FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

November 9, 2026 

GOA Celebrates 50 Years of No-Compromise Fighting for Gun Rights

Springfield, VA – Gun Owners of America (GOA) is celebrating 50 years of standing for the Second Amendment with No Compromise. Founded in 1976 by the late California State Senator H.L. “Bill” Richardson, GOA was established to give gun owners a stronger voice against those seeking to restrict their constitutional rights. 

Over the past five decades, GOA has helped lead the fight against some of the most significant attacks on the Second Amendment. From opposing the Brady Act and the federal Assault Weapons Ban to fighting gun confiscations following Hurricane Katrina, GOA has remained committed to defending the rights of all Americans. GOA has helped secure important victories, including the defeat of Universal Background Checks and the repeal of federal firearms restrictions in National Parks and on Amtrak. 

Today, GOA continues to fight for gun rights in Congress and in courtrooms across the country. Through its legal arm, Gun Owners Foundation, GOA has helped challenge unconstitutional restrictions on concealed carry, the unconstitutional pistol brace rule, and the National Firearms Act. Most recently, GOA’s landmark NFA lawsuit led ATF to end nationwide enforcement, registration, and tax requirements for suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and AOWs. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement:  

“GOA has achieved some tremendous victories over the past 50 years—and none of them would have been possible without the support of our amazing members. But we’re far from finished. Our roadmap for the next 50 years is straightforward: We will continue fighting tirelessly to defend your Second Amendment rights in the courts, in Congress, and in state capitals across the country. And we won’t just defend the ground we’ve gained—we’ll fight to reclaim the ground we’ve lost by repealing unconstitutional infringements that should never have been enacted in the first place.” 

John Velleco, Executive Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“For 50 years, GOA has stood alongside the American gun owners who make this work possible. With more than two million members and activists, GOA remains committed to its founding mission: defending the right to keep and bear arms without compromise.” 

GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization representing over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.  

-GOA-