Lox & Loaded, a nonprofit founded in March 2025 that offers firearms-safety instruction to Jewish Americans, has formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with the NRA. The collaboration — which began after co-founder Gayle Pearlstein met NRA representatives at the 2025 SHOT Show — gives members access to NRA training programs as antisemitic attacks have increased since Oct. 7, 2023. The groups emphasize patient, tailored instruction and recommend monthly practice to maintain proficiency.
Lox & Loaded Partners With NRA to Train Jewish Americans After Surge in Antisemitic Attacks
From the fatal shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum to smashed windows at Temple Israel in Michigan and a string of other incidents, threats against the American Jewish community have intensified since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. In response, more Jewish Americans are exploring self-defense options and firearm ownership has risen within parts of the community.
New Partnership Focuses on Training and Safety
In a notable development, the National Rifle Association (NRA) announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Lox & Loaded, a nonprofit that offers firearms-safety instruction and self-defense training tailored to Jewish Americans. The collaboration aims to combine the NRA's training infrastructure with Lox & Loaded's community outreach to provide practical, safety-focused instruction for people who may never previously have considered gun ownership.
How the Partnership Began
Lox & Loaded co-founder and firearms instructor Gayle Pearlstein met NRA representatives at the 2025 National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas. After discussing her mission to help Jewish Americans better protect themselves and their communities, Pearlstein later met with NRA CEO Doug Hamlin, who expressed support for expanding training access.
Justin Davis, NRA Director of Public Affairs, said the organization wanted to respond to a nationwide rise in antisemitic attacks and sought a partner focused on training and responsible ownership. "These are not just empty threats anymore; they're actual threats of violence," he told reporters.
Who Is Joining and Why
Founded in March 2025, Lox & Loaded has quickly grown to roughly 50 chapters across multiple states. Many members are first-time firearm owners motivated by a desire to protect themselves, their families and their houses of worship. Others joined after initially opposing guns but decided to pursue training when they perceived immediate risks to their communities.
Pearlstein emphasizes patient, tailored instruction: adapting teaching style to learners' needs, providing hands-on practice, and demystifying firearms by focusing on real-world scenarios rather than dramatized media portrayals. She and NRA officials both stress that ownership without training is not sufficient; Lox & Loaded encourages members to practice at least once a month to maintain proficiency.
Training, Not Politics
Both organizations frame the partnership as centered on safety and skill development rather than partisan politics. The stated goal is to give community members access to quality firearms education so they can make informed, responsible decisions about personal and communal defense.
While some in the Jewish community remain skeptical that more guns will increase safety, Lox & Loaded's approach prioritizes instruction, risk awareness and ongoing practice as essential components of responsible ownership.
Key facts: Partnership announced in 2025; Lox & Loaded founded March 2025; approximately 50 chapters nationwide; emphasis on monthly training and patient, tailored instruction for new gun owners.
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