Dudley Brown
Encyclopedia
Dudley W. Brown is a pro-gun lobbyist
, as well as the founder and executive director
of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
based in Denver, Colorado
. Brown's organization bills itself as a "no-compromise" pro-gun Second Amendment
group.
Dudley Brown is also the executive director of the National Association for Gun Rights, a group that serves as an umbrella coordinator for various state-level pro-gun organizations.
Brown is a member of the Republican Party
.
, and founded the CSU College Republicans
. After Brown’s 1989 graduation, he served as Northern Colorado Director for U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong
. In 1990, when Armstrong retired, Brown became the Media Director for the Colorado House of Representatives Republican Caucus. In 1992, Brown became the deputy campaign manager for the unsuccessful Republican congressional campaign of Brian Day in Colorado’s 2nd District.
Brown currently resides in Northern Colorado.
Brown is a weapons instructor and avid shooter, as well as a leader in Colorado's conservative movement.
Brown has appeared as a guest on Fox News, Hannity & Colmes, CNBC's Geraldo Rivera, the NBC Nightly News, and numerous other media outlets.
, and supporting specific legislation to relax concealed carry regulations. Brown often criticizes the National Rifle Association
as being soft on gun control.
"We're not afraid to be called radicals on the gun issue," says Brown. "Because that's what we are."
In the wake of Columbine High School, Colorado voters passed Amendment 22, a voter-initiated measure requiring background checks of gun purchases at gun shows, closing the so-called "gun show loophole". Brown opposed the initiative, stating, "We're under assault right now. We feel like the Jews did in Nazi Germany."
In 2002, a complaint was filed against Brown with the Colorado Secretary of State, alleging that a fund-raising letter Brown authored supporting the congressional campaign of Marilyn Musgrave
violated state law. The Associated Press
reported that Brown wrote a January 21, 2002 letter soliciting donations to Musgrave's congressional campaign. The complaint filed claimed, "As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Brown is clearly prohibited from fund-raising while the General Assembly is in session." Brown called the complaint "frivolous" and apparently a judge agreed, as the case was summarily dismissed.
Brown is well known for involving his organization in Republican primary election
s at the state and local levels.
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, as well as the founder and executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, or RMGO, is a Colorado non-profit organization which supports the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the Colorado State Bill of Rights. The promotion of firearm ownership rights, right to carry, and right to self-defense in...
based in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. Brown's organization bills itself as a "no-compromise" pro-gun Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
group.
Dudley Brown is also the executive director of the National Association for Gun Rights, a group that serves as an umbrella coordinator for various state-level pro-gun organizations.
Brown is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Biography
Brown is a 1989 graduate of Colorado State UniversityColorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, and founded the CSU College Republicans
College Republicans
The College Republican National Committee is a national organization for college and university students who support the Republican Party of the United States...
. After Brown’s 1989 graduation, he served as Northern Colorado Director for U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong
William L. Armstrong
William Lester "Bill" Armstrong is an American businessman and politician. He is member of the Republican party and was a United States Representative and Senator from Colorado. Armstrong was born in Fremont, Nebraska...
. In 1990, when Armstrong retired, Brown became the Media Director for the Colorado House of Representatives Republican Caucus. In 1992, Brown became the deputy campaign manager for the unsuccessful Republican congressional campaign of Brian Day in Colorado’s 2nd District.
Brown currently resides in Northern Colorado.
Brown is a weapons instructor and avid shooter, as well as a leader in Colorado's conservative movement.
RMGO Activities
In 1993, Brown became Legislative Director of the Firearms Coalition of Colorado and contract lobbyist for the Colorado State Shooting Association (the NRA state affiliate). In 1996 Brown founded Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), a no-compromise gun rights lobby concentrating on Colorado, which operates independently of other gun rights organizations. He is the only professional lobbyist to endure the 9-year battle for a "shall issue" concealed carry law in ColoradoBrown has appeared as a guest on Fox News, Hannity & Colmes, CNBC's Geraldo Rivera, the NBC Nightly News, and numerous other media outlets.
Political activities
Dudley Brown's lobbying activities have focused on influencing the Colorado Legislature, both in opposing new gun legislation such as that proposed in the wake of the Columbine High School massacreColumbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, and supporting specific legislation to relax concealed carry regulations. Brown often criticizes the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
as being soft on gun control.
"We're not afraid to be called radicals on the gun issue," says Brown. "Because that's what we are."
In the wake of Columbine High School, Colorado voters passed Amendment 22, a voter-initiated measure requiring background checks of gun purchases at gun shows, closing the so-called "gun show loophole". Brown opposed the initiative, stating, "We're under assault right now. We feel like the Jews did in Nazi Germany."
In 2002, a complaint was filed against Brown with the Colorado Secretary of State, alleging that a fund-raising letter Brown authored supporting the congressional campaign of Marilyn Musgrave
Marilyn Musgrave
Marilyn Neoma Musgrave , American politician, is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives who served from 2003 to 2009, representing the 4th District of Colorado....
violated state law. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that Brown wrote a January 21, 2002 letter soliciting donations to Musgrave's congressional campaign. The complaint filed claimed, "As a registered lobbyist, Mr. Brown is clearly prohibited from fund-raising while the General Assembly is in session." Brown called the complaint "frivolous" and apparently a judge agreed, as the case was summarily dismissed.
Brown is well known for involving his organization in Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s at the state and local levels.
See also
- Gun politics in the United StatesGun politics in the United StatesGun politics in the United States refers to an ongoing political and social debate regarding both the restriction and availability of firearms within the United States. It has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics...
- List of United States firearms topics
- Gun Owners of AmericaGun Owners of AmericaGun Owners of America is a gun rights organization in the United States with over 300,000 members. They make efforts to differentiate themselves from the larger National Rifle Association , and have publicly criticized the NRA on multiple occasions for what the GOA considers to be the selling out...
External links
- Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
- OpenSecrets.org Dudley Brown: Federal political contributions
- Colorado Secretary of State Dudley Brown: State-level campaign contributions