Prior to becoming a Uniformed Secret Secret Officer in 1976, I had never shot a gun. In fact, I had never even picked up a gun. I graduated from the academy as a “Distinguished Expert” primarily because I didn’t have bad handgun habits to “unlearn”. I was fortunate to receive my initial training at the the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Brunswick, Georgia and the Secret Service Academy in Beltsville, Maryland. Federal agents must “qualify” with their carry firearms a minimum of 4 times a year.
Since I started working as a law enforcement officer at age 21, I took for granted being armed most of my life. Frankly, I didn’t give much thought to the Second Amendment before I retired. I realize now that was a big mistake. I should have been doing and saying more to support the inalienable rights of all citizens to keep and bear firearms for self and home defense.
The U.S. Senate needs to get off its ass, and pass the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822), which received overwhelming support in the House last November (passing 272 to 154). This legislation would treat concealed carry licenses much like driver’s licenses, through the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution, and require states to recognize concealed carry permits from other states.
Similar legislation for both retired and active law enforcement officers was passed in 2004 and signed into law. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) is a federal law that allows “qualified law enforcement officers” and “qualified retired law enforcement officers” — to carry concealed firearm s in any jurisdiction in the United States, regardless of state or local law to the contrary, with certain limited exceptions. H.R. 218, the LEOSA , was co-authored by Law Enforcement Alliance of America Executive Director Jim Fotis.
Joining and participating in one or more of the organizations below both supports gun rights and provides training and education opportunities for responsible firearms owners and potential gun owners.
Most concealed carry permit holders can’t be trained by the Secret Service or any law enforcement agency. In fact, many will only receive a few hours training when obtaining their concealed firearm’s license or permit.
Because of the miracle of the internet there are many training videos and articles available to everyone on the worldwide web. Many are free and some are available at a low cost. I encourage readers to take advantage of the training. You can find many more through Google searches.
Gun Owners of America , Second Amendment Foundation , and Law Enforcement Alliance of America . These three organizations do more to protect Second Amendment rights than all the other organizations combined, including the National Rifle Association (NRA) .
The NRA is by far the largest gun rights organization with over 4 million members. Since this is an election year, I’ve joined, though I’m not a huge fan of the organization which I think compromises our Second Amendment rights and grossly overpays its leadership . Membership is being offered for $25 , which is a $10 discount off the regular annual membership.
Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League - Legislative alerts, news releases, and legislative summaries.
American Firearms Institute - Firearms information, statistics, law, and opinion.
Armed & Secure - Produces radio and TV advertisements (available online). Site includes a broadcast schedule.
Canada - Law-abiding Unregistered Firearms Association - Fighting to rescind Canada’s gun registration law. Includes news, forum and contact form.
Citizens Committee Right to Keep and Bear Arms - Offers books, discusses legal issues, current and proposed legislation on the right to keep and bear arms.
Colorado State Shooting Association - Legislative news.
Concealed Carry, Inc. - “Saving lives by arming citizens,” this grassroots group is dedicated to passing a concealed carry law in the 19 states not having one.
Connecticut Citizens Defense League, Inc. - Events, club news, and photo gallery.
Contra Costa County, California NRA Members’ Council - Events and links to other NRA groups.
Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association - Legislative activity, candidate endorsements, and online membership application.
Firearms Coalition - Legislative updates, e-mail alerts, editorials and online bulletins.
GOAL: Gun Owners’ Action League - GOAL is the Massachusetts State Firearms Association.
Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance - Missouri based, legislative updates and newsletter.
Georgia Carry - News and comments.
Georgia Sport Shooting Association - Official NRA state affiliated organization.
Golden Gate United NRA Members’ Council (San Francisco, CA) - The Golden Gate United NRA Members Council is a voluntary legislative action group.
Grass Roots North Carolina - Volunteer organization devoted to educating the public and engaging in grassroots activism to preserve firearms rights.
Gun News Daily.com - Gun control news and commentary from around the world.
Gun Owners Alliance - Collection of essays from the Web and news items with a Christian perspective.
Gun Owners of America - A no-compromise national gun rights organization. Legislative updates, editorials and FAQs.
Gun Owners of California - Gun Owners of America affiliate. Featuring legislative updates and news.
Gun Owners of Nevada - Legislative alerts, gun laws, and gun rights activities.
Gun Owners of New Hampshire - Works to protect and defend the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and to use firearms.
Gun Owners of South Carolina - Meeting announcements and state-related NRA-ILA alerts.
Guns Save Life dot com - A branch of the Illinois State Rifle Association. Local, national, and international gun rights information.
Gunsafe: Connecticut families for responsible gun ownership - Connecticut residents helping the press, the politicians, and the public understand the positive side of gun ownership.
Illinois State Rifle Association - NRA affiliated gun group. News, legislative updates, and activities calendar.
Illinois concealed carry - News, events, legislation, and a discussion forum.
Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership - Brief articles discussing the Holocaust, genocide, and their relationship to gun control. Books, pamphlets and T-shirts offered for sale.
Keep and Bear Arms - News, articles, essays, links, and more, dedicated to the preservation of gun rights.
Kentucky Coalition to Carry Concealed, Inc - A plethora of good information on concealed carry in Kentucky and other states.
Law Enforcement Alliance of America - A coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and conceSecond Amendment Foundation rned citizens supporting legislation at every level of government that reduces violent crime while preserving the rights of all citizens, including self-defense.
Law Students for the Second Amendment - George Mason University School of Law organization. Officers and events listed.
Liberty Belles - News, events, fact sheets, and downloadable flyers.
MCRGO: Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners - Promoting “responsible, legal ownership and usage of firearms through education and legislative action.”
Madison Society - Educating the public and challenging anti-gun legislation in court at all levels of California government.
Maryland Citizens for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms - Provides information on members of the Maryland Legislature, new candidate and incumbent ratings, gun legislation, history, and gun crime analysis reports.
Minnesota Concealed Carry Reform - Attempting to convert Minnesota to a “Shall Issue” state similar to Washington State.
Montgomery Citizens for a Safer Maryland - Grassroots movement to preserve gun rights.
Mothers Arms - Supports development of self-reliant women who consider self-defense a right and responsibility. Includes a few essays on guns and self-defense.
NC Gun Owners - Forum for gun enthusiasts in North Carolina to discuss firearms and related topics.
NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund - Provides legal and financial assistance to selected individuals and organizations defending their right to keep and bear arms. Additionally, the Fund sponsors legal research and education on a wide variety of gun-related issues, including the meaning of the Second Amendment and nature of the right to keep and bear arms provisions in state constitutions.
NRA Institute for Legislative Action - The lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association. News article links, press releases, research library, legislative updates, contribution form, events calendar, firearms glossary, and FAQs page.
NRA Members’ Council of Westside Los Angeles - Time, day, and contact phone number for organization’s monthly meeting.
NRA Members’ Councils of California - Daily gun news headlines, essays and resources.
NRA WinningTeam.com - Special reports, commentary, news items, and legislative alerts.
National Association for Gun rights - News and federal legislation.
National Rifle Association (NRA) - News, hunting, shooting sports, firearm laws, research, and membership information.
National Shooting Sports Foundation - Defends and promotes America’s hunting and shooting traditions. Includes news and press releases.
Nebraska Firearms Owners Association - Events calendar, legislative issues, contact lists, summary of state laws, and an unfriendly business list.
New York State Rifle and Pistol Organization - NRA afiliated state association.
North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association - Organization formed to defend gun rights and promote shooting sports. Affiliated with the National Rifle Association and the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.
Ohio - Buckeye Firearms Association - News, commentary, and legislative updates.
Ohioans for Concealed Carry - Coordinating volunteers to fight for concealed carry legislation. Includes, tips on petition distribution, billboard construction (on private property), and gun safety training class schedules.
OpenCarry.org - State specific information on aspects related to the legality of the open carry of firearms. Maps, news and forums by state.
Oregon Firearms Federation - Legislative alerts, gun laws, and gun rights activities pertaining to Oregon.
Oregon State Shooting Association - Dedicated to advancing pro-gun and pro-hunting programs and defeating anti-gun and anti-hunting legislation throughout Oregon.
Peaceable Texans for Firearms Rights - A grassroots politically active group dedicated to pro-gun rights.
Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs - Providing a statewide, united voice for the concerns of all sportsmen and conservationists.
Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association - The Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association is a grass-roots non-profit organization created with the goal of preserving the individual right to keep and bear arms.
Pennsylvania Open Carry - Serves to promotes and educate on the constitutional right to open carry weapons in Pennsylvania. Provides information on open carry laws, fliers and a member forum.
Pink Pistols - FAQ, press releases, email list, starting a chapter, and advice on breaking-down barriers.
Promoting Reform Of Iowa Weapons Laws - Promoting reform of weapons carry laws.
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners - Colorado’s only no-compromise gun rights lobby.
Second Amendment Coalition of Florida - Our primary mission is to ensure the survival and recognition of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the united states of America.
Second Amendment Coalition of Missouri - An all-volunteer, grassroots, regionally based organization that seeks to give a political voice to Missouri gun owners.
Second Amendment Foundation - Seeks to promote a better understanding of firearms rights through educational and legal action. Editorials, publications, and news.
Second Amendment Police Department - Provides a political voice for American police officers who believe in personal freedoms, liberty and independence for all American citizens.
Second Amendment Sisters: Armed Informed Mothers March - Countering the ‘Million Moms’ providing information and education.
Shooters Committee on Political Education - New York State gun rights organization. Legislation, news, opinion, and chapter listing.
South Carolina, Grass Roots - Organized to improve all aspects of lawful ownership and carrying of firearms in South Carolina.
Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah - Gay and transgender firearm advocates and owners in Utah.
Students for the Second Amendment - Centered in Texas. Events and news releases,
Tennessee Firearms Association - Information regarding the safe and responsible use of firearms, covering laws, regulations, gunshows, gun clubs and other firearm related activities.
Texas Rifle Association - Supporting gun rights of law abiding Texans.
The New Jersey Coalition for Self Defense - Events, membership FAQ, and funding page.
The San Fernando Valley NRA Members’ Council - News, legislation, and meeting information.
Utah Shooting Sports Council - Representing the citizens of Utah who safely and legally own and use firearms. Gun safety, firearms, and shooting sports information.
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL) - Membership and meeting information, alerts, and online newsletter,
Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF - Open carry and concealed carry discussions. Laws, rules and regulations relevant to firearm ownership in Virginia and nationally.
Virginia Shooting Sports Association - The State Affiliate Association of the NRA
Washington State Tyranny Response Team - Mission statement, events, news, letters, articles, and links.
Western Missouri Shooters Alliance - A not-for-profit corporation informing Missouri citizens about firearms legislation.
Women’s Firearm Network - Provides firearms, self-defense, and training information. Articles, events, and seminars.
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 12:38AM by 
Here’s a list of Second Amendment rights organizations that I know about. I’m a member of and support Gun Owners of America , Second Amendment Foundation , and Law Enforcement Alliance of America . These three organizations do more to protect Second Amendment rights than all the other organizations combined, including the National Rifle Association (NRA) .
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