Riding Shotgun With Charlie #257 John & JJ Occhipinti North Jersey Friends of the NRA It takes all kinds of people with all kinds of skills to make things happen. Running the second largest Friends of the NRA dinner in the country isn't easy, but John & JJ Occhipinti make it look like it is. This year the North Jersey Friends of the NRA dinner is on October 7, 2026 at The Grove in Cedar Grove, N.J. There's a link below for tickets. I'm sure it's going to sell out. John has run a successful landscaping business and is currently retired. His son, JJ, is in the financial services business. In 2023, they joined with the North Jersey Friends of the NRA planning committee. After the man who was running the event had to leave, it was up to them. The first year, they had 520, the second was 535. The goal for this year is 600! This father and son dynamic duo ran the second largest FNRA dinner at only their second time of running this event. This year, on the 250th anniversary of the United States, they want to raise $250,000 for the foundation. The FNRA has had confusing issues. John Petrolino has covered it very well at Bearing Arms. But rest assured even with the Foundation changing its name, the money raised by the Occhipintis is going to the National Rifle Association and half of it is going to programs in the Garden State, which will focus on youth shooting. I recently got to catch up with John & JJ at the Gun For Hire range in Woodland Park N.J. Both of these men are regulars there, setting up tables to get people to learn about the dinner. They shoot and train there regularly, too. Of course, Anthony Colando, the owner has been in the stagecoach with episodes #003 & #025. John learned to shoot with his father with a shotgun his grandfather brought over from Italy to Ellis Island. JJ has the gun now. It's over 110 years old. Guns really are family heirlooms. Try that now! He went pheasant and rabbit hunting with his dad. John took JJ shooting and hunting by the time he was 10 years old. Of course, they didn't find a single pheasant. As time went on, John got into pistols and reloading. JJ got into it in his late teens. What I absolutely love is that they have lives and careers outside of firearms. But their love of the Second Amendment and shooting keeps them involved in the community. Not everyone has to be an instructor, competitor, or have a YouTube channel. They're using the talents they have to help promote and raise money for the cause. The first year, there were lots of 2A dignitaries from New Jersey. The second year, they had NRA EVP Doug Hamlin. This year the big person is going to be NRA President Bill Bachenberg. With the help from Colandro and the Gun For Hire radio show, they've done well to "bust cookies" of other gun stores, ranges, and local businesses to get them to donate. This is what it is all about, donating so that people can support the NRA and help the state and where they'd like the funds to go. Both John & JJ will say that they didn't know what they were doing when they started. But they're smart and successful businessmen. They know how to market. They know how to talk shop to businesses. And they love shooting. Their friends and family will say that after the dinner, they go into hibernation for a couple months to recuperate. But when January rolls around, they're back at it. Looking for sponsors and donations. Of course, they get support from family for this while they're packing gift bags. This is going to be a huge event! There will be items for women, kids, and possibly, a hunting dog valued at $10,000! There will be something for everyone. For sure, you won't leave hungry. If you're in or near north New Jersey, New York City area, eastern Pennsylvania, even lower Connecticut, maybe Massachusetts, you need to attend and help them hit their goal. Yes, I'll be there, too! Favorite quotes: "We want to show the country that New Jersey is to be reckoned with." "I said 'we've got that covered already'." "We didn't know how to run a fundraiser. We just shot from the hip." "Our goal, while lofty, is achievable. I want to bring in $250,000." Friends of the NRA https://www.friendsofnra.org/ North Jersey Friends of the NRA event https://www.friendsofnra.org/events/event-details?eventId=61658 NRA website https://home.nra.org/ Gun For Hire https://gunforhire.com/ Second Amendment Foundation https://secure.anedot.com/saf/donate?sc=RidingShotgun Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms https://www.ccrkba.org/ Please support the Riding Shotgun With Charlie supporters. US Law Shield Legal Defense for Self Defense. Use "RSWC" as the discount code and get 2 months for free! https://www.uslawshield.com Patriot Mobile Use this link and get one month for free! https://patriotmobile.com/partners/rswc Or listen on: iTunes/Apple podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/riding-shotgun-with-charlie/id1275691565
