We have known Amanda Suffecool for years, and have been fascinated, but not surprised, by her rise in the gun world from radio personality (as host and producer of EyeOnTheTargetRadio – a nationally syndicated two-hour radio program dedicated to firearms, Second Amendment rights, firearms education and responsible gun ownership) to sitting on the NRA board of directors. She is recognized as one of the leading Second Amendment activists in the country.
Amanda co-hosts the radio program, which launched in 2010, with her brother, firearms historian Rob Campbell. She said, “EyeOnTheTarget began as a local talk station selection in the Cleveland Akron market. We took a gun topic talk radio show to #1 in the time slot in the heart of rock and roll.” The show got picked up for national syndication on the Salem network in 2018. This dynamic brother/sister duo have plenty to talk about, since she’s also involved in many other organizations that advocate for Second Amendment rights.
Along with her radio show and NRA duties, Amanda is a firearms instructor and ALICE Active Shooter Response instructor, dedicating much of her career to promoting practical firearms education, personal protection and school safety. She says her support of the program FASTER Saves Lives is a project of her heart. FASTER Saves Lives supports training that equips school personnel to respond effectively to violent threats.
Amanda serves in leadership with Women for Gun Rights which was formerly the DC Project, advocating for the Second Amendment and educating policymakers and the public about responsible firearms ownership. She also serves on the board of directors of A Girl and A Gun Legacy Ranch, a not-for-profit that works to create legacy ranges across the country in memory of A Girl and A Gun Shooting Club members.
And there’s more. She is the driving force behind the REALIZE Firearms Awareness Coalition and its nationally recognized concealed-carry fashion shows, which combine firearms education, personal safety and practical information for women who choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Her work and programs have received national media attention, including features on VICE and HBO.
Amanda remains deeply engaged in Ohio civic and political leadership. She serves as chairman of the Portage County Republican Party, is a member of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee, and remains active in state and local efforts to advance conservative principles and responsible citizenship. Her work spans firearms advocacy, education, media, political leadership and community engagement, making her a prominent voice for the Second Amendment in Ohio and across the nation.
With all that going on in her life, we’re honored that she would sit down with us in person this summer, to talk about what she’s discovered about the outdoor industry.
Describe a typical day in your work life.
I don’t have a typical day … I have a typical week. What I do is compartmentalize so that early in the week I’m working on Second Amendment issues and the latter part of the week I’m renovating houses, so if I’m at home, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday I’m doing board of election, I’m doing Republican party and I’m doing a lot of NRA work, because that is our future. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays I try to reserve to work on houses that we do to help people. We rehab houses and we put people that need a kickstart.
#1 piece of advice you would give other females who want to break into the industry?
Choose not to take offense unless offense is intended. There are a lot of people that are doing a lot of things in this industry, and they come around and you will pass them and then they will come back into your world. Just make sure you give them whatever relationship they deserve so that later on, older you (more experienced you) is not embarrassed by beginner you!
What motivates you?
I’m a problem solver, a patriot and a constitutionalist. So you put those together, and you say “Somebody ought to do something about that …” and you realize that nobody is. So, you become the somebody doing the something, and hope that you can build a team of others who see it like you do, and care about it like you care about it, and then you go forward and make history. The longer you do it, there is nobody better. You become the expert and the most experienced. It’s yours.
Most unexpected thing you’ve learned, while working in this industry?
It is that women are on your side, and that there are amazing, intelligent, driven, motivated women that are on your side. I started in engineering, in a male-dominated field. The women were on the fringes of that were not overly supportive or friendly, so it built a perception that they weren’t on my side. The more that I interact with these amazing women that are running companies and advocating and doing and leading … they are cheering you on, and they’ve got your back. They say “What can I do to help you or give you a hand up?” If you’re working hard, they’ll help you.
Favorite product in the outdoor market right now?
That’s a tough question because it takes me a while to decide I want something. I shop for a while, and I look at it, and my absolute favorite thing in the world they don’t build anymore and that’s a Paraordnance and it has a special LDA trigger, and if built that again, I would have every model that they own, and they don’t. So I tend to travel around with Sigs a lot. Some guns just completely do not fit my hand, but I find that I gravitate toward Rugers and Sigs … if it’s my favorite thing, it’s a pistol.
Let’s have some fun … what weapon would you use to battle a giant?
It would be two tools. I’d pull out my pistol to get me to my shotgun. I have a Mossberg 500 with a thumbhole stock, and I love that shotgun because the thumbhole stock allows it to take the pressure off my shoulder while I’m shooting and I have a lot of control over it.
Follow Amanda Suffecool
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Amanda.Suffecool
Instagram: realizeradio_Amanda
Podcasts: EyeOnTheTargetRadio
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
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