{"id":91157,"date":"2023-03-24T14:11:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T19:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=91157"},"modified":"2023-03-24T14:11:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T19:11:34","slug":"91157","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=91157","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssusa.org\/content\/dianna-muller-and-the-d-c-project\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dianna Muller And The D.C. Project<\/a><br \/>\nWomen of the D.C. Project meet with lawmakers to bring Second Amendment message.<\/p>\n<p>Last September, the all-women D.C. Project had another successful trip to Washington, D.C., bringing its Second Amendment message that resonated with legislators on Capitol Hill. On a mission to share its credo that gun rights are human rights, the D.C. Project\u2019s visit culminated in a successful rally at the Supreme Court Building.<\/p>\n<p>The D.C. Project is a nationwide organization of women committed to safeguarding the Second Amendment. Started in 2016 by pro shooter and former NRA World Shooting Lady Champion, Dianna Muller, she had one goal\u2014bringing this rapidly-growing demographic of gun owners in direct connection with legislators. Women can provide another perspective on the Second Amendment to lawmakers, including their involvement in competitive shooting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ssusa.org\/media\/wcxj2yjx\/dc-project-women2023-4.jpg\" alt=\"Dianna Muller\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image-caption\"><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">Dianna Muller started the D.C. Project in 2016 to bring women firearm owners in connection with lawmakers. She is pictured on the right testifying last month before the Florida House Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law and Government Operations subcommittee about the Permitless Carry Bill.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>During the three-day trip to Washington, D.C. in September, 51 delegates representing 48 states met with legislators, both Republican and Democrat, to advocate for the Second Amendment. With a jam-packed schedule during their visit, the D.C. Project\u2019s delegates attended 135 meetings, including a reception hosted by the Congressional Second Amendment Caucus.<\/p>\n<p>At least one House Republican was impressed by the D.C. Project\u2019s presentation. \u201cThis organization of women is a game changer,\u201d Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) said. \u201cFor years, anti-gun women and politicians have demanded Congress strip away the rights of law-abiding gun owners; the D.C. Project provides a counter to their misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This was the fifth visit to the nation\u2019s capital for the D.C. Project, and Muller described it as the \u201cmost impactful\u201d trip yet. \u201cWe built bridges by sharing our personal and emotional stories of violence while emphasizing solutions the firearms industry is spearheading in mental health, school safety and firearms education,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h5>D.C. PROJECT WOMEN AND THE SECOND AMENDMENT<\/h5>\n<p>The women of the D.C. Project come from different backgrounds and political beliefs, but have one thing in common\u2014respect for America\u2019s gun culture. \u201cThe Second Amendment is part of the United States Constitution and does not belong to one party,\u201d Muller said. \u201cFemale gun owners are diverse, and have individualized stories and accounts of why the Second Amendment is so important to them. These stories need to be shared as they are representative of many within legislators\u2019 constituencies.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ssusa.org\/media\/s24pnoza\/dc-project-women2023-3.jpg\" alt=\"D.C. Project in Florida\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image-caption\">Beth Walker (left), Dianna Muller and other members of the D.C. Project visited the Florida State Capitol in February to testify before a House Subcommittee.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Like many people, Muller was totally unplugged from politics prior to starting the D.C. Project. That changed during a trip to Washington, D.C., when a friend set her up with her local representative. During that meeting, Muller had an epiphany: \u201cIs there something that pro shooters can do to help educate all of the people in this building?\u201d She got right to work.<\/p>\n<p>Professional shooters such as Muller were key at the beginning of the D.C. Project, and as things progressed, women of all backgrounds joined as she gathered nationwide support. The D.C. Project mushroomed into a full-fledged gun rights organization that advocates at the state and federal levels. \u201cThe Second Amendment really is a uniting issue,\u201d Muller said. \u201cIt\u2019s for every law-abiding citizen of the United States\u2014the Constitution protects the right of every citizen to be armed and to secure themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One of the youngest and most active in the D.C. Project\u2019s leadership is the Indiana State Director, competitive shooter Beth Walker. A member of Team SIG Sauer, she helms the group\u2019s social media channels and, at age 19, \u201cteaches other Gen Zs about the importance and sanctity of essential liberties as Americans.\u201d Last month, Walker accompanied Dianna Muller and other D.C. Project delegates to the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. After Muller testified before the Florida House of Representatives regarding the state\u2019s Permitless Carry Bill, Walker said in a Facebook\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/3gunbeth\/posts\/pfbid02t83p1aVVjeUHCdx3cByGH7tdHwiftKiy8ju2P1oJtHUZwR9c2P8bEEnJEhBR2hwrl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a>, \u201cI am all for true and pure Constitutional Carry and removing government interference in the right to carry. This bill should include the right to open carry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition to standing up for gun rights on Capitol Hill, D.C. Project leaders are also making waves in their home states. Last year, the D.C. Project\u2019s Kansas State Director, Rebecca Schmoe, won her election to land a\u00a0<a title=\"Representative Rebecca Schmoe  District 59 - Republican\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kslegislature.org\/li\/b2023_24\/members\/rep_schmoe_rebecca_1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seat<\/a>\u00a0in the Kansas House of Representatives. Another State Director and a competitive shooter of 50 years, Gina Roberts of California, is a transgender woman and the D.C. Project\u2019s General LGBT Delegate. In November 2020, she became California\u2019s first-ever transgender Republican to win elected office, earning a four-year\u00a0<a title=\"Gina Roberts Becomes California\u2019s First Republican Transgender Elected Official | San Diego News Desk\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sandiegonewsdesk.com\/2020\/11\/gina-roberts-becomes-californias-first-republican-transgender-elected-official\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">term<\/a>\u00a0on the Valley Center Parks and Recreation Board of Directors. (There are many more people from around the United States working with the D.C. Project you can view\u00a0<a title=\"DC Project | About\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dcproject.info\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ssusa.org\/media\/ohgpyqfn\/2022dcproject-1.jpg\" alt=\"Marjorie Taylor Greene\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"rte-image-caption\">D.C. Project Founder Dianna Muller speaks to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) during the September 2022 visit to Washington, D.C.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As for the future, Dianna Muller and the women of the D.C. Project anticipate that the momentum built over the last few years will help push for more Second Amendment advocacy at the state level. \u201cIt\u2019s a culture war and a messaging war. Conservatives and gun owners tend to keep to themselves,\u201d Muller said. \u201cNow is the time for every gun owner to make sure they are supporting an organization, and also educate themselves on why they believe what they believe. You have to know what to say to your friends, your family and your community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>D.C. Project members are also making a difference in the lives of veterans. In February, the group\u2019s Suicide Prevention Educator, Kathleen Gilligan,\u00a0<a title=\"Dept. of Veterans Affairs Awards $1M Grant To DC Project Suicide Prevention Educator\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ssusa.org\/content\/dept-of-veterans-affairs-awards-1m-grant-to-dc-project-suicide-prevention-educator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">won<\/a>\u00a0a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for her Sentinel mobile app, which is designed to aid in preventing veteran suicides. \u201cFor years, the D.C. Project has maintained firearm owners have meaningful solutions to reduce firearms deaths,\u201d Muller said. \u201cThis is an outstanding example.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about the D.C. Project at\u00a0<a title=\"DC Project | Women for Gun Rights\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dcproject.info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dcproject.info<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dianna Muller And The D.C. Project Women of the D.C. Project meet with lawmakers to bring Second Amendment message. Last September, the all-women D.C. Project had another successful trip to Washington, D.C., bringing its Second Amendment message that resonated with legislators on Capitol Hill. 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