Episode 45
Why The Basics Matter Most, Even After 30 Years of Shooting (ft. Gabby Franco)
Gabby Franco joins State of the Second hosts Kaylee and John for a conversation that starts with a simple message for anyone who's been shooting for years: the basics still win. Before drilling speed, she says, work precision and transitions, because most shooters rush past the fundamentals. Franco brings 30-plus years behind a gun to the table. She started as an Olympic shooter at age 11 in Venezuela, worked six years as a gun shop sales rep after moving to the United States, and competed on Top Shot in seasons four and five. That range of experience shapes how she talks about the sport, the industry, and the people in it.
Much of the episode draws on her firsthand view of Venezuela before and after socialism. She describes a country that once had stocked grocery stores and a thriving shooting culture, with the state even providing pistols and ammunition to junior athletes, and how that unraveled after Hugo Chavez came to power. Her warning to gun owners in restrictive states like California and New York is not to leave but to stay and fight, and to understand that culture shifts slowly when a generation grows up without ever learning what the Second Amendment is. She also pushes gun owners to change how they talk to people who disagree. Listen first, invite them to the range later, and let the experience do the convincing.
The back half digs into identity and the industry. Franco breaks down why she rejects the idea of a monolithic gun culture, sharing stories about a range encounter in Texas and her own family, including a mother who supported her shooting career despite firing a gun maybe once in her life. She explains why the Hispanic firearms market is growing, crediting social media and good content for chipping away at an old stigma. The episode closes from the soapbox, where Franco and the hosts make the case that supporting the Second Amendment means doing something, taking a friend shooting, backing organizations doing the work, and asking big companies in the industry to stand up openly rather than stay quiet.
Questions this episode answers
Why do experienced shooters still need to focus on the fundamentals instead of speed?
Gabby Franco says most shooters rush past precision and transitions in a hurry to shoot fast. After 30-plus years behind a gun, her message is that the basics still win, so work the fundamentals before drilling speed.
What was Venezuela's gun culture like before socialism, and how did it change under Hugo Chavez?
Franco describes a Venezuela that once had stocked grocery stores and a thriving shooting culture, where the state even provided pistols and ammunition to junior athletes. That unraveled after Hugo Chavez came to power, which shapes her warning about how quickly a free culture can be lost.
What advice does Gabby Franco give gun owners living in restrictive states like California and New York?
Her advice is not to leave but to stay and fight. She argues that culture shifts slowly, and that the danger grows when a generation grows up without ever learning what the Second Amendment is.
How should gun owners talk to people who are anti-gun or undecided?
Franco urges gun owners to change how they engage: listen first, then invite the person to the range and let the experience do the convincing. She frames a firearm as a tool whose intention, not the object itself, makes it good or bad.
Why is the Hispanic firearms market growing now when it wasn't before?
Franco credits social media and good content for chipping away at an old stigma around firearms. That shift is opening the door for more Hispanic gun owners and helping grow the market.
What does it actually mean to support the Second Amendment if you're a regular, busy citizen?
Franco and the hosts argue that supporting the Second Amendment means doing something concrete, like taking a friend shooting or backing organizations doing the work. It is about personal responsibility, not just holding an opinion.
What role should big firearms companies play in defending the Second Amendment?
Franco makes the case that big companies in the industry should stand up openly for the Second Amendment rather than stay quiet. She also says egos in the industry need to come down so people support those who can do the work.
What is Gabby Franco's background as a shooter and competitor?
Franco started as an Olympic shooter at age 11 in Venezuela and joined the national team in 1996. After moving to the United States she worked six years as a gun shop sales rep and competed on Top Shot in seasons four and five.
Chapters
- 00:09 — Rapid fire questions with Gabby
- 03:14 — From Venezuela to Olympic shooter to Top Shot
- 04:11 — What working in a gun shop taught her
- 05:11 — Inside the Top Shot experience
- 08:04 — Highlighting the person behind the gun
- 10:11 — Venezuela before and after socialism
- 14:16 — Division in society and how to talk to anti-gunners
- 16:22 — What gun culture in Venezuela looked like
- 20:33 — Stay and fight in California and New York
- 28:23 — Breaking the monolithic gun owner stereotype
- 33:05 — Raising kids on the Second Amendment and resilience
- 36:55 — Why the Hispanic firearms market is growing
- 46:12 — From the Soapbox: do something, take personal responsibility
- 55:52 — Big companies should support the Second Amendment openly
About the guest
Gabby Franco is a competitive shooter and firearms instructor who has been shooting for more than 30 years. Born and raised in Venezuela, she started as an Olympic shooter at age 11, joined Venezuela's national team in 1996, and competed for her country overseas. After moving to the United States, she worked at a gun shop as a sales rep for six years and went on to compete on Top Shot in seasons four and five. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and is finishing a master's in sport and performance psychology. She is sponsored by Primary Arms and Walther Arms. Franco can be found at gabbyfranco.com, on Twitter as @GabbyFrancoTS4, and on YouTube as Gabby Franco.
Key quotes
"everybody's so fast into trying to go and shooting fast and they forget about the fundamentals" — Gabby Franco
"you don't know what you have until you lose it" — Gabby Franco
"the tool doesn't make it good or bad, it's the intention that is behind it" — Gabby Franco
"Let the experience speak for itself and change that attitude and change their mind" — Gabby Franco
"I think the egos have to come down too in the industry and recognize that let's support those who can do that type of job" — Gabby Franco
Transcript
Welcome to Gun Owners of America State of the second podcast.
Speaker A:I'm Kayleigh.
Speaker B:And I'm John.
Speaker B:And today we're joined by Gabby Franco.
Speaker C:Hey, guys, thank you for having me.
Speaker B:Thank you for being here.
Speaker B:So we're going to start off with our rapid fire questions.
Speaker B:We're going to ask you five questions.
Speaker B:You go answer them as you wish.
Speaker B:What is your favorite firearm?
Speaker C:Walther BDP steel frame.
Speaker C:So far, until they come up with a new one.
Speaker B:I like that answer a lot.
Speaker A:Very nice.
Speaker A:What is one drill that you would encourage every single gun owner to do?
Speaker C:Precision shooting.
Speaker C:You know, everybody's so fast into trying to go and shooting fast and they forget about the fundamentals.
Speaker C:But from there, I think transitions are very good exercise to do from target to target.
Speaker C:And even if you are in an indoor range, you can use one of those circle targets and, and work on your way in and out and work on your transitions.
Speaker B:Where has been your favorite place to travel?
Speaker C:Oh, my goodness.
Speaker C:Okay, let's see.
Speaker C:I've traveled to 17 countries besides 36 states.
Speaker C:There's so much to pick.
Speaker C:I think I would say Australia was amazing outside of the United States.
Speaker C:I really liked it.
Speaker C:And in, in the United States as a beautiful state, I know this is going to sound especially for us in the, in the industry.
Speaker C:The, the state I really liked and visited was California is a beautiful state.
Speaker C:I mean, from the north, from the redwoods, from down to San Diego, it's just a wonderful, beautiful state.
Speaker C:State.
Speaker C:That's the physical estate.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:We just got to do a lot of work to make it free again.
Speaker A:But yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, my gosh, there's still plenty of gun owners out there and they, they need rescuing.
Speaker C:They need, every time I go there, I'm like, why?
Speaker C:You know, it's just like, why?
Speaker C:It's just, it's just wonderful.
Speaker C:Say, but I would love to go to Montana.
Speaker C:I haven't been there yet, but that would be the next one.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:What would you consider to be the most underrated firearms accessory?
Speaker C:That's a very broad question.
Speaker C:Because with so many firearms that you think about shotguns, rifles, pistols, I don't know, to be honest.
Speaker C:To be honest, I, I, I cannot think about something that I haven't thought about to change on my guns, you know, So I don't know, I don't have an answer for you for that.
Speaker B:All right, this is going to be a tough one.
Speaker B:If you could have one firearm and that's your only firearm to use for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Speaker C:An AR15.
Speaker B:See, that was easy.
Speaker B:I thought that was gonna be hard.
Speaker C:Now if I had.
Speaker C:I think it's the versatile of the, of the, of the AR15.
Speaker C:I like it.
Speaker C:I like the platform for sure.
Speaker B:Well, that wraps up our rapid fire questions.
Speaker B:Let's go ahead and get into why you're here.
Speaker B:Tell the folks a little bit about yourself, how you got into this, all that stuff.
Speaker C:Well, I've been shooting for 30 plus years.
Speaker C:I started shooting as an Olympic shooter when I was 11 years old.
Speaker C:Oh, I just said my age about so.
Speaker C:And I just enter into sport because of my father, who in Venezuela was.
Speaker C:I was born and raised in Venezuela.
Speaker C:He was getting his concealed carry license in the range where he went to get his class for that.
Speaker C:They were, they had an Olympic shooting team.
Speaker C:And he was like, you know what?
Speaker C:I have three girls at home.
Speaker C:And that's how we started it.
Speaker C:So when I moved to the United States, due to, primarily because of all the turmoil in Venezuela and socialism, I started working at a gun shop.
Speaker C:So I work in a gun shop as a sales rep for six years.
Speaker C:And that was a very good introduction because, you know, being in a gun shop is not the same as being a free firearm enthusiast.
Speaker C:When you are working at gun shop, you learn a lot of everything, a little bit of everything about everything.
Speaker C:Reloading even.
Speaker C:I never at that point did reloading or shooting in general.
Speaker C:Shotguns, farms, antiques.
Speaker C:So it was fascinating.
Speaker C:And I also applied to go to Top Shot, which was something very.
Speaker C:A twist in my life, if you will.
Speaker C:And that changed my life tremendously.
Speaker C:Not immediately.
Speaker C:I didn't know it was going to change it.
Speaker C:It did not change immediately.
Speaker C:Like most people think, oh, you were on TV show and national TV and boom, everything flourished.
Speaker C:No, it was not just like that.
Speaker C:It was not so magical.
Speaker C:It's like that.
Speaker C:But it at least gave me.
Speaker C:It opened the doors, right.
Speaker C:So people knew who I was and were willing to listen to me and what I was all about.
Speaker C:And you know, it's just a long story from there, but I think give some people an idea of where I'm coming from.
Speaker B:Okay, so you were on Top Shot.
Speaker B:I gotta ask, how was that experience and what do you think of that?
Speaker B:The lack of now fire?
Speaker B:We saw like this period where there was a lot of firearms shows going on tv.
Speaker B:Now there's a lack of it.
Speaker B:What is your thought about, you know, first off, your experience at Top Shot, but also the lack of now kind of publicity on the firearms and the competitive shooting side?
Speaker C:Well, you know, most people Think about when it comes to reality show, I cannot talk about every, every other ones.
Speaker C:But this when people think, oh, you know, people were just acting up because they were fighting, stuff like that.
Speaker C:And now I'm like, when you put eight type A people together in a competition, there's a lot of.
Speaker C:There's going to be some friction, A lot of friction and turmoil and everything.
Speaker C:So although we had some of that on Top Shot Season 4, I had a blast.
Speaker C:I had.
Speaker C:And I think it had to do with the mentality and the attitude.
Speaker C:I came to the show first of all, you know, so thankful for the opportunity.
Speaker C:You know, I can say even at the beginning, I would say, you know, even if get booted out or eliminated on the first week, just the fact that I could say I did this in my life, you know, to me that was a win.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:So I had a great time.
Speaker C:I built great relationships and friends, I think for life.
Speaker C:It was very interesting because we didn't have, we didn't have TVs, no books, no radio, no music, nothing.
Speaker C:And the only thing that they wanted was interaction within us.
Speaker C:So on the flip side was kind of shocking because of how we are and we like to do certain things, but at the same time gave me an opportunity to really know some of the contestants.
Speaker C:I remember we, every night we will sit outside, look up the sky because it was in California, out of all places that where we filmed.
Speaker C:And it was in the middle of nowhere so we could really see the sky.
Speaker C:And we would talk and everything.
Speaker C:And every night we planned, I wouldn't say we planned.
Speaker C:We tried to figure it out what would be the next challenge.
Speaker C:We never got it right.
Speaker C:So I know 14, 15 people, you know, we really tried to imagine what would be the next thing that they're gonna throw at us.
Speaker C:No, we never got it right.
Speaker C:But it was just fun to think about it.
Speaker C:Sometimes we're stressful, you know, sometimes had to deal with my, you know, strong emotions.
Speaker C:Especially in season five, I was the only woman in there.
Speaker C:Not because of that.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But there were certain things, you know, I didn't feel compelled to talk to other competitors, if you will.
Speaker C:So that was a little bit of a challenge, but at the same time gave me that strength, taught me a lot of things about myself.
Speaker C:I love that.
Speaker C:On the second question about not having a lot of firearms related, well, that is very unfortunate.
Speaker C:It's very sad because we have so much to offer.
Speaker C:But I think it has to do with unfortunately who owns the industry and why they believe about us as Gun owners.
Speaker C:And I think that's why it's so important that we as gun owners start to change a little bit that perspective, right?
Speaker C:Like we are gun owners, we like to go to range, we like our AR15s, our pistols, our shotguns, whatever.
Speaker C:But we are outside of that, we're half a different world too, right?
Speaker C:You can be a doctor, you can be a lawyer, you can be all these other things that makes who you are.
Speaker C:And I think that that's more important for us as part of the industry to highlight not just the tool that we use, you see, because that's how they see us.
Speaker C:Like we are using these people who just shoot and that's all they are.
Speaker C:And no, when you look behind, behind the gun there is an individual, has a family who is raised, have created a business, is helping the community, is doing such great things.
Speaker C:But unfortunately that's what the filming industry don't see.
Speaker C:And I think that's part of, you know, the industry that we are and how we're doing things.
Speaker C:So I think it's par and par.
Speaker C:You know, unfortunately that the political climate and all that, but also the way we portray what we do, I think it's worth start evolving also in that sense.
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Speaker B:I have another question.
Speaker B:So we go.
Speaker B:Okay, so you mentioned you were born and raised in Venezuela.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:How, how is Venezuela before this socialist uprising?
Speaker B:And how do you as now living in the U.S. how do you see the impact of, of what taking away people's firearms can lead to if.
Speaker B:If we go that route at some point or something happens.
Speaker C:So for those who I lived the Venezuela before all the what most people know about Venezuela today, right Back then I could go to a grocery store and I would no different than going to a grocery store in the United States.
Speaker C:I could see butters of different flavors and colors and shapes and all fun and dandy.
Speaker C:And so when socialism, when Hugo Chavez came into power, he was promising the socialism for this new century.
Speaker C: That was in: Speaker C:97 When his campaign.
Speaker C:Venezuela was already a socialist country in the sense that we had a lot of Social programs, if we were no socialist, but a lot of social programs.
Speaker C:There was so much money coming from the oil industry that it was a lot of money to give out, if you will.
Speaker C:It's so much so that the common phrase for Venezuelans was to tell the politicians that's fine that you steal, but leave some for everybody else.
Speaker C:Like, I mean, it was so rampant, the corruption, the corruption, but it was so much money that there was still available for everybody.
Speaker C:But as you go, obviously corruption grew a lot bigger, stronger, and the people fell, you know, left behind for obvious reasons.
Speaker C:And so when Hugo Chavez comes and says, I want to, I'm going to be the one who's going to give it to you.
Speaker C:And I think that's the part that most people don't realize is that socialism doesn't end, right?
Speaker C:You need more, the people needs more and more and more and they want more and more and more, but nobody teaching them how to be creative on your own, you know, how to build something by yourself.
Speaker C:And so, and I learned to see the differences because my coach, who was Cuban at the time, and he would talk about those things and he would say, look what Fidel Castro did.
Speaker C:This is going to happen with Hugo Chavez, look what this is.
Speaker C:And he foresaw everything, right?
Speaker C:And many people at the range, people who listen to him would discount his opinion, like, please, we're not an island, we're not that small, isolated like Cuba.
Speaker C:We're a large country on top of that.
Speaker C:What does Cuba have?
Speaker C:What does Cuba produce?
Speaker C:We have oil, we have a lot of money.
Speaker C:We have not only oil.
Speaker C:Venezuela has huge natural resources with gold and other metals.
Speaker C:Cuba doesn't have that.
Speaker C:Venezuelans in that sense feel like we have it, we won't fall for it.
Speaker C:And even if something comes similar to that, we will get over it rather quickly because of the power the country has.
Speaker C:And sure, here we are, okay, 20, almost 30 years later where a 25 year old person, I would guess strictly say 30 year old, doesn't know what was Venezuela before 30 year old man and woman.
Speaker C:And the sad part is that that's what I tell Americans.
Speaker C:It's not the fact that we as a country have so much.
Speaker C:No, it's a society that don't realize what we really have and how important it's protected.
Speaker C:Another thing is important is the battle in society.
Speaker C:And I see it all the time.
Speaker C:It really breaks my heart because Venezuela, one of the things that they did very well, and I know we say this or we hear this constantly about the division Right.
Speaker C:But in Minnesota became so stark, so black and white that nobody talked to each other, nobody were willing to sit down and listen to each other.
Speaker C:And so I think, and one thing I always recommend gun owners when they get with somebody who is not a gun owner or they say an anti gun person, you know, typical, I say just listen, don't talk, just listen to them.
Speaker C:Especially if it's somebody that is close, let's say a neighbor or somebody you're going to see again, let them talk.
Speaker C:Because the next time you're going to say I let you talk next time.
Speaker C:Now let me explain, tell you my perspective.
Speaker C:Now it's more like, okay, we're like in an adultish conversation, right?
Speaker C:You let me speak now, I'm going to let you speak next time.
Speaker C:And then next time you say come to the ranch and invite you.
Speaker C:I know that sounds very easy and probably easier than doing it, but I think it's a better approach than continuing this battle that we're going because that is what it will break this country.
Speaker C:People talk about politicians, yes, but it is the division with society what makes it is like the icing on the cake that can destroy the country.
Speaker C:So I think that's the part that we have to be smart about it.
Speaker C:How we communicate, how we deal with these individuals.
Speaker C:Unfortunately, part of it, I'm not going to say ignorance.
Speaker C:I think part of it is what in psychology we call this motivated ignorance.
Speaker C:Motivated ignorance is when you don't want to see it.
Speaker C:Probably there's a cause, there's something out there but you just want to ignore it.
Speaker C:That's motivating ignorance and that's the part we have to recognize that.
Speaker B:And so yeah, as an American citizen we may be ignorant to other countries gun laws and things like that.
Speaker B:So what was the gun culture like in Venezuela?
Speaker B:Because a lot of the people, when we do things and we talk about European gun laws and things like that, a lot of people think Great Britain is the first thing that comes to mind and how anti gun they are.
Speaker B:And we see things same thing with kind of like South America, we don't think about it that much.
Speaker B:So what was the gun culture like before everything kind of went down?
Speaker C:Venezuela never had a second amendment if you will.
Speaker C:It was more a privilege.
Speaker C:But people will go hunting, they'll go, you know, going to the range we had, I mean I kid, you know, in my town, right.
Speaker C:So in Venezuela, in different or I would say no one, I said most but many countries overseas compared to the United States, athletes are sponsored by the Government which has its pros and cons, obviously.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And so in my city, the state will provide the pistols for our team.
Speaker C:Think about that back in the time, Talking about early 90s, my state will provide air pistols, sport pistols and ammunition.
Speaker C:The government, this is not even private.
Speaker C:The government will provide those for us to train and represent the state.
Speaker C: part of the national team in: Speaker C:It was the.
Speaker C:The government who provided me with guns and ammo to train and compete overseas.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And so I'm not gonna say it was like everybody could have firearms, but it was open for those who obviously were doing the right thing.
Speaker C:So you could get, you.
Speaker C:You would have to be.
Speaker C:Have reasons.
Speaker C:So imagine more like a New York, California kind of deal, right?
Speaker C:Where you have to go a little bit above and beyond to have a firearm, to get firearms.
Speaker C:Even with all that, that never stopped criminals to have guns.
Speaker C:And that's what the politicians.
Speaker C:When Hugo Chauvin came, that's what he hold himself tight to.
Speaker C:Or his argument was like, okay, we have these criminals, we need to take the guns away.
Speaker C:And we're like, we're not the ones who's having this issue.
Speaker C:And so Venezuela, before all this stuff, we people, I mean in my city we had at least we had a female team and a male team.
Speaker C:So that's six junior, you know, teenagers shooting.
Speaker C:We have shotgun shooters part of the team.
Speaker C:So at least three or four more, right.
Speaker C:We had rifle shooters.
Speaker C:Okay, These are only teenagers sponsored by the state.
Speaker C:On top of that, in my city, in my range, we had, in this range, we had an indoor range only for air pistol and a rifle, air conditioner, 40 lanes for just air pistol and a rifle.
Speaker C:I mean, think about that.
Speaker C:We had another.
Speaker C:The part of the range was another.
Speaker C:Yeah, I guess range where it was for 25 meter only for sport pistol with automatic machines where the machines will rotate the targets.
Speaker C:For sport pistol and rapid fire, we had the action shooting range.
Speaker C:And I mean every weekend I used to turn at the peak of my performance, which was from 19.
Speaker C: t of the national team around: Speaker C:Every weekend.
Speaker C:Yeah, I'm sorry, I trained for about five to six days a week and every week and that range was packed, right.
Speaker C:Was best packed of a lot of shooters, competitors, adults shooting action, shooting shotgun, four just for fun.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C: know, probably from the year: Speaker A:You compare where Venezuela had before communism to something that California, New York has, where you have to prove that.
Speaker A:You have to have your reasons.
Speaker A:You have to prove that you need a firearm and those sorts of things and jump through all of these hoops.
Speaker A:What would be your word of caution to people who are in those states that want to make a difference so that their state system just don't continue down the path that they're currently on?
Speaker C:You know, I've thought about that.
Speaker C:It's a very kind of hard question to answer for many reasons.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But I would say this or part of my.
Speaker C:Part of my answer.
Speaker C:I'm going to start with this.
Speaker C:When I came to the United States, I didn't even know about the Second Amendment when I moved first.
Speaker C:I learned about it when I started looking for an Olympic shooting range.
Speaker C:Like what I want to continue Olympic shooting.
Speaker C:I couldn't find it and went to this range and I grabbed a pamphlet and I saw about the Second Amendment, you know, typical.
Speaker C:Or the NRA or something.
Speaker C:It was.
Speaker C:I don't remember, but it was something about the Second Amendment.
Speaker C:And I'm reading about it for the first time.
Speaker C:You know, by that time, I was 21 years old.
Speaker C:And I'm looking at it.
Speaker C:I'm like, wow, this is amazing.
Speaker C:I wish Venezuelans had that.
Speaker C:I wish Colombians had.
Speaker C:I didn't have to suffer from the terrorists, you know, the eln, the farc.
Speaker C:I wish people in Africa would be able and don't.
Speaker C:Don't have to suffer from the genocide that they suffer all the time, you know.
Speaker C:And so to me, it was like a shock, a realization where, you know, you hear the senses say, you don't know what you have until you lose it.
Speaker C:In my case was I didn't know what I was missing until I found.
Speaker C:Was just like a missing gem right there.
Speaker C:I'm here and I still.
Speaker C:I didn't know about it.
Speaker C:I didn't know about this the moment I stepped on the United States.
Speaker C:And I think many people live like that, with that blindfold on, the appreciation or not really knowing, grasping the value of the Second Amendment.
Speaker C:So I would say that I think it's important for them to realize that part of the world or the rest of the world that is in turmoil, that is in chaos most of the time, part of it comes because they don't have the right that you have in the United States.
Speaker C:And there's a reason that should be the primary reason logically, to at least sit down and analyze it.
Speaker C:I'm not talking about necessarily fully accepted but at least sit down, analyze it, thinking as a logical person.
Speaker C:The other part, I would say is that it's a lot of things going on, as we know, politically.
Speaker C:While I was studying for my bachelor's in psychology, I did research on, well, research for my papers, studying for my papers, but it was on the gun issues, gun control and all this stuff.
Speaker C:It was more like a gun violence, if I remember correctly.
Speaker C:The thing is that I came across an infographic from California.
Speaker C:And the way the infographic was presented, it was more like, look how many people really use farms in California.
Speaker C:And so they had little figures of humans and only few.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:So the dark was the ones who had more and so on and so forth.
Speaker C:And infographic was very towards telling people that's why we're in the right path.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But that also made me think about something in the sense that they had this graphic where here the top had a lot of firearms.
Speaker C:Less firearms.
Speaker C:Less firearms and less firearms.
Speaker C:I was like, wow, think about it.
Speaker C:This top here, most people think this is probably the wealthy ones who have a lot of guns.
Speaker C:And I thought about it differently.
Speaker C:Probably the older people who still believe on that and have that, but because of the political and the educational sense of this young generation don't have that.
Speaker C:Not because they cannot afford it or because they don't want it.
Speaker C:It's because they were not raised.
Speaker C:They didn't grow up with a culture into educating what this is.
Speaker C:That was eliminated almost entirely from their growth.
Speaker C:I think it's a different conversation that probably go, when I'm done with my masters, delve into it.
Speaker C:But I think that's where the societies like California and New York are going to.
Speaker C:They're not going to tell you or that their citizens.
Speaker C:Oh, we're just going to.
Speaker C:Which they kind of do.
Speaker C:We're going to bend this and that and that.
Speaker C:But they have been doing it already in a more subtle and more significant way for them, which is changing the culture without.
Speaker C:Without completely injecting that.
Speaker C:And so it is just interesting.
Speaker C:And culture and the way people communicate to each other matters.
Speaker C:When you see.
Speaker C:When you go to California and people say, oh, yeah, I have a. I have a glove.
Speaker C:That's it.
Speaker C:You know, everybody talks up.
Speaker C:I'm like, I'm California in Texas or another state, and I'm proud of what I own of the rifles, but that's not the same in the states.
Speaker B:I got to get the cough out.
Speaker B:All right, well, you brought up that.
Speaker B:And during the pandemic, we saw a huge increase in gun Ownership and the stories I've heard from California, some of them people were going to go buy a gun and they were like well I need it now.
Speaker B:Oh well you got to wait 10 days.
Speaker B:Well what do you mean I got to wait 10 days?
Speaker B:I need it now for my protection.
Speaker B:Well see and there's the, that's a big disconnect because just like you said, the education, the, the knowledge passed down about the second amendment and things in California there's been generations raised where it's just this is how it is and or guns are bad.
Speaker B:I think that's something as a community we need to, we, we look at states like California and New York and sometimes a lot of people will.
Speaker B:The, the first reaction from a lot from our side is move just get out of the state where it should be.
Speaker B:Now is the time to fight and, and push to make those changes.
Speaker B:And we've seen some great legislation come through.
Speaker B:We've got now have, you know, we had the, the Freedom Week which we're hoping that will come back.
Speaker B:We've seen now that they're now allowing non resident permits for concealed carry for California, all that stuff.
Speaker B:Hopefully we can continue on that path to keep opening it up and helping relieve some of these restrictions that are happening.
Speaker C:Yeah, and that's great.
Speaker C:You're right.
Speaker C:We need more people to stay than leave.
Speaker C:Because I mentioned this in a speech I think a year ago or two years ago where I said that changing the Constitution seems like something will never happen which had happened very few.
Speaker C:But the more we change the demographics in each state, you have more states that could vote against or in pro changing the second Amendment.
Speaker C:Is that possible?
Speaker C:I think it is.
Speaker C:If we go continue in this trend.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:We give more powers to these states to change all these laws, there's going to be a point where they're going to be, they may be majority who can say they cannot, you know.
Speaker C:So I think it's important for us to always be mindful of that in the industry.
Speaker C:And you know, the job that you guys are doing is extremely important for that.
Speaker A:I do want to kind of dive in to the reality of I don't want to say party politics because I think it goes beyond simple, simply party politics.
Speaker A:But there is a stigma or there is still a purveying thought that's often used by anti gunners where they say oh, the second Amendment is just, you know, old white men or it's just for people who, you know, are bad guys or people who don't get what the Constitution really says.
Speaker A:And they want to say that it's just for the military.
Speaker A:And we hear all of these arguments.
Speaker A:As someone who has immigrated to the United States who breaks just about every stereotype that the anti gunners want to use against us, what do you say to those that want to say that all gun owners are monolithic or self consumed?
Speaker C:Well, and again, it comes down to what I was saying at the beginning about the culture that sometimes we put ourselves that was only the gun, the gun instead of highlighting more the person behind the gun.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And for example, and unfortunately it's not only me as a, as an immigrant, because even within the immigrants sometimes is that belief.
Speaker C:I wasn't, I told this on one of my videos.
Speaker C:I was at the range in Texas and I was going to shoot pistol.
Speaker C:I have all my gear and when I go to this range to get a bait, the baby was occupied by somebody shooting rifle, right?
Speaker C:So he was shooting all the way back here.
Speaker C:And I wanted just to do, you know, my typical USPSA run, whatever.
Speaker C:But then he said, oh, don't worry, I'm finishing.
Speaker C:You know, I'm like, okay, perfect, you do your thing.
Speaker C:Well, I bring everything out of my car and all that stuff.
Speaker C:And as I'm pulling everything, I'm pulling out my gear, putting all my belts with my Mac pouches and stuff, he looks at me, he says, what, what do you do?
Speaker C:And I'm like, oh, I do uspsa.
Speaker C:This is an action shooting sport and all that stuff.
Speaker C:And then I asked him, you know, I see him right there, where are the range?
Speaker C:Have you tried it?
Speaker C:Have you ever tried USPSA or idpa?
Speaker C:And he's like, oh, no, no, no, no, that's, that's, I've heard that there's a lot of white people right now.
Speaker C:Mind it.
Speaker C:He was Asian and I'm Hispanic.
Speaker C:Here I am, here we are two people at the gun range and he has this mentality.
Speaker C:And you think about it is a constant point into that.
Speaker C:I think it's also important enough for us in the, in the community to, to tell people, you know, who cares?
Speaker C:You know, why do we have to always point out that if you are this skin color or if you are that skin color, it shouldn't matter.
Speaker C:Let's go enjoy it, right?
Speaker C:I think the more we pay attention to those things, the more attention is going to be given to those things.
Speaker C:And you know, that, that to me it's, it's important in a sense because my husband is as American as blue eyes as he can be.
Speaker C:Right?
Speaker C:But My son looks just like me.
Speaker C:And why that matters to me because, you know, with this, this type of conversation, right, what my son is going to say is it is a battle between my mom or my dad, you know, who is in there.
Speaker C:No, why don't we go as a family, who cares how we look and enjoy it?
Speaker C:So I would say that why does it matter?
Speaker C:Why don't you go and try it?
Speaker C:Why it blocks you from even trying.
Speaker C:And if people look different, so what, you know, is this almost like a fear if I'm not going to go there, if people don't look at me.
Speaker C:I mean, if I did that, if I had that mentality, I wouldn't be where I am right now.
Speaker C:And I think it's just a way of thinking, you know, that blocks people from succeeding, from thinking ahead.
Speaker C:You know, like, I think great minds don't, don't try to do what everybody does and don't try to be hung up with just everybody that looks like them.
Speaker C:On the contrary, they are willing to go outside of their comfort zone.
Speaker C:They're willing to go outside of the norm.
Speaker C:They're willing to learn new things.
Speaker C:So I would say that is just, who cares?
Speaker C:Just go out and look at it by yourself instead of being constantly, oh, I hear this, that they are this or this thing.
Speaker C:And like I told in that story, even people within the industry, some people may even have that belief and they are part of the industry.
Speaker C:And so, you know, I think it's just the mentality.
Speaker C:We need to start shifting the mentality into let's think about greatness and the mundane thought thinking we can leave it to, to other things.
Speaker C:I mean, if you want to, you know, upgrade your mind and open up your mind to new things, what would.
Speaker A:Be the educational path that you, because you, you obviously you have a son and we've talked a lot about, you know, the generations and you, you said, you know that that pyramid where the older generation tends to value the Constitution and the second Amendment maybe more than the younger generations.
Speaker A:Although it's very interesting to see how Gen Z ends up shaping up.
Speaker A:I keep hearing great things from our student program that they're trending more conservative and more excited to get on the range.
Speaker A:So we may be course correcting.
Speaker A:But how did you as a parent choose to educate your son on the second Amendment and what did that education look like as he is growing up?
Speaker C:Well, when it comes definitely with the Second Amendment, it has to be with the whole package.
Speaker C:We cannot talk about just the second Amendment without talking about the first, the Constitution and everything.
Speaker C:So I think with my son in the house, we talk a lot about history.
Speaker C:He loves history.
Speaker C:So it has been easy for us, if you will, because he loves reading.
Speaker C:And so we only instill that education.
Speaker C:Obviously, the education comes with the responsibility.
Speaker C:Teaching my son, you know, the rules when it comes to firearms safety rules come to the range.
Speaker C:This is not a toy, this is a tool and that kind of stuff.
Speaker C:And seeing it to the point that my son, sometimes I'm dry firing and I have my gun in my holster, dry firing.
Speaker C:He comes to me, mama, and talks to me like.
Speaker C:Like, if I had this coffee mug, it wouldn't matter to him, right?
Speaker C:Because the education is in it.
Speaker C:So I think that's very important to do.
Speaker C:But when it comes in general terms to help these generations, and like I told you guys, I'm doing my master's, finishing my master's in sport and performance psychology, I think that's important for us to start teaching these children resilience, right?
Speaker C:I think the problem that we're going into this, even politically, is, or against the Second Amendment, if you will, is because these children, who are not children anymore, who are voting age, they were taught for a long time to go into the cave in to their fears, cave into the concerns and go and hide into their comfort zone instead of sit down and say, okay, let me, you know, face this head on.
Speaker C:What can I do?
Speaker C:How can I deal with this?
Speaker C:So I think even if you are a parent and you teach your child, you know, safety rules and everything, start teaching mental performance, right?
Speaker C:Discipline, teaching them how to think when you get nervous, right?
Speaker C:When you have a little bit of competitive anxiety, not only for shooting sports, but also for school.
Speaker C:What happened when some other kids are mean to you?
Speaker C:How do you process that information and all that?
Speaker C:It will help in general when you vote, because then you realize that I will not vote or I will support or defend the Constitution not because of emotion, but because this is the logical thing to do.
Speaker C:And these are my reasons.
Speaker C:A, B or C, instead of caving into.
Speaker C:I don't like it.
Speaker C:Oh, it's ugly, it's scary.
Speaker C:Or, you know, everybody who does this does that.
Speaker C:And you're like, no, that's not.
Speaker C:That's not logic thinking, you know, and so that's what I would say.
Speaker B:So, Gabby, as you know, we've started our Hispanic outreach program.
Speaker B:Hispanic.
Speaker B:The Hispanic market for the firearms industry is a very growing market.
Speaker B:Why do you think the.
Speaker B:Previously, it wasn't a big market.
Speaker B:If it was, there was A stigma behind firearms.
Speaker B:What is changing in the Hispanic community to making them more second amendment focused?
Speaker C:I think definitely, I would say flat out social media, okay.
Speaker C:They are not realizing that there's more to it than just the oh, guns are evil.
Speaker C:And so before, and I would say even today Latin America, the view on firearms is very negative.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:So if you had a, you know, a grandma or a mother, you tell I'm going to the ranch to my, with my gun, with my friends and I'm going to show my God,.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker C:Know, because he's often aligned or connected with crime or connected with something negative.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:I remember even as a Olympic shooter and people say something, oh, who are you going to, you know, do something bad to?
Speaker C:And I was like, no, I just go and compete Olympic shooter with an air pistol.
Speaker C:So that mentality is already there.
Speaker C:Now those Hispanics here, the vast majorities have still an umbilical cord attached to Latin America.
Speaker C:And that's something that most people don't realize.
Speaker C:We still have our family, we talk to them all the time.
Speaker C:Some of us are like, oh, I wish I could be there and vacation over there certain times a year or whatever.
Speaker C:So we still have our umbilical cord attached.
Speaker C:And so it's difficult to detach from those beliefs because you talk to your grandma, to your mom, to your dad and all this stuff.
Speaker C:Think the social media growing now the way it is and the good content, which that's valuable content is showing the, the Hispanics that okay, you can also use firearms for good stuff to defend yourself for starters, right?
Speaker C:Like if you are a Venezuelan, Colombia, Mexican or you name any other country for you cannot defend yourself.
Speaker C:And now you can do that here.
Speaker C:That's great.
Speaker C:And so I think that's, that's what is driving it.
Speaker C:I think so.
Speaker C:I think the content is important and showing the people and always organizations like that, you know, Forsa to a, that is putting forth something for Hispanics.
Speaker C:Although I think personally I really like more the melting pot.
Speaker C:I'm more into the melting pot.
Speaker C:But you have to reach them one way or another.
Speaker C:So I think that's, that's very good.
Speaker A:I agree with, with so much of what you're saying.
Speaker A:My, my sister in law is a phenomenally amazing woman and she is a citizen now and we're, we're very thrilled and she, she has my beautiful nieces and it, it was definitely a very interesting conversation letting her know what I, I did for a living in the, the early days of, of that relationship because there, there is a, there is a level of a stigma.
Speaker A:Yeah, but one of the things that I find interesting is how empowering when, when they, when, when people get to go to the range for the first time and when they, they start to get those educational markers and how just the, the, the views switch so, so dramatically.
Speaker A:I don't think anybody really realizes how, how fast you can change somebody's mind by showing them how empowering it feels to have the ability to protect yourself and your children.
Speaker C:And I think it's just in general, just shooting guns in general, you know, is something in it that you, you, you go shoot and you see these new shooters and their eyes just popped, you know, open the big smile.
Speaker C:Sometimes they are like freaked out at first and, and even when they're freaked out, they're like, I don't know why, but I want to do it again.
Speaker C:You know, it's always that feel and that look.
Speaker C:And I think it's, and that's why I always say, you know, it's better.
Speaker C:Sometimes as a gun owner, it's just, you know, hold your argument for a little bit, create that rapport, that relationship, and then take them to the range, Let the experience speak for itself and change that attitude and change their mind whether you're trying to interject, you know, what you wish that they think, you know.
Speaker C:But yeah, it's totally, I totally agree with you.
Speaker A:And that's why, like, I've really never understood the, the argument of a monolithic gun culture, because to be completely honest, I don't even think that we're monolithic in what disciplines we all prefer within the two way community.
Speaker A:And so I think that it's necessary for us to grow the community by having these coalition programs and encouraging people to go to the range and try things out.
Speaker A:But I think that just like on anything, it is a journey and you know, we need to be casting a broad net.
Speaker A:But, but you don't want somebody to only ever try, you know, shooting a shotgun or a pistol.
Speaker A:You know, we want them to enjoy the firearms community, to just try the disciplines and to find their own group of friends.
Speaker A:So it's not just shooting with your.
Speaker C:Family, but I think it's also important for us recognize that not everything is for everybody.
Speaker C:You know, we are biased.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:I like to shoot my rifle, my pistol, you name it.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But not everybody's into it.
Speaker C:And I think that's a fallacy that we fall into because I love it and I've seen so many people that love it, then you must love it.
Speaker C:Love the pistol.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But I think the value should be also adding to that is that the value of having it right.
Speaker C:When we talk about the Second Amendment, the defense, defending the riding itself should be important, even if you're not into it.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:I can see motorcycles, I think they're cool and everything.
Speaker C:I'm not necessarily into it, but now because of that, I'm going to interject and say, oh, people shouldn't because it's dangerous, because people get killed and all this stuff.
Speaker C:And I say this because my mother, I learned not too long ago, I mean, not too long ago that my mom only have fired a gun probably once.
Speaker C:And she almost says that she doesn't even count it as one.
Speaker C:Okay, and why didn't I, why didn't I know that back then?
Speaker C:When I was a teenager, my mom used to go to the range with us.
Speaker C:She will take us to the range.
Speaker C:She would make sure we had everything for competitions.
Speaker C:She would make sure that we dry fire, we practice, we were on time to the range and practice at the range.
Speaker C:You would think that my mother was completely into the game, right?
Speaker C:Like with us.
Speaker C:And she knew necessarily wasn't.
Speaker C:It was not her thing.
Speaker C:But imagine if my mother would have that mentality, say, oh, I don't like guns.
Speaker C:I don't want people or my children to be around firearms or anything like that.
Speaker C:I wouldn't have gone to the Olympic Games, you know what I mean?
Speaker C:I wouldn't Travel everything out 12 countries before I turned 21 traveling, representing back then my country, Venezuela.
Speaker C:Just because my mother was wise enough to understand that one, the tool doesn't make it good or bad, it's the intention that is behind it.
Speaker C:But two, she also understood that my dad, who had his gun for concealed carry, it was important because crime was rampant in Venezuela.
Speaker C:So somebody had to do something, right?
Speaker C:It may not have been hurting.
Speaker C:We can argue that was the right or wrong mentality.
Speaker C:Nobody can say anything about my mother, but I can say, but I could say, but the wisdom she had to just say, yes, recognize that this is not my thing, but see the value in it and recognize it, protect it, and encouraging her children even though she was not into it.
Speaker C:And for that I always tell my mom, you are just brilliant.
Speaker C:Not everybody has that.
Speaker A:You know, I think that's an amazing.
Speaker A:It's an amazing story.
Speaker A:I think it's a testament to the fact that, you know, so often people choose not to purchase a firearm until they deem it necessary, but they might support the second amendment and another in other ways, you know, it's your second amendment right.
Speaker A:Depending.
Speaker A:It doesn't matter whether you choose to exercise it or not.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:And so that, that's awesome that your mom was encouraging to you and and your.
Speaker A:Your entire family was encouraging to you in those ways.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:But now it is time for my favorite segment of the show which is from the Soapbox.
Speaker A:The time that we take the spicier takes of what is going on in the second amendment community and deep dive into some topics that maybe sometimes are better left alone.
Speaker A:So with that we want to offer the floor to you.
Speaker A:What do you see that is happening in the second amendment community and what are your hot takes about what's going on in the culture?
Speaker C:Well, I think I love that people are more active that women are not seen just in the industry, just something in a sexual manner.
Speaker C:It's more like we are better seen as active participants of protecting the sport or being athletic and our values into that.
Speaker C:So I love that.
Speaker C:And you know, just the industry is thriving.
Speaker C:We are very volatile industry.
Speaker C:It goes up and down.
Speaker C:Depends how the political winds blow.
Speaker C:That's unfortunately, that's how this industry work, but is very resilient.
Speaker C:And I think that has to do with the strength that in the industry or those of us who are participant in it that we believe in protecting such an important like the second amendment right.
Speaker C:And people don't realize that the second Amendment people think oh, but just know the industry is just making guns, making money and all that stuff.
Speaker C:And they don't realize that it's important.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:Because if you don't have them, that's how they did in California and New York.
Speaker C:Like I was saying early, all that then chokehold and it destroys.
Speaker C:Then people are like who is.
Speaker C:What is the second Amendment?
Speaker C:We don't need that anymore.
Speaker C:We don't use it anymore.
Speaker C:So I love that.
Speaker B:I love that anybody thinks that we're making a bunch of money selling guns, they're wrong.
Speaker B:I'm just putting it out there.
Speaker B:It's like the minimalist of margins.
Speaker B:Don't lie to yourself.
Speaker B:You think we're making buttloader buddies?
Speaker C:Yeah, you know, as I can some friends.
Speaker C:Not like clothing industry.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:It doesn't matter who is the president.
Speaker C:Who cares.
Speaker C:You're still selling shirts, shoes and is different when it comes to the farms.
Speaker C:Industry is very volatile.
Speaker B:As somebody who's been behind the counter and at a manufacturer.
Speaker B:Yes, it's very volatile.
Speaker B:It all depends on what's going on politically and how things are going.
Speaker B:You know, go to your local Store and buy some ammo, do something, because they are.
Speaker B:There's a lot of stores that are hurting right now and a lot of manufacturers that are hurting.
Speaker B:And if, if we lose them, then we lose a lot of the stuff that's going on.
Speaker A:Yeah, I, I think that one of the things that, you know, as we prepare as a country for the midterms, we just finished with the off year elections, there are, I think a lot of people are looking at what happened in New York City and in Virginia as, as a time where we're like, wow, okay, we still have a lot of work to do.
Speaker A:And I think a lot of times in the two way community, we see fight after fight after fight.
Speaker A:And it's easy to go on autopilot.
Speaker A:It's easy to become apathetic.
Speaker A:You know, there's always something to fight on.
Speaker A:And so I want to take just a few moments on this, on this segment to remind people that this is a natural right, but it's still a right worth protecting.
Speaker A:You know, it wasn't very long ago that, you know, we, we had a senator saying that the rights are granted to us by the government.
Speaker A:And that is, that is fundamentally incorrect.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:And, you know, now is the time where we're in the, the home, home stretch of 26 or 25.
Speaker A: We're going into: Speaker A:You know, the midterm elections are coming up.
Speaker A:I'm not a fear monger.
Speaker A:I'm never, I don't ever want to be put in that camp.
Speaker A:But now is the time that if we want to make real impact as members of the Second Amendment community, it.
Speaker C:Is incumbent upon us as a U.S. citizens.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:As you.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:As U.S. citizens.
Speaker A:To invite somebody to the range.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:To, to introduce them to the, the competitive side or the, the home defense side or just the, the joy of shooting.
Speaker A:To have maybe not true political conversations, but take somebody to the range and reinvigorate that spirit inside of them if they haven't gone shooting for a while or introduce them if they've never been before, because that is how we make real cultural change.
Speaker A:It is not simply by listening to a podcast, although we appreciate you doing that, and hearing three people proselytize about how amazing the Second Amendment is and how valuable it is to our country.
Speaker A:But it's incumbent upon us as individuals to take personal responsibility.
Speaker C:I think also it's important that people recognize and I do.
Speaker C:Like I told you, I'm full.
Speaker C:Like I've been living under a rock for the past few months with my master's and I recognize that and when I talk to, to, you know, the ones who are organizing the Hispanic organization or the group for Connors of America.
Speaker C:And I had so many people telling me, gabby, you should do it, you should do it.
Speaker C:And sometimes you have to say, you know what, right now I don't have the time let others do it, but I support them.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:I think the egos have to come down too in the industry and recognize that let's support those who can do that type of job.
Speaker C:That's in the big scheme of things.
Speaker C:But even the, the basic label, the regular citizen who goes out and should I get it, you know, your life, everybody's busy, right?
Speaker C:Everybody's being there, doing their stuff.
Speaker C:But there are ways they can help.
Speaker C:Like you say, taking somebody, a friend to the range, having a conversation, emailing a friend, hey, how you doing?
Speaker C:You know, how's everything going on?
Speaker C:Or whatever, even supporting other organizations who are doing the job.
Speaker C:And I think it's important finding ways to help instead of just sitting back and say, oh yeah, I just have my gun and I support the Second Amendment and that's it.
Speaker C:As if that would create more momentum and it doesn't.
Speaker C:Momentum, that's when you do something about it.
Speaker C:And so just recognizing that some people have the idea that, oh, to support, support the Second Amendment, have to go in and do great things.
Speaker C:You may not have the time, we get it, but do something.
Speaker C:I bet there's one thing you can do and help.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's all about forward motion.
Speaker A:It's the great law of the universe.
Speaker A:Like momentum matters so much.
Speaker A:And you know, we're, I think we as a Second Amendment community are, are excited about things, you know, like the, the big beautiful lawsuit to get rid of the nfa.
Speaker A:And we're excited, excited about what is potentially on the, the horizon for the restoration of our rights.
Speaker A:And that's awesome.
Speaker A:But we need to be preparing our, ourselves and preparing our homes and preparing our communities, you know, at the range and, and just getting people excited so that we can go to higher heights and so that we can really ensure that our children and our grandchildren, our great grandchildren have this right that matters to us.
Speaker A:At goa, we have the definition of a gun rights activist, which is someone who takes personal responsibility, not only for the use of their firearms, but in the defense of their right to own them.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker A:And it doesn't mean that you need to register as a lobbyist and go to your state house or, you know, do all of the things, but it does mean that you need to be an active participant in the defense.
Speaker C:And, and I think that goes down also to all levels too.
Speaker C:Like I said, from the regular citizen, from you know, personalities go out there who wants to be on the front of the page all the time or on the top of everything.
Speaker C:But also I think it goes even to the top to the big industries.
Speaker C:I want to call out, you know, even the big industry big companies, they have to also, hey, be on board too, you know, like supporting the second amendment no matter what.
Speaker C:Like for me it's huge that my, the, the companies that sponsor me primary arms and welter arms, I still with them constantly.
Speaker C:Even though I am politically, you know, active.
Speaker C:You know, I talk about these things and they understand that it matters, you know, no matter what it matters.
Speaker C:When you talk about, you know, people who wants to push socialist ideas who ended up turning out into gun control sooner or later or gun control, pushing this gun control agenda.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:And I think at the top level it's important they are open to do that, you know, and not just shining, oh, let the other companies get into, into that mess, if you will.
Speaker C:And so I've been in the forefront supporting other organization and letting you know their sponsors or whatever speak out.
Speaker C:We need more voices out there and not to be hesitant.
Speaker C:I'm saying it no, because I wouldn't even be hesitant anyways.
Speaker C:You know, I have had years, years ago some companies who were like, oh Gabby, yeah, we want to sponsor you big company but we would like you to not talk too much about this as I'm like, sorry, that's not gonna happen.
Speaker C:You know, I'm not gonna compromise my values or my believes just for a company or logo.
Speaker C:So I think even more important in the industry, the big company should be huge, staunch supporters of the second amendment openly because no matter what they're going to get grabbed by the lobby one way or another.
Speaker C:So yeah, shout out to Walther Arms and from Mary Arms for their support.
Speaker B:Ken, if you're watching this, we love.
Speaker C:You and truth because I like I don't have more other companies just because of that.
Speaker C:They want to control everything.
Speaker C:I'm like, no, you know, I'm not going to go out and do a crazy stuff.
Speaker C:I consider myself a very, you know, normal, respectful individual.
Speaker C:But if anything, if I need, if I'm going to say something in support the second amendment and I'm going to say something about politics, I'm going to say it.
Speaker C:And so, you know, it goes with that.
Speaker A:Absolutely, I love it.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:We should be, we should Be bold in our beliefs.
Speaker A:And I think that that is, I think, I think that is a direct reflection of our founding as our country and saying, you know, we hold these truths to be self evident.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:Like, and, you know, we are lucky enough and blessed enough to live in a country with natural rights.
Speaker A:And it's our, it's our job to keep the government from interfering.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:And I think, you know, even talking about the industry in general now, I'm just going different layers, right.
Speaker C:As a, you know, working a gun shop or even knowing people who owns gun ranges, I think they would be great if they even hold like a mini seminars, you know, I think it would be great for them to hold mini seminars on that, on those things or even things that are different, not related to shooting, you know, but bring other, other type of individuals who have never shot before, but just brought them to the range and realize, well, wow, these people are not as crazy as the news media make them sound.
Speaker C:They.
Speaker C:They actually have other things to offer.
Speaker C:Could be, I don't know, different topics that they can partner with their community around and do those things.
Speaker C:You know, could be in the political sense, could be any other sense, but I think in just in general, you know, contributing beyond that, you know, just go to range by the gun and shoot.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:But being more active with society, how they contribute to their community, I think it would be help also the industry in general.
Speaker B:Well, Gabby, this was a fantastic conversation.
Speaker B:Before we go, we have our gift for our guest brought to you by AACMO and Palmetto State Army.
Speaker B:So be receiving an awesome gift from them after for being on the show.
Speaker B:So Gabby, where can people find you if they want more information, all that stuff?
Speaker C:Well, they can find me on my website.
Speaker C:Is gabby franco.com G A B B Y F R a n c o.com I am on Twitter as Gabby Franco ts4 like top shot 4ts4.
Speaker C:Same as in Twitter.
Speaker C:I'm also on YouTube as Gabby Franco.
Speaker C:So yeah, I'm out there.
Speaker C:But on my website you can find everything else you need to know about me and other social media.
Speaker B:Well, again, we appreciate you being on.
Speaker B:We had a fantastic time.
Speaker B:This was a great conversation.
Speaker A:It was.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker C:Thank you.
Speaker A:Yes.
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Speaker B:Make sure to go to gun owners.org goals to secure your ticket for the Gun Owners Advocacy and leadership summit happening August 1st and 2nd in beautiful des Moines, Iowa.
Speaker B:You may be able to see Cappy there.
Speaker B:And it is also our 50th anniversary celebration.
Speaker B:So again, go to gunowners.
Speaker B:Org goals to secure your tickets today and we will hopefully see you in Des Moines.
