The annual Gundie Awards are the people's choice awards of the Second Amendment community. Legendary radio icon Mark Walters has been nominated as a Top Voice of the Second Amendment.
The celebrated and legendary radio talk show host has recently been nominated to receive a Gundie Award. Walters is the host of Armed American Radio, is on the airwaves Monday through Friday, and also for three hours every Sunday. This is the first time Walters has received the nod and he’s vying to be named as the 2026 Top Voice of the Second Amendment.
Mark Walters is having quite the year. Over the summer he was named as a Talkers Heavy 100 radio host. Talkers puts out their list every year of who are the most influential radio show personalities and he ranked in at number 91. Being named as a Heavy 100 radio personality is a top honor for those in the field.
Andy Hooser, also named as a 2025 Heavy 100 radio host, is a colleague and friend of Walters. Hooser has a show out of KQAM in Wichita, The Voice of Reason.
"Mark Walters is one of the greatest American icons and most influential personalities educating listeners on Second Amendment-related issues on a daily basis,” Hooser told Bearing Arms. “His conversations, breakdowns, and analysis of daily gun issues keep Americans engaged in the fight to protect and preserve one of the most important God-given rights we have in this nation. Just as we need the 2nd Amendment to defend our rights, we need Mark to defend the Second Amendment."
Prior to snagging his place as a Heavy 100 show host, Walters made a huge announcement about a new sponsor. Walters picked up the National Rifle Association in 2025 as a sponsor of Armed American Radio. The move was monumental for both Walters and the Association.
During tumultuous years at the Association, Walters was critical of the then disgraced leadership. Walters coming arm in arm with the NRA is a sign that one of the loudest critics of the group saw they’ve returned to the right path. The NRA sponsoring Walters was a good indication that trust in the Association is returning from the industry insiders.
"It comes as no surprise that Mark Walters has been nominated as a Top 2A Voice at this year's Gundie awards," said Doug Hamlin, CEO and executive vice president of the NRA. "Throughout his career, Mark has been a leader on the front lines in the fight for freedom. He is a world-class interviewer who does a fantastic job informing gun owners about emerging issues while also motivating them to play an active role in protecting their Second Amendment rights."
Walters also serves as an unpaid volunteer director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Longtime friend, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation and chairman of CCRKBA, Alan Gottlieb, celebrated Walters’ nomination.
"Mark Walters is the loudest voice on national radio defending our gun rights,” Gottlieb said. “It is not surprising that he has been nominated for a Gundie Award. He surely deserves it!"
Bearing Arms’ Editor-in-chief Cam Edwards serves on the board of CCRKBA with Walters — and myself — also expressed his warm wishes. (Edwards managed to snag a 2026 Gundie nomination for Top Podcast. Another worthy nomination deserving of votes!) Walters is a frequent guest on Edwards’ podcast Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co for “Mondays With Mark.”
“Mark is an outstanding broadcaster, a passionate advocate for our Second Amendment rights, a great friend, and a good man,” Edwards said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to see he’s been nominated, and it’s well deserved.”
Voting for the annual Gundie Awards starts on December 1. Participants can head to TheGundies.com and vote daily from Dec. 1 to 15. Mark your calendars and get out there to show your support for one of the loudest, proudest, and biggest voices defending our freedoms, Mark Walters.
[Editor's Note: John is far too modest to toot his own horn, but he too has been nominated for a Gundie in the category of Top 2A Writer. I hope you'll cast a vote for him along with your vote for Mark Walters (and myself, if you're so inclined) when the voting starts on December 1.]
Editor's Note: Second Amendment champions like Mark Walters are doing everything they can to protect our 2A rights and right to self-defense.
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