American Firearms Association Overall Rating: [2.6 / 5.0]
American Firearms Association (AFA) delivers fiery, no compromise rhetoric at a bargain entry fee, yet its mixed legislative track record and mounting transparency questions keep it solidly middle of the pack.
Summary
Founded by the Dorr brothers in Columbus, Ohio, AFA bills itself as a national “grass roots mobilization” outfit that pressures lawmakers through email blasts, petitions, and social video. Membership starts at $35 and includes action alerts, a decal, and a promotional T-shirt. The group claims credit for Stand Your Ground and constitutional carry wins in several states, but critics argue that its aggressive fund raising outpaces concrete policy results.
Evaluation Criteria
Quality & Reliability
AFA’s staff touts successful pushes for Stand Your Ground laws in Wyoming and Missouri as proof of on the ground influence. They highlight direct‐mail tactics and Statehouse lobbying to keep gun bills moving forward.
Skeptics counter that victories often arrive only after other groups lay groundwork. GOP Rep. Matt Windschitl called the Dorr network a “scam” on the Iowa House floor and urged donors to walk away.
Notable examples
- Wyoming Stand Your Ground (2018)
- Missouri Constitutional Carry (2016)
- Iowa Stand Your Ground (2017)
Customer Experience
Supporters enjoy fast email action links and regular text alerts, which make contacting Congress painless. Signup takes under two minutes and accepts Apple Pay.
The flip side is relentless fundraising. New subscribers report several messages per day and see little segmentation. One Reddit user wrote, “Persistence is a trait of scammers.”
Value for Money
AFA keeps dues lower than NRA or GOA, and perks such as free shirts add perceived value. However, Daily Beast and Trace investigations suggest donations often circle back to family run consultancies, reducing advocacy spend.
Comparable hard line groups like FPC file frequent federal lawsuits, giving members clearer ROI.
Industry Reputation
Some influencers and lawmakers publicly thank the group for backing pro gun bills, calling its presence “no hold barred.”
Yet mainstream gun rights coalitions and state associations label AFA “parasitic” or “counter productive.” FOX 9 and other outlets have questioned its nonprofit status and tactics.
Other
AFA operates on X, Gab, Telegram, and YouTube, giving it redundancy if one platform throttles gun content. The group’s Abolish ATF / Repeal NFA action portal keeps pressure high while collecting voter data.
User Feedback Highlights
- “Thank you American Firearms Association for your support!” – Rep. Bob Good on twitter.com
- “I would say ‘no’…persistence is a trait of scammers.” – Reddit
We actively gather feedback from the broader firearms community to ensure our reviews reflect a range of real-world experiences.
American Firearms Association Final Verdict
AFA fires up inboxes and rallies hard core activists, yet inconsistent policy wins and persistent transparency doubts limit its upside. Budget minded gunners should weigh cheaper dues against murky impact before clicking “donate.”
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