Our Story
A Better Way 2A was started after the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Friends of ours reached out with the hope to learn more about safe firearm ownership and handling, but weren't comfortable with taking a regular NRA class. It was after this that we realized that there was a significant portion of gun owners and enthusiasts who didn't fit into the typical "box" of Second Amendment supporters, but due to their stance on guns, were sometimes black sheep in their own political circles. We made some stickers with the phrase "Gun Rights Are Human Rights" to pass out in our classes and because of outside interest in them, decided to bring them, and this idea to fruition.
Our Mission
We want to make the gun community better. Our mission is to create more inclusion in the gun community and to welcome the many diverse groups of individuals who are, and who wish to be, responsible gun owners. We do this primarily by creating 2A products that resonate with people from all across the political spectrum, by partnering with businesses who share similar values, donating to causes we love, and through advocacy. We want to work together to provide shooters of all backgrounds, gender identities, races, and religions with the best possible gear for their needs. As gun owners, we also see it as our responsibility to meet ignorance with education. We aim to provide an avenue of understanding to those who disagree with us, instead of meeting them with the contempt they may be used to.
The Team
While A Better Way 2A may just seem like an omniscient and extremely charismatic disembodied online presence, it's actually comprised of a small group of folks who passionately work to promote the idea of a better gun community. These are those people.
Tim
Contributor
With over 10 years in emergency medicine, Tim is an experienced firefighter/paramedic, and a passionate educator. From teaching regular folks and public safety personnel things like basic first aid and medical care, to educating the next generation of physicians about principles of emergency medicine at a world-renowned medical school, he brings a unique suite of education and medical knowledge to the team at ABW2A.
If you take the time to talk with him, you'd better have a first-aid kit you bring with you to the range, or you'll find yourself on the receiving end of an information dump. Be careful asking him about tourniquets or wound packing gauze, lest you end up in the middle of an impromptu lecture.
Andrew
Podcast Co-Host
Andrew has no podcasting experience, but has been arguing on the internet since 1997. He learned about firearms by mag dumping into trash in the desert. "Small-l" libertarian with a big dumb heart. Cishet but weirdly focused on trans rights. Can not hang, will fall asleep at parties. Dad.
Isaac Paez
Contributor
Issac's pronouns are he/him and he is a 27 year old civilian engineer for the US Navy. He lives with his boyfriend and golden retriever in Northern Virginia and has recreationally participated in several competitions, but honed in on "Two Gun Action Challenge" and "Schuetzen/ASSRA" single shot competitions specifically. These continually introduce him to some incredible and odd friends from every walk of life. Each competition is unique and informative, teaching him how to keep both modern and antique firearms functioning at their best. From breech seating cast bullets to introducing his friends to a shot timer; he loves to do it all and bring whoever he can to the range when I does!
Patrick
Contributor
Patrick has been a policy analyst, organizer, and general helping hand to various candidates and causes for his entire professional life. He's organized for candidates from the Presidential level down to City Council, and causes from campaign finance reform to climate action to worker's rights - and even, briefly, for gun control. His greatest passion, though, is criminal justice reform, especially putting a stop to abuses by the police, and today he sees gun rights for everyone as a vital part of that. That passion led him first to washing pepper spray out of people's eyes at protests and then to planning investigations for the Office of the Inspector General of the NYPD (no, he was Not A Cop), and now to ABW2A!
Diego Aceituno
Contributor
Diego is a former Coast Guard Gunner’s Mate, armorer, boarding team member, and small boat crewman specializing in counterrorism, tactical law enforcement, and search and rescue. After the military, he went for a degree in Marine Biology but it’s been such a pleasure training folks both in and out of the military that he couldn’t stay away from the firearms world for long, so he's happy to share my experience and wisdom with you all!
Jordan Levine
Founder / Podcast Co-Host
Jordan is a former Marine and current fulltime firefighter. He is a passionate gun rights advocate and as a bit of an idealist, believes that there are no bad people - only people who lack perspective. He has taught basic firearms and active shooter response classes to new gun owners and the general public, and has just recently started to awkwardly explore the world of competitive shooting. He loves being on the water, riding motorcycles, and nothing more than being with his wife and daughter.
