Arizona Citizens Defense League ®

Protecting Your Freedom

If you want to protect your Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Arizona, then you want to join the Arizona Citizens Defense League ® (AzCDL)

Contact the AzCDL

Press, media and general queries should be directed to
Charles Heller, Charles@libertywatchradio.com, (520) 870-2700.

AzCDL’s directors and officers are listed below.

President Emeritus – Dave Kopp (2/24/66-8/24/22)

President – Michael Gibbs, president@azcdl.org

Vice President – Cheryl Todd, cheryl@gunfreedomradio.com

Secretary/Treasurer – Tom Woodrow,  treasurer@azcdl.org, (623) 242-9086 – (Membership)

Director – J.D. “Duke” Schechter, americanicon@cox.net

Media Coordinator – Charles Heller, charles@libertywatchradio.com, (520) 870-2700 – (Communications)

​Please address all correspondence to:

AzCDL Membership
PO Box 86256
Tucson, AZ 85754

Emails work best!  Just click on any of the email addresses. You can also leave a voice mail message at (623) 242-9086

Not all communication with AzCDL is confidential
View our Privacy Policy

Prospective members who wish to know more about how our organization is structured can read our bylaws for more information, or contact any of the directors or officers listed above.

Please note that only the Directors and Officers listed above are authorized to speak on behalf of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, Inc. regarding any official business of the organization. This includes, but is not limited to, political issues, legislative policy issues, organizational policies and practices, media statements and press releases, etc. Other members, regardless of level, are specifically not authorized to make any statements on our behalf.

The Arizona Citizens Defense League does NOT endorse any candidate for public office, or get involved in any elections. We are no longer associated with any political committee, and do NOT give our permission for any candidate, political committee, or other entity to use our name and logo for any purpose. Any claim of an endorsement from the AzCDL, or any use of our logo for such purposes, should be considered illegitimate, and subject to potential legal action.

Dave Kopp (2/24/66-8/24/22)

Dave Kopp (2/24/66-8/24/22)

President Emeritus, Co-Founder

Dave Kopp is the co-founder and President Emeritus of the Arizona Citizens Defense League and the AzCDL Foundation. He is an East Coast transplant, a former computer programmer, and a family man. Dave spends his time restoring and protecting the right to keep and bear arms through legislative lobbying. He is a strong voice protecting Arizonans against anti-rights groups and legislation that seek to limit our freedoms. Dave works closely with the legislature to get strong pro-rights bills written and passed into law, while stopping freedom restricting bills, earning Arizona the reputation for being the friendliest state for gun owners. Significant amongst AzCDL’s many successes was the 2010 “Constitutional Carry” bill, restoring the ability of law-abiding adult citizens to carry openly or concealed without government permission. Dave is passionate about the work he does and is a sought-after speaker and knowledgeable resource in the firearms community. One of his favorite quotes explains why Dave is a dedicated and driven champion for Arizona firearm owners: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”– Edmund Burke

Michael Gibbs

Michael Gibbs

President

Michael Gibbs is a registered lobbyist for the AzCDL organization, as well as the Arizona Director of the Tenth Amendment Center.

Michael Gibbs is a Systems Engineer in the aerospace industry, a patented inventor, instrument-rated pilot, published author of numerous technical and political publications, rescue diver, and a highly involved advocate for our rights and freedoms.

He is a graduate and recruiter for the Center for Self-Governance and a supporter of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Offers Association. He is a lifetime member of the AzCDL, NRA, GOA, TAC, and SAF, and holds memberships with Campaign for Liberty and Young Americans for Liberty.

He has been a guest speaker on various platforms such as the Liberty Amendment Dinner, the Arizona Liberty Coordinators, the ASU Republican Club, the Grassroots Tea Party Activists, and the Prescott and Deer Valley Tea Parties.

president@azcdl.org

Cheryl Todd

Cheryl Todd

Vice President

Cheryl Todd is the Executive Producer and Co-Host of Gun Freedom Radio, owner of AZFirearms Auctions, Pot Of Gold Auctions and founder of the grassroots movement Polka Dots Are My Camo. She is a wife of 36 years, mother, and grandmother. She has a master’s degree in organizational leadership, an undergraduate degree in psychology, and is an avid reader. Cheryl is passionate about safety and our freedoms and travels the country speaking as a champion for our Second Amendment Rights. Cheryl is the Arizona State Director for The DC Project and serves on several boards including the Arizona Citizens Defense League Foundation, the Arizona Association of Women Law Enforcement Officers, and the East Valley Second Amendment Coalition led by AZ Congressman Andy Biggs. She is a regular contributor on several gun-related news platforms and has won multiple awards for her work as a driving force in preserving the Legacy of Freedom for generations to come.

Cheryl@GunFreedomRadio.com

Tom Woodrow

Tom Woodrow

Secretary/Treasurer

J.D. “Duke” Schechter

J.D. “Duke” Schechter

Director

Charles Heller

Charles Heller

Media Coordinator

Charles Heller is one of the four co-founders of the Arizona Citizens Defense League, which is the primary self-defense civil rights lobbying organization in the state. The AZCDL has been an invaluable part of the 71 pro-gun pieces of legislation that have been signed into law, most notably is Constitutional Carry – no permit required. Charles is the former executive director of Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership. He has an impressive tenure of a quarter of a century as host of Swap Shop, Liberty Watch, and America Armed & Free Radio Programs on KVOI in Tucson. Charles has been informing and delighting his radio audience with intriguing interviews and firsthand information from industry experts. Charles is a state-certified concealed weapons instructor and has been teaching CCW classes since 1994. He specializes in the legal issues on the use of force and defensive techniques, as well as tools of preparedness. Charles is currently the communications coordinator for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, handling member relations and media matters.

charles@libertywatchradio.com

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We invite you join our *FREE* email & text message alerts lists, where we will keep you up to date on AzCDL activities, as well as what is going on down at the state capitol.

When legislation is moving, we’ll let you know, and when you need to move with it, we’ll let you know that too.