This year's Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas, Texas, is shaping up to be one for the ages. Today, the GRPC Planning Committee announced that none other than retired U.S. District Judge Roger "Saint" Benitez will be the keynote speaker at the event. I believe this will be Benitez's first speaking engagement since his retirement, and the first time he's spoken about his decisions striking down many of California's gun control laws (decisions that have, unfortunately, been mostly reversed or stayed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals).
Benitez, as you probably already know, was the man responsible for California's "Freedom Week," where for a period of several days Californians could purchase "large capacity" magazines for the first time in decades. Duncan v. Bonta, which is the challenge to California's magazine ban, is currently pending Supreme Court action, with most Court-watchers anticipating the case will once again be vacated and remanded back to the lower courts after SCOTUS issues its decision in the "assault weapon" ban cases it will hear next term.
Benitez joins a stellar lineup of speakers for this year's event, which also includes:
- Robert Cekada, Director of the ATF
- Robert Leider, ATF Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel
- Brandon Herrera, Second Amendment advocate and Congressional candidate
- Jared Yanis, host of Guns & Gadgets YouTube channel
- Joseph Greenlee, Director of the Office of Litigation Counsel at the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
- Kenyon Gleason, president of National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
- Shermichael Singleton, political consultant, television anchor, CNN analyst
- Jeff Folloder, Executive Director, NFA Trade and Collectors Association
- Chris Boeck, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Silencer Shop
- Fernando Nava, Second Amendment advocate and owner of Rusty Wheel Ranch
- Cam Edwards, editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the Cam & Company podcast
- John Petrolino, writer, firearms instructor, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use
I was already excited to be among the speakers at this year's Gun Rights Policy Conference, which will take place September 25-27 at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel, but the inclusion of Judge Benitez as the keynote speaker just makes it even better.
The recent addition of Robert Cekada and Robert Leider to the GRPC program is also worth noting. Did you think you'd ever see the ATF Director and Chief Counsel get invited to talk to gun owners, or that they'd accept the invitation?
Brandon Herrera's appearance will also likely generate a significant amount of press attention in Texas and beyond, given that GRPC will take place just a little more than a month before Election Day and Herrera's Democrat opponent in TX-23 has been doing her best (with an assist from the gun control lobby) to make his support for the Second Amendment the primary issue in their race.
I think every Gun Rights Policy Conference is worth attending, but this year Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (where, in full disclosure, I serve as an unpaid board member) are really taking the event to a whole new level. If you haven't already registered and made your plans to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on September 25-27, don't wait too long to sign up! GRPC will be here before you know it, and though you'll be able to watch online, it's an event that's well worth attending in person.