed away. Then he ended up divorced.  After a shady third person in the business, they had to sell the business.    Again, he wasn’t sure what he should do. Life led him to buy a business washing solar panels. He did this for about 5 months. While he was at a tattoo parlor getting some ink on his back, the tattoo artist noticed something wasn’t quite right with the skin on his back. Dustin went to the doctor and found out he had skin cancer. While he was recovering, he had 2 calls from other veterans who wanted to buy the business. So he sold the business as he was going to be out in the sun often.  One more time, he wasn’t sure where life was going to lead him.   During recovery, he decided to start  brewing his own coffee. He knew how to market and sell, he just needed to learn about roasting. There was a learning curve in roasting coffee and other aspects of the coffee business he needed to learn.What he wanted to call the brand was too close to another brand name. He made a video about how he liked pumpkin spice coffee.  It got a little traction as some friends thought it was funny.  He made a few more videos, too.    Eventually Dustin realized that he needed to take it a bit more seriously so he opted for Red White and Badass Brew coffee. He told me that it takes about a month to get a flavor down to where its just right and what he’s looking for.  He has found some place that will roast the coffee for him, but he does all the package designs himself.    RWBB has several flavor options. M.O.A.B (Mother Of All Brews), Red, White, and Brewed, Lifeline Hero Edition, Vanilla Warfare, No Lucks Given. But the best seller is Whiskey Business! All flavors come in 12 oz bags of ground coffee or 5 pounds of whole beans bags.    I did come back to New England with a couple bags of RWBB coffee and I absolutely love Whiskey Business.    It was great to meet Dustin and hang out with him. I alway love a success story, but I get motivated and inspired by the struggles everyone goes through.    Check the links below and tell him you saw him on RSWC!  Favorite quotes:   “I just worked hard and got where I’m at and  they kinda (the Navy) molded me.” “I’ve never been afraid to take risks.” “Now I came to a crossroads in life and I’m like ‘what the hell am I going to do now?’” “Don’t go get a real job, guys, just go make your own job.” “I got into coffee just by pure chance, trying to figure out my life.” Red White and Badass Brew Website https://redwhiteandbadassbrew.com/   Red White and Badass Brew Facebook https://www.facebook.com/redwhiteandbadassbrew   Red White and Badass Brew Instagram https://www.instagram.com/redwhiteandbadassbrew/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#159Adam KrautExecutive Director, Second Amendment Foundation Adam Kraut was another person who Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009) told me they were stating that they hadn’t been on the stagecoach. I didn’t have Adam’s contact and I couldn’t find him on social media, so I had to reach out to someone to get his contact info.  We were both going to be at GRPC in Dallas and Adam said we should be able to film a show.   This was filmed just before Adam joined Second Amendment Foundation as the Executive Director. Here’s a link to SAF’s press release https://www.saf.org/saf-names-attorney-and-2a-litigator-adam-kraut-as-executive-director/ . It’s an honor to have someone who has done so much work for out 2A Rights with several of the big groups on the show.  Adam tells us that his love of shooting stems from his Boy Scout years despite growing up in an anti-gun house. After hearing about the ‘power’ of a 12 gauge shotgun and getting over his fears, he decided that he would give it a try. His first shot was saying ‘pull’, squeezing the trigger, and missing the clay. Then the instructor told him he needed to aim before he shot. After some instruction, he was hitting clays. After turning 18, he purchased at Remington 870 in 20 gauge. His anti-gun parents told him to get rid of it, which he didn’t.  When he turned 21, he bought a handgun and got a carry permit. His father then told him his life expectancy was going to be ‘pretty limited’ since he had some firearms. A couple years after owning several firearms and shooting, his father then asked Adam to take him to the range. The same smile that Adam had at 18 his father had when he went shooting.  Earning a degree in political science, Adam wasn’t sure what he was going to do. During his last year of law school, he decided that it may be a good idea to find an internship with someone so he had some experience and could get a job after graduation. He saw Joshua Prince’s name pop up as a 2A lawyer in Pennsylvania, and decided to reach out about an internship. After the internship, they did offer him a position where he worked for several years. He was doing some outside counsel for some cases for Firearm Policy Coalition, and they offered him a position and wore several hats with them. He held that position for 3 years. During that time, he worked with several other attorneys, lots of the state organizations, and many individuals with FPC, NRA, and SAF.  Adam was nominated via petition for the NRA Board of Directors three times. At the Great American Outdoor Show in Pennsylvania, he started talking to Tim Knight and Sean Maloney, both NRA BOD members who were impressed with some of his writings. He didn’t get elected the first time, the second time he ran for the 76th seat and wasn’t elected.  The third time he felt he owed it to the folks who voted for him or joined the NRA because they wanted him on the BOD.  His number of votes would have had him in the next in line seat, but he declined as he was working for FPC.  At GPRC, Adam spoke about some things going on in West Virginia particularly about the 18-21 year olds. He said Alan Gottlieb (RSWC #100) asked him to look at the WV 18-21 year old cases.. Adam explains that since Bruen, we need to look at the law’s text and tradition about 18-21 year olds, and at the time there weren’t any laws against 18-21 year olds possessing firearms.  Adam really gets into the social science about a number of things we’re facing these days.. He also talks about how some people use emotions about the topics, but they really shouldn’t be used. We also get into some 1A talk about what you should be able to talk about, despite how others feel about the topic.  Having the chance to spend 35 minutes with Adam was incredible.  He’s been doing a lot for our Rights and as the SAF’s new Executive Director, he’s going to keep doing the same.    Favorite quotes:   “...people have preconceived notions that are put in their head by what they see on tv, what they read, what people tell them.” “You ultimately are responsible for yourself.” “A door opened and I walked through it.” “The Constitution is really clear on this point, there’s no age restriction baked into the Second Amendment.”   Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/ Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/   Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#158Rebecca SchmoeThe DC Project1 Million Moms Against Gun ControlCandidate-Kansas House of Representatives, District 59 This is how you know you’ve got good friends. On a DC Project events in DC, Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009) was talking about me to other DCP gals. They were talking about who has gone Riding Shotgun and who hasn’t. Then I get a text message “How come Rebecca hasn’t been on the show?”. Then another with how come someone else hasn’t been on the show. Fortunately, Rebecca and I were both at AMMcon in Dallas recently and we were able to borrow Amanda’s ‘stagecoach’ and film a show.  Rebecca Schmoe is no stranger to the 2A freedom fight. And she’s not afraid to do something about it. She grew up around firearms with her father teaching and emphasizing firearm safety. She often had friends who would take her hunting, too. But once the ‘red shirts’ (the Moms Demand crowd) started getting involved talking about what moms wanted for gun control, she started researching women and 2A groups. Rebecca didn’t want the only female/mom voice to be an anti-gun voice. She was a mother raising her children while her husband worked nights and she was home alone with the children.  She ended up finding One Million Moms Against Gun Control (1MMAGC) and they eventually offered her to be the Kansas representative.  That’s where she met Mary Schuster-Callison (RSWC #050). When the founder of 1MMAGC had to step away, Rebecca joined forces with Mary and co-leaders.  Mary also told Rebecca about The DC Project and Rebecca got involved there, too. For the last several years, she’s been doing the DCP and all their events. She’s been talking with legislators and politicians (the friendlies and the not so friendlies) from around the country for a decade!  Recently, she has decided to throw her hat into the political realm when an incumbent decided not to run and there was a hole left on the ballot.  For the last year or so, Rebecca has been running as a candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives! She won the primary earlier this year. She’s got some great meme building skills (2A and campaign related). And she’s been taking the campaign trail by storm.  Having never run before, she didn’t know how much time and money it takes to run! She’s fortunate to have a job that has given her some grace to be able to fight for our 2A rights, but also for running for office. What is going to be wonderful is when she invites the #TealFor2A shirts into her office in Topeka and takes them around.  We cover some mask stories, some family stories, but we spend time talking about what Rebecca has been doing to get elected. The signs, the mailers, it all takes money and donations. She tells us what some of the responsibilities state representatives do for their constituents.  Rebecca and I had a fun time filming the show. Every time I’m around her, there’s fun, enjoyment, and education.  The motto of the DC Project is #DoingSomething.  For sure, Rebecca is Doing Something.   Favorite quotes:   “I’m their first line of defense. I'm their only line of defense.” “I was really offended by that side telling me that I was safer without a way to protect my family.” “We bring the other side of the mom-voice.” “Second Amendment people, by and large, are very independent.” “It really does make a difference, when we all show up in our teal shirts and there’s 50+ ladies.” “I give them public applause when they do well and I scold them publicly when they do not.” “If it’s not constitutional, then we have no business doing it.”   Rebecca Schmoe for Kansashttps://www.facebook.com/rebeccaschmoeforkansas/   Rebecca Schmoe for Kansashttps://www.instagram.com/rebecca_schmoe4ks   The DC Projecthttps://www.dcproject.info/   1 Million Moms Against Gun Control Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/1mmagc   1 Million Moms Against Gun Control Websitehttps://www.1mmagc.org/ Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.  Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#157Lisa LudwigShe Trains You Lisa Ludwig reached out to me and inquired about being on the show. We’ve been Facebook friends for a while.  She’s got a lot of stuff going on with She Trains You. I told her I was going to Tony Simon’s (RSWC #041) Diversity Shoot with John Petrolino (#093) and maybe could help out and we’ll meet there. She’s one of those people that are #MyPeople!  We hit it off right from the start.  She’s a hot ticket and a great instructor. That evening we helped at The Gun For Hire Range and had a great time.  I knew that the show with her was going to be fun.    I had to drive from central New Jersey up to Long Island (say Lawn Guyland) to meet Lisa. We drove to Wantagh State Park and drove near Jones Beach. I’ve got to say, it was pretty scenic there. We had some talk about her life and what got her into firearms. Much like me, September 11 changed things for her. She wanted to start doing some prepping and went to a friend in the military. He suggested getting a Remington 870 Tactical shotgun. But after shooting it and missing 5 shots, she put the gun away and didn’t fire it for 2 years.    When there was an attempted break-in in her neighborhood, she proposed the question to the neighborhood watch team “If that door would have opened, what would you have done?”.  That got everyone thinking and motivated Lisa to get back into firearms. From there, she took more and more training. Eventually becoming an NRA certified pistol and rifle instructor, CRSO, GLOCK Armorer, NYS Armed Guard, and President of Long Island Women’s Firearm Club. She even has a tattoo of the LIWFC logo on her arm!   Like anyone else starting a training business, she went to several gun stores trying to make connections. She now got 3 chapters of LIWFC and nearly 100 women in the groups! Eventually, men wanted training from her too!  So she started She Trains You, but her focus is getting women trained, educated, and comfortable with shooting.  She’s also the leader of the A Girl & A Gun Long Island Chapter. What’s really fantastic is that she’s been into martial arts since she was young. She offers one on one training, martial arts, as well as firearms training.    Lisa is a great storyteller!  She gives us lots of stories about what’s going on in New York state and what the process is to get a carry permit and even some of the nonsense they have to go through. We talk about how people in general need to pay attention to their surroundings and get out of their phones when they’re out and about.  We talk about the Diversity Shoot from the night before the interview. She covers the growing need for people on Long Island wanting to protect themselves. And how her own network of 2A friends is growing. We like to call it #MyPeople when we meet new folks and have a common love and enjoyment of all things Second Amendment.  And she’s even got a quick Waffle House story! I know you’ll enjoy all that Lisa shares with us.    Favorite quotes:   “If that door would have opened, what would you have done?” “We need to be our own hero in our own story.” “It was pretty scary here for a moment. I don’t want to feel that way again.” “The new strong is mobility and flexibility.’ “I like my crew and I like my crowd. Not everybody needs to like everybody, but we all need to get along”   She Trains You https://www.shetrainsyou.com/ She Trains You Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shetrainsyou/ She Trains You Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shetrainsyou/ Long Island Women’s Firearm Club Website  https://www.liwfc.org/   Long Island Women’s Firearm Club Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LIWFCinc/   A Girl & A Gun Long Island https://www.agirlandagun.org/cat/ny-long-island/   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #156 Nathan Halliwill Nexbelt   I’ve been doing the Concealed Carry Fashion Shows with Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009) for a few years now. One of the perennial sponsors has been Nexbelt. Last year, I needed a new belt and I went with a Nexbelt with the Gadsden Flag on the buckle. I went to the Nexbelt booth at SHOT Show and talked with Nathan Halliwill about how I love the belt and asked if they wanted to be on the show to talk about their history and belts.  I was excited to see Nathan again at the NRA AM in Houston and we solidified a plan to film at the Nexbelt headquarters this summer.    I meet Nathan at the Nexbelt offices in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and borrowed John Petrolino’s (RSWC #093) rental car for the trip! Nathan grew up hunting, camping, and shooting with his family. He was working in the foodservice industry and planning on going to culinary school.  When the virus that shall not be named struck, he needed to change careers to make money.  His brother, who is a firearm instructor at a local range, was also working with Nexbelt and Nathan got a job with the company as the warranty person, then moved to sales. The change from sous chef to salesman took some time to appreciate.    As the warranty person at Nexbelt, there’s not really a lot of work. They do encourage their customers to use and abuse their belts and they don’t have an issue fixing them. When Nathan is doing trade shows (SHOT, NRA AM, etc), people will come up to him and show them their Nexbelt and share stories about how well it holds up for them. There are even times when people buy belts at the shows and then leave their old belts with Nathan!    Something I learned on this show is that there are places in the California deserts where you can go and shoot!  Often Nathan and his friends will hit the desert with targets and water and do some training. The ranges are BLMs (Bureau of Land Management) and folks can use them for shooting. No one wants to live there so they can be used accordingly. One of the range bag items he brings is a fire extinguisher!  Of course, shooting in the desert could possibly start a fire.    The owners of the company are big golfers and started out making belts for golfers. They’ve got belts with divot tools, ball markers, and even bottle openers. When they first hit the market, they took the market by storm. Over the years, the ratchet technology has changed and so have the designs of the belts. They went to a local gun store, where they met Nathan’s brother, looking for some feedback on the belts and decided to move into EDC belts for gun owners.    Nathan did his RSWC homework and saw that there have been a lot of the ladies from the DC Project on the show. He said that Nexbelt is going to be working with them to have a DC Project Nexbelt. And they’d really like to partner with the DCP for an exclusive belt.     Nexbelt has a lot of options out there for golfers and gunners. The ratchet belts have really taken over and their belts are superior. They’re durable, stylish, and have great options for buckles. It was wonderful to get to learn about Nexbelt and make friends with Nathan. I’m looking forward to running into him and the Nexbelt crew at the events.    Favorite quotes:   “If you like the product you’re selling, it makes it much easier and enjoyable.” “Finding the capability of changing, humbling myself, finding enjoyment at something so different, has not only grown me, but grown my appreciation for the job.” “I don’t go and pay to shoot. I hate doing that.” “We have a belt for every type of person and every type of carry as well.” “It's uneducation that is hurting the stance of the 2A community.” Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:54 Nathan Halliwill 03:07 Geography  05:28 SHOT Show/Fashion Shows  07:18 Sous chef plans 10:57 Warranty calls 15:21 Mountain selfie 16:51 Shooting in the desert 23:08 Nexbelt’s history 26:43 Other belts 28:01 Inside the belts 31:49 Products for women  33:07 DC Project ladies 38:03 Belt swaps  39:03 Gun & knife shows 42:46 Stand up  44:02 Wrap up   Nexbelt Website https://www.nexbelt.com/   Nexbelt  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nexbelt/   Nexbelt Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Nexbelt   Nexbelt YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/Nexbelt   Nexbelt Twitter https://twitter.com/Nexbelt   Nexbelt Pinterest pinterest.com/nexbelt/   Nexbelt TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@nexbelt   Nexbelt Vimeo https://vimeo.com/nexbelt   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#155Chris ChengTop Shot Winner   When Chris Cheng came up to me at Gun Rights Policy Conference 2019 in Phoenix, I was buzzing from being awarded the Blogger of the Year the day before.  He said when I was in San Francisco he wanted to be on the show. I’d seen him play the tunes on the Musical Targets, which was like a shooter’s xylophone and told him about the GunGrams.  And that we need to film a duet with him on pitched plates and me on trumpet.  We tried to connect this past summer while I was in California, but it didn’t happen.  However, we were at Rick Ector’s (RSWC #032) Ladies Event in Detroit this past summer and were able to film a show there.    As a young man, Chris did some shooting with his dad, but they didn’t go to the range regularly. After working with Google and having some expendable income, Chris started shooting again. He started getting into shooting IDPA and USPSA, and learned that shooting was static and you could run and gun.    While watching The History Channel’s Top Shot, Chris decided to audition for the show. That meant he needed some training and practice.  Practicing was nothing new because he also played the double bass and understood that he needed a practice schedule. He was an amatuer shooter who practiced 20-25 hours a week, and worked his way to win Season 4 of Top Shot.  Along with the winning prize, he was now a household name in the firearm community.     He was offered a sponsored shooter position with Bass Pro Shop and traveled the country teaching at their stores everywhere. Having access to all kinds of firearms and ammunition was great, but Chris really enjoyed being around like-minded people who enjoyed shooting and sharing his passion with everyone. All of these things lead him to becoming a Second Amendment advocate.     After the Bass Pro contract expired, Chris decided to take everything he learned, everything he was sharing, and put it into a book, which is called Shoot To Win: Tips, Tactics, and Techniques to Help You Shoot Like a Pro. This book is geared towards the new shooters for any firearm, rifle, pistol, or shotgun. It’s a lot of what he studied to get on to and win Top Shot.    During the pandemic, Chris was contacted to be on a show called The Go Big Show. He says it's like America’s Got Talent on steroids.  There were many celebrity judges on the show.  Chris got to shoot several types of firearms in many fun situations, but this time it was in an indoor sports area.  He and the producers need to get some lessons on building a safe area where he would shoot. He also said that he was going to need some full auto fun for the show!    More recently, Chris has been active with suicide prevention as over 60% of deaths with a firearm are suicides. With the pandemic producing 12,000,000 new gun owners, there’s a concern about preventing suicides. There is a new Suicide Prevention Hotline number which is simply 988.  If you or anyone you know is in crisis and thinking of taking your life, please call that number to talk with someone.  You can even reach out to me and I’ll talk with you.    I'm honored that we finally got our schedules to work out and have Chris on the show. He’s accomplished a lot as a shooter and showman. He’s testified in front of Congress in 2021. He’s a force to be reckoned with. And I’m glad to call him a friend.  Favorite quotes:   “Top Shot made me change my life where it made me realize that the freedoms that we take for granted may not always be there.” “We all have to speak up and show up to defend the things we believe in.” “There’s a lot of training and education opportunities.” “I 100% absolutely need to shoot full auto.I’m not going to come on the show if you will not let me shoot full auto.”   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:13 Chris Cheng 04:42 Starting shooting 06:33 Running & gunning 07:45 Watching Top Shot 09:04 Auditioning for Top Shot 11:00 Inside Top Shot 14:25 Bass Pro Shop pro shooter 17:25 Becoming a 2A advocate 21:26 Getting back to reality 22:47 Against identity politics 27:29 Shoot To Win 33:07 12M new shooters 37:35 The Go Big Show 43:47 Suicide prevention (Dial 988) 52:26 Wrap up Chris Cheng Website https://www.topshotchris.com/   Chris Cheng Instagram https://www.instagram.com/topshotchris   Chris Cheng Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TopShotChris/   Chris Cheng YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TopShotChris   Chris in Recoil Magazine https://www.recoilweb.com/chris-cheng-coming-out-of-the-gun-closet-36385.html   Get Chris’ book “Shoot to Win:Training for the New Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Shooter” on amazon! Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#154Bill DalpePatriot Firearms Training Bill Dalpe and I have been social media friends for a while.  I will admit that I’ve got another friend using “Patriot” for his training business and I may have gotten them mixed up at first. I met Bill at the GOAL Breakfast this past year and I took the Before You Carry & Defend class with my good friend Mark, who I’ve done a few other courses with. I”m glad that we finally made it happen this summer.  Like many instructors, Bill started off teaching from friends and friends of friends. After someone suggested he become an instructor, he learned that he didn’t know what he didn’t know. That’s where his passion for training and training trainers started. Bill is a certified instructor with the NRA, the USCCA, and the MA State Police. And he’s a Training Counselor for the NRA and USCCA, too. He started Patriot Firearms School and has built it to a great training school with it’s own classroom stocked with all the things an instructor needs and more!  He’s got some Patriot Firearms School swag, too. With his facility, he offers it for use by his instructor candidates.  Eventually, he had a client who had some local property and offered to build him a range. Like many offers from folks, he didn’t believe it until he saw it.  Now it’s where he does live fire for his courses.  Bill wrote a book called After The Bell Rings. It’s a situational awareness book for kids in their early teen years.  There was a local boy around 13 years old who was abducted over drugs. Wanting to do something to help, he took the NRA’s Refuse To Be A Victim course to a local school and offered it for free.  After the school administrator saw “NRA” on the back of the book, they rejected wanting the course in their school. Bill took this obstacle and turned it into an opportunity to write this book.  The book looks at several situations that are realistic and how a teenager can respond to them.  He uses the Cooper Color Code of Awareness, but adapts it to a Trust Ring, which relates better to younger people. The book is written for teenage students but their parents should really read it and talk with their kids about how they can implement these ideas into their own lives.  The backseat rider we have is Fred. Fred is a 3D target made by Target Nation. He’s a cardboard target torso and body that can be used with the downloadable vital organ targets or traditional targets. The aim with the targets is that in self defense situations our “target’ isn’t a 2 dimensional concentric circle or a bowling pin Q style target. You could shoot at an angle and not hit any vital organs, which can be analyzed with Fred. Fred can be dressed up in clothes and comes with several accessories, including a shotgun, knife, phone, and a gun. He can also be a target backing and opens up to put targets inside him. Fred really takes the scenario training up a notch as many folks haven’t shot at targets that look, shaped, and dressed like people.  Bill also has a podcast that gets into something close to his heart. His son has dravet syndrome so he and his wife are life long caregivers for their son. His podcast & YouTube channel “A Matter of Perspective”  Favorite quotes:  “I didn’t know what I didn’t know, but then I knew what I knew, I was like WOW”“I have a very huge soft spot for new instructors. I remember what it was like when I first became an instructor.”“I’ve been exposed to a multitude of sh!tty instructors.”“I take my role as a Training Counselor extremely seriously.”“I like the role of mentoring instructors.”“None of us have our (stuff) completely together.”   Patriot Firearms Schoolhttps://patriotfirearmsschool.com/   Patriot Firearms School Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/patriotfirearmsschool   Patriot Firearms School YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRnITX-rJD4jhtPf2WYYIXw   Patriot Firearms School Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/patriot_firearms_school/   Target Nationhttps://targetnation.com/   Matter of Perspective YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrU62O_CmcofyFrJgJkDgw   Matter of Perspective Websitehttps://www.amatterofperspective.org/ Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store!http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#153Michael SchwartzSan Diego County Gun OwnersGun Owners Radio   This past June I finally got to California to film some shows. One of the folks I absolutely had to have was Michael Schwartz. He’s the founder of San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO) and co-host of Gun Owners Radio (GOR).  I booked a trip with John Petrolino (RSWC #093) and we headed to SDCGO’s GunProm 2022. It was not just an amazing event, but John was awarded the Media Figure of the Year.  The day after the event, Michael and I had a chance to get him on the show. After all, I have been on GOR a time or two.  And the night we filmed this show, John and I were able to be in-studio for the show.  You can get the link here. https://youtu.be/sRKiSkbB3hY   While Michael did own some BB guns when he was young, he didn’t get into firearms until he was older. He thought a GLCOK 19 would fill the void.  It didn’t. Then maybe a Mossberg 500 would and it didn’t either. Being a big fan of Red Dawn, he went to purchase an AK-47. The store was out and the salesman encouraged him to buy an AR-15 as they were going to be banned soon. Talking to some colleagues about going shooting and having to answer questions about why he wanted to go shooting combined with the gun salesman's ban-talk, he decided it was time to fight for his civil rights to own a firearm.    Michael spent years working in the banking industry. He watched many groups and observed what they were doing, the good and the bad things. Then he decided that he wanted to start a group that supported pro-gun political candidates in the San Diego County area. It was more work than he realized, with thousands of decisions to be made. But they modeled other PACs that were doing the right things and they applied those strategies to SDCGO.    As a matter of fact, it's been working so well that some of the surrounding counties wanted to start their own :”County Gun Owners” groups. They’re following the same process, fundraising,and charter of SDCGO. Their biggest fundraiser, GunProm, started off as a Second Amendment Celebration dinner. But when everyone got dressed up, they didn’t recognize each other. The following year in the spring, they decided to dress up and call it GunProm. In 2021, due to ‘virus restrictions’, they could hold the event with less than 1,000 and not need testing.  So they sold 999 tickets!  This year 750 members, spouses, and friends showed up. Michael calls it a ‘fundraiser and a friendrasier’.    Michael and SDCGO think outside the box. And it’s wonderful!  At a gun show, SDCGO hosted a $10,000 gun show challenge. If someone was able to purchase a firearm or machine gun at the gun show, they were going to give you $10,000.  Of course, they kept their money as gun shows don’t have ‘loopholes’. But when the traditional press was running stories and doing interviews, they were talking with SDCGO and not the anti-gun crowd. That’s such an awesome idea!   After we filmed this show, John Petrolino and I were guests on Gun Owners Radio with Michael, Joe Drammissi (RSWC #150), and Dave Stahl.Of course Action Jackson and Chase the Service Dog were in the studio as well. What’s really cool is 3 weeks later, I ran into Chase, Jackson, & Jackson’s parents at the SIG Academy in New Hampshire.  I’d love to see Michael and SDCGO take these groups and expand them around the country! Favorite quotes:   “We’re a community; we’re the Second Amendment community in San Diego.” “I got bummed out and I thought ‘something has to change’.” “Being harassed like that, kinda being singled out for exercising a Right, that had an affect.” “I believe that our organization, our model, is the ounce of prevention.” “My Second Amendment isn’t the problem.”    San Diego County Gun Ownershttps://sandiegocountygunowners.com/ San Diego County Gun Owners Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/SDCGO Gun Owners Radiohttps://www.gunownersradio.com/ Gun Owners Radio Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/GunOwnersRadio/ Gun Owners Radio YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/gunownersradio   Second Amendment Foundationhttp://saf.org/ Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Armshttps://www.ccrkba.org/   Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Keyhole Holsters Veteran Owned, American Madehttp://www.keyholeholsters.com/ Dennis McCurdyAuthor, Speaker, Firewalkerhttp://www.find-away.com/ Self Defense Radio Networkhttp://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#152Alex SansoneThe Suited Shootist   At the NRAAM in Houston this year, I got to co-emcee the Concealed Carry Fashion show presented by RealizeFAC with Amanda Sufffecool.  She and I have hosted these all around the country. We use models who are influencers, instructors, and activists in the firearm community. One of the models at NRAAM was Alex Sansone, The Suited Shootist. Amanda said I needed to have him on the show, so after a quick intro back and forth, he said he would be able to make it happen while we were in Houston. We filmed the show on a Sunday morning and there were barely any protesters!   Alex grew up in the DC area with a ‘gun agnostic’ family, which only had a shotgun for trap shooting. He did do some .22 rifle shooting during summer camp, but it wasn’t a regular thing his family did. September 11, 2001 changed things for his family and his father became interested in firearms for self defense and personal protection. David Yamane calls these folks, myself included, called Gun Culture 2.0. Alex always had an interest in firearms going back to watching Air Force One on VHS and seeing an MP5 sliding across the floor.    During his college years, he became more interested in personal protection, after he noticed that many students didn’t have situational awareness. Later he moved to Texas and started working at a gun store and started some training. After a few years of ‘turning ammunition into expensive noise’, some friends turned him onto some of the well known trainers, including Massad Ayoob (RSWC #045). Currently, he’s got about 400 hours of training under his belt.    After meeting the woman who became his wife, he realized that he needed to start dressing better. He admits that he was the guy you’d see who had an attractive wife and you’d wonder why she was with him.. Alex was ‘that guy’ and realized that reflected poorly on his wife. So he made some changes in the way he dressed.    After doing some YouTube research, he found Tanner Guzy who runs Masculine Style. Guzy says there’s 3 style archetypes: rugged, refined, and rakish. And at some level, every man is a little of each.  While working a white collar job and wearing only dark suits, he still wanted to carry. Alex discovered that he needed to find a way to be able to carry but not get bigger clothes as is often suggested to folks who carry. Claude Werner (RSWC #086) taught Alex that bigger clothes makes folks you see regularly take a closer look at what you’re wearing and gets them thinking that maybe you aren’t losing weight, which can also draw attention from them.    At one point while Alex was carrying at work and against company policy and was at a job. He talks about how making the decision to be armed at work vs working and being unarmed isn’t always an easy career choice because you still have to work and make money.    All of this led him to being outspoken about this issue and starting a YouTube channel called The Suited Shootist. After a year of writing a blog and someone telling him more than 500 words should be a video, Alex had to learn about video and editing and YouTubing. On the channel, he gets into lots of topics about carrying and making your carry gear disappear and the pros and cons of several methods all while keeping it fashionable and looking good.    I really enjoyed having Alex on the show.  I appreciate that he was able to squeeze in a car ride with a stranger and that I’m able to expand my circle of friends.    Favorite quotes:   “The kids that are just leaving their valuable stuff out…seem to be the ones suffering these consequences.” “A lot of the style influencers were not delving too deeply into the why’s and the how’s.” “I’ve been in environments where going armed is somewhere between unusual and unacceptable.” “We’re going to have to live with the gun a whole lot more than we’re going to have to use the gun.”   The Suited Shootist YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSuitedShootist The Suited Shootist Blog https://thesuitedshootist.home.blog/ The Suited Shootist Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thesuitedshootist/ The Suited Shootist Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the_suited_shootist   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/ Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.  Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id149803345  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #151 Ladies Event in Detroit Legally Armed In Detroit   It’s not every day that you get to help teach 1,200+ women to shoot. I had a chance to attend Rick Ector’s Ladies Event recently. Rick (RSWC #032) runs Legally Armed In Detroit. For the last 11 years, he’s had a Ladies Event where women can come to learn to shoot a handgun. It started after a tragic story in the Detroit news about a woman’s body found in a dumpster and Rick thought that if the woman had a gun and knew how to use it she could have defended herself. He’s had 2 ranges that let him use the facilities for the weekend. He’s got an awesome woman who organizes the event, Tanish Moner (RSWC #113). And he’s got instructors from all over the country volunteering to come to Detroit for the weekend to help. This year, there were instructors from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, and California.   I talked with Tanish about getting some of the ladies to be interviewed before and after shooting. She helped me find a few ladies and I was off and driving. There were 4 women in all, including one mother and daughter. Each of the ladies have never been shooting before.    My first passenger is Deeandra. She was about to leave the event without shooting. Tanish and I caught her at the door just as she was about to walk out without shooting. She had on a tank top and was concerned about hot brass, which can happen to anyone. After talking with her, Tanisha offered her a LAID shirt to do the interview, go shooting, then do another interview. How could she pass it up?   I took her in and did the live fire with her on the range.  She did an excellent job!  Especially for someone who has never handled a firearm before. She does plan on getting some more range time and then pursuing getting a CPL (Concealed Pistol License) in Michigan. I always find it interesting that in “Free America” you can go to a range, rent a gun, buy ammo, and do some shooting.  In Massachusetts, we only have a couple places where you can rent firearms. But you usually have to have an LTC (License To Carry) or be a member of the range.    The next ladies were a mother and daughter team.  Keisha, the mother, has been to this event before.  She brought her older daughters. But Tacaira hasn’t been shooting before.  She was a little concerned about it.  The stories she’s heard in the news about ‘gun violence’ and that brought on some fear for her. Keisha has a permit and carries Ruger 380. She wanted to take all her daughters to this event so they could all learn to be safe with a firearm. Tacaira said that she liked it, but it wasn’t really something for her.  I suggested rather than starting with a 9mm, maybe a .22 would have been better. She came around and said maybe she would try it again with a .22 instead.    Cassandra, the last lady on the show, came by herself. She said she grew up in a gun free home, seeing all the news on TV, and she maintained that while she was raising her children. Eventually, one of her sons took a course at Recoil Range.  He also brought his gun over to show her and tell her all about it. Cassandra is also going to head back to Recoil a few more times before she takes the steps to get a CPL.  Training is always good for everyone. The more of it, the better.    It’s great to hear that all the women that weekend are interested in getting more training, more education, and more knowledge about firearms. We all need to reflect on the times when we knew less than we know now. I think their excitement is infectious and there was electricity at Recoil that weekend.  Some of these women took their first steps toward gun ownership and taking some control of their own safety.  Favorite quotes:   Deeandra: “I want to learn how to do it the right way.” Deeandra: “I was scared, nervous, all at once. But, overall, I really like it.” Keisha: “I have a little gun because that’s what I’m comfortable carrying and I know I can handle it.” Tacaira: “It was nice but not really my cup of tea.” Tacaira, later: “I think I’m going to do it again.” Cassandra: “I need some protection because I’m a single parent,  by myself.” Cassandra: “I did get a little sweaty in the palms but I really did like the experience.”   Legally Armed In Detroit http://www.legallyarmedindetroit.com/   Detroit CCW https://www.facebook.com/detroitccw   Recoil Range in Taylor Michigan http://www.recoil-firearms.com/   ATEi Guns https://ateiguns.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #149 Santee The Santee TV   I know this sounds weird, but I love having some stalkers. OK, they’re not real stalkers. But there are some folks who watch the show and are happy to meet me. Santee is one of them. She’s been watching the show for a hot minute. She reached out to me after catching shows with Brooke Cheney (RSWC #075) and Jerah Hutchins (RSWC #133). She said the next time I’m in Texas we need to get together. So with the NRA Annual Meetings in Houston, near Santee, we were on.  She did have me on her YouTube channel back in January 2022, which you can watch here! https://youtu.be/6vGhbtIXIEA   Santee, of course, isn’t her real name (you’ll have to watch to find out). She became a gun owner after a scary incident like many folks. There were some guys going through her apartment building looking for someone.  They passed her sons but they didn’t know what was going on. The guys ended up shooting through someone’s door in her building. She ended up grabbing a kitchen knife when she heard the shots and went to look for her children.    And that’s when she decided it was time to get a handgun. She was in the Air Force, but she wasn’t really familiar with handguns. All of that needed to change. She needed to be sure that she could protect herself and her children, should something else happen.  She took a handgun safety course to get a permit (Texas was not Constitutional carry/permitless carry at the time) and bought her first handgun, which was a Taurus PT111, still her favorite handgun.   Getting her first handgun gave her confidence. This is something that everyone goes through on some level. Yes, a firearm isn’t a magic talisman and doesn’t keep trouble away, but it gives people like single mothers the confidence that they can protect their family from harm. It lets women know that they ARE in control of their safety…and that they’re the immediate responders.    After the Air Force, Santee ended up becoming a probation officer in Houston. What she finds most rewarding is hopefully getting these folks on the right track and getting their lives together. I’ve got to hand it to her, that’s got to be a tough job!   We do talk about the process of getting the carry permit in Texas.  Most states that are Constitutional/permitless carry still offer licenses so that their residents can have reciprocity. I am a big fan of training, of course. Even if you aren’t required to, it’s a darn good idea to learn about the laws in your state especially if you’re going to be carrying.    We eventually get into raising sons and what could be done to help them.  One of the things Santee did is she saw that her sons were spending a lot of time on (The) YouTube.  She tried to encourage them to start their own channel for doing some gaming. But she ended up starting a channel to show them that it wasn’t as hard as they thought and that anyone can do it. (Even this teacher who became a YouTuber!) After buying ammo at a local gun store and making a video of that, she decided that it was time to start making some range videos. So now she and her husband have started filming range sessions regularly. It does take some planning for each session and video, but that’s a fun part.    She’s got some strong feelings about our Rights and about self defense. I don’t think we’re that different. We want to have fun, we want to protect our families, and we both want our YouTube channels to grow.  So SUBSCRIBE to BOTH of our channels!   Favorite quotes:   “What am I going to do when I need to take care of me, my children, anything in the apartment?” “What we have a problem with is not gun control, is not the firearms, it is…mental health.” “I have family members that don’t like firearms, but they’re not like that (NRAAM protestors)” “We don’t want to hurt anybody, but we ARE going to protect ourselves.” Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:21 Santee 02:50 Stalking me 04:06 Missed the Fashion Show 06:05 Getting a gun 08:53 Air Force 11:10 Probation Officer 13:33 Texas permit process 19:19 Shooting out the windows 21:21 NRAAM protestors 23:58 Jerah & Brooke 25:48 Solving the problems 31:36 Back to guns 32:38 Stating a YouTube channel 34:39 Protect ourselves 38:05 Olympic rings 42:25 Closing The Santee TV YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/santeetv   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thesanteetv/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/santeetv Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/ Or listen on:iTunes/Apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riding-shotgun-with-charlie/id1275691565   Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4EEPud0XzYz4wo0MYmA9uB   iHeartRadiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-riding-shotgun-with-charli-30654270/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id149803345

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #148 Evan Nappen Gun Lawyer   Evan Nappen!  What can I say?!?! I used to listen to Evan on Gun For Hire Radio with Anthony Colandro (RSWC #003 & #025). He’s always been educating and entertaining to listen to and that’s when I became a fan. He has offices in New Jersey and New Hampshire.  I always wondered why.  I heard that he was doing a US Law Shield seminar in New Jersey and had a cold. But I feared it was worse, so I reached out and asked if he would be on the show.    He got right back to me when I emailed and gave me a call.  We talked like old friends, I love it! We set up a time and I headed up to the Concord, NH, area to meet with him. It wasn’t the first time I saw him. I spoke at NJSAFECON in 2017 on a panel with Anthony Colandro, Tony Simon (RSWC #041) and Maj Toure. Evan was also speaking, but I was too nervous to introduce myself. But RSWC has grown and it was time to have him in the shotgun seat.    New Jersey has been a great state for RSWC. I’ve had several of the 2A folks on the show from there. Of course, Evan didn’t disappoint even though we were in NH, he’s got very strong NJ roots. He covers a lot of NJ centered topics on his podcast, Gun Lawyer. Like everyone else I’ve met in the 2A community, Evan was friendly, kind, and a great man to be around.    Our first quick stop is near the Hannah Dustin monument, where he explained her story.  I went back and got a few pictures of the monument and marker. We headed up I-93 North and talk about why he moved to NH, the Live Free or Die state, as well as the differences between NJ and NH. There’s a LOT of them!    We also talk about bang, bong or badge, Constitutional carry vs permitless carry, permits vs licenses, and assault firearms and assault rifles. He’s got opinions and reasons for using each of these terms at different times. There’s lots of the ridiculousness covered about the New Jersey gun laws, ‘ghost guns’ and homemade muzzleloaders, and even some BB gun and sling shot nonsense!    Evan shares some stories of cases he’s had from the man with the 1600’s muzzleloader, Shaneen Allen’s situation and some gun control racism, and the Brian Aitken case with moving ammunition and how to properly move hollow points from one house to another. .We cover his books on gun laws in NH and NJ, and the knife laws book, too. If you buy a book, there’s free updates, which may be good post NYSPRA v Bruen.  He also got into the Gun Lawyer Podcast, which you should be listening to, and how well that’s going.    Evan is just a wealth of knowledge of laws and stories. He has always had me listening and paying attention on Gun Lawyer or Gun For Hire Radio. This is absolutely one that you’ll need to go back to and watch/listen to a few times.    Favorite quotes: “The ultimate freedom when it comes to Second Amendment rights is New Hampshire.” “In New Hampshire, it’s a license because a permit implies a permission. And it’s not a permission, there is no permission. It’s your Right.” “We are in a war of words with those who want to take our freedom.” “Every gun offense in Jersey is a felony level offense.” “It (the 2A) is what empowers individuals.” “True Second Amendment is the ability for everyone that wants to have the Right, to exercise that Right, to defend themselves regardless of race or gender or anything.” “If you are pro-Second Amendment, you and I are on the same side. It really boils down to that.”   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:34 Credit card knife 03:19 Evan Nappen 05:08 Bang or bong or badge 07:47 Hanna Dustin 12:23 Healthy interest 14:53 Becoming an attorney 17:19 NJ & NH 20:13 Permit vs license 21:38 CC vs PL 23:38 Assault firearm vs rifle 26:50 BB guns in NJ 29:04 “Ghost guns” in NJ 33:47 Big cases 35:03 Racism and gun control 40:55 Evan’s books 44:28 The Repeal Party 46:38 Liberty movement 47:34 Gun Lawyer Podcast 49:09 Aitken case 53:13 Closing 55:27 Tradeoff NJ/NH 58:25 Bling Evan Nappen Website https://www.evannappen.com/   Gun Lawyer Podcast https://gun.lawyer/   Evan Nappen, Attorney at Law Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Evan-F-Nappen-Attorney-At-Law-PC-134969510019316   Gun Lawyer Podcast https://www.facebook.com/Gun-Lawyer-Radio-101562645133784 Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#147Umar ArrastiaClose Quarter Countermeasures I really do have the coolest gig AND friends!  One of my friends and training partners, Mark L, sent me a Facebook event for an ACTIVE Killer Response Course. I swear it said ACTIVE Kicker! He then messaged me and said that the instructor Umar Arrastia would be a great passenger for the show.  I reached out to Umar and we filmed the show, then Mark and I took the course the following month.  Umar has a background in traditional kung fu and martial arts.  He’s been with the National Guard for a number of years, he’s done some personal security work, and some bail bondsman work. He’s got an incredible background. Umar grew up around firearms so there wasn’t a fear or taboo about them like with many who don’t grow up with them. After 10 years with the National Guard, he tried getting an office job, but found that working in an office setting wasn’t really for him. So he signed back up with a Guard and ended up in Afghanistan. He found himself working on some training programs for executive protection, site security,  and vulnerability assessments. All of this work led to having to start a business. The business led to writing curriculums for various classes, including one for an active killer/shooter. There’s a lot of great information in the course, which Close Quarters Countermeasures offers for free every quarter. The next course is Monday August, 29, 2022.  Umar gives us the history of the course, but also how it’s changed due to the nature of the world we’re living in. It was originally an active shooter response course, but it’s morphed into a violence response course talking about active killer/shooters, but also how to respond if there’s some mass hysteria.  Oftentimes, after a large act of violence, people can be trampled or run over by a crowd of people who are trying to escape. As a gun guy, I did enjoy the segment where one of the instructors fired a couple blanks in the other room.  Many folks haven’t heard real gun fire and it’s beneficial for people to learn that, especially if the firing comes from a different room with some closed doors, too.  We have some good conversation about what Umar did to train his daughters without making them scared or paranoid about responding to incidents. Like many things, teaching your children takes the fears and tabooness of things away.  Besides working for the Guard, Umar owns and runs a Chinese martial arts school in central Massachusetts, where he offers lots of other training and courses. We do get into how he is avoiding being the new Voda or DUST instructors, but he also shares that there could be something these personalities have to offer to the community.  We end up hearing some stories about when Umar was a bail bondsman and had to chase some folks down. He explains a bit about what the job is, who gets into it, and what they’re supposed to be doing and who they can take into custody.  I really enjoyed this conversation with Umar. I want to send a special thanks to Mark for connecting us. It’s good to have good friends. Umar has a lot of training, experience, and education that he loves passes on to others at Close Quarters Countermeasures. If you’re in central Massachusetts, please check out the class on Aug 29, 2022. There’s a link below for other classes, too.    Favorite quotes: “When you’re exposed to firearms at a young age, it cancels out that fear that you have.”“Active shooter training is really more preparation than it is response.”“My goal has always been to make sure people, when they are not in my presence, are a little bit better off in some way that they were beforehand.”“No one ever plans to be a victim.”“The best way to combat fear is to be trained.”   Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:37 Umar Arrastia  03:11 Umar’s background  06:35 Developing training 08:35 Active shooter response course 12:02 Marketing woes 12:52 Changing the course  13:31 Assessing risk 15:15 Firing blanks 16:47 “Be safe” 17:23 Training children 21:42 Taboo   23:20 Your Circle 25:20 Other YT personalities 31:00 Martial arts 34:39 Umar talking “S” 37:54 Some bondsman stories 44:18 No one plans on… 47:26 Wrap up   Close Quarters Countermeasures Website https://www.closequarterscountermeasures.com/   Close Quarters Countermeasures Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CloseQuartersCountermeasures/   ACTIVE Killer/Public Violence Response Course Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/531439638470945   Dragon Gate Kung Fu Academy  http://www.dragongatefist.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Armed Lifestyle Magazine Anthony Colandro Writing Shotgun With Charlie Here's an interview I did with Anthony Colandro from Gun For Hire Range & Gun For Hire Radio. I interviewed him in 2016 for the first time. And I'm glad I reached out and stopped at Gun For Hire on my way down to Washington, DC, to interview Kenn Blanchard. We've become friends. Expanding my circle of friends was a goal when I started RSWC! I can't express how grateful I am that I got out of my comfort zone and pushed my boundaries. https://pocketmags.com/us/armed-lifestyle-magazine# Anthony took a call for a recorded interview which you can listen to here. I expanded and wrote about it in Armed Lifestyle Magazine, which you can get here. We talk about his book Crime Proof: Think Like a Criminal and Beat Them At Their Own Game, tactical pens, and more. Get Crime Proof here: https://crimeproofbook.com     Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/ Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters. Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Keyhole Holsters Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/ Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/ Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#146Anne MauroCollegiate Shotgun Coach, University of Maryland   At SHOT Show 2022, Cheryl Todd (RSWC #060) messaged me and said I need to have Anne Mauro on the stagecoach. After some group texts and making plans during a vacation week, I hit the road for Maryland.  Anne is a shotgun coach at the University of Maryland, where she runs a top notch program that she grew from the bottom up. We met at The Point at Pintail in Queenstown, MD, where she started her shotgunning path, not knowing where it would lead her.    Anne started shotgun shooting at her husband’s suggestion and started Pintail Point renting a shotgun to use. Her instructor, Ben Wise, made it fun and enjoyable for her so she kept going.  Eventually, the rental guns were up for sale and she bought the one she was renting.  When she used it, she had to take off the recoil pad. After she bought the gun, she headed up to Maine to have a custom stock made to her specifications, which led to helping manufacturers design stocks for women. Let’s face it, the ‘pink it and shrink it’ didn’t really work for new female shooters. She’s designed shotguns for Blaser including the F16 Intuition design.    Anne found herself offering to teach a Lady’s Clinic at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, TX. She had some folks that doubted her, but she proved them wrong in the first year, filling several clinics. From there, her clinics were always filled with ladies wanting to improve their skills. Eventually, the ladies got to shoot at the Nationals’ stadium where all the big dogs want to shoot! One of the most rewarding moments is when a lady who already knew how to shoot well came to the clinic and Anne asked her why she was her, she said it was just to learn from Anne. The great thing about Anne as a coach is that she realized that women needed some help with her focus, not her shooting.    The University of Maryland asked if she would work with their informal trap and skeet clubs which she did and she introduced sporting clays as well. The very first year, they won their first regional championship. They’ve won over 80 other awards over the years with everyone from beginners to experienced shooters who need some fine tuning. When she started, it was called the Shotgun Sports Team, but eventually they changed the name to the U of M Clay Target Team. She knew that this wasn’t a battle the club would win, but it paid off a few years later with some funding from the university for specialty shooting vests.  She’s also got some stories about how the team got sponsored by Beretta.    There’s some great tips about coaching, shotgunning and dominant eye exercises she shares with us, we talk about practicing, the time commitment, and much more. And she’s got a great story about Ted Nugent, too!   Favorite quotes: “My shooting instructor at the time, Ben Wise,a great individual, kept me safe and made it fun even though I was black and blue.” “They just ‘I can’t thank you enough because I’ve got a great sport that I enjoy with my family.’” “I’m going to take this team and I’m going to make something of them.” “You have this imaginary bag on your side here, you get these little pieces of golden nuggets you put in that bag, you just kind of store them in there and over time you’ll learn when to pull those pieces out.” “You had to be able to prove yourself, not only in what you do knowledge-wise, but being able to shoot, all of it.”   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:25 Anne Mauro 04:14 Texted at SHOT 05:08 Lessons with Ben Wise 12:16 Designing shotguns & traveling  13:54 Lady’s clinic surprise 17:17 Nationals’ stadium 19:39 Amazing moment 20:36 Chesapeake Bay Bridge 22:12 “Fun that can be had” 24:35 University of Maryland 31:40 Coaching  34:13 Impostor syndrome 36:32 Commitment 39:58 Eye dominance 42:54 Coaching tips 44:55 Beretta sponsorship 51:09 U of M support 54:45 Book idea 59:54 Uncle Ted story 1:02:18 Wrap Up   University of Maryland Clay Target Team on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/umdclaytargetteam/   University of Maryland Clay Target Team on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UMDtrapandskeet/   The Point at Pintail Sporting Clays  https://pointatpintail.com/   Blaser F16 Intuition Shotgun https://www.blaser.de/us/products/firearms/shotgun-f16/f16-sporting/f16-sporting-intuition/   Diva WOW https://divawow.org/   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #145 Dave Kopacz Red Pill Politics Radio Flag Day/2A Rally   I met Dave Kopacz a few years ago when I was helping a friend run a campaign for state senate. He’s been fighting for our Rights in Massachusetts for a number of years now. For the last 8 years, he’s been hosting the Flag Day/2A Rally, which is going to be on June 11, 2022, at the Century Sportsman Club in Auburn, MA. Some of the scheduled speakers are Dan Wos (RSWC #040 ), Jared Yanis (RSWC #051 ), and Jan Morgan, as well as yours truly.    Dave tells us that he’s got some great memories and lessons from going hunting with his grandfather even when they didn’t harvest any animals. This is where he learned things from how to be a man, how to treat a woman, and how war starts. He shares that history shows us that unarmed nations often get taken over by the governments.  And that our elected officials think the 2nd Amendment was about deer hunting. It’s not about that, it’s about killing tyrants.    While working with one of his sons on a home school project and connected with a local radio station, Dave put in a show proposal. He would take his kids to the radio station while he was doing the show. And that is how Red Pill Politics started. Despite being in very liberal western Massachusetts, the show has grown and he’s started taking calls from around the country, including Canada. There were even some openly socialist hosts of other shows on the station and they asked Dave to be on their programs. He’s got two weekly shows that he does: Red Pill Politics that he does with his wife, and another show on Republic Broadcasting Network. He takes calls from around the country and Canada, too.    We get into talking about the NYC subway shooting, which happened before the show was filmed. We talk about how people can pass background checks, then still go out and break the laws. But there are also people that get firearms illegally and go out and break the laws. The issue isn’t the firearms or how they acquire them, the focus needs to be evil people doing evil things. Evil people can and do commit heinous acts with and without firearms.  We talk about the gun culture in western Massachusetts and the closet gun owners that aren’t just Republicans, they’re Democrats, too. I bring up that one passenger, DeeDee Edmondson (RSWC #023) had an easier time coming out as a lesbian than the did coming out as a gun owner.  Even with the success of The Flag Day/2A Rallys, Dave tells us that there was some resistance one year.  There were some folks at the sportsman club that thought they were hosting extremists.  There were even some politicians who said they wanted to speak at the event, but Dave didn’t let them. They tried to hold their own similar event which wasn’t well attended.    One of the things I really admire about what Dave does is that everything lines up with liberty, freedom, and the Constitution. He’s even gone into Boston to speak out against what Massachusetts is doing not just against our gun rights, but all the others as well.  If you’re going to be in central Massachusetts on June 11, please come to the Flag Day/2A Rally and hear some great speakers at the event. And tune in to Dave’s shows with the links below.  Favorite quotes: “I believe in the strength of the whole Constitution.” “We looked at the government regulations, they’re becoming limitations on the people, not limitations of the government.”  “If we are unhappy with a public servant, we should be able to get them out the very first time they come up for reelection.” “The whole Constitution is kinda like this; how many legs of the table can you kick out before it becomes unstable and collapses under its own weight?”   TImestamp 00:00 Intro 01:30 Dave Kopacz 02:10 9th Annual Flag Day/2A Rally beginnings 05:55 Strength of the Constitution 06:50 Memory & lessons 09:13 History  11:41 Red Pill Politics radio program 15:12 NYC subway shooting 16:40 “Evil people will do..” 20:36 An armed society 21:51 Western MA gun culture 26:27 Speaking out and up 30:15 “The government we deserve…” 31:22 Flag Day/2A Rally 2022 36:30 Legs of a table 38:55 Better Angels 43:18 Wrap up Flag Day/2A Rally Website https://www.flagday2arally.com/ Red Pill Politics YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnAkOGyeZqNzMJDQ4Wo4vbA   Red Pill Politics on Republic Broadcasting Network http://republicbroadcasting.org/red-pill-politics-w-dave-kopacz/ Make America Constitutional Again Hat  https://theselfevidenttruth.com/product/make-america-constitutional-again-hats/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #144 Mary Forgues The DC Project   At SHOT Show 2022, I was checking Dianna Muller’s (RSWC #059) presentation on The DC Project (DCP) and ran into several DCP ladies who I’ve had on the show.  Holly Sullivan (RSWC #036, CCDL) introduced us and said I needed to have Mary Forgues on the show, which should be easy since she isn’t that far from me. I was thrilled that Mary thought I was a rock star, so how could I NOT have her on the show.    The real reason for her being in the shotgun seat is that Mary’s story about using a firearm to save her life is truly amazing! She didn’t grow up as a firearm person, certainly not like she is now. She eventually got a firearm as a means to be able to protect her children as she is a single mother. She shares a shocking story that changed her life and her attitude about life.   Mary was involved in an attack in her home by someone she knew.  Her attacker was someone she tried helping through the VA, where she has strong connections as her brother is a Veteran. Previously, during a VA event, there was a need from her home which is how her attacker knew where she lived. Later that year, the attacker was released against clinical advice, she was notified, and he ended up at her house. On the night of her incident, her kids were out of the house and she was home alone.   He broke into her home and lied about some papers that he thought she had and he said he needed them. While she was putting one dog away in her room, he followed her upstairs to attack. While the man was on top of her, choking her neck and punching her face, her thoughts went from her daughter is going to come home and find her lifeless body to her daughter is going to come home and be the next victim. She was able to dial the last number she called and a male’s voice was heard on her phone which distracted him long enough for Mary to grab her handgun from the dresser. If there were storage laws at that time, Mary would be dead.    She was able to get out of the house, contact the police, and get to a neighbor’s house while she waited 10 minutes for the police to arrive. The attacker continued with his pattern of drug and alcohol abuse, which ended his life before a trial could take place.    During a training session at her boyfriend’s training school, she shared her story with other women who have their own stories of struggle and maybe an attack. She reached out to Holly Sullivan, president of Connecticut Citizens Defense League, and Holly wanted her to share her story with Dianna Muller and the other DCP members. Since then, Mary has taken over the helm of the DCP representative for Connecticut.  She’s got lots of amazing and ongoing plans and goals, which are going to include monthly get together are various businesses in Connecticut where the funds will go to the efforts of getting Mary to Washington, DC, where she tell her story to our employees, the politicians, and let them know that gun rights are women’s rights. Favorite quotes: “It’s probably my responsibility as a parent to protect my children.” “It took him around like 8 times for him to use his body to slam up on my door and to break through that sliding lock.” “Imagining your child going through anything like that, that puts more fight in you than for your own life.” “I’ve always been an advocate for people to have better options in life.” “Everybody is struggling with something and too many people avoid it.” Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:34 Mary Forgues 03:12 Growing up 04:58 Buying her license  08:15 Continuing training 11:29 Generational gun ownership 13:51 Sharing her story 17:34 Meeting Holly 18:35 The incident 24:56 Heading upstairs 27:40 Breaking the door down 30:01 Daughters going to see me 31:46 Getting her gun 34:55 Escaping 38:14 10 Minutes for the police 40:40 Bonded out 4512:27 Court case/aftermath 45:11 Happy ending 48:13 Help on a different level 50:18 Testimony 51:42 DCP Video 56:20 DCP/CT events 1:01:19 Future plans 1:04:49 Wrap up The DC Project Website https://www.dcproject.info/   The DC Project Store https://www.dcproject.info/shop/   The DC Project Video with Mary https://youtu.be/IMZQ3DNE5CU   The DC Project YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCEgY6osl7qy2SWiDHP7_xw   Connecticut Citizens Defense League https://ccdl.us/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#143Toby LearyCape Gun WorksRapidFire Radio   A long time ago, in a galaxy far away… I took the then Combat Focus Shooting course with Rob Pincus. Legit, it was 2013. Two of the other classmates were Toby Leary and Brendon Bricklin, the owners of Cape Gun Works (CGW). I eventually became a Utah instructor and asked them if they wanted to host a Utah course for their customers. I’ve been doing the Utah class at their shop in Hyannis, MA, since it was a small store attached to a few other stores. Toby and I finally  set a time and date to film a show.    Toby has been into firearms since he was a Boy Scout. He went shooting with the Boy Scout group but not for merit badges, just to go shooting. Little did he know that his passion for being outdoors and shooting would lead to CGW and a growing gig on the radio!   The beginning of Cape Gun Works came when Toby & Brendon took a trip to Las Vegas for the Mr Olympia contest and to take a course at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. On the flight home, they cracked out the legal pad and started writing ideas on how to start and open a gun store and shooting range in Massachusetts. But the reality was that Toby was running a woodworking business and a gun business out of his woodworking shop. And often woodworking clients ran into firearm clients!    They thought about buying an existing gun store, but that didn’t happen and it worked out for the best that it didn’t. Their lack of business owning experience didn’t stop the dream, but they knew that the customers needed to come first. Over the years, CGW has become involved in the local chamber of commerce.  The great thing about hosting chamber events is that it brings in people that wouldn’t come into the store and lets them see that CGW, their employees, and their customers aren’t what the non-gun folks imagined.    A huge benefit that CGW offers is training.  It's not just NRA courses that some sportsmen clubs offer. They offer USCCA  and other types of defensive shooting courses, including classes from Ben DeWalt (RSWC #115) and Rob Pincus (#063). They also have a Ladies Night at the Range, Couples Night, and even archery courses. And there’s gunsmithing, too, with Joseph Morse (RSWC #106).  Last fall, they offered a Gun Maker’s Match, hosted by Rob.   One of the things Toby started doing to stay in touch with the community was calling in to the local radio stations after a firearms related incident. That has parlayed into regular segments on the station.  Then they started doing daily shows due to the virus that shall not be named as a way to reach out to customers. They’ve also hosted one of Boston’s biggest radio show hosts, Howie Carr, to do some book signings and remote broadcasts from CGW.  That has given Toby the chance to work his way onto the airwaves all around Massachusetts and given him some regular airtime. When they decided to have his own segment, of course they called it RapdFire, which has become a weekly show he does at the shop.    I’m very excited to be connected to Cape Gun Works & finally have Toby on the show! (I do teach the Utah class there) I’m very proud that Toby & Brendon have taken the local gun store, with all the courses they offer, to the next level. Should you find yourself on Cape Cod on a summer vacation, stop in and say “Hello!” Favorite quotes: “We sold the dream to the customers and they supported it.” “Customer service, taking care of the customer and putting them first was the secret sauce.” “Persistence won the day and we opened.” “One of the ways of putting the gun ownership issue out there in the community is to be involved in the community.” “You don’t co-opt the term ‘against gun violence’. Gun owners are against gun violence.” “There’s one thing that makes guns go bang and and it’s your finger.” Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:24 Toby Leary 02:18 Cape Gun Works’ humble beginnings 04:50 Old CGW 08:17 Buying another gun store 11:23 Chamber of commerce events 15:03 Other training courses 18:51 RapidFire’s roots 22:07 Gun owners are against gun violence 27:18 Growing up outdoors 30:30 Boy Scout leader  32:33 Bradford Erickson 34:34 Hunting stories 37:13 Wrap up   Cape Gun Works https://www.capegunworks.com/   RapidFire Radio Show https://www.capegunworks.com/rapidfire   Cape Gun Works YouTube channel (where you can watch RapidFire) https://www.youtube.com/c/CapeGunWorks   Cape Gun Work Classes https://www.capegunworks.com/class-list Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #142 Mike & Big Keith The Gun Experiment Podcast   This is a ‘big show’ for Mike & Big Keith from The Gun Experiment. They haven’t been seen on video. Mike reached out to me and asked to be on their podcast.  When I found out they were only a couple hours away, I said I wanted them on my show in return. Big Keith even offered to let us use his vintage Lincoln!  Here’s a link to The Gun Experiment with me as their guest. https://thegunexperiment.com/episodes/42-dont-cross-streams/   We talked about doing some shotgunning before we filmed the show, but after a warm drive to the local gun club for some trap shooting, we discovered that the clay thrower was frozen. So that was out. We really wanted to see who could out shoot each other, but it will have to happen another time.    Mike & Big Keith grew up in the same area of New York but they’re a few years apart in age. Big Keith had family members who took him shooting, but his family wasn’t into firearms. Like many, shooting didn’t kick in until later in life. Mike grew up with a father that owned firearms and took him hunting and they spent a lot of time outdoors and outside.    Later in life, Big Keith moved into Mike’s neighborhood, which had several pro-gun families. Mike started to organize a .22 shoot for the neighborhood and that helped prompt Big Keith into firearms. While Big Keith got into shotguns and skeet shooting, Mike kept leaning towards handguns.    At one point, Mike thought about starting a podcast, but didn’t have the drive to get it going. It does take an idea, some skill, and some time. When the lockdowns started in 2020, he realized that with time off from work, now was the time to start a podcast. So he booked Big Keith as his first guest to do a trial run. Big Keith didn’t know it, but it was Mike’s way to get a podcasting partner.  The show has not been aired, but they may release it for episode 100, which is really a big milestone for podcasters, YouTubers, and any content creator.    A great way to achieve something is to have some goals.  Mike made a list of folks he wanted to have as guests and he started reaching out to them. He found out that many folks are very welcoming and receptive to being on a podcast as a guest. Often podcasters listen to other podcasters and that’s the list of folks that inspire them and who they’d like to have as guests on their own show. The Gun Experiment name came out of knowing that they’re not experts and they want to learn from their guest and even take classes with some of them like Rob Pincus (RSWC #063) and Ben DeWalt (RSWC #115)..  We did drive to West Point but we didn’t drive around (they wouldn’t let us with the cameras on) and we couldn’t get into the museum without masks, which none of us had. We talk about some of the great guests they’ve had and some of the great things about being a content creator, like communicating with fans and getting to meet and hang out with some of the movers and shakers in the 2A community.    Mike & Big Keith are a great couple of guys with a wonderful and informative show that you need to check out! The links to their social media are below. And when their studio is up and recording for some live in studio guests, I’ll be making another trip down to New York.  And maybe we’ll get into West Point next time.  Favorite quotes: Mike: “If you’re not a hunter, bringing your kids around a hunting camp, it’s great, it’s a very old tradition in this country.” Big Keith: “I self-admittedly call myself a Fudd. I’m not but my shotguns are.” Mike: “You would think when you hear about these assault weapon bills, all these bills, you would think that would unite everybody.” Mike: “But it is 100% draconian and not free.” Keith: “We don’t know everything, we’re just trying to experiment.” Keith: “The best thing is when you get listener interaction.” Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:23 The Gun Experiment (Mike & Big Keith) 02:20 Big Keith’s background 03:03 Mike’s background 04:30 Hunting and camping 10:05 Mike & pistols 13:33 Shotguns in NY 14:27 Gun industry folks 15:28 Cautionary tale 17:41 Life in NY 19:40 Starting The Gun Experiment 21:46 Naming the podcast 24:26 Listener feedback 25:39 Great guests 29:11 West Point-denied 29:25 More great guests 32:47 Videos? 35:55 TGE Studio 39:19 Never miss an episode 41:11 More favorite guests 42:33 Warp up   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#141Val Evans“Mama Bear”Armed Women of America   Last October, I was emceeing the Rod Of Iron Freedom Festival at the Tommy Gun Warehouse at KAHR Arms in Pennsylvania. It was a great event and I got to hang out with some of my 2A friends, including Stephen Willeford, RSWC #088, and I got to make new friends.  Stephen, a few others, and I spent about an hour talking at the hotel and he mentioned that I should have Val Evans on the Stagecoach. He gave me her contact number and I reached out. She lives in Virginia and I was going down to film some shows.  When I asked if she was interested, she said yes!   Val has an amazing story, one that can happen to anyone at any time.  I know folks say that all the time, but this is really true. Her husband is a police officer and one year for her birthday, she wanted to go to the police range and go shooting. One night while her husband was working there was a knock on the door. She looked through the peephole and saw it wasn’t a neighbor. It was a stranger pounding on the door, breaking it in two places.  Val was home alone with their daughter. She enacted the plan, which was to call 911 and get the gun.    Once she was armed, she heard glass break and realized that he was coming in through the window. While she was on the phone with dispatch, she was able to find him and get a few shots on him, on his hand and in the groin area. Her daughter called out to see what was going on and she told her everything was fine. The police arrived and that’s when she put her gun away. Ultimately, she wasn’t brought up on charges for defending herself, but the criminal wasn’t brought up either as he wasn’t able to let her know his intentions.  He was on drugs and didn’t know where he was.    Fortunately, this brought Val to The Well Armed Woman (now the Armed Women of America). She was filmed for a segment on The BlazeTV for a TWAW at an instructor course. As an instructor, she helps empower women through firearms training and her story of self defense. She also shares with us the story about being asked to speak at the NRA Annual Meeting in Indiana.  It didn’t occur to her that they were asking a lot of questions and were doing a background check on her, which seemed a bit strange. At the NRAAM is where she not only met Stephen Willeford, but also met President Trump.  Even with training, support, and friends, this was still a difficult thing for Val to deal with.  It took a few years to get over the PTSD that she had from the incident. One of the most helpful things for her was training other women that they can handle situations like this themselves and sharing this helped Val, too.    One of the main lessons I learned from her story is that you NEED a plan for safety, regardless if it’s at home, work, or in the car.  She was a dispatch herself and learned what she needed to do.  Her dispatch work came in handy and she did just as they planned, get the gun, call 911.  Favorite quotes: “This was the plan, to call 911 and go get the gun.”“The judge was basically like “okay…and…”“I will put down the gun when the officers arrive on the scene.”“It took a lot to get back to myself.”“I was so scared that I was going to get in trouble for shooting him.” “Everyone I talked to was like ‘I couldn’t do that’. I was like ‘Yes, you can!’” “You want to know how to use it even if you don’t have to use it.”   Armed Women of America Website https://twawshootingchapters.org/   Armed Women of America Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twawshootingchapters/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #140 Frank C Tait NRA Board of Directors Candidate   You never know who you’re going to see when you’re roaming around SHOT Show. I ran into Frank C Tait in Las Vegas in January 2022 and we exchanged info.  This year is the third year that he’s been running for the NRA Board of Directors (BOD). Hopefully this will be the year for him!   Frank and I met in Philadelphia and started the show at the Betsy Ross house, where we snagged a selfie. We headed toward the downtown area, near Independence Hall, then to Market Street and the Philadelphia City Hall, and towards the Museum of Art, where Rocky Balboa ran up the stairs. We drive around City Hall and I include a couple photos of the William Penn statue and how it can be seen from different angles.   Frank grew up in a home in Philly without firearms. His Uncle Tony, a veteran of the Spanish Civil War, took him shooting with his gun collection. At 18, he got a hunting license and bought his first firearms. For one of his jobs, he had to carry a firearm and got into PPC (Practical Pistol Competition). LIke many folks, he ended up taking time off due to career and family.    When a friend needed to get some family firearms, they got to talking and that led to Frank getting into IDPA and USPSA and other competitive shooting. Shooting led to volunteering and that led to becoming an RSO and instructing. One of the members of a local range was Walt Rauch. Mr Rauch was a famous instructor, author, and expert in firearms. Frank learned a lot from Walt. He became a firearm instructor teaching nearly all the NRA disciplines, eventually becoming a Training Counselor.    Frank was one of a group responsible for bringing the Appleseed Project outside of North Carolina. He learned the Appleseed rifle instructor method, which he thought was superior to the NRA’s rifle course in helping diagnose where students need help. He also started Revere’s Rider, which focuses on the events leading to April 19, 1775.  They share some stories about the people who were involved with the Revolutionary War.    After years of a career in educational software technology and serving on boards for over 25 years, Frank has been working hard to get on the NRA BOD to make the changes he thinks the NRA needs. Frank lays out the changes that he believes will help the NRA BOD do what it needs to do. Things like making the board smaller so they can make decisions to get things done. Getting onto the board is difficult and often seems like a loyalty test to let things be the way they are. He also believes that the BOD needs to be looking to the future and seeing who is up and coming and who can take some leadership roles.    We cover much more about what he would like to see the NRA doing and how he likes the changes to look, act, and progress. He’s been working hard and finally made it to the ballot.  Please “bullet vote” for Frank, which means only vote for him. If you vote for several people then his odds of getting onto the board decrease. The impression I got is that Frank is a big NRA fan despite what is going on with the current BOD. I think with someone like him, maybe a few more, they can make the NRA stronger for the future of our Second Amendment.      Favorite quotes: “What helped me become a good instructor is having great mentors.” “Marksmanship made a difference in founding our country.” “Boards are supposed to be strategic and they spend all their time doing tactical stuff.” “The way you fix this is you come clean and make it right.” “There are things that the NRA does that are phenomenal.” Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:36 Frank C Tait 03:55 First shots 05:08 Competitive Shooting 09:25 Teaching is great 110:33 Appleseed Project  11:55 Revere’s Riders 14:17 The Intolerable Act (where Amendments 1-5 come from) 15:55 Philly City Hall Square 17:08 Appleseed/NRA credentials 18:52 NRA TC & other disciplines 20:58 Other 2A groups 25:25 NRAAM 2019 28:57 Frank’s blog & NRA plans 32:47 BOD’s responsibility 35:32 Future talent 36:13 Risk management 40:02 Petitions 43:01 Education & training 48:20 FNRA 50:11 Wrap up Frank’s Substack https://taitnra.substack.com/   Appleseed Project https://appleseedinfo.org/   Revere’s Riders https://www.reveresriders.org/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#139 Kerrie Ann AuclairThe DC ProjectArmed Women of America   I have a YouTube playlist of all the DC Project (DCP) members who have been on the show.  When I found out Kerrie Ann was the new member for Massachusetts, I sent her the list and asked if she would be on the show.  Last fall, we both took a course from Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) and had a chance to talk  and set up an interview. A couple weeks after the course, Kerrie Ann went to Florida for the DCP Summit for the first time.    Kerrie grew up here in New England and was very anti-gun when her children were young and she was a new mom. Like many folks, there was an incident that changed her situation on a dime. There was a home invasion in Connecticut, where the father/husband was tied up while the criminals/murderers beat and raped with wife and daughters, then set the house of fire. The father was able to escape the home.  Kerrie’s husband heard this story and wanted her to get a firearm to protect their family. After a neighbor who is also a police officer took them to the range, Kerrie was a new woman and wanted to learn much more about firearms and self defense.    While craving to get more training and education, Kerrie found Kelly Pidgeon’s (RSWC #056) channel ARMED and Feminine on YouTube.  She immersed herself in the videos on Kelly’s channel. While they two were messaging, Kelly encouraged Kerrie to start a The Well Armed Woman (now Armed Women of America - AWA) chapter. After she found a host range, they had 30 women at the first meeting and all of them signed up to be TWAW members!  Neither Kerrie or her assistant were instructors yet but they had a club. One of the most moving things is the stories the other women shared with Kerrie about why they wanted to get a firearm. There is really a strong need for women to learn and train with female instructors.  With the defunding of police and the riots of 2020, more and more women are wanting to get trained in firearms.    We spend some time sharing stories about teaching out children firearm safety and even some pepper spray safety.  But we also talk about how owning firearms changes how the extended family sees us and what we're doing, living the 2A lifestyle. Of course, the answer to their questions is ‘it’s a bunch of nunya bidness’! Unfortunately, it's too bad that others don’t accept that there are different strokes for different strokes!   Kerrie is also the new DCP representative for Massachusetts. This is a title she isn’t taking lightly. She’s working with some local women to educate MA residents how to work with and speak to our state politicians and share their stories. She tells us about when she finally got to the DCP Summit and had the chance to meet Kelly Pidgeon and the others. I’m excited that she used my DCP playlist to learn about the others in the group.    Besides the DCP and the AWA, she’s started her own training business, Ways To Be Empowered.  She’s trying to stretch out the training to women and men teaching courses and giving private lessons. She’s also working on building her own YouTube channel and media reach. Kerrie Ann is definitely someone we all need to be watching and following, not just on social media, but in her actions as well.  Favorite quotes: “I was very adamant about having no toy guns in the house. And then it switched.” “We understood how important it was to be supportive to these women, to train in a non-threatening environment.” “You are your first responder.” “Most of the people I talk to do change their mind….If they decide to have a firearm, we’re here to help.” “I will never stop fighting for what I think is right.” “Everyone’s got their own super power.”   Time stamp   The DC Project  https://www.dcproject.info/   Armed Women of America Website https://twawshootingchapters.org/   Armed Women of America Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twawshootingchapters/   Women Instructor Network Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/616828449367358/members   Way To Be Empowered Private Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/waystobeempowered/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #138 John Crump Black Swan Media    John Crump is one of those content creators that is just about everywhere. Our paths must have crossed somewhere. Regardless, John was up for being on the show when I made a trip to Virginia. He says he does his shows from his mother’s basement. She was nice enough to offer me some cookies and milk.    John, often known as Crump, or even Crumpy, has lots of things going on. He tells us that he grew up in a house full of Democrats and he was the only Constitutionalist in the family. So he’s been consistent throughout. Once he gets into something, he’s ALL in.  When he got into firearms, he ended up starting one gun store and buying another just to have the inventory. He submitted something to Ammoland and it was published.  The next week, he sent another article to them and that was published.  Then a third the next week. Eventually, Ammoland just said John should write for them.    He’s got his hand in some other content, too.  He’s got a daily YouTube channel, John Crump Live.  There’s a variety of guests and topics, covering just about anything that is firearm or freedom related. Then there’s John Crump News. Like the title says, it’s where he puts out news of what’s going on. He’s also helping other content creators, too.  Folks like DLD After Dark, Flying Rich, Trench Work Chronicles, Shooting Gallery New England (RSWC #106), and 2A EDU.  Plus he creates t-shirts and patches.  All of this is under the Black Swan Media brand.  There’s a story behind Black Swan Media that he shares with us.  One of the things that keeps John going is being an insomniac and not sleeping much.    John also tells us a bit about buying firearms in Virginia.  He also talks about his connection to Gun Owners of America (GOA) and their involvement with Virginia Citizens Defense League. I was a little surprised that an 18 year old can buy a handgun and carry it openly. Much of northern Virginia is ‘occupied territory’ and the rest of Virginia is ‘free America’ as I often call regions like these.    With all of the interviews he’s done, he did a compilation of sorts.  He took some transcripts of the best interviews and turned it into a book called Speaking With Giants. Some of the interviewees are RSWC passengers! Stephen Willeford (#088), Anthony Colandro (#003 & 025), Sarah Joy Albrecht (#092), Rhonda Ezell (#037), Michael Sodini (# 067).  But there’s others, too. Willes Lee, Maj Toure, Tim Kennedy, and more. The proceeds from the book went to help John’s sick niece. The proceeds still get donated.    John also gets into telling us about his favorite guest, Tony Simon (#041).  He said the conversation went from “Karens” to how we got to socialism and it only took 4 hours!    John had some great quotes, which you’ll find below. I really enjoyed him talking about learning about yourself when you interview someone.  And how the interviewee also learns something about themselves when they’re guests on a show. I learn something from all of my passengers and I think its a good thing about taking folks Riding Shotgun.    Favorite quotes: “I believe we should live within the Constitution and everything else is infringement.” “When I go to sleep, I’m writing in my head. So when I wake up, I have an article usually pre-written in my head.” “You learn a little bit about yourself when you talk to someone.” “Life isn’t easy because it’s not meant to be easy. Anything that’s worth something is hard.”   Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:20 John Crump 01:45 Beginnings 02:21 Constitutionalist & growing up 05:03 Engineering of firearms 06:19 VA info & GOA 09:35 Buying gun stores 10:18 Journalism & writing 12:08 Black Swan Media 15:53 Internet traffic 16:41 T shirts 18:50 Staying on top of things 25:14 Speaking with Giants book 29:49 Favorite Guests 34:04 GOA/VCDL Connection 39:40 Europe 41:58 Wrap up Black Swan Media on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Johncrumplive   John Crump News YouTube https://www.youtube.com/johncrumpnews   John Crump Live YouTube https://www.youtube.com/johncrumplive   Ammoland-John Crump https://www.ammoland.com/author/johncrump/   Crumpy Website http://crumpy.com/   Speaking With Giants https://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Giants-Interviews-John-Crump/dp/B08CP9DJL6   Gun Owners of America https://www.gunowners.org/   Virginia Citizens Defense League https://vcdl.org/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#137Tyler YzaguirreSecond Amendment Institute   In 2018, Tyler Yzguirre hosted the Heller10 celebration at the Supreme Court steps. With friends like Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009), I was able to attend a get-together the night before at Dick Heller’s house. That’s where I met Tyler.  At the rally, there were several protesters. Amanda came over and told me that one speaker dropped out and I was going on.  In two minutes! I was able to pull off some sort of a speech while there were chants of indecent things being hurled at the speakers.    I`ve run into Tyler at a machine gun shoot in Pennsylvania and at a DC Project/CNFJO event in New Jersey. With his new book, it was time to get him in the stagecoach and talk about his non-profit group, Second Amendment Institute (SAI), and the book.    Tyler started a rifle team while he was in college. Reluctantly, the college reluctantly gave his group $500 to Cabela’s, which the club used for ammunition. That was also his first time making some national news. When he turned 21, instead of going out to indulge in alcohol, he purchased his first handgun. After college, he continued with the idea and started SAI, a non-profit institute. Some of their fundraisers have drawn in some big names, like Allan West, Lauren Boebert, & Dick Heller. As a resident of DC, Tyler has acquired a concealed carry permit. This is all quite an accomplishment, as he’s a young man, but I won’t give out his age. It’s much more than I had going on when I was his age.    As a DC carry permit holder, Tyler was sharing that there are LOTS of restrictions on where law abiding gun owners can and cannot carry.  And not just building, but areas, too. What is most interesting to me is that members of Congress can carry inside buildings, but not outside the buildings unless they have a carry permit. There’s about 16 hours of class and range time to get a DC carry permit. It breaks down into 4 hours of laws, 2 hours of range time, and 10 hours of class time.    One of the events Tyler & SAI organized was the Heller10 Rally on June 26, 2018.  Several 2A activists spoke including, Maj Toure, Cheryl Todd (RSWC #060), Congressman Thomas Massie, Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009), Gina Roberts (RSWC #061), future NC Lt Governor Mark Keith Robinson, and of course, The Man himself, Dick Heller!  The event was a huge success despite there being protesters on the SCOTUS steps, arguing with the friendly 2A crowd.    As we drive through our nation’s capital, Tyler also does double duty as a tour guide for me. He also gets into telling me about his new book, Gun Rights 101: Firing Back Against Gun Control’s Biggest Lies.  The book covers some of the basic arguments on the gun control side and gives us some quick rebuttals against them.  But he also gets into some of the biggest 2A cases, including Heller v DC (2008), McDonald v Chicago (2010), and Caetano v Massachusetts (2016).  We also talk about some more current issues, like the Rittenhouse and Andrew Coffee cases.    It was nice to finally have the opportunity to have Tyler in the passenger’s seat. He’s an enjoyable man to be around and talk with. If you’d like to purchase his book, Gun Rights 101, please check the link below.  Favorite quotes: “(Members of Congress)... can carry in the House building, in the Capitol dome, but they can’t carry in DC unless they get a DC carry license.” “Trying to change the hearts and minds of people.  We come from an educational approach. We’re not a political group.” “Middle and lower Delaware are pretty gun-friendly.” “It’s been a great journey and I look forward to keep doing it.” “I was always willing to fight with the school.”   Second Amendment Institute Website https://www.sainational.org/   Second Amendment Institute Facebook https://www.facebook.com/secondamendmentinstitute Gun Rights 101: Fighting Back Against Gun Controls Biggest Lies https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Rights-101-Against-Controls/dp/B09M7C1DD5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LS8YWR6JXMID&keywords=tyler+yzaguirre&qid=1643022580&sprefix=tyler+yzaguirre%2Caps%2C54&sr=8-1 Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #136 Lt Lou Lusk & Rick Capozzi Survival Mindset   I met Lt Lou Lusk & Rick Capozzi at the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival in Greely, PA, this past fall.  I was emceeing the event for one of the days and helping Amanda Suffecool (RSWC #009) with a concealed carry fashion show. In the VIP room, Stephen Willeford (RSWC #088) suggested that I grab Lt Lou and sit in the passenger’s seat for a show.  Lt Lou was with the team that rescued Jessica Lynch in Iraq in 2003.    Lt Lou spent 29 years in service to our country, 14 active duty and 15 in the Pennsylvania Guard, including 7 tours since the Global War on Terrorism.  He was part of Task Force 20 and much of the invasions and operations from the War in Iraq are covered in the book COBRA II by Michael Gordon & Bernard Trainor. Lt Lou talks about his time serving the country with much emotion, which is easy to see.    Lt Lou refreshes us about the story of Jessica Lynch, how her battalion was captured, then killed and she was left for dead. She was captured and tortured and ended up in a hospital. Lt Lou’s team went to bring her back. But they also re-patriotated 13 American soldier’s bodies. One of the difficult things was to bring the bodies back during a 3 hour helicopter ride that didn’t have body bags. His last tour was as a “BMD” pilot, a Big Mahogany Desk pilot. Lt Lou had a hard time with that as he liked to be with his men, leading from the front.   Lt Lou shares some stories about meeting Richard Winters, from Easy Company, which the series Band of Brothers was based on. He and Richard talked about the differences between the generation now and the generation back then and the major differences in how the military goes from war back to civilian life. Major Winters said back then when they came back, it took time.  The men had time to decompress and process the acts of war.  Nowadays, they finish their battles and within12 hours they’re back at home living civilian life.    This is one of the issues that haunts many of our military.  There isn’t the decompression time to process everything that they experienced in war. They want to get home to their families and loved ones. This leads to much of the PTDS that they have, which also leads to suicide.  Lt Lou shares some of his demons that he’s dealt with after military life. He admits that there were 5 times when he should have died; four during battle and one at his own hands. But without the firing pin in his firearm, he was saved by God. This also explains the tattoo he has on his right arm and why he wears a ring on his right index (trigger) finger. Like many people who have faced death, Lt Lou has 2 special days each year.    Rick gets a little time to talk about his business, Survival Mindset. They train everyday people to prepare for armed intruders. And how to respond to deal with a situation. Finally, how to survive a deadly situation.  Survival Mindset does realtime drills with their clients, and they can include using several agencies including lifeflight. They work with clients on several levels of whatever their needs are of the people attending classes. Rick tells us some stories about people that have taken training with Survival Mindset and then ended up needing to use their training.    I enjoy going back and rewatching shows.  There’s so much to learn about not just firearms, and not just that gun folks are the greatest folks or that we’re everyday folks. But there are challenges in life, regardless of your career or path in life. And no matter who you are or where you are, there are people like Lt Lou and Rick that ‘have your 6’.  Favorite quotes: “That night, also with Jessica Lynch, we re-patriaited 13 Ameican soldier’s bodies that were buried in shallow graves.”“I don’t know what to fix unless I know what’s broken.” “It’s going to be hard for you to be the one to tell people to do stuff and not do it.”  “God has saved me 5 times. Four from an enemy, once from myself.” “When it comes to mental health injury, instead of being broken, you’re more shattered.”   Time stamps 00:00 Intro 00:50 Lt Lou Lusk & Rick Capozzi 01:57 Lt Lou’s military experience 03:13 COBRA II book 05:50 Jessica Lynch rescue 08:43 Last tour as a “BMD” pilot 13:11 Meeting Richard Winters from A Band of Brothers 16:37 “Kept together” 18:41 The solution 21:00 IGY6 23:08 Major Winters 28:54 Mental health 33:02 Survival Mindset Survival Mindset https://survivalmindset.us/ Survivalmindset.org   Survival Mindset Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SurvivalMindsetUS   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Thanks to the viewers and listeners of Riding Shotgun with Charlie!   I wanted to reach out and let everyone know that I really appreciate all the support and encouragement that I get for doing the show. It’s great to hear that folks hear about passengers on other shows and see that I had them on the Stagecoach. Or better yet, when a fellow podcaster listens to a show to get some back story on a guest and then have them on their podcast. Either way, it’s a feeling that the show is going well and helping people learn about others in the firearm community.    I was talking with a friend who I call “B-L” Lisa and she thought that doing a Thank You show would be a great way to end the year.  I wasn’t sure what format I could do the show.  Then talking with John Petrolino, he gave it some direction. Despite the pandemic and shutdowns, the loss of jobs and income, 2021 was a successful year!   Thanks to these folks for making 2021 successful for The Stagecoach.  I got to go hunting with CNJFO, played the Star Spangled Banner in Florida, spoke in Dallas, took training in New Hampshire, South Dakota, Ohio, and Massachusetts. I kept teaching classes in Massachusetts for residents to get their License To Carry. And kept doing Utah classes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. All along, making new 2A friends!   I was able to film more shows than ever before. That meant I was publishing episodes more than ever! From the end of March until November, I put out a show every week.  And even in November, I put out shows 3 out of 5 Tuesdays. This year, I published over 40 shows!   Gun folks are the greatest folks. RSWC displays many of the movers and shakers in the firearm community in a very different situation, much more intimate and relaxed and off guard. There’s a great blend between serious topics, some humor and lightheartedness, and comfort with all of the passengers on the show.    Next year, there’s going to be more shows, more passengers, and more traveling. My goal is to complete the 5 states East of the Mississippi where I haven’t done shows. And get a few more states West of the Mississippi.    It wouldn’t mean a thing without viewers and listeners.    I’ve got an online store going for sway and merch, which you can find below.    Riding Shotgun With Charlie & GunGram shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and patches. https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners https://www.cnjfo.com/   Florida Carry https://www.floridacarry.org/   Second Amendment Foundation https://www.saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep And Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Kids S.A.F.E. Foundation https://kidssafefoundation.org/   Massad Ayoob Group https://massadayoobgroup.com/   FASTER Saves Lives https://fastersaveslives.org/   Rod Of Iron Freedom Festival https://www.rodofironfreedomfestival.org/   Sig Sauer Academy https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/   Gun Owners Action League https://goal.org/   Onsight Firearm Training https://oftllc.us/   The DC Project https://www.dcproject.info/   A Girl & A Gun https://www.agirlandagun.org/   Ammoland https://www.ammoland.com/   Gun Owners Radio https://www.gunownersradio.com/   The Up Range Podcast https://www.facebook.com/UpRangePodcast/   Firearm Trainers Podcast https://www.firearmtrainerpodcast.com/   Midnight Patriots https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1248-the-midnight-patriots-70532665/   Hay! I Want Your Job! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-i-want-your-job/id1542841478 The Shooting in the Woods podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn7bWC6QaVwXyS484fl5DMg   Gun Freedom Radio https://gunfreedomradio.com/   Eye On The Target https://eyeonthetargetradio.com/   The Gun Experiment Podcast https://thegunexperiment.com/   The Loaded Mic with Dan Wos https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoadedMic   Gun For Hire https://gunforhire.com/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #134 Stephen Gutowski The Reload   Stephen Gutowski was awarded the Journalist of the Year at Gun Rights Policy Conference in 2021. He’s won this award before. I’ve been seeing him at GRPC and some other events around the country.  At GRPC in Chicago a few years ago, we were walking and talking with someone and he said he’d like to be on the show when I get to the DC/VA area.  I finally made a trip and was able to film a show with him.  We met at Mount Vernon, VA, at George Washington’s house and took a scenic drive next to the Potomac  River and headed into Old Town Alexandria.    Stephen didn’t grow up around firearms or shooting, but he started in college.  He also started a blog writing about politics in college as well. Going out for a staff retreat, there was some informal skeet shooting. He does admit to being afraid of recoil, which is something to someone who hasn’t shot before. That’s when Stephen got the gun bug and bought a 20 gauge shotgun that wasn’t really good for anything other than having a shotgun. The good news is he still has it because it doesn’t have much value other than being his first gun.    Since then, he’s made smarter purchases, did some AR builds, and became an instructor. All of these were beneficial when he was writing gun stories for various publications. He meant he was an informed journalist. His writing style was more first person but he learned to write better as a journalist and write hard news stories. He’s written for the National Review, The Washington Review, and The Atlantic, but wrote for The Washington Free Beacon for several years.    Much of the writing about firearms is inaccurate due to the writers not knowing about firearms. Which is one of the motivators on why Stephen started “The Reload”, his own publication about news stories and their relation with firearms. The Reload gives sober & serious  informed reporting about firearms.     Besides the media not knowing about firearms, sometimes the firearms community doesn’t know how the politics of things work or the process of passing things like Constitutional carry or even how bills get passed. It takes knowledge and often experience to see which bills could pass and which don’t have a chance of passing.    Th Reload is both a website and podcast. The business model is something that many folks are doing.  They give content for free then offer more content to members who pay for a subscription and support the website or podcast.. There is a lifetime membership subscription and a yearly subscription for The Reload.    One of the huge benefits of producing your own news outlet is that you have control over the content and stories you put out. But Stephen knows he’s still got to make and keep the subscribers subscribing, so there’s always going to be good, solid information. The Reload puts out daily content, with the free weekly newsletter coming out on Fridays and the exclusive email to subscribers on Sunday.   As awarded the Journalist of the Year by the Second Amendment Foundation, Stephen is on top of what is happening in firearms and politics. At the very least, after you listen to RSWC, check out some episodes of The Reload and consider supporting Stephen with a subscription.  Favorite quotes: “I learned over the years… how to be a better journalist, like better at hard news writing.” “You never stop learning. You never stop improving your writing if you’re serious about it as a profession.” “My main goal with writing is trying to inform people, tell them what is going on in the world, try to give them a better understanding of reality.” “I don’t want to mislead people into thinking that some bill is a threat when it’s not.” “I think it’s fun to talk to the members and see how they are, why the subscribed, and what makes them tick” “I want to foster community that engages with the content and each other but does so in a respectful way” : Time stamp 00:00 Intro 01:33 Stephen 02:33 Mount Vernon tour guide 09:13 Gun stuff 12:10 First shotgun 15:28 Writing gigs 16:57 The Reload 20:10 The political side 24:15 The Reload Podcast 25:52 Business model 32:12 Subscriber’s story 33:34 Comments on social media 36:11 Wrap up Stephen Gutowski Twitter https://twitter.com/StephenGutowski   Stephen Gutowski Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stephen.gutowski   The Reload Website https://thereload.com/   The Reload Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly-reload-podcast/id1575280600 Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #133 Jerah Hutchins Clearing The Chamber Instructor, Entrepreneur, Cigar Smoker, & Bourbon Drinker   Jerah Hutchins is always on the go.  And she’s doing so many good things to help people.  We’ve been friends on Facebook for awhile and I reached out when I was heading to Dallas for AMMcon.  I knew she lived in the area. Tony Simon (RSWC #041) said she is one of his favorite people.  That’s a great recommendation so I knew I had to ask her to hop in the stagecoach.  Jerah’s grandfather was an immigrant from Sicily who loved the Second Amendment and was adamant about it and ‘about that freedom life’. During her college years, she had a shotgun where she lived, but a stalker changed things and she needed to get a handgun. She felt safe at home, but being out of her apartment which had layers of defense, she needed to have the ability to protect herself. There weren’t a lot of women getting into firearms at the time so things were different and there weren't a lot of items that were geared towards women. She started going to the range by herself.  Her friends started asking her to take them to the range to show them how to get started. That’s how and why she started becoming a trainer and advocate for women to learn to shoot and carry a firearm. She had a natural market to start a business with her friends and their friends.  She made a change in careers and hasn’t looked back.    What I really like about Jerah is that her approach to teaching women about firearms, safety, and shooting is different from how men see things, particularly how a husband would teach his wife. The husband has a tie to the outcome of a gunfight his wife may get in, but Jerah’s isn’t at the same level and that means she’s willing to be patient and help more.  Jerah’s family has a tradition of serving the country in some form or another. She found this out in a book that her grandfather wrote about the family history. When she realized that there wasn’t anyone in her generation serving, she needed to find out what she could do.  After aging out of the military branches, she found out she was a great fit for the Texas State Guard.  They work for the state of Texas and not the federal government.    Besides everything else, Jerah is a serial entrepreneur. She’s a partial owner of a cigar bar as well as everything else.  She says that she collects bourbons and has never had an uncivilized conversation while having a cigar. While enjoying a cigar and bourbon is when she’s most creative.  I love that we get into so many things. Self defense attitudes, raising children, helping others. Jerah has an amazing look at life and business. She lives and breathes this every day, everywhere, to everybody.   This episode is DEFINITELY worth a second and even a third listen to! Jerah’s approach to life is much different than many other people’s approach. Listening to her is inspiring to make positive changes to life and business. This is a jam packed show for sure!   Favorite quotes: “You fail and fail and fail, until you just get it.” “In 2018, I went full time with guns…I went full time and didn’t want to do anything else. And I have not looked back.” “Our parents tell use to be careful, but they never tell us how” “Everybody has a why when it comes to the Second Amendment… (one of my reasons) is getting this message out to women and especially mothers that you got a duty” “The freedom that comes with the money, that’s what I’m after” “Chase wealth so that government can’t control you”   Clearing The Chamber Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clearingthechamber   Clearing The Chamber Instagram https://www.instagram.com/clearingthechamber/   Clearing The Chamber Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/jerahhutchins/_created/   Clearing The Chamber https://clearingthechamber.com/   Gun Freedom Radio (Thanks to Cheryl Todd for the use of her ‘stagecoach’!) https://gunfreedomradio.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#132Grant GallagherScotShot NRA & USCCA Training Counselor   It’s great to have a product like RSWC.  While visiting a friend in New Jersey, I was wondering who I could have from New Jersey on the show.  He asked “what about Grant Gallagher from ScotShot?” I asked if he was a regular co-host on The Polite Society Podcast. And he was. My friend also said he was an NRA & USCCA Training Counselor and he took training with Grant.  After some messages back and forth, we all had a bite to eat before filming the shows.    Grant was raised in Scotland, like ScotShot would make you believe. His real job is a scientist and he’s been a professor at a college in New Jersey since 2001, just before September 11. His only experience shooting in Scotland was with a friend’s dad, who hunted. Since the massacre at a school in Dunblane, civilian access to handguns were removed. So even the Olympic shooters had to leave the country to train and practice.    In the UK, a handgun is defined by its barrel length. If the length of the barrel is less than 16 inches, it's considered a handgun. The whole length of the gun has to do with concealability. Another difference between here and the UK is that shooting WITHOUT a suppressor is considered to be ‘bad manners’.  If you’re approved for a handgun, then getting a suppressor is a minimal amount of paperwork.     After a colleague suggested that Grant and his wife go shooting, they really enjoyed it.  Around 2008, they got their first handguns. Grant did some self training and found out that he really likes the Sig Sauers. This past year, I did some training at the Sig Academy in New Hampshire, which Grant hasn’t been to.  Yet!   Like many new shooters and instructors, Grant thought the “NRA way” was the way to go. He took several NRA classes at Gun For Hire from Anthony Colandro (RSWC #003 & #025).  Then he took instructor level classes from Chet Wilson, from SHOOTNJ.  I share a funny story about meeting Chet at SHOT in 2017. After taking courses with SHOOTNJ, Chet asked Grant to join him as an instructor. Chet was a big influence on Grant and getting some class time in and starting instructing as a profession and starting ScotShot.    Grant is a training counselor for both the NRA & the USCCA. He credits Klint Macro (RSWC #069) for introducing him to the USCCA and their offerings.  We talk about some of the differences and how one compliments the other. Ultimately, they both talk about responsibly armed Americans. We also talk about some of the skills that Jeff Cooper taught and how those are still important for someone to have.  Besides Cooper, Grant talks about the advantage of having a SIRT Pistol (Mike Hughes & Britt Lentz, RSWC #074) and practicing while you’re at home while you’re watching TV.    I’m glad that I asked Grant to hop in the stagecoach. He’s a great guy with lots of knowledge and he’s willing to share it with his clients. I really like that my network of friends is growing and crossing with people like Grant.  Favorite quotes: “In the UK it's considered bad manners to shoot without a suppressor.” “A lot more people have guns that admit to it.” “You’ve got ScotShot Grant, so ScotShot can pay for everything.” “ScotShot was formed in 2013 and then all bets were off. Now you’re out there having to do it for your actual self.” “One of the great things about the NRA is that the curriculum is the same all across the country.” “You can’t force people to take training they don’t want to take.” “If you’re going to have a gun that’s part of your home defense plan, then you’ve got to have a home defense plan.” ScotShot Scott https://www.facebook.com/scotshot.grant.7   ScotShot LLC https://www.facebook.com/Scotshot.LLC   ScotShot Website https://www.scotshot.com/   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #131 Gun Makers Match 11.20.2021   I got a text message from Rob Pincus (RSWC #063) about the Gun Makers Match at Cape Gun Works in Hyannis, MA, asking if I was going to be making the match. I had to work on the day of the gun making, but I made it to the shooting competition. Sort of. They started at 8 am and I didn’t get to CGW until 11:15 am so I missed everything and everyone. Rob, Toby Leary, CGW owner, Matt Holmes, 2A3D Print, and Bobby Brown, AWCY?, were still hanging around.  So we pulled 2 mounted bears that CGW has in the store and filmed what we called “Between Two BeARs”, a spoof of “Between Two Ferns”.     The weekend consisted of one day of gun making and a morning of shooting competitions. This was the 3rd Gun Makers Match that Rob was leading. There’s going to be a National Match in St. Augustine, FL, in March 2022. And Toby said Cape Gun Works will host an annual event, too.   Day One was building several P80s that were brought by Matt & 2A3DPrint. Bobby came from Florida to talk about 3D printing of firearm frames. Jon Green (RSWC #030 & #034), Director of Education at Gun Owners Action League, talked about the legalities of making a firearm in Massachusetts.  Once you have a completed home built firearm in Massachusetts, it has to be reported to the state via the eFA-10 registration portal. Yeah, this is ridiculous, but as I often say “Welcome to the Commonwealth”.   The tools used, according to Toby, are things that most people have in their basement toolbox. Matt, Rob, & Bobby were able to help the class participants with everything that needed to be done to build the P80s.  There were several folks doing their first builds and a few people that brought some previously made firearms.  There were even a few people who brought some 3D printed frames from home.    Day Two was the competition.  Toby Leary came in first place, but they said it's because his GLOCK 34 has a longer barrel. Jon Green came in second. I believe that Joe Morse (RSWC #106) from Shooting Gallery New England came in third. Matt 3D printed some trophies of a 3D printer printing a frame. The winners each received a trophy.   It looked and sounded like a great weekend!  I’m bummed that I missed it. I will plan on making it next time, for sure! Filming a panel was a little different and certainly a different way for RSWC to happen, but I’m glad I got to get some video and learn about the 3D firearm printing world.  Favorite quotes: Rob: “We’re giving them a fun place to show them off. And give them a competition.” Rob: “If everyone says ‘ghost guns’ are bad and scary and nefarious, it hurts our hobby. It hurts our ability to exercise our freedom and enjoy our freedom.” Matt: “People are intimidated for whatever reason...It’s really easy to explain to people how they work, how to check function, how to check safeties.” Toby: “I got accused of cheating because I used a GLOCK 34 and they said the muzzle of the gun was touching the target.” Toby: “We literally brought tools that are in pretty much everyone’s basement toolbox out here and built guns with them.” Bobby:”We want to make designs that never existed. We want to take existing designs and make them into something else.” Rob Pincus https://icetraining.us/   2A3D Print https://2a3dprint.com/   Are We Cool Yet? AWCY? https://www.areweconsumersyet.com/ Twitter: @awcy_arms Instagram: awcy_arms YouTube: Are We Cool Yet? The files are on odysee: https://odysee.com/@AreWeCoolYet:7   Cape Gun Works https://www.capegunworks.com/   Gun Makers Match https://gunmakersmatch.com/   Guns For Everyone National https://gfenational.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#130Ashley HlebinskyFirearm HistorianThe DC Project   Ashley Hlebinsky is THE coolest firearm historian you’ll ever meet! We were both speakers at AMMcon (hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation) in Dallas recently.  Since she is a  historian and we were in Dallas there is only one place for us to visit: Dealey Plaza.  Of course, you know this is where Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald. I LOVE the Kennedy assassination conspiracies! All of them. And while watching any documentary on it, I will buy whatever theory they’re selling. But not Ashley.  She likes the real story!   Ashley wanted to be a doctor like many folks, but she was interested in battlefield medicine which led to firearms and firearm history. Ted Koppel said about her, she wanted to learn to save lives then to things that could take lives. But she’s really into much more about how firearms work, how the evolution of firearms has changed, and its impact on the industry, technology, society, and culture.     One of her personal interests is in guns used in crimes. Many museums don’t want to bring up the firearms used in crimes, but Ashely really enjoys that part of the story about firearms. She says that not knowing about firearms leads museums to put some wrong firearms on display.  This is where she really enjoys working, coming up with how a firearm used in a crime can be a valid and educational display at a museum.    During her undergrad years after she changed majors, she was doing as much as she could including volunteering,  internships, researching, and  learning to shoot.  While a senior in college, Ashley was able to parlay internships into getting hired by the Smithsonian.  She was able to go from the Smithsonian to the Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming, where she ran just about everything behind the scenes and all the displays for the exhibitions, collections, and education.     Once we get to Dealey Plaza, the conversation turns to the Kennedy assassination and what was going on during the 1960’s and many of the various conspiracies. We do get some selfies at the School Book Depository, the grassy knoll, and the two X’s where the bullets hit Kennedy.  Ashley brings up what she calls the Post World War II era and how the turbulent times and several assassinations lead to the Gun Control Act of 1968. We talk about the possibility of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe ties to the Kennedys, the similarities between Lincoln & Kennedy. And other irrelevant and interesting topics. Including James Earl Jones, where the Carcano rifle is, and the FBI trying to get Martin Luther King, Jr to commit suicide.    Besides everything that Ashley is involved with she’s also with The DC Project. She testified in front of Congress. She’s a producer of TV shows on the paranormal on the TRVL Channel and several shows for Brother in Arms and Midway USA’s Gun Stories.    Ashley was a great sport going to Dealey Plaza and taking the conversation in several places. I’m glad that I was able to have her as part of the Stagecoach Across America.  Favorite quotes: “Personally, I’m more fascinated by guns used in crime and how to interrupt them than guns not used in crime.” “A lot of people want to work in the gun vault. And he said I was the only person that he actually thought could do it.”  “When I go to a museum, I don’t like to read. I’m there to see the stuff.” “Because there’s so much armed radicalism, the government starts doing some crazy stuff.” “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an inside job. Because they’re doing kinds of stuff for the benefit of I’m not sure who. ” Ashley Hlebinsky Instagram https://www.instagram.com/historyinheels/   Ashley Hlebinsky Facebook https://www.facebook.com/officialashleyhlebinsky   Ashley Hlebinsky Twitter https://twitter.com/ashleyhlebinsky   The DC Project https://www.dcproject.info/   Gun Freedom Radio https://gunfreedomradio.com/   Pot of Gold Estate Auctions https://potofgoldestate.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#129 Heidi Bergmann-SchochCompass Defense LLC   This past fall I had a trip to New Jersey to hang out with John Petrolino (RSWC #093).  As we  were talking, I mentioned that this was my first trip in over 2 years without having filmed a show someplace. After some brainstorming of previous New Jersey passengers, we came up with Grant Gallagher (coming soon) and Grant told Heidi Bergmann-Schoch about this and asked if she wanted to be on the show, too. He said she’s a great instructor and she has worked with him for years. After lunch, we filmed the shows then I headed home.    Heidi started her career as a police officer, specifically a K-9 officer.  She started the K-9 officer program in her town and was the K-9 officer in several towns.  After being an officer for 7 years, she contracted Lyme’s disease and had to retire. Wanting to still give to the community, she got into paramedics. Before being a paramedic, she had to train for an EMT position. She was a paramedic for about 10 years before she bought a farm and got into raising and training horses.    Heidi eventually decided to get back into firearms and training.  She connected with Grant Gallagher from ScotShot (his episode is coming soon). She taught with Grant for 5 years before starting out on her own. She’s certified to teach NRA & USCCA courses at many levels and disciplines. I always find it interesting that unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey doesn’t have “approved courses”. But that doesn’t mean the process is easy or quick.    We talk about some issues that new students of the gun have. Things like buying a gun that isn’t good for the student. She calls the new students with new guns the “2A Minnie Pearls''. Yes, you have to be of a certain age to get that reference! I share some stories with some gun clients that I had as well. She also shares a story about some students with snub revolvers who shouldn’t have had snub revolvers due to the size of the gun and the size of the student.    Besides being an instructor, Heidi is also involved with The DC Project and The Well Armed Woman. She started with The Well Armed Woman by getting ‘sucked in’. She was teaching at a range and the range wanted to start a program.  She did all the paperwork and legal stuff to start a chapter, including making some videos and passing a qualification on video. Her chapters meet once a month and have an education section and live fire, then dinner with the girls.    Her involvement with The DC Project is helping “educate over legislate”, which is the group’s motto. The DC Project is aiming to get women to speak to their legislators at the national  and state levels, and share their stories about why they own firearms and why the 2A issue is a women’s issue.    It’s really great to have the chance to meet more folks in the firearm community.  Gun people really are the best people. And Heidi is one of them.  Favorite quotes “The police classes were more practical.” “That’s why I started to change over more to the United States Concealed Carry Association. Their curriculum is more towards the practical use of a firearm in a defensive sense.’ “They come in with the tag on it. They come in, they’re a 2A Minnie Pearl.”   “I can’t explain how good the gals are that I have. They are so generous. They are so kind. They support one another.”   Compass Defense https://compassdefense.net/   Compass Defense LLC https://www.facebook.com/compassdefense.net   The Well Armed Woman https://www.facebook.com/TheWellArmedWoman/   The Well Armed Woman https://thewellarmedwoman.com/   The DC Project https://www.dcproject.info/   We Shoot Shooting Range https://weshootusa.com/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   Or watch on: OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #128 Amy Lucas Steel & Stilettos Firearms Training USCCA Instructor   It’s great to have friends in the gun community who know the people I don’t.  Amy Lucas was suggested to me by Patrick Collins (RSWC #091).  Earlier this month, I was in Dallas for AMMcon and Amy was in Fort Worth for the USCCA Expo. She was able to get away for a bit to hop in the Stagecoach. By the way, the “Stagecoach” was provided by Cheryl Todd (RSWC #060) from Gun Freedom Radio! Thanks, girl!   Amy is a retired corrections officer from the metro Detroit area. She started her career before she could carry a firearm.  Then she got into training with firearms, CPR and everything else. She spent 20 years holding down the fort at a maximum security prison. While she was there, she got lots of training in many areas of self defense and personal protection. She also became a SWAT team leader, chasing down escapees and securing the prison when someone snuck in a firearm.    After she retired, she became a private investigator and followed people around.  She realized that she’s got lots of training, skill, and knowledge. She decided that she wanted to take all the skill & knowledge she has and give it to the public.  That’s when she started Steel & Stilettos Firearm Training. S&S started at a great time, just before March 2020.  During the next year and a half, people were craving to have firearms for self defense and they needed training.    Steel & Stilettos is only a few years old. She had been training corrections officers for years before getting into the civilian marketplace. Once she started, she couldn’t stop.  She got involved with the USCCA and became an instructor.  Then she was really fast tracked to becoming a Training Councilor (TC) for them. This month, she earned the title Senior Training Councilor!    One of the things she finds most rewarding is training women.  Ninety-five percent of her clients are women, but she doesn’t have any issues instructing men. Besides the USCCA courses and the course to get the Michigan Concealed Pistol License, she also teaches a refresher course for when clients need to renew their Michigan CPL.  She has also added some other female firearm and self defense (Krav Maga) instructors to her staff at Steel & Stilettos.    Amy was also at the Rick Ector Ladies Event this past August in Detroit.  She was the Chief Range Safety Officer for the event, running the line at Top Gun Shooting Sports in Taylor, MI. This is her second year at the event. Rick’s Ladies Event has been growing for 10 years.  His goal this year was 4,000 trained in 2 days on firearm safety and handgun basics. Instructors from all over the country came to help with the event.    Amy was a really wonderful woman to spend some time with. She’s very busy with Steel & Stilettos Firearm Training and her spare time is taken up being a private contractor for the US Marshalls.    Despite the pandemic, Amy has been busy instructing and growing her business. She’s very excited about her future and where the firearm and safety communities are taking her.     Favorite quotes “You have too many skills, you have too much knowledge to be sitting around following people. You really should take your education and your training and give it to the public.” “The  people that attend my class with no experience are the best shooters.” “People that I know that have never been interested all of a sudden are very interested, just because of the way the world is going, they want to feel safe.” “If we just pay attention to our surroundings, if we avoid conflicts, then we might not have to do anything at all.” Steel & Stilettos Website https://www.steelandstilettostraining.com/   Steel & Stilettos Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SteelnStilettos   Steel & Stilettos Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steelnstilettos Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts & hoodies, stickers & patches, and mugs at the store! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/   Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #127 Dave Laird Dynamic Combative Solutions LLC   This summer I was invited to participate in a class sponsored by FASTER Saves Lives (FSL).  Check them out: they’re working to arm students and school staff!  There were several instructor and podcast friends taking the class that were part of the “media people” who were going to talk about and promote what FSL is doing. Dave Laird was also a student in the class.  He is a member of Arizona Citizens Defense League (AZCDL). He’s also an instructor and founder of Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC. Which is why he outshot everyone in the class!   Dave grew up around firearms and many family members were in the military from before 1776, during the French & Indian War. As a teen he moved back to Pennsylvania and his grandmother taught him a lesson in hunting: he isn’t taking lots of ammo-he got one round. He did martial arts when he was young and knew he’d be heading to the military.  After doing well in MEPS test, he still wanted to jump out of airplanes. He was with the 82nd Airborne Division, in the infantry, heavy tank weapon specialist, heavy weapons squad leader, and a designated scout sniper for his unit. He often got gigs where the others had to try and “beat the crap” out of him. And he seemed to enjoy it. So he shared some stories about Round Robin and the final testing.    After the military, he wasn’t sure where life would take him. It took him to be a contractor for a few years.  After getting out of that, he went home and did some church security and did some volunteering with a local sheriff’s department. Teaching church security teams, he had a friend who opened a shooting range where he started to instruct some high level classes.  He noticed that not all of the students had the same basic training and he designed a solid curriculum for everyone to work from.  He found that he was thriving while managing the training schedule and training the trainers. He tied everything together and created Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC, with all his experiences.    Part of the reason Dave was at the FASTER Saves Lives (Levels 1 & 2) is that the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AZCDL) wants to bring FASTER to Arizona! Both Dave and Cheryl Todd to the Level 1 & 2 courses so they can bring back some knowledge about the program and share it with schools in Arizona. The FASTER Program isn’t just shooting its active shooter training.  It’s beyond the basics of shooting.  We did some advanced shooting, one handed, non-dominant hand, as well as in various stances and distances. There was some trauma first aid, which was new for me.  The last training day was intense.  We went to a real school (which wasn’t in session) and did some force on force scenario training.  Just for the record, I was shot 4 times by my bad guy. But I also yelled and swore at him… before I started shooting.  That was my mistake.  Favorite quotes “We pretend to be Taliban before the Taliban.” “I didn’t like the direction it (military career) was going. It sort of felt like it would be dangerous to stay in at that point.” “If you want to be a good self defender who carries your gun on you every single day, there are certain things that you need to do and it needs to be unconsciously competent at that level.” “I don’t want to be your Holy Grail… If you’ve only been with one instructor, you’ve only seen one way, you’re missing out.”   Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC https://www.dcs.training/ USE THE DISCOUNT CODE “ridingshotgun10” FOR A 10% DISCOUNT!!   Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DynamicCombativeSolutions   Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC Instagram https://www.instagram.com/d_c_s_training/ Dynamic Combative Solutions, LLC YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HNeujc2xgvIVAaNjZhVdg FASTER Saves Lives https://fastersaveslives.org/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/ Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/ Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/ Or listen on: OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #126  Jeanelle Westrom Davenport Guns The DC Project   Janelle Westrom is someone who’s name I’ve been hearing for a while.  She’s a friend of other friends, and that’s almost family in the gun community. Family is what the gun community is about. I reached out to Jeanelle and asked if she’d be up for being a passenger. I was heading to Sioux Falls for a class and I was going to be ‘swinging through’ the Davenport area and I could film a show with her.    We met at Davenport Guns and Jeanelle brings me in where she spent the day before shooting Gel Blasters (https://gelblaster.com/) at some friends driving in their cars.  There were a few Gel Blasters in the store and she proceeded to shoot them a bit. I knew this was going to be fun.    Jeanelle’s grandpa was a gunsmith, her dad was a gun guy, and she was born with Hoppe’s in her bloodstream. Her dad took and her sisters to the range because he needed ‘brass rats’ to pick up the brass so he could reload. He spent time in the military and took a job at Rock Island Arsenal, where much of the military firearms went through and it’s where the Army does weapon development. With many connections through her father, she was able to build Davenport Guns and their range. Eventually, her father made connections to engineers at Armalite. Yes, THAT Armalite. And he ended up purchasing the drawing for the rifle in 1994. After having the plans for 20 years, he sold the company and did quite well for himself. To keep himself busy, he does the internet sales for Davenport Guns.    Jeanelle started competitive shooting at the Bianchi Cup hanging out with many famous shooters like Jerry Miculek and Bruce Piatt. She made connections from all over the world including Spain, Germany, and Australia during competitive shooting.    While doing HR for a company in Georgia, she found herself at a crossroad at work.  But when her dad called and asked if she wanted to open a gun store, he needed an answer in three hours. After not opening that business, Jeanelle already had the paperwork going for an FFL and she decided to go ahead with the plans anyway. That’s how Davenport Guns got started.   The range hosts several training courses as Jeanelle believes that a store that sells guns should also make sure their clients can shoot a gun. She also has over 400 women in her A Girl & A Gun club! In the advertising for the store, Jeanelle shoots.  That alone has inspired several women to buy a firearm and get some training.    Jeanelle is also involved with The DC Project. While she lives in a very gun friendly state, she’s going to DC to help other women talk to their politicians. And her senators help Holly Sullivan (RSWC #036 ) &  Brooke Cheney (RSWC #075) on talking with Governor Murphy in Connecticut. Some of her DC Project success stories bring politicians from crossed arms to hugs when she left.    Jeanelle has so many great stories and they’re all really funny.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as much as I did. Between her father, Jerry Miculek, and the pistol teams from around the world, she’s having a lot of fun. There are people that are squeezing the maximum yield out of life. Jeanelle is one of them. She’s on the go, doing something, and keeping very, very busy. And she’s having fun along the way.    Favorite quotes “I’ve been very, very blessed in my life to be surrounded by phenomenal people who are willing to teach me stuff.” “Anything you hand me I can shoot fairly well.” “Life is too short to not have fun. You’ve gotta have fun.” “It doesn’t make sense to me to sell somebody their first gun and not have the ability to teach them to be safe with it.” “If I tell you I want you to practice, I don’t want to make it cost prohibitive to do so.” “Don’t mess with this girl, she cray.”   Davenport Guns https://davenportguns.com/   Davenport Guns A Girl & A Gun Club https://davenportguns.com/a-girl-a-gun/   Davenport Guns Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Davenportshootingclub   Davenport Guns Instagram https://www.facebook.com/Davenportshootingclub   The DC Project https://www.dcproject.info/ Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/ Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#125Kory BrooksNRA & USCCA Instructor 761st Gun Club, President   I love my gig.  I was heading to Michigan for some personal events and saw how close I was to Chicago.  Kory Brooks reached out when he saw that I had Rhonda Ezell (RSWC #037) on the show and said if I ended up in Chicago, he would love to be on the show.  I saw how close I was to Chicago on the Michigan trip and reached out to Kory.  He said he was up for it so we made a plan.  Kory is an instructor, certified by the NRA & the USCCA. He offers several classes to his clients, including several basic courses and self defense courses. He got into instructing after 8 years in the USMC, doing 2 tours in Iraq. After leaving the military, he took some time away from firearms, like many people do when they’re starting their lives and families.  In 2014, he bought his first pistol, and got more into firearms in 2017, working to become a gunsmith and instructor. He specializes in building AR-15 style rifles.      Kory shared some of the history in Chicago about why the state started the FOID (Firearm Owners Identification card).  It’s interesting to hear that the politicians were trying to keep the Chicago Black Panthers from getting firearms. He also talks about the ridiculousness of some of the Illinois gun laws and Chicago’s pre-emption.    One of the areas where Kory works with folks in building ARs.  We talk about how he’s got to be careful while helping someone not just for the functionality of the firearm, but the legality of everything, too. On top of everything else in Chicago, residents can’t get the training they need for a FOID or a carry permit because the city makes it difficult for businesses to be in the city as well as keeping it hard for residents to apply for one.     Talking about the anti-gun laws in Chicago, we cover that Indiana get blamed for crime in Chicago even though there are several straw purchases, which are already illegal. Let’s face it, we’ve got gun laws on the books that aren’t and sometimes can’t be enforced. You can purchase a handgun from out of state, but it still has to be shipped to a local dealer, then the 4473 has to be processed, and in Illinois, you’ll have to wait for a 3 day ‘cooling off’ period.  The ‘cooling off’ period assumes that you’re buying a gun because you’re mad and want to harm someone. Kory also gets into how Chicago isn’t like the rest of Illinois, not just for firearms, but also for the rivalry between the St Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.    Kory likes to go hunting and tells us about his bird dog that doesn’t like hunting birds. He put some time into training the dog, but it didn't take. We talk about how you can’t hunt deer with a rifle in Illinois or Massachusetts, you can only use a shotgun.    It was nice to be back in the Chicago area, between the city and where I grew up, to connect with another person who is passionate about shooting, instructing, and passing on the freedoms that we have left. And that we hope to pass on to others so they can pass it on, too.  Favorite quotes: “It’s a hard fight, but it’s not a fight you want to give up on.” “The cool off period, in my opinion, it hinders more people than it’s supposed to help.” “When the government in Illinois messes up, they punish the people.” (USCCA classes) “...they talk about scenarios that can land you in jail, if you don’t do the right things, you can land yourself in jail.” “What law, that they are going to make, that’s going to change the hearts of men?” “Even if you don’t like guns, you just don’t like guns. Why impede on what I like? I don’t impede on what you like.” “We have to fight. And we have to keep on fighting. If we don’t fight, they’re going to win. I’m not into letting them win.” Kory Brooks Instagram https://www.instagram.com/loc_and_load0351/   Red Hill Gunsmithing Instagram https://www.instagram.com/redhillgunsmithing/   Kory Brooks Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kourtney.redmond.9   Kory Brooks USCCA https://training.usconcealedcarry.com/instructor/0010a00001IQ78GAAT Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/ Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#123Julianne Versnel Second Amendment Foundation   I’d been attending and speaking at the Gun Rights Policy Conference for 5 years. But I was at the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival in Pennsylvania and ran into Alan Gottlieb and Julianne Versnel. I got a handshake and a hug.  That’s when I knew that the firearm community is family. I’d met Alan and Julianne several times at GRPC over the years, but I didn’t know they remembered me until that day.    With this past weekend being GRPC weekend, it seems fitting that I line up Julianne’s interview. You can watch Gun Rights Policy Conference 2021, which is all virtual, on the Second Amendment Foundation’s Facebook  page and YouTube channel. There’s several speakers from all over the country and the world, talking about what’s going on in the gun community. And yes, if you’re not a member of SAF you can join at saf.org.     I was excited to have Julianne in the passenger’s seat, well, it was HER car. We spent some time surveying the buildings around Bellevue, WA, and some of the devastation from the riots last year. We also talk about Alan liking Cracker Barrel and Julianne liking Steak N Shake. We also talk about GRPC’s of the past, how it started with a small handful of speakers and how it’s grown to over 90 speakers and 1,000  attendees in the last in-person conference in 2019. She also tells us that organizing the conference can be stressful and that once they thought of getting everyone gift cards for coffee since the hotel coffee is about $80 a gallon. Plus tax.  And tip!   Firearm ownership ran in Julianne’s family.  Her father was always a hunter and he had to save all his shotgun shells to reload them.  And when her mother was pregnant with her, she was out hunting deer, and Julianne still has those antlers in her office. For her father, guns were just a part of life and a part of what people did as much as it was a civil right to do so.      Julianne tells us when she met Alan when they were working in Washington, DC. He convinced her to help SAF with some things, which led to them getting married a few years later. When they married, she kept her maiden name. She also stayed at home for a number of years to raise their children. When the children were older, she started doing more with SAF, traveling internationally for some groups that SAF works with.  Julianne is the only woman on the committees, which gives Alan time to spend time hanging with the wifes of the others in the group.  She has been involved in working with the United Nations for 4 weeks every summer. She has great insight on how things work there.  She gives us concerns about the Arms Trade Treaty and that if things don’t go well, the Treaty will be considered a convention and the Biden administration will agree to it.  I really enjoyed the time with Julianne. She’s a wonderful woman with amazing connections around the world. I’m honored that she took the time to share some stories with us and to pull the curtain back a little about GRPC. I love running into her and Alan at other events besides GRPC.    If you’re not a member, join SAF.  If you are a member, consider becoming a lifetime member. Favorite quotes: “I’d take my father’s revolver and put it on the night table.” “I grew up this way. And we just moved the revolver.” “My father was, what would be considered very conservative, but I didn't know that at the time.” “Back in the old days, nobody was trying to take away your firearms.” “I grew up with sort of everything about that, but I never thought there was anything odd about it.” “Without the United States, there was no funding.” “The United States spends a hugely disproportionate amount of their money to people who hate us!” “It's hard to get the gun, but have the silencer.”  “In Germany, something like the Second Amendment Foundation… they would get funds from the government.”   Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/     Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/ Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Or listen on: Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#123Anna TaylorDene AdamsThe DC Project Sponsor   In 2019, I interviewed Holly Sullivan from CCDL and she was telling me about her Dene Adams corset, which she LOVES.  I made a clip of her talking about it and sent it to Anna Taylor.  And I asked if she would get in the stagecoach.  She said she would be up for it when I made it to Kansas City. And I made it to Kansas City this summer!   We do start the show a little non-traditionally.  She does some shooting FROM the car with a pistol caliber carbine then a 1911/2011 handgun. Something we haven’t done on the show before!   Anna gets into how she got into firearms after Sandy Hook while she was pregnant with her 4th child.  There was a break in in her neighborhood and she realized that, with a (then) husband who traveled for work, she was going to need to be the one to protect the young children. After getting her carry permit in Missouri, she wanted to learn how people carry, but nothing really worked for her.    With some sewing experience from a child, she decided to see what she could put together that would work for women to carry a firearm. After a couple of weeks of searching for materials that would work, she was able to make her handgun disappear while she was wearing a t-shirt.    Life took some bad twists with her marriage and she was left with 4 children, no husband, and a house that was auctioned off. She was left with not much. She was lucky to have some mentors and people to guide her through this challenge. She took her last $200 and made a small run of her corset holsters. With some homegrown graphics and marketing skills, she made a video with her phone. The video went viral with 5 MILLION views in a week.    Her grandfather, Dene Adams, was the one who taught her firearm safety at a young age. He taught her that firearms should be respected and not feared. That is why she named the company after him.    Anna has become an instructor sharing her knowledge with more women and turning them on to firearm ownership. She’s also gotten in to 3-gun competition. This has really helped her with figuring out where a good place to carry a firearm would be. She was also wearing business attire and wanted to keep her firearm from printing. That led to the thigh holster. She even makes them for men who wear kilts!    Anna even brought some gear to show off during the show.  She brought a holster, a corset, and a belly band style product from her newest line of holsters and corsets. In 2016, Dene Adams had another huge viral video of Anna pulling out several firearms, magazines, and knives, which took the business to a new demand. She also tells us that ALL the Dene Adams products are AMERICAN MADE! And she’s going to keep it that way!   Anna also tells us that she’s a big supporter of The DC Project.  You can see she’s wearing her “Educate Over Legislate” DCP shirt! And I show my DCP mask.    Favorite quotes: “It was impractical and not the solution I was looking for.” “I was trying to practice my Second Amendment Right and I couldn’t do it. There were no resources.” “I felt a sense of duty. I thought ‘this is a problem. I need to do something about this.’” “With God all things are possible. This is America. I’m going to do this.” “I like to solve problems. That would be one of my gifts.” “I did dream of having my own business but it all came down to survival.” “I know it's helping a lot of people. I love that.” “Anybody can find ways if they’re really committed.”   Dene Adams Website https://deneadams.com/   Dene Adams Facebook https://www.facebook.com/deneadamsofficial/   Dene Adams Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dene_adams_official/   Anna Taylor Official https://www.instagram.com/anna_taylor_official/ You need to join the Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Help support RSWC and get some stickers! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie #122 Jon Anderson Get Off My Lawn Podcast Nebraska Firearm Owners Association   Jon Anderson reached out to me a while ago to be a guest on his show. The panel that night included a number of other folks in the 2A community that I knew so I was really looking forward to it. Then he had me on a few more times. He did express an interest in Riding Shotgun should I ever get out to Nebraska. I was finally able to make it out that way and had to have Jon on the show.     Being from Nebraska, Jon has been around firearms all his life. Firearms are just tools that everyone in that section of America has and owns. It’s how they live. But he didn’t get more involved in the activist side of the gun community until he purchased his first handgun.    While attending the Tulsa Arms Show, Jon met some folks from Nebraska Firearm Owners Association (NFOA) and several YouTubers and podcasters.  He knew many of them from being an avid listener and watcher.  He made several new friends, including TravisP11, CloverTac, and Gun Websites, and started connecting with them. Jon eventually started a 2A Tuesday show, but when the show wasn’t always firearm related, he decided to rebrand as Sandhills Shooter and the Get Off My Lawn! Podcast.  Some of his highly viewed videos on his YouTube channel are his unboxings.    Recently Jon ran for and was elected to the NFOA Board.  The president of NFOA congratulated him for being the only person to run a campaign to get elected.  Being on the board has really opened Jon’s eyes to how many things in government are done. We all want to think that politicians have their constituents in mind, but he said it is often a lot of quid pro quo that happens. Much like the making of sausage, you don’t want to see how the government works.    Jon takes some time to tell us about some things that have been going on in Nebraska.  There are several counties that have adopted the 2A Sanctuary County status.  And in Lincoln, there have been several bills chipping away to make Nebraska a permitless carry state.  Even though they’re surrounded by 5 of permitless carry states and much of the state is a 2A Sanctuary, Nebraska is still fighting to get permitless carry status.  We also get into depth about some of the transportation laws they have. For example, bringing home a long gun in a box from the store could be a violation if you’re in a van or SUV, but in a truck or the trunk of a car, it would not be an issue. So there are more states with confusing laws than we realize.    The Get Off My Lawn! Podcast is currently on Thursdays at 8 pm central on YouTube. You should tune in and check it out.  They have a number of folks on the panel and sometimes I have been on, too. Jon is a great guy, working hard to get folks educated, and he’s a stand up husband who keeps his wife in mind when he gets involved in new projects.    Favorite quotes:   “NFOA isn’t a thing, it’s a who. And we’ve seen that really come to light this year.” “We’re voters. We’re citizens. We want this done. You need to listen to us.” “Guns are a way of life here. In Nebraska to say, I have a nose, two eyes, and two ears. Doesn’t everybody?” “If they were confiscated, its not just personal defense that gets affected.” “Whatever I’m a part of, I’m a ‘we’ not a ‘me’.” “If you understood how laws get passed, it would turn your stomach to know… some of it is compromises, some of it is literally quid pro quo.”   Sandhills Media YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/SandhillsShooter   Sandhills Media Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SandhillsMediaEmpire   Sandhills Media Store https://www.blackswantactical.com/collections/sandhills-shooter   Nebraska Firearm Owners Association Website https://www.nebraskafirearms.org/ NFOA Facebook You need to join the Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/   Help support RSWC and get some stickers! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459  

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#121Sandra ZettlemoyerBrass & Sass LLCA Girl & A Gun   A few months ago, I went down to one of Tony Simon’s (RSWC #041) Diversity Shoots in Easton, PA, at The Heritage Guild.  I know that he’s had some shadow banning issues and the word about them isn’t getting out. I met some of the folks from the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners (CNJFO) there. One of the instructors was Sandra Zettlemoyer.  After some chatting it up and finding out she’s got her own instructing business in the Lehigh Valley area and chapter of A Girl & A Gun, I asked if she wanted to hop in the stagecoach while we waited for pizza to arrive before the event.  Of course, she did.    Sandra attended an NRA’s Women On Target at the Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays and it changed her life. Her husband pushed her into going and she was all about it and loved it. She loves shotgunning then she found A Girl & A Gun (AGAG) Within 2 years of starting to shoot, she got certified to teach courses and got her AGAG chapter going. She was shooting with Dianna Muller (RSWC #059) and takes courses with AGAG. She went full on and took the fast track to gun owning and instructing.    She has a partner in her firearm business, Brass & Sass LLC. Brass & Sass LLC mainly focuses on training women.  As an instructor, she really enjoys seeing the light going on with new women about owning a firearm. She remembers her feelings when she started handling firearms and likes to assure her clients that everything will be fine and they’ll get this. Most of her clients learn about handguns, but she does let them know that a shotgun would be good for home defense as well.    Her chapter of AGAG has over 50 members and they meet regularly, sometimes twice a month.  They also have special classes once or twice a quarter, things like holster draw classes. Of course, the comradery of spending time with like minded friends has the ladies talking about guns and gear as well as other things like life. The members of her AGAG club range in age from teens to women in their 70’s who are just learning to shoot. She also offers private lessons through Brass & Sass LLC.    Sandra has been a competitive shooter participating in competitions up and down the east coast. Her favorite is IDPA, International Defensive Pistol Association. She’s got several sponsors as well. With the current times, she’s trying to only participate in major matches, like the Delaware State Championship. She does bring up that having a job, a family, competing, and running her AGAG does keep her very busy.    It was great to meet Sandra and have her in the stagecoach. What I’m really impressed with her and many others, is the commitment they make to their AGAG chapters to keep them active and keep the members engaged, educated, and shooting.    We ended up having a shorter show than usual. The pizza was delivered to the Diversity Shoot while we were filming the show. And let’s face it, pizza is always good!  We spent that evening helping some new shooters learn about firearms and freedoms, and making new friends. That’s what it’s all about.  Favorite quotes: “My passion is teaching women because I know how nervous I was.” “It’s a labor of love, I will say that.” “Brass & Sass LLC, it's all about women training women.” “It’s really for ladies of all skill levels.” Brass & Sass LLC Website https://www.brassandsassllc.com/   Brass & Sass Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BrassandSassLLC   A Girl & A Gun Shooting League https://www.agirlandagun.org/   A Girl & A Gun Lehigh Valley Chapter https://www.agirlandagun.org/cat/pa-lehigh-valley/ You need to join the Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/   Help support RSWC and get some stickers! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Or listen on:iTunes/Apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riding-shotgun-with-charlie/id1275691565   Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4EEPud0XzYz4wo0MYmA9uB   iHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-riding-shotgun-with-charli-30654270/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459

Riding Shotgun With Charlie#120John HickokYouTube Creator, Comedian   I reached out to John Hickok to double check the social media links for RSWC #101 with Hickok45. After he replied, I said I’d like to have John on the show sometime and he said he’d be up for it. I was heading to Nashville for a personal trip. I message John, giving him an idea when I would be done and he said he’d enjoy being on the show. I love my gig!   We all know that John is Hickok45’s son. John grew up with the Hickok range in the backyard. He was shooting at 3 and shooting an Uzi (full auto) at 4.  Yes, it was only a few rounds left in the magazine, but it was STILL full auto!   John is the one behind the scenes for the channel. When YouTube was young, John noticed that there weren’t many gun channels on site. While in college, he watched YouTube and realized that he missed shooting. There were only a few gun channels at the time and the ones that were on the site weren't very exciting. So John suggested that Hickok45 start making some gun videos, because they could do something way better than what was out there. John helped Hickok45 make a video about single action revolvers and some cowboy guns for Hickok45’s class.  And that’s when it started.    They were both surprised and shocked at the growth of the channel. There were certainly milestones along the way: 1,000 subscribers, 10,000 subscribers. Currently, the channel has 6,000,000+ subscribers and 1,700,000,000+ views!!! Holy schnikes!   About 5 years ago, John decided to get out from behind the camera and in front of the camera. He did a video or two a month on the channel. No matter how much video time he was getting some people still wondered who he was.   He turned to music and playing the guitar and doing stand up comedy as an outlet. He did some podcasting and started his own YouTube channel as well. He was really trying to find his own voice and personality on video.    I picked up John in the West End section of Nashville. We drove downtown and it was packed!  When I filmed the episode with Hickok45, there was a snowstorm and Nashville was a ghost town.  It was quite the opposite on the warm August day. The lower Broadway section of town was very busy and packed with people. One of the fun sights is the tractors transporting trailers with people doing some day drinking on them.    After we talk about the Hickok45 channel, we get into John doing stand up comedy. I was doing stand up occasionally over the last couple years. We talk about how it isn’t as easy as some people may think.  It takes time to think of material, then work out how to say and phrase everything, and to get timing down.  Every comedian needs some stage time and John has been doing stand up nightly for a while, even hosting some open mics around Nashville.  We talk about writing comedy, dealing with hecklers, and John’s Mount Rushmore of Comedy, too! We’ve got a lot of comedians that we love in common.    One of the things I really love about my gig is that I get to talk with folks and really find out what’s going on with them. We all love firearms and shooting, but we’ve got other things in our lives and well.  John is just as passionate about comedy as he is about the Hickok45 channel.  And I think you’ll get that from this episode.  Favorite quotes: “You can do something way better than this.” “If I hadn’t basically been lazy…  the YouTube thing may not have happened.” “I really enjoy coming up with something in my head, creating it, putting it out on YouTube, and seeing what people think about it.” “It is a luxury to be a professional entertainer.” “All that is BS. There’s no such thing as writer’s block...There is no writer’s block; there’s only laziness.” Hickok45 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/hickok45   Hickok45 & John Hickok Instagram:  @johnhickok45  @therealhickok45    Hickok45 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044290096493 You need to join the Second Amendment Foundation http://saf.org/   Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/   Buy RSWC & GunGram shirts, hoodies, & mugs at the store! https://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.creator-spring.com/   Help support RSWC and get some stickers! http://ridingshotgunwithcharlie.com/rswc-shop/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie sponsors and supporters.    Keyhole Holsters  Veteran Owned, American Made http://www.keyholeholsters.com/   Dennis McCurdy Author, Speaker, Firewalker http://www.find-away.com/   Or listen on:iTunes/Apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riding-shotgun-with-charlie/id1275691565   Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4EEPud0XzYz4wo0MYmA9uB   iHeartRadio https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-riding-shotgun-with-charli-30654270/   Self Defense Radio Network http://sdrn.us/   OpsLens App on iPhone & iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opslens-network/id1498033459