They claim to be Missouri’s fiercest defenders of the Second Amendment. But a close look at the Missouri Firearms Coalition (MFC) reveals something darker: a professionalized fundraising machine built not on protecting rights, but on perpetuating outrage, concealing where the money goes, and manipulating well-meaning gun owners into financing a movement that delivers nothing but emails and donation appeals.
After examining MFC’s IRS filings, state ethics records, and social media presence, and comparing them with investigative reporting from other states, a disturbing pattern emerges — one that echoes a national grift model operated by a family already well known in gun-rights circles for turning fear into fortune.
Follow the Money: MFC’s Vanishing Donations
Between 2021 and 2023, MFC raised more than $656,000 from donors — most of them everyday Missourians concerned about their constitutional rights. But more than $263,000 of that — nearly half of all expenses — was reported as “management fees,” with no vendor, no LLC, no contractor, and no individual disclosed as the recipient.
- MFC reported no paid officers or employees, despite having a Political Director (Aaron Dorr) listed as working 20 hours/week.
- No lobbying activity was disclosed to the Missouri Ethics Commission, even though Dorr is a registered lobbyist for the group.
- IRS filings contain no explanation for who was paid these management fees.
In fact, MFC reported $0 in compensation, $0 in employee salaries, and $0 in independent contractors above $100,000 — for all three years. Yet they reported the following management-related expenses:
| Year | Revenue | Management Fees | Lobbying | Mail/Ads | Net Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $270,356 | $62,510 | $0 | $75,066 | $218,393 |
| 2022 | $184,231 | $98,073 | $0 | $83,136 | $159,238 |
| 2023 | $202,110 | $102,500 | $0 | $67,163 | $154,775 |
The Dorr Machine
At the center of MFC’s operations is Aaron Dorr, a political consultant and lobbyist also affiliated with gun-rights groups nationwide. These groups share a troubling pattern: apocalyptic fundraising, zero legislative victories, and financial filings that raise more questions than answers.
“They have built a massive grassroots fundraising machine that churns out a steady stream of messages beseeching donations to snuff out gun control… At the center of the Dorrs’ efforts is the brothers’ own for‑profit consulting firm, which has received huge sums of money from their tax‑exempt organizations, fueling allegations that the brothers are deceiving their supporters.”
— The Trace / The Daily Beast
Third-Party Voices Calling Out the Grift
“If you’re sending this guy money, I’m asking you to stop… It is time for his scam to end. Aaron Dorr is a scam artist, a liar, and he is doing Iowans no service and no favors.”
— Rep. Matt Windschitl, Iowa House of Representatives (via The Trace)
“They’re shrieking that major national gun-rights orgs … are selling out everyday Americans… People have increasingly noticed the Dorr Brothers cash-grabbing schemes before and their formulaic grift hasn’t been limited only to gun rights.”
— Shooting News Weekly (John Boch)
“For over a decade, the Dorr brothers … have operated a network of political front groups posing as gun rights organizations. … Their business model: Exploiting outrage for profit… No results. No wins. Just rage for revenue.”
— Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus (via BearingArms.com)
“What they’re doing is raising a lot of money by setting up nonprofits and latching onto various conservative, hot‑button issues. … But instead of spending that money on what they told the public their purpose was, they appear to be using it to enrich themselves.”
— GunsSaveLife.com
Quote-Unquote “Advocacy”
Despite claiming leadership on Missouri’s SAPA, MFC reported no actual lobbying activity. Instead, they focused spending on:
- Direct mail “member updates”: $114,898
- Digital mobilization: $34,349
- Radio/TV ads: $98,215
Quote from Aaron Dorr
“For the families/staff/lobbyists who are sad that the Dorr Brothers boot‑stomped your wife/boss/meal ticket last night in Missouri, I just want to say that we are not sorry at all!”
— Aaron Dorr, @RealAaronDorr
The Grift Structure
- $263,000+ in “management fees” over three years.
- No recipients named.
- No salaries, no contractors >$100K, no staff.
“It is time for his scam to end. Aaron Dorr is a scam artist…”
— Rep. Matt Windschitl, Iowa House
Rage as a Revenue Stream
MFC’s messaging, seen regularly on their @MOFirearms2A account, fuels a steady stream of fear-based appeals designed to keep donors alarmed and engaged:
“This is a CRISIS moment for Missouri gun owners — your rights are hanging by a thread…”
“Please sign your petition … then make an immediate donation…”
“Steve Dettelbach is a pure, freedom‑hating pig…”
The Real Victims
Missourians who give in good faith are being misled. Instead of funding meaningful advocacy, their donations are routed to undisclosed entities through a pattern of self-enrichment. Meanwhile, genuine Second Amendment supporters are left with no real representation in Jefferson City. Lawmakers are discouraged from working on gun policy at all — wary of being smeared in mass email blasts from an organization that doesn’t actually show up to negotiate.
What Real Advocacy Looks Like
Legitimate organizations register their lobbyists, publish who they’re working with, and disclose what legislation they’re influencing. They pay staff, operate transparently, and measure success by outcomes — not open rates on fear-driven emails. Missouri Firearms Coalition meets none of these benchmarks. Its strategy is to create division and dependency — not liberty.
The Bottom Line
The Missouri Firearms Coalition doesn’t exist to win. It exists to fundraise forever. Its founders cannot afford success — because victory would end the revenue stream.
They are not defenders of the Second Amendment. They are merchants of fear, living off the trust of hardworking, freedom-loving Missourians — and giving them nothing in return.
Editor’s Note: All financial data sourced from IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2023), Missouri Ethics Commission records, and third-party investigative journalism. Full documentation available upon request.
