Business covers membership, scholarship, community drives
Right to Bear representative Don Barlow spoke to the Bandera County Republican Women on Thursday, April 3, at the Flying L Lodge Restaurant.
Barlow has been a firearms instructor for more than 20 years and works with Right to Bear, a Second Amendment advocacy organization that offers training, education, and legal defense coverage for members involved in selfdefense shootings.
Its services include unlimited criminal and civil liability defense for members involved in selfdefense situations with not just guns, but any type of weapon. Barlow stated that even when a shooting is found to be justified, legal defense is necessary— especially for individuals at risk of bankruptcy while fighting to prove their innocence.
Barlow used compelling statistics to support his points during the presentation. He cited the 40,000 gun deaths that occur each year in the United States, including incidents involving law enforcement, military, suicides, and criminal actions.
According to Barlow, there are 466 million guns in the United States. When police and military ownership is excluded, 393 million of those are held by private citizens. Of that number, 23 million AR-15s are owned by civilians.
He noted that actual homicides by gun amount to only 17,000 annually. “We need the honest facts about the subject matter,” Barlow said. He also reported that there were 80,000 gun violations recorded in the United States in 2023—a figure that includes all violations, not just homicides.
While Barlow supports the Second Amendment, he emphasized that the clause “well-regulated militia” is a critical part of the law’s interpretation. He also stated that some individuals should not own guns— something he has observed firsthand as an instructor.
“Gun violence is not a problem in America. We have a violence problem,” Barlow said. He asserted that situational awareness is one of the most important skills a person can develop, and he credits firearms training with enhancing that awareness. “It is not the pistol that saves you. It is the preparation that saves you.”
Jennifer Johnson with the Kerrville Pregnancy Center spoke briefly about the organization’s work to support pregnant mothers.
The club’s minutes from March and the treasurer’s report were approved and submitted for the record.
The group reported two new members: Raquel Irving and Jessica Tomassi. President Brandi Conover stated that the club’s goal is 50 members.
Treasurer Sharon Striegl gave an update on the challenge coin project. Members voted unanimously to spend club funds to purchase coins as mementos and gifts for guest speakers.
Scholarship chair Liz Garcia gave a report on that initiative. The deadline for applications is April 25. Both high schools in the county have forms available for graduating seniors, which can be obtained from school counselors.
Conover updated the group on the annual spaghetti dinner, which raises funds for the scholarship program. The 2025 dinner will be held on Sept. 19. Conover said the group is looking for an alternative venue and passed around a sponsorship list for members to help support the event.
The club’s Border Patrol supply drive is requesting electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade, for agents. While water is provided by the organization, electrolyte drinks are more beneficial in extreme heat. BCRW Secretary Tiffany Shirey has volunteered to transport the supplies during her next trip to the border.
President Conover also noted that the club is engaged in a blanket and stuffed animal drive. She announced that the club will be purchasing and presenting “God Bless America” posters to every school in the county. She said the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 797, which allows the posters to be displayed if donated by an outside organization.
Conover noted that the club has transitioned to an open Facebook page. The page currently has 37 members but could grow to 500.
She encouraged members to get involved in the club by volunteering for committees and officer roles. “There are plenty of opportunities to engage with our many activities,” she said.
The next meeting of the Bandera County Republican Women will be Thursday, May 1, at 6 p.m. at the Flying L Restaurant. The speaker will be State Director Rebekah Warwick of Heritage Action for America, an organization that supports conservative policies and the legislative process.
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