RELEASE: Year in Review: GOA Announces Top Ten in 2017

December, 20, 2017
For immediate release

Year in Review: GOA Announces Top Ten in 2017

Springfield, VA – Gun Owners of America (GOA) released the annual Top Ten in 2017 report, which highlights GOA’s accomplishments throughout 2017. 

The report showcases the top ten achievements of GOA in 2017, including: 

  • Infuriating Nancy Pelosi: “The Republicans in Congress are [a] wholly-owned subsidiary [of] Gun Owners of America,” Pelosi said on October 4. Her statement is reminiscent of what former Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid had to say about GOA last year: “Senate Republicans continue to cower [before] the Gun Owners of America… GOA is even worse than bad.”
  • Advancing Constitutional Carry: GOA worked hard in North Dakota and New Hampshire to get permitless carry passed and signed into law. 
  • GOA Victorious Before the Supreme Court: GOA successfully supported Elijah Manuel against “unreasonable searches and seizures” earlier this year. It has long been GOA’s contention that gun owners stand to be among the first to be targeted by government officials if our Fourth Amendment rights continue to be eroded — hence the reason GOA has fought to bolster this freedom through legal action in the courts.
  • Honoring Larry Pratt for no-compromise defense of 2nd Amendment: The town famous for the 1881 gun fight at the O.K. Corral (Tombstone, Arizona) declared that July 1, 2017, will be forever known as “Larry Pratt Day.” Tombstone’s proclamation recognizes Larry Pratt [Executive Director Emeritus of GOA] for “his long-time support” of the Second Amendment.

“This year has been a roller coaster ride with very tragic shootings in Alexandria, Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs,” Erich Pratt, Executive Director of GOA said. “Sadly, many Congressmen have proposed legislation that demonizes firearms and the honest Americans who own them, but it is encouraging to see two more states adopt Constitutional Carry which allows concealed carry without government permission.”

“Furthermore, GOA has been able to help defeat several ineffective gun control measures in 2017. And we were grateful to see the Senate confirming Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and Trump signing legislation to repeal Obama’s Social Security gun ban — two efforts where GOA lobbied extensively.  

“Moving forward, GOA looks forward to encouraging Congress to pass clean concealed carry reciprocity and suppressor deregulation, as well as assisting more states to adopt Constitutional Carry in 2018.”

Pratt also emphasized that the true power of GOA lies in its 1.5 million grassroots supporters.

“Finally, I want to thank all the GOA members who took action for gun rights this year. They are the reason why lawmakers feel the heat and see the light,”  Pratt concluded.

Erich Pratt, or another GOA spokesperson, is available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over 1.5 million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Newsroom.

— GOA —