The letter below was sent from Jerry Strange to the GCO Board of Directors:

Gentlemen,

I thought you might be interested in this event that happened in my daughter’s Business Law class last night, at Jacksonville State University.

As part of my daughter’s senior year of classes, she is required to take a business law class. This class is taught by a professor who is a Board Member of Jacksonville State University, an attorney, and a Judge in the local districts.

It is a small class of maybe 30-40 students, and is taught in a very informal atmosphere. Last night’s topic centered around the impact that businesses or groups of people can have on the laws that affect them. He was trying to explain that groups of people cannot directly make laws about topics that interest them, but that by working in an organized group, they can have a major impact.

He discussed PAC’s, lobbyists, etc., and the way they work. This topic lead to a discussion about issues that had been raised in the past few years concerning JSU. One of the issues had been the carrying of firearms on campus. A group of folks tried to force a lawful action of stopping the carry, and it was shut down when it was explained that it was legal and has
been for quite a while. He explained that the group had not done their homework, and had no idea how the laws worked.

After some discussion, he asked how many students were from Georgia, and about 20 or so raised their hands. He then asked how many had heard of a group called, you guessed it, GeorgiaCarry!!! Only my daughter kept her hand raised. He asked how she was familiar, and she explained that she was a member, as was her dad.

He then went on to teach the class about our background and the way we have had such an impact on the Georgia firearms laws here in the State of Georgia. He used GCO as an example of how a group of people had worked together to influence the lawmakers in Georgia to reach a desired goal.

He then went on to explain that GCO also took on cases for individuals, if they felt it would better the citizens of the State of Georgia. As an example, he started telling about a recent event concerning a “fellow” who had a confrontation at a local State Park, when he was confronted by a ranger demanding to see his GWCL.

At this point, my daughter just busted out loud laughing. The professor asked why, and she had to explain that he was talking about her dad. He laughed, checked her last name, and then replied that he should have remembered the “Strange” last name.

He discussed the events, how it was handled, and used GCO as a model for a group of “citizens” using the legal system for the better good of the group. She told me he was very complimentary of our methods, and liked the methods we used.

Who would have thought, GCO used as an example, a “business model”, in a University in Alabama!

Sincerely,
Jerry Strange

The winner of the Henry Big Boy Rifle is GCO member Andrew Dole, a paramedic from Athens.  Andrew has been a member of GCO since March, 2008.  Below is a picture of the lucky winner along with GCO Diamond Corporate Sponsor and Owner of Autrey’s Armory in Fayetteville, Ben Autrey.  Ben donated the rifle and our newest Platinum Sponsor, GT Virtual Concepts in Newnan donated the beautiful engraving of the GCO logo.

L-R GCO Member Andrew Dole, Ben Autrey

The engraved logo on the Henry Big Boy Rifle has been programmed into a CNC machine and is easily reproducible from GT Virtual Concepts in Newnan. Contact Golda for pricing.

Andrew commented that this was the first thing he had ever won and only bought the ticket the day before the drawing.  He stated he figured he was only donating his money to GCO, which he did as did everyone who bought tickets.  Thanks to all who enter the raffle!  Congratulations to Andrew Dole and many thanks to Autrey’s Armory and GT Virtual Concepts for their generous donations to this fundraiser.

The Rights Ratification Rifle Raffle winning ticket number is 694.   If you have that ticket, please follow the instructions on the back of the ticket.

If you did not win the raffle, please do not destroy your ticket as all tickets were not been sold.  If the winning ticket is one that was not sold, we will extend the date of the drawing 60 days and try again.  Someone will win the rifle, so please do not destroy you chances.

The Henry Rifle was donated to GCO by Diamond Corporate Sponsor, Autrey’s Armory in Fayetteville, GA.  The Henry Rifle has a special serial number of GCO001 and the GCO logo is engraved on the receiver.  The engraving of the receiver has been donated by GT Virtual Concepts located in Newnan, GA.  GT Virtual Concepts manufactures billet machined AR-15 lowers.  This is a beautiful, one of a kind rifle. 

Rules:

The winning number will be the exact three numbers as they are drawn in the GA Lottery Cash 3 drawing held at noon on December 15, 2011.  Tickets will be sold in random order and no person will be allowed to pick the number of any ticket purchased.  Holder of the winning ticket will be required to produce the winning ticket in order to take possession of this rifle.  Holder must also be eligible to own a firearm and will be required to complete any paperwork and background checks required by law in order to take ownership of rifle.  Raffle is open to any citizen who wishes to participate, including Officers and Board Members of GeorgiaCarry.Org.  Winners must notify Jerry Henry @ 404-550-3753 or via email – jhenry@georgiacarry.org in order to collect raffle prize.  Rifle will be on display at Autrey’s Armory in Fayetteville when the engraving is completed until December 15.  GeorgiaCarry.Org is a non-profit organization.

James Camp, GCO Board Member and Founding Member of GCO has qualified to run for the State House District 68 seat vacated by Tim Bearden.  District 68 includes part of Carroll and Douglas Counties. This is an opportunity for GCO Members to get behind James with your support and vote a real patriot in state government.

James believes that people are looking for leadership within their government to get our spending back within budgetary guidelines and to get government out of the way of the free market so we can pull ourselves out of this sluggish economy.  James also believes that our sovereignty as a state has been eroded away by intrusive federal bureaucracy and that we  need to get the federal government out of state rights issues and back within its limited power as mandated by the federal constitution.

James lives just outside of Temple, GA with his wife of 7 years, Misa.  James has been employed as a senior IT technician for the past 5 years with a small IT consulting firm in Carrollton.

This is an important race, that stands to not only affect residents of House District 68, but the entire state of Georgia. James will be an incredible asset to those of us that are firearms owners, hunters, and honest hard working people.

Please visit James’ website at http://www.campforhouse.org/.  Those who are available to volunteer to help James can contact him here.

GCO is currently holding this raffle as a fundraising event.  Funds from the raffle will be utilized to offset costs with lawsuits, help pay for the Annual Convention and maintain GCO’s sound financial condition.  

Rules:

The winning number will be the exact three numbers as they are drawn in the GA Lottery Cash 3 drawing held at noon on December 15, 2011.  Tickets will be sold in random order and no person will be allowed to pick the number of any ticket purchased.  Holder of the winning ticket will be required to produce the winning ticket in order to take possession of this rifle.  Holder must also be eligible to own a firearm and will be required to complete any paperwork and background checks required by law in order to take ownership of rifle.  Raffle is open to any citizen who wishes to participate, including Officers and Board Members of GeorgiaCarry.Org.  Winners must notify Jerry Henry @ 04-550-3753 or via email – jhenry@georgiacarry.org in order to collect raffle prize.  Rifle will be on display at Autrey’s Armory in Fayetteville when the engraving is completed until December 15.  GeorgiaCarry.Org is a non-profit organization.

Tickets for the Rights Ratification Rifle Raffle are now on sale through the GCO Store and will be available at gun shows and the recruiting venues that are listed in the Calendar of events while they last.

Tickets are $20 each and available here.

GCO Board Member, Past President and a Founding Member of GCO has thrown his hat into the ring for the State Senate seat vacated last week by Mitch Seabaugh. District 28 includes Coweta, Heard, and parts of Carroll and Troup Counties. This is an opportunity for GCO Members to get behind Ed and vote for a real patriot in state government.

“Free markets lead to free men”, Stone said at the Newnan GOP Breakfast on October 8 in Newnan according to the Times-Herald article that can be found here.

This is an important race, that stands to not only affect residents of district 28, but the entire state of Georgia. Ed will be an incredible asset to those of us that are firearms owners, hunters, and honest hard working people.

Ed is former military, Law Enforcement officer, and is a practicing attorney in Coweta County. Can you, as a Georgia firearms owner, imagine what your life would be like without the support of GCO and Ed Stone’s foresight and leadership in the fight for second amendment rights?

Information on how you can help Ed Stone’s candidacy will be made available shortly.

Dekalb County Police Chief William O’Brien has filed an answer to GCO’s lawsuit in which GCO complaints that the department takes longer than 30 days to process background checks for GWLs. In his answer, Chief O’Brien denies every allegation in the complaint except that he is the police chief. He even denies that he is responsible for the department. A copy of the answer may be viewed here.

The Georgia General Assembly has been called into special session that began on Monday, August 15, 2011.  Only redistricting and issues put in the Governor’s call can be voted on during the special session.  There are no firearms legislation included in the Governor’s call.

Although this is a good time to visit with or meet your elected representatives and get to know them, it is not the time to push for firearm legislation as none will be heard or voted on during this special session.  GeorgiaCarry.Org continues to work with the members of the general assembly in preparation for the 2012 session and expected action on firearms legislation for the upcoming year.

GeorgiaCarry.Org will continue to work in the same manner that has been so successful in the past in restoring our Second Amendment rights.

GCO has alerted the Clerk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit of the recent ruling in the 7th Circuit, which held that law-abiding citizens are entitled to a higher standard of review for Second Amendment cases than intermediate scrutiny. GCO had argued that very point in its reply brief in its Church Carry Case. The 7th Circuit now has adopted GCO’s very argument. Federal Appellate rules permit a party to write a letter to the clerk of the appellate court to advise the court of new court decisions that are pertinent to the case. GCO’s letter may be viewed here.