Though it's a relatively new organization, the Second Amendment Institute has been a voice for freedom since 2016. The 501(C)3 was founded by Tyler Yzaguirre and the organization honors what it calls "Second Amendment Champions" every year. The 2025 awards ceremony was recently held in Washington, D.C. and the award recipients were former Navy SEAL Robert J. O’Neill and Patriot Mobile. O’Neill is best known for claiming to have neutralized Osama bin Laden, as well as the ensuing controversy over his claim that followed.
The Second Amendment Champion award was started by SAI in 2021. The awarding of the first recipient coincided with the organization's fifth anniversary. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was the first to receive SAI’s Champion award. Other notable figures who have previously received the award include: Tulsi Gabbard and Gabby Franco in 2024, Rep. Chip Roy and Dianna Muller in 2023, and Amy Swearer and Phil Van Cleave in 2022.
“Every year, the Second Amendment Institute honors distinguished individuals who have either dedicated their life to defending the Second Amendment, started a national grassroots Second Amendment movement, or carried out an act so great for the Second Amendment, that it cannot go unrecognized,” is stated on SAI’s webpage. “Second Amendment Institute dues-paying members, Executive Officers, or Board Members can nominate an individual for this award. The nominee is voted on by the Board of Directors, and announced in May. The ceremony follows in June, coinciding with the Second Amendment Institute’s founding.”
The 2025 ceremony had a sold-out attendance. According to SAI, there were over 130 attendees. Of those who showed up to celebrate, to note were: SAI Board Chairman Lt. Colonel Allen West (retired), Board Member Col. Rob Maness (retired), Dianna Muller, Cheryl Todd, Dick Heller, and Philip Van Cleave.
SAI had a number of national and state-level gun rights organizations and companies that supported the 2025 event. The National Rifle Association, Texas Gun Rights Foundation, Gun Owners’ Action League, and U.S. LawShield® were the primary sponsors of the awards ceremony.
SAI called the event “a powerful celebration of patriotism and constitutional rights, with chairman West telling Bearing Arms, “The 5th annual Second Amendment Institute Champions Award ceremony continues to recognize leading voices and supporters of our constitutional Second Amendment rights.
"It was truly an honor to present our award to U.S. Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill and to Patriot Mobile. America’s founders, and authors of the Constitution, knew the critical importance of the right to keep and bear arms as an individual right against tyranny.”
“I was at the pentagon on 9/11…” Board Member Maness reflected, “fast forwarding to today, on behalf of my 9th Bomb Squadron Bats who risked their lives over and over to get this mission done, it gives me no greater honor than to personally thank the American rifleman, hero, and Navy SEAL who killed that SOB bin Laden, Rob O’Neill.”
The Second Amendment Institute is poised to celebrate their 10th anniversary next year. But before then, they’ll be headed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier this September. On or around Constitution day, SAI will have their third annual wreath laying ceremony at the tomb.
For more information about SAI or to learn about participating in their events, head over to https://www.sainational.org/
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