As gun owners, we are used to reading stoies about this rich leftist donor or that wealthy celebrity making donations to groups that purport to perform non-partiisan gun research only to mill out anti-gun rhetoric masked as research. But the recently created Firearms Research Center (FRC) at the University of Wyoming College of Law actually seeks to bring a variety of voices together to generate true research on Second Amendment issues and create the next generation of firearms attorneys. And Oil City News is reporting the FRC has received a significant donation from Joseph Olson, professor emeritus of law at Hamline University and a prominent legal scholar with expertise in firearms law. The donation is intended to bolster the center’s mission of fostering nonpartisan, impactful research on firearms and the Second Amendment.
“I am proud to support the Firearms Research Center and its efforts to elevate the conversation surrounding firearms in America,” Olson said. “Through this gift, the FRC will continue to be a valuable, nonpartisan resource for academics, lawmakers and members of the media. It will lead the way on relevant research that guides public discourse and public policy.”
Founded in 2023 by legal scholar George Mocsary and firearms historian Ashley Hlebinsky, the FRC aims to bring diverse voices to the discussion of firearms, train future lawyers specializing in firearms law and provide trusted resources for policymakers and media outlets. The center also prioritizes public education on mental health and suicide prevention related to firearms.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this generous gift from Professor Olson,” said Hlebinsky, the center’s executive director. “With Professor Olson’s support, we will be able to hire additional staff to help grow the Center and further its mission.”
Olson, widely respected in legal circles, has a distinguished background in business law and taxation and has taught a seminar on the Second Amendment. His contributions to firearms scholarship include co-authoring amicus briefs for landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago. Olson’s work has been cited in significant court rulings, including Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion in Heller.
The FRC, housed at the University of Wyoming College of Law, has quickly established itself as a credible and nonpartisan academic center producing high-quality research on Second Amendment topics. The center’s work is critical in guiding public discourse, informing policymakers and fostering understanding around firearms issues.
David Kopel, a leading Second Amendment attorney and scholar in the nation and a past contributor to The Truth About Guns, is the senior fellow at the FRC. In addition to being a professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Kopel also serves as research director of the Independence Institute and as an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute.
