BELLEVUE, WA – Internationally-known firearms author and trainer Massad Ayoob has been named president of the Second Amendment Foundation, succeeding the late Joseph Tartaro.
“The election to president of SAF is one of the most cherished honors of my life,” Ayoob said. “I have been proud to serve for many years on SAF’s Board of Trustees and will do my best to continue my commitment to what I consider a civil right and indeed, a human right.
“I am humbled at the thought of replacing my long-time friend and mentor Joe Tartaro,” he continued, “and frankly doubt that anyone, myself included, can truly fill his shoes. I accepted the position only after being assured that it would be an interim appointment, and one of my primary goals is to find a dedicated 2A warrior with a longer life expectancy than my own to eventually serve in this position. In the meantime, I will support the goals of SAF, particularly to further strengthen our ties with the law enforcement community and to enhance the organization’s policy of embracing diversity in the community of the ‘gun culture.’”
Ayoob brings a lifetime of experience to the position. He served 19 years as chair of the Firearms Committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and several years as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. In addition to teaching for those groups, he has also taught for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Homicide Investigators seminars.
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The winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner of the Year Award in 1998, Mas has won several state and regional handgun shooting championships. He was the first person to earn the title of Five Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association. He has been handgun editor of GUNS magazine and law enforcement columnist for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER since the 1970s, and has published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications, and law enforcement journals. He is the author of some twenty books on firearms, self-defense, and related topics, including “In the Gravest Extreme” and “Deadly Force,” widely considered to be authoritative texts on the topic of the use of lethal force.
He has received judicial recognition as an expert witness for the courts in weapons and shooting cases since 1979, and served as a fully sworn and empowered, part time police officer for 43 years, mostly at supervisor rank. Ayoob founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and served as its director until 2009, and now trains through the Massad Ayoob Group.
He has appeared on CLE-TV delivering continuing legal education for attorneys, through the American Law Institute and American Bar Association, and has been retained to train attorneys to handle deadly force cases through the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Ayoob served for two years as co-vice chair of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also appeared in each episode of Personal Defense TV (Sportsman’s Channel).
“We are both proud and delighted that Mas Ayoob has assumed the SAF presidency,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him over the years as a SAF trustee, and look forward to working with him more closely in his new role. Without a doubt, Mas Ayoob is true defender of the Second Amendment, and his devotion to protecting and advancing the right to keep and bear arms will be critical as we face new challenges.”
About SAF
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
I had the privilege of being in one of his classes. Uncle Mass is one of the finest firearms instructor in the United States. His classes are informed and on point in every respect, there are several fine instructor in this fine Country and a lot of them are trained by Mass. I have great respect for him he will make an excellent leader of the SAF. His books are first rate on the subject of self defense, anyone considering training for a concealed carry permit would do themselves a great favor by taking one of his classes.
I am fortunate to have read Ayoob’s books on the use of lethal force when I was a newly licensed gun owner in Massachusetts in 1987. He helped develop my perspective and sense if the awesome responsibility in the use of letha force. I took training at the LFI and am forever grateful for his knowledge, skill and humor in his role as educator and master of the gun. SAF and all of us gun owners now have the best, most knowledgeable and responsible person as a leader and spokesperson for the responsible use of firearms as tools for self defense. Congratulations sir.
Big fan for your entire American Handgunner Career! Love the Ayoob Files…Good Job Mas…the amount of time I have been reading your articles, I have come to think of you as a friend! Be well, my Friend!!
I met Mas at the Dallas NRA convention. I bumped into him as he was grabbing a quick cup of coffee at the Black Rifle Coffee Company booth, and on his way to speak. While in line, we chatted and I found him to be an amazingly friendly individual, more than willing to talk about his books – which he was probably tired of talking about.
He will be a wonderful leader for the SAF.
Awesome! Congratulations Sir.
Outstanding! 🙂
Outstanding.
He is; well spoken, well written and eminently versed as well as experienced on the practical applications of the Second Amendment.
Nice to see one of these organizations headed by more than a parroting mouth-piece.
Todd.
Mas is a great guy and will be good for the SAF. I just hope they pay him enough to finally buy a better toupee. That one is crustier and dustier than George Washington’s horse blanket.
😲
Could not have picked a better man. Good luck to him.