John Velleco (@Velleco) profile picture

Executive vice president of @GunOwners

Joined January 2010
Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)Photo by John Velleco (@Velleco)
John Velleco retweeted
Another bogus claim by the @AP, @JimVertuno "Few mass shootings in the U.S. end like the deadly attack on an Oregon elementary school: with an armed civilian opening fire on the gunman." koin.com/news/national/ap-or… WRONG. The media won't cover them, but there are lots of mass public shootings stopped by legally armed citizens. crimeresearch.org/2023/06/ub… Lots of active shootings stopped. crimeresearch.org/2026/09/ma…
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⚠️ATF has utterly failed to consider the national security implications of its centralized government storage of gun owner data ⤵️ "Just two years prior to the FOPA’s enactment, the 1984 film 'Red Dawn' released to great commercial success. In one scene depicting a Soviet-backed invasion of the United States, invading Nicaraguan troops were instructed to '[g]o to the sporting goods store' and '[f]rom the files, obtain form 4473,' which 'w[ould] contain descriptions of weapons and lists of private ownership' for confiscation. "Just as is the case now, the 1980s American public widely understood that FFL recordkeeping requirements established a de facto registry of gun owners. In fact, some commenters on @ATFHQ’s 1985 rulemaking expressed 'fears that the recordkeeping will be used as a data base for future firearms registration.' "However unlikely, a Red Dawn-style ground invasion exemplifies the sort of risks inherent in collecting and storing gun owners’ names and addresses in firearm transaction records. But other forms of attack are far more likely. "For instance, foreign adversaries may have an interest in collecting intelligence on the United States’ defense capabilities. That could include the capabilities of the United States’ own citizen militia. Indeed, the Chinese Communist Party already has been caught operating secret 'police stations' within the United States for the purpose of attacking dissidents. "It stands to reason that foreign actors also would attempt to infiltrate government agencies – ATF included. No doubt, a digitized record of every commercial gun sale in the country would be valuable to this nation’s adversaries, for any number of reasons. "Thus, ATF should consider and factor into its rulemaking the national security risks of centralizing data on gun owners’ personal property and whereabouts, particularly in light of recent breaches of governmental data. Indeed, gun owners’ privacy concerns – and the risks of inadvertent or intentional breach – have only exacerbated since ATF began digitizing transaction records in 2006."
GOA formally warned @ATFHQ about the security risk posed by ATF's gun registries as recently as May 2026: "Gun owners’ privacy concerns—and the risks of inadvertent or intentional breach—have only exacerbated since ATF began digitizing transaction records."
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John Velleco retweeted
Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) explains why he filmed himself making a purchase for a supressor
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John Velleco retweeted
The easiest way to enjoy onjuctive relief from the NFA is by joining GOA! Join Gun Owners of America: alnk.to/6IJxMBd
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When they tell you their end goal, believe them!
So the gun-grabbers at Giffords have endorsed a candidate who supports abolishing the Second Amendment.🤪 That tells you everything you need to know about the anti-gun Left—and what they ultimately want to do to your Second Amendment rights.
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Suppressors are about to be so normalized that shooting unsuppressed may soon be more unusual to hear at the range. Next, let's get suppressors out of the GCA completely and treat them for what they are; accessories
Can we get another community note to correct this lying anti-gun activist? Under GOA’s injunction, silencers are now treated like every other firearm and require a background check on commercial transfers.
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The next generation will scratch their heads that we put up with such a nonsensical, unconstitutional law for more than 90 years. But @GunOwners for the win!
“I think this is an incredible moment for the Second Amendment. This is a historic and generational win for gun owners to have a gun law that was in effect for 92 years actually get repealed,” @RealGunLobbyist, federal affairs director of the Gun Owners of America, told The @FDRLST in a phone interview. “It’s very, very seldom that once we give up a Second Amendment right, that we actually get it back.” “What we did last night was as about as covered as you could possibly be under the injunctions because these were two suppressors made by companies that are covered, sold by an FFL who’s covered, to the two customers that the injunction says were covered, and those customers were also GOA members who were covered,” Johnston said. “So there’s no way that @ATFHQ could say ‘You can’t do this.’” Johnston also noted most people “aren’t as covered on all sides” and encouraged them to “consult an attorney about your specific circumstances” before proceeding.
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🚨BREAKING🚨 It's official! @SilencerShop completed the first lawful, unregistered suppressor transfer since June 26th, 1934. @TheAKGuy's purchase was approved & @WesVirdellTX skipped the background check with his concealed carry permit. This is One Big Beautiful Victory. 🇺🇸🔫
🚨BREAKING🚨 It is 12:01 am on August 13th, 2026. @TheAKGuy & @WesVirdellTX are purchasing the first unregistered suppressors from @SilencerShop. These GOA members will not be filing a Form 4 or complying with the other enjoined provisions of the National Firearms Act.🔥
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🚨BREAKING🚨 It is 12:01 am on August 13th, 2026. @TheAKGuy & @WesVirdellTX are purchasing the first unregistered suppressors from @SilencerShop. These GOA members will not be filing a Form 4 or complying with the other enjoined provisions of the National Firearms Act.🔥
🚨BREAKING🚨 @Rep_Clyde just gave this speech at @SilencerShop's new storefront ahead of the first unregistered suppressor transfer in 92 years. THANK YOU to Congress for gutting the NFA, President Trump for making it law, and to every gun owner for your activism!
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John Velleco retweeted
🚨 BREAKING: I’ve received confirmation from the Trump Administration that the DOJ will NOT appeal our historic court victory against the NFA. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP and Attorney General Blanche, for delivering the most significant Second Amendment win in OVER 90 YEARS!
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John Velleco retweeted
A heroic armed citizen tried to take out a gunman as he opened fire on an Idaho In-N-Out, according to heart-stopping video & witnesses Footage shows a man with a handgun exchanging fire with the shooter outside the restaurant in Twin Falls, ID nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-new… #2a #guns
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John Velleco retweeted
The Second Amendment Opinion That Scrambled the Partisan Script A Biden appointee wrote the sweeping opinion striking down New Jersey’s assault weapon ban. 3 Biden appointees voted to strike down the ban, though one only partially joined the opinion #2a realclearpolitics.com/articl…
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John Velleco retweeted
Good questions from GOA but my question: Did the SCOTUS Chevron reversal (Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo) not happen? Last I checked it did. If so, then why are there any "rules" that aren't mandated by "law?"
Here’s what Senators should be asking Todd Blanche today on behalf of gun owners.⤵️ Recently, @ATFHQ announced 34 new rule changes, many of which will have a positive impact. However, we are concerned that other ATF proposed rules do not deliver on President Trump’s campaign promise to rip up and tear out major Biden-era policies. 1️⃣ For example, ATF’s recordkeeping rule could enable up to 60 years of gun registration, well more than the 20 years that existed prior to 2022. 2️⃣ ATF’s engaged in the business rule seems to agree that Biden’s prior rule was unlawful. But even though a court has now vacated Biden’s rule, ATF’s replacement seems to adopt many of the same concerning legal theories from the Biden rule. 3️⃣ And ATF’s pistol brace rule seems to claim that every firearm with a pistol brace is unique, and the only way to find out if a firearm is a short-barreled rifle is to submit it to ATF. If so, this would leave gun owners without any clarity as to whether they are violating federal law. 4️⃣ This pistol brace rulemaking is especially disturbing since last year Congress eliminated the taxation on short barreled firearms in the One Big Beautiful Bill. As you know, DOJ nevertheless has continued to defend the NFA’s legitimacy in court, much to the chagrin of both Congress and gun owners. 5️⃣ In fact, this Department of Justice was the first in history to lose a Second Amendment case at the Supreme Court 9-0, in United States v. Hemani. Are these holdover policies from @AGPamBondi? What is @TheJusticeDept doing to remedy the situation and truly deliver on President Trump’s executive order entitled “Protecting Second Amendment Rights”?
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John Velleco retweeted
Crossing a State Line Shouldn’t Cost You Your Right to Self-Defense - at Real Clear Politics "Much of the gun-control debate centers on hypothetical risks. With reciprocity, however, we don’t have to speculate." realclearpolitics.com/articl… #2a #guns #concealedcarry #guncontrol
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What a great Women’s Range Day at NH's @sigsauerinc organized by @GunOwners. The professional women trainers are awesome. I learned a few tips I didn’t know before. It made my day to meet a 14-year-old girl who became a #2A advocate.
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John Velleco retweeted
“I’m not looking for a spectator… I’m looking for a fighter” Grateful to have @TheAKGuy ‘s support in the final stretch of the AG race. Our rights are non-negotiable.
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