Who is Brandon Herrera, the “AK Guy” backed by Trump and pushing permitless gun carry

Known online as “the AK Guy,” Brandon Herrera is campaigning for a seat in Congress as a Republican from Texas, with explicit support from Donald Trump. His central proposal is to let Americans carry guns more freely.

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I want permitless carry to be allowed across the country.

At a recent Gun Owners Leadership Summit in Iowa, Herrera put his position plainly: “I want permitless carry to be allowed across the country.” He has also said, “This is an achievable goal if we Republicans maintain control of the House of Representatives.”

Herrera wants to take nationwide the law Texas has had since 2021. Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 1927, which removed the need for people over 21 to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public. The restrictions listed in the article cover schools, hospitals, airports, courthouses, bars and certain sporting events.

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This is an achievable goal if we Republicans maintain control of the House of Representatives.

On his website, Herrera says, “I will fight for national reciprocity for concealed carry and block any attempt to pass red-flag laws or impose new restrictions.” He also says he will seek more funding for firearms training for school staff. “A large part of this is about preventing law-abiding gun owners, who commit no crimes and hold legal concealed-carry permits, from being unnecessarily arrested in other states,” he told the Houston Chronicle.

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I will fight for national reciprocity for concealed carry and block any attempt to pass red-flag laws or impose new restrictions.

Herrera runs a company that makes weapons similar to the Kalashnikov AK-47. He defeated fellow Republican Tony Gonzales, who broke with his party to support a gun-control measure after the deadly Uvalde school shooting. Gonzales backed legislation that included tougher background checks for buyers under 21 and easier firearm confiscation from people who had committed domestic violence. A bill allowing permitless carry, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie, has remained stalled in a House committee since January 2025. The NRA's Institute for Legislative Action has also supported permitless carry at the federal level.

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A large part of this is about preventing law-abiding gun owners, who commit no crimes and hold legal concealed-carry permits, from being unnecessarily arrested in other states.