SAF Names Don Kilmer Third Golden Bowtie Award Winner
The Second Amendment Foundation presented its Golden Bowtie Award to Don Kilmer at the 2026 Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas. Kilmer becomes the third recipient of SAF's highest recognition for Second Amendment advocacy and litigation. The award honors individuals and organizations whose work has materially advanced gun rights through courts, legislation, or public advocacy.
Key Details
- Award presented at GRPC in Dallas, September 29, 2026
- Kilmer is a longtime Second Amendment litigator and advocate
- Third recipient of the Golden Bowtie Award in SAF's history
- Award recognizes exceptional contributions to Second Amendment jurisprudence and policy
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
SAF's Golden Bowtie recognizes the lawyers and activists doing the heavy lifting in courtrooms and statehouses. Kilmer's award signals that his litigation strategy and advocacy have moved the needle on Second Amendment protections in ways that affect real gun owners' rights to carry, own, and use firearms. The GRPC itself brings together constitutional attorneys, policy experts, and industry figures who shape the legal battles that determine what restrictions stick and which ones fall. Gun owners should pay attention to who wins these awards—these are the people arguing the cases that matter.
DownRange Analysis
The Golden Bowtie represents SAF's institutional commitment to litigation-first strategy in the post-Bruen environment. By spotlighting Kilmer, SAF reinforces that winning the Second Amendment fight happens in federal court and state appellate venues, not just at the ballot box. His recognition also reflects the growing sophistication of 2A legal work—Kilmer's track record suggests he understands how to structure cases, frame arguments, and survive interlocutory appeals in ways that survive judicial scrutiny. Gun owners should follow SAF's award recipients as bellwethers for where the real action is in 2A jurisprudence.
