Sometimes I find myself in the wrong place at the right time. GunCon is an event that brings together manufacturers, creators, and enthusiasts under one roof. Fortunately, I was able to attend as a creator and take part in the weekend’s festivities.
On Saturday, the public day, I found myself in the Green Room trying to escape the swarm of people that had taken over the Eastwood Event Centre in northeast Ohio. I sat there discussing Ohio politics with VSO Gun Channel (like me, another Ohioan) and Erich Pratt of the Gun Owners of America.
As we discussed the state of the Second Amendment, people began to trickle in, and then a few more. Finally, a ruckus came from the hall and a gathering of people in suits flowed in, with Vivek Ramaswamy in tow.
Jon Patton, who puts on GunCon and hosts The Gun Collective YouTube channel then welcomed everyone into the room for a short introductory period before Vivek took the stage. I realized I wasn’t really supposed to be in there, but in this setting, and during the live Q&A that followed in the auditorium, I began to form an opinion about the Republican nominee for Ohio Governor.
Vivek in Ohio
As you may recall, Ramaswamy ran in the Republican presidential primary this past election cycle. He bowed out rather quickly and went on to support President Trump in his reelection campaign. Initially,
Vivek was initially supposed to join Elon Musk in running DOGE. That, however, didn’t last long. Vivek left DOGE effort on January 20, 2025, the same day as Trump’s inauguration. Later, in February, he announced his plan to run for Ohio Governor, which was quickly endorsed by Trump. That early endorsement led to a landslide victory in the primary.
Ramaswamy’s Democrat opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, is a staunch anti-gunner who shut down the state during her time as the director of the Ohio Department of Health early in the COVID outbreak.
Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati to immigrant parents. He attended public school through eighth grade, before moving on to St. Xavier High School, a private Catholic school. He attended Harvard for undergrad and then on to Yale Law School, where he befriended JD Vance. He then made his fortune in the biotech industry.
The Good Stuff
He told the crowd that he wants to be the most pro-second amendment Governor in Ohio history, which he admitted is a low bar. He’s an extremely polished speaker, and when he speaks to you, he makes you feel important. Ohio is a blue-collar state where millionaires and billionaires are looked at with distrust. Ramaswamy is going to have to earn that trust.
Here are a few highlights from his Q&A in front of a decidedly pro-gun crowd . . .
- Q: A veteran asked about mental health and the risk veterans take when seeking help. Will Ohio help veterans without taking their Second Amendment rights?
- A: Ramaswamy and Ohio are committed to protecting veterans and ensuring they have access to the help they need. He opposes red flag laws and doesn’t think veterans should be penalized for fighting for this nation.
- Q: A young man asked his opinion on 18 to 21-year-olds’ ability to carry concealed.
- A: All legal adults should be allowed to carry a concealed firearm. At 18, they can vote. The Constitution applies to all.
- Statement: He said Ohio will sue the federal government over the ATF and other unconstitutional regulations.
- Q: Someone asked if Ohio will provide free firearms education to gun owners. Many people want to own guns, but may lack the extra funds to take training classes. (This was an interesting question, and I wasn’t quite sure where it was going at first.)
- A: Free training for Ohio gun owners is a concept that Ramaswamy said he likes in spirit. However, there’s a distinct lack of trust towards the government. He said he does believe that guns are for all law-abiding citizens.
- Statement: When at NRAAM, Ramaswamy was asked what AR-15 stood for. His answer: freedom. Clever.
- Q: How will Ohio protect those who use MakerWorld to produce their own firearms and accessories?
- A: He said he believes all people who manufacture firearms should be protected, whether it’s the hobbyist at home or a large-scale manufacturer down the road. The government shouldn’t interfere.
- Statement: Gun owners need to show up to the polls. Otherwise, we are going to be the next Virginia. He argues that Amy Acton is using the same blueprint as Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger (yikes!).
Parting Shots
The Q&A session was relatively short, only about 40 minutes. However, I have to give Ramaswamy credit. Jon Patton warned him that the crowd would be brutally honest and would want to know answers to hard questions. He showed up and answered them in a way that please the crowd.
Will that pan out into actual change if he’s elected in November? We shall see My hope is that he follows through and continues the good fight for our rights.