We are thrilled to announce the addition of four new speakers at GOALS (Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit), taking place next week in Knoxville, Tennessee!
Joining the robust cadre of announced speakers are Mark Robinson, Jim Justice (and Babydog!), John Lott and Cheryl Todd. All of these individuals offer a unique perspective on the right to keep and bear arms, and their personal experiences offer an engaging learning opportunity to current and aspiring 2A advocates.
- Lt. Governor of North Carolina Mark Robinson went viral in April of 2018 during a city council meeting, debating the cancelling of a local gun show. In the video, Mark Robinson passionately defended the right to keep and bear arms and blasted the council members wanting to restrict this God-given right, saying “The criminals are going to hold on to their guns. They’re still going to have them. They’re still going to break in my house. They’re still going to shoot me with them. Guess who is going to be the one who suffers? It’s going to be me.”Robinson would go on to win the Lieutenant Gubernatorial election in 2020 and has marked his tenure as a “brash and unfiltered conservative cultural warrior.” He is currently running to be the next Governor of North Carolina, securing the Republican party nomination in March of 2024.
- Gov. Jim Justice is the sitting Governor of West Virgina and a strong Second Amendment advocate. During his time in the Governor’s office, Jim Justice has signed into law multiple bills supporting and defending West Virginians’ 2A rights, including a campus carry bill in March of 2023, as well as laws expanding the opportunities to hunt, and removing criminal penalties for keeping firearms in vehicles while people are on their employers’ property.Gov. Justice—who is often accompanied by his canine best friend, Babydog—is the Republican nominee for the upcoming U.S. Senate election in West Virginia. He is aiming to take the place of outgoing Democrat turned Independent Senator Joe Manchin.
- John Lott is a world-renowned economist, political commenter, and gun rights advocate. He has worked at various academic and non-profit institutions throughout his career, including the American Enterprise Institute, SUNY Binghamton, and Yale University. In 2013, Lott Founded the Crime Prevention Research Center, and in 2020 he joined President Donald Trump’s Office of Justice Programs.Lott is most well-known for his substantial contributions to the scientific research around firearm ownership and the defense of gun rights. He has authored books to present his findings, including More Guns, Less Crime and The Bias Against Guns, both of which offer research that defends the well-known position among gun rights advocates that firearm ownership reduced violent crime.By all measures, Lott is one of the most impactful gun rights advocates of our time.
- Cheryl Todd is a self-described serial entrepreneur and full-time gun rights advocate. She leads and serves with multiple gun rights organizations, including the Arizona Citizens Defense League, the AzCDL Foundation, FASTER Saves Lives, Women for Gun Rights, the Second Amendment Institute, and the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association, to name a few.Todd is the Owner and Co-Host of the Gun Freedom Radio Podcast, as well as a well-known speaker at many gun rights conferences around the country, including the Gun Rights Policy Conference and the National Shooting Sports Association Industry Summit.A wife of nearly 40 years, mother, and grandmother, Cheryl speaks to the value of her 2nd Amendment Rights through the lens of self-protection and instilling those values in the generations to come.
Gun Owners of America is proud to host these incredible guests, and we look forward to them sharing their knowledge and experience with all our members at our first annual Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit.
You do not want to miss these guests, the panel discussions, or the newest gear from the companies you love, so make sure you are registered for GOALS!
The dates for GOALS are August 17th and 18th, but you can extend your stay in Tennessee for an amazing family vacation!
Secure your special room rate at hotels within walking distance of the convention center and extend your stay to enjoy the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding attractions!
