I'm a homeschool father. I'm a Second Amendment guy. Those two things do, occasionally, intersect as I talk about our rights with my daughter. It has the benefit of making sure she actually understands those rights as they really are, not what someone wants you to think they are.

Of course, many would argue my approach to this subject is wrongheaded, but since these are the same people who tend to see education as an opportunity to indoctrinate people into their own politics, I really don't care what they think.

That brings me to the GOA's GOALS 2025 conference.

I missed the 2024 one, but I hope to make this year's. Yet a press release sent on Tuesday makes that hope even stronger.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to announce that John Lovell, founder and CEO of the Warrior Poet Society, and his wife, Alyssa Lovell, will host a featured panel at the 2025 Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS), taking place August 9–10 in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

The panel, titled “Homeschool and 2A Education,” will explore how families can reclaim their children’s education, reject failed institutions, and raise the next generation to value faith, freedom, and the right to bear arms. 

Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President of Gun Owners of America, issued the following statement: 

“The same system that tries to erase your rights is the one shaping your children’s worldview. John and Alyssa are empowering families to push back—and to raise kids who won’t trade liberty for comfort. This is exactly the kind of bold leadership GOALS was built to showcase.” 

Kailey Nieman, Director of Development and Marketing for Gun Owners of America, said: 

“The Lovells are not just teaching math and reading—they’re forming patriots. Their example is helping parents across America rediscover their God-given authority and raise a generation that isn’t afraid to speak truth or stand for freedom.” 

The fact that I've followed Lovell on YouTube for quite some time now is just a pleasant bonus.

The truth of the matter is that even if your kids are in a traditional school, parents should still take on at least some duties of education. When my son was in public school, we'd discuss what he was learning and talk about it. I'd show him where his teachers got it wrong--some do, after all, and plenty are pretty arrogant about how they couldn't be--and as a result, I raised a young man who values his rights, including his right to keep and bear arms.

My daughter is on a different path, but one that emphasizes rights just the same.

I don't know if I ever knew that the Lovells were a homeschool family or not, but considering he's also here in Georgia and the state of schools here, I can't say that I'm particularly surprised. If I did know, I apparently forgot it.

Regardless, Lovell's approach to things has been one that I'm particularly fond of in the gun world. I look forward to the opportunity to talk about something that's generally thought of as outside of it, but doesn't have to be.