Joe LoPorto

Joseph LoPorto is a passionate grassroots activist, freelance writer, and speaker. Joe is a State Director at NRA-ILA, covering Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. LoPorto serves as the Director of Government Affairs of the Civil Liberties Policy Research Center of New Jersey, a state-level think tank. He is also the Director of Legal Operations of the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate, a 501(c)(4) Second Amendment organization that funds impact litigation (please consider supporting our work!). LoPorto is a life member of the Second Amendment Foundation and a member of the Federalist Society. LoPorto can be reached HERE.

Koons and Siegel Update: The Dominoes Are Falling and the End of the Road at the Third Circuit Is Likely in Sight
The Koons/Siegel v. Platkin case has been at the Third Circuit since mid-2023. Now in 2025, this appeal only concerns the preliminary injunction, not the case’s merits. This injunction temporarily halts parts of New Jersey’s anti-gun laws. With recent Supreme Court decisions, legal experts anticipate a resolution might be near. Is there an end in sight?

What New Jersey’s Attack on Glock Says About the Future of Gun Control
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin has escalated his crusade against the lawful firearms industry, raising questions about his true intentions. Is this campaign merely a political spectacle, or is it a calculated effort to destabilize and financially cripple the firearms industry through an unending barrage of lawsuits?

Open Letter to Trump Admin: If Pam Bondi Is Going to Be Our Next US Attorney General, I Respectfully Request an Appointment to the DOJ to Oversee the Office of Justice Programs
Joe LoPorto, Director of Government Affairs at the Civil Liberties Policy Research Center of New Jersey, explains the significance of the President-Elect’s choice for U.S. Attorney General. For Second Amendment supporters, a nominee with a history of backing “red flag laws” raises serious concerns. Joe breaks down the potential impact and makes his case for appointment to a pivotal government role.

We Need President Trump’s Digital Bill of Rights More Than Ever. Will He Come Through?
Censorship of free speech, especially right-leaning viewpoints, by major social media platforms has never been more blatant than during the 2024 election season. Facebook, in particular, has been auto-moderating and silencing posts or comments that support conservative causes or political candidates. President Trump has made strong promises to eliminate this behavior and address viewpoint discrimination and censorship. The question remains: will he follow through once he takes office?

2024 Election Recap: a Path to Reshaping New Jersey Politics is Now Open
With Donald Trump on his way to the White House as President-Elect, along with a Republican-controlled Senate and a likely GOP-controlled House once the vote counts are finalized, Joe LoPorto offers a realistic look into what Trump’s final term in office could mean for gun owners across the nation and here in New Jersey. He also shares insight into the critical races we need to watch as the midterms draw closer.

Deafening Silence: An Essay on the Two-Year Battle to End Centuries of Racial Discrimination Preserved In New Jersey’s Firearms Licensing Laws
New Jersey’s gun laws are deeply rooted in racism and inequality. Lawmakers, the Attorney General, and the Governor continue to uphold these unconstitutional, racially biased policies without any sense of shame. The so-called “righteousness” and virtue signaling vanish the moment they’re confronted. In fact, it feels as though we don’t even exist when we hold them accountable. It’s time for legislators to take this issue seriously and act. After all, don’t we care about “those people”?

NJ Assembly Appears to Be Preparing a Fresh Collection of Bills Relating to Firearms for the Upcoming 2024/2025 Session
Some New Jersey legislators have introduced several new anti-gun bills for the 2024-2025 session. While the full text of these bills is not yet available, their summaries suggest they are poised to tighten the noose around the necks of law-abiding gun owners in the state.

Trading Liberty for Security: DoD Directive 5240.01
How did the U.S. go from limiting military action on U.S. soil with the Posse Comitatus Act to authorizing it under DoD Directive 5240.01? Explore the history of military power expansion and how the Biden administration’s new directive could impact your rights, especially for patriots, militias, protesters, and government critics.

What Happens if Kamala Harris Wins?
A question that many of us try to avoid thinking about. However, optimism, just like hope and faith, are not valid strategies and conservatives are simply not doing enough to ensure a victory that should easily be ours. In this article, Joe LoPorto raises some very interesting points from an informed perspective.

The Sad Case of Kyle Arena
Many people believe “red flag” laws are the solution we need, dismissing the fact that these laws strip citizens of constitutional rights without due process, all in the name of the “greater good.” But some of us know better. Kyle Arena’s story is just one example of how red flag laws are abused to bypass the 4th Amendment.

Constitution Day Is September 17th: A Moment to Reflect on the Important Role We Play in Balancing the Rights of the People With the Power of the Government
News2A author Joe LoPorto will be heading to Washington, D.C. this coming Constitution Day to review the most recent Supreme Court term. In this article, Joe reflects on the state of affairs and recent legislation in the state of New Jersey.

Interpretations of the 2nd Amendment (PART I): the Militia, National Security, and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
What is the actual and proper way to interpret the 2nd Amendment? Does it give the State the power to maintain a militia? What is the “State”? Who are the “people”? Joe LoPorto gives us an intricate breakdown of the 2nd Amendment, the Militia, National Security, and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

