Retired U.S. District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez, who has become almost legendary in Second Amendment circles for his pro-rights court opinions, will be this year’s keynote speaker during the Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The annual conference, now in its 41st year, is co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. It will run Sept. 25-27 at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport Hotel.
According to a SAF announcement Monday, Judge Benitez earned national recognition as one of the most consequential judicial defenders of the Second Amendment in the post-Heller era. Applying the Supreme Court’s decisions in Heller and Bruen, he issued rulings striking down California’s ban on large-capacity magazines (Duncan v. Bonta), another ban on so-called “assault weapons” (Miller v. Bonta), and the state’s error-prone ammunition background check (Rhode v. Bonta).
Judge Benitez retired from the bench in April of this year, and now works as a mediator, arbitrator or special master with ADR Services Inc.
His appearance will highlight what is shaping up to be a Who’s Who of high-profile dignitaries and legal experts. So far the list includes:
- Robert Cekada, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Robert Leider, ATF Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel
- Kenyon Gleason, president of National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
- Joseph Greenlee, Director of the Office of Litigation Counsel at the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action
- Brandon Herrera, Second Amendment advocate and Congressional candidate
- Jared Yanis, host of Guns & Gadgets YouTube channel
- Shermichael Singleton, political consultant, television anchor, CNN analyst
- Jeff Folloder, Executive Director, NFA Trade and Collectors Association
- Chris Boeck, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Silencer Shop
- Fernando Nava, Second Amendment advocate and owner of Rusty Wheel Ranch
- Cam Edwards, editor of BearingArms.com and the host of the Cam & Company podcast
- John Petrolino, writer, firearms instructor, and author of Decoding Firearms: An Easy to Read Guide on Basic Gun Safety & Use
In addition to GRPC, registrants will also have the opportunity to further their Second Amendment advocacy efforts during Friday’s pre-conference event, AMM-Con. This special event is a gathering of some of the top Second Amendment media members and influencers who provide educational presentations about all things related to our right to keep and bear arms.
GRPC 2026 is sponsored by USCCA, Silencer Shop, Vortex, Credova, U.S. Law Shield, Volquartsen, Trijicon, Colt, NSSF and Taurus.
