In 2023, shortly after the Covenant School murders, a new entity suddenly appeared in Tennessee claiming to support the interests of Second Amendment advocates. While there are many entities and activists working to advance and protect Second Amendment rights, you should not assume that every entity claiming to be a Second Amendment organization is automatically worthy of trust or support.
Tennessee Firearms Association has been active and lawfully formed in Tennessee and with the IRS since as early as 1995. The state political action committee, Tennessee Firearms Association Legislative Action Committee, is a registered state PAC since 1996 and has decades of public filings with the state to account for its activities. In 2023, the backers of TFA also formed Tennessee Firearms Foundation, Inc., as a 501c3 charity. TFA and its related entities have a long history of working in Tennessee and working with volunteer and donated efforts of its administrators and members. TFA efforts has also been repeatedly recognized by the Legislature.
TFA’s and TFALAC’s efforts were recently proclaimed by Congressman Mark Green, conservative advocate and entertainer John Rich and Erich Pratt, Sr. Vice President of Gun Owners of America at the TFALAC 2023 Annual Event which was a massive celebration for the defeat of Governor Lee’s Red Flag Special Session.
Aside from politically active groups, there are other groups in Tennessee with good reputations relative to gun owners including various shooting organizations (like Project Appleseed), groups promoting specific shooting competitions, collectors and hunting groups. Of relevance to this commentary, there is an entity that has been in Tennessee for many years known as “TN Gun Owners” or to some simply “TGO”. TGO was formed in 1997 and is known by many as one of the online forums that has supporters who are interested in almost anything that is firearms related. TGO has an good reputation among gun owners.
Following the Covenant Shooting, Gov. Lee called for the Legislature to pass a Red Flag law. That obviously increased public attention on 2nd Amendment issues in Tennessee and public willingness to be involved.
On April 19, 2023, shortly after Gov. Lee publicly demanded a Red Flag law, a new entity was formed in Tennessee under the name “Tennessee Gun Owners” – see Secretary of State’s Business Search. This entity has a mailing address on 12th Avenue South in Nashville which appears to be a private mail box at a UPS store. This entity sent out mailers asking for money to fight the Red Flag issue and directs people to mail them your credit card number in care of “Chris Dorr”.
The recent formation by Dorr of a Tennessee entity appears similar to other organizations which appear to have been set up in other states that some reports also link to Chris Dorr or others in his family. The Dorr entity continues to solicit funds by suggesting it is a Tennessee based organization through its name selection (see email body below).
But a simple search of the Internet suggests it is not truly based in Tennessee nor is it operating by individuals based in Tennessee. An Internet search will generate plenty of reports that would cause a cautious person to think twice before supporting any of the numerous entities apparently fabricated or controlled by Chris Dorr. For example:
https://www.cleveland.com/open/2019/08/how-one-ohio-gun-rights-group-aims-to-upend-the-public-debate-by-scaring-republicans.html
https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/report-ohio-fundraising-scam-aimed-gun-owners
https://conventionofstates.com/news/the-dorr-brothers-a-detriment-to-freedom
https://www.mnscammersexposed.com/minnesota-gun-rights/
The purpose of this message is to make clear that Tennessee Firearms Association, as well as the PAC, TFALAC, are not affiliated with the Dorr entity or its attempts to fund raise from Tennesseans.
TFA does not recommend or endorse Dorr entity and has no working relationship with it. Further, if you check the TN Gun Owners (the one formed in 1997) web forum you will see its warning to those familiar with it that makes clear that it is not affiliated with the Dorr entity.
These are samples of the kinds of pleas for money that the Dorr entity is sending to Tennesseans. You can take whatever action you like but be aware that this entity is not in any way related to, recommended by or working with Tennessee Firearms Association.
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