From Activist to Legislator

In the past, American Action Fund has highlighted people who have championed Constitutional Carry in their state, discussing Savannah Maddox and Thomas Beach, amongst others. We’ve also talked about activists who then went on to do more in politics. So when Louisiana joined half the country in passing Constitutional Carry this year, the bill sponsor, Danny McCormick, added pro-gun champion to his numerous titles of father, grandfather, businessman, State Representative, and activist.

Like many of us, Danny McCormick didn’t get involved with the government because he wanted to promote “good government,” he got involved because the government wanted to expand its reach into his life. For many years now there has been a push by environmentalists, federal bureaucrats, developers, etc. to build a National Heritage Area in his backyard at Caddo Lake.

This “good government” bill did a lot of things. Arguably, even some things that could be considered beneficial. But like all things the federal government does, it was heavy-handed, threatening the access, use, and property rights of the residents. Nobody in D.C. even considered asking the local residents for their input. Instead, they took the word of “economic development” studies, and environmentalists, many of whom don’t even live in the region.

So McCormick fought back. He formed a group called “Caddo Lake’s Last Stand,” and he gave the people in his community a structure to organize behind, to push back on government overreach, and fight for the little guy… the local guy. And fight they did, forcing lawmakers to pull the bill in 2018 giving Danny McCormick the trust and support of his local community.  His grateful community then encouraged him and backed him in his 2019 victory for Louisiana House.

Perhaps even more important, it gave McCormick the fighting spirit he needed to push Constitutional Carry through the Louisiana House and into law. Danny wasn’t done in 2018, he wasn’t done in 2019, and with the fight for Constitutional Carry over, Danny still isn’t done fighting for liberty and his community in 2024.