Never in my life did I imagine strangers would walk up to me on the street using the nickname ‘Barefoot Defender.’
It happened in Texas, where I’ve proudly lived my whole life, in 2017. I was working as a maintenance plumber at San Antonio’s University Hospital. On a Sunday morning, I was at my home in Sutherland Springs when I heard what sounded like tapping on my window. Soon after, my daughter hurriedly came into the room and asked, ‘Doesn’t that sound like gunfire?’
It wasn’t long before we confirmed those ‘taps’ were distant gunshots – and they were coming from First Baptist Church 100 yards away. I jumped up, grabbed one of my AR-15s, and, before I knew it, was sprinting down the street to the church.
I exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who was wearing tactical gear, and struck him before he fled in an SUV. I hopped into another man’s vehicle, Johnnie Langendorff, and we chased him until the shooter’s SUV came to a stop. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The tragedy made national news. I didn’t realize at the time, but, picking up my AR-15 and sprinting down the street, I forgot to put on shoes. My son-in-law referred to me as the ‘Barefoot Defender’ to ease the tension – and, well, it caught on.
Twenty-six people died that day. I felt a lot grief, sadness, and shock, but I also felt gratitude for living in a country with a Constitution that allowed me to be in a position to make sure that those deaths did not become 27, or much worse.
Ever since, I committed myself to advocating for others’ Second Amendment rights – and that advocacy includes supporting candidates who will do the same.
The first time I met Matt Salmon was at February’s ninth annual gun rally at the Arizona State Capitol. We were introduced by mutual acquaintances, Dan and Cheryl Todd, who host the popular Gun Freedom Radio program on which he had appeared months earlier.
I asked about what his plans would be to expand our Second Amendment freedoms if he became governor.
In short, they were ambitious, realistic, and actionable. Matt told me that he would fight against ‘red flag’ laws, which he believes infringe on due-process, and that he would work to codify self-defense in all forms and for all Arizonans, including students by allowing campus carry.
But we all know that talk is cheap. With the gun-control lobby intent to undermine gun rights at state legislatures across the country, I wanted to know what Matt has done in the past – a sign of what he’ll do in the future.
That’s why I was so pleased – as a former National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor myself – to learn that Matt had partnered with the NRA to strengthen state and federal concealed-carry legislation. He spearheaded efforts to expand access to firearm suppressors, which help address hearing loss among gun enthusiasts and those engaged in shooting sports. And he spent years holding the Obama Administration accountable on this issue.
After our conversations, I could just tell that Matt was the real deal. It was clear that he meant what he was saying and had the record to back it up, and, as an avid gun collector himself, he has skin in the game. My pro-gun friends in Arizona feel the same way about him.
At the end of the day, the Second Amendment isn’t a slogan. It’s about saving lives. Every small encroachment that we allow is one less way for law-abiding Americans to protect themselves and their families.
I’m proud to live in the United States, where I had the freedom to help save people I care about. And I’m proud to endorse Matt Salmon for governor, as I know he will fight for our freedoms so that other men or women will always be in a position to protect their communities.
Stephen Willeford, often known as the Barefoot Defender, lives in Sutherland Springs, Texas.