Gun Owners of Arkansas Hosts First Annual Fundraiser for 4H Shooting Sports
By: Abranda Stephens
Gun Owners of Arkansas (GO-AR) held their first annual fundraiser in support of 4H Shooting Sports at the Vines Center in Little Rock. The event was a resounding success, drawing top-tier speakers, including some who traveled from Washington, D.C., to show their support.
The Importance of 4H Shooting Sports
Caitlin Cooper, Delta District 4H Vice President and daughter of Representative Cameron Cooper, spoke about the challenges facing 4H Shooting Sports. An active White County 4H member since the age of five, Caitlin shared her personal experience:
In 2020, my Shooting Sports Club was disbanded, along with several others she explained. Four years later, White County still does not have an active Shooting Sports Club.
The problem, she emphasized, is not a lack of leadership or volunteers but a lack of funding and access to a meeting space. Rising ammunition costs, expensive training gear, and liability concerns make it difficult to find a practice location.
Caitlin underscored the vital role of shooting sports for youth of all backgrounds, offering them skills and opportunities they might not otherwise have. Shooting sports instill discipline, good sportsmanship, and dedication values that will benefit young people far beyond the range. She also highlighted how the sport fosters a deep respect for marksmanship and the Second Amendment.
A Warning from History
Michelle Graetz, a member of the Gun Owners of Arkansas Board of Directors, spoke on the importance of voter education and civic engagement. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Michelle is proud of her legal American citizenship and understands first hand the stark difference between gun rights in the U.S. and other countries.
She detailed the restrictive gun laws of Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic where firearm ownership is a privilege, not a right. In her home country, obtaining a firearm is a costly, bureaucratic nightmare. A $600 gun in the U.S. would cost $10,000 there, requiring extensive testing, licensing fees, background checks, and annual mental evaluations. If a self-defense shooting occurs, the burden of proof is often on the gun owner, with the risk of severe legal consequences.
Michelle recounted the history of the Dominican Republic Civil War, when citizens once had access to weapons and successfully overthrew a tyrannical government. However, in 1965, a new law stripped civilians of their gun rights while empowering the government a lesson in the dangers of disarming the people.
"We are always just one incident away from losing our rights," Michelle warned. "This is why we must support Gun Owners of Arkansas."
Commissioner of State Lands, Tommy Land, discussed the importance of maintaining a clear, constitutional focus in government, comparing it to the precise survey work that established Arkansas boundaries during the Louisiana Purchase. He warned that when government expands beyond its original intent, it strays into areas it was never meant to control.
"Broad is the way that leads to destruction, but narrow is the way that leads to life everlasting," he said, invoking Biblical principles. He encouraged continued support for
GO-AR and the protection of Second Amendment rights.
Chris Stone, Director of State and Local Affairs for Gun Owners of America, emphasized the importance of 4H Shooting Sports and the need to understand how anti-gun movements operate.
Quoting Sun Tzu, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles," he explained how the Left infiltrates Hollywood, corporate America, and education to erode support for gun rights.
"They gaslight us into feeling responsible for what criminals do with firearms, as if we would do the same," he said. "But look around this room you are part of a movement of patriotic, freedom-loving Americans who only want to do the right thing."
Chris warned that opponents of gun rights work through slow, incremental attacks. Their goal is not immediate
but gradual erosion, pushing for small compromises until the Second Amendment is meaningless.
He stressed that the fight for gun rights is not just about today, but about ensuring future generations understanding and defending their freedoms. "We must build a unified team," he urged. "Everything is about the second amendment. Everything is about defending life and the pursuit of happiness."
Congressman Bruce Westerman, U.S. Representative for Arkansas 4th Congressional District, applauded the GO-AR focused mission of defending the Second Amendment. He spoke about his success in passing Act 746, which expanded gun rights in Arkansas, and challenged attendees to take action in protecting their freedoms.
He quoted Daniel Webster's 1825 speech:
"Let us develop resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests and see whether we also in our day and generation may not perform something worthy to be remembered."
"Defending the Second Amendment is something worthy to be remembered," he added. "Without it, no other rights survive."
Congressman Clay Higgins, U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District and a member of the House Freedom Caucus, delivered a passionate closing address.
Reflecting on his family’s history from European indentured servants to American patriots he emphasized that the right to bear arms is not just about personal defense but about preserving freedom itself.
"Some of us make no apology for our love of country," he said. "We will stand, we will fight, for the core principles, culture, and heritage of America."
Higgins reminded the audience that government, by its nature, is corruptible. This is why we have the Second Amendment.
Ending on a powerful note, he spoke of America’s resilience. "They tried to kill our President twice that I can speak of," he said, "But we are an anointed land, an anointed people. We are stepping into a rebirth of American core principles."
The GO-AR fundraiser was more than just an event it was a rallying cry for gun owners and defenders of the Second Amendment. The night reinforced the importance of standing together, educating the next generation, and ensuring that programs like 4H Shooting Sports continue to instill the values of responsibility, discipline, and patriotism.
Gun Owners of Arkansas has set a strong foundation for future events, proving that the fight for freedom is alive and well in the Natural State.
Abranda Stephens is an independent journalist who loves to bring forward engaging stories for everyone to enjoy.
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