Instructors
Rick Vasquez
Rick Vasquez is a nationally and internationally recognized firearms and security expert with over 45 years of experience in the field. He has worked with and for a large majority of the big names in the industry from the United States Marine Corps to Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms to Diplomatic Security and so many more.
Rick Vasquez began his career as a United States Marine in 1974. Over his 21 year career in the Marine Corps, Rick received training as a basic armorer and as an advanced gunsmith at the precision weapons shop in Quantico, Virginia, where Rick subsequently served as the chief instructor of the facility. During his tenure with the Marine Corps, he was the representative that ensured the introduction of the M16A2 service rifle into the hands of the 6th Marine Regiment, coordinated the implementation and development of the Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle, and deployed to Colombia where he developed armorer training for the Columbian Marines. Additionally, Rick served as a Marine Recruiter, a Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander at the American Embassies in Kingston, Jamaica and Moscow, Russia, and a Marine Barracks Security Guard in Naples, Italy.
After leaving the Marine Corps, Rick joined the U.S. Department of State as a gunsmith and firearms instructor before joining the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as a Firearms Enforcement Officer in the Firearms Technology Branch (FTB). Rick’s tenure at ATF included traveling to Bosnia where he worked with NATO forces to gather evidence for the war crimes tribunals; he also assisted the governments of Columbia, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Curaco, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Australia, as well as INTERPOL, with firearms regulations, statutes and prosecutions for the U.S. Government. While at ATF FTB, where he served as both a Assistant Branch Chief, and Branch Chief, he wrote the first Standard Operating Procedures for all disciplines of the FTB, wrote firearms rulings, prepared firearm briefs for Congress, developed firearms identification courses, and reviewed/approved all ATF firearms rulings produced by FTB. Rick was also instrumental in reviewing the National Firearms Act Trade and Collectors Association (NFATCA) for accuracy and trained U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the intricacies of importation guidelines and the recognition of unlawful imports.
Rick has received a public service award from the United States Attorney in the 4th district, numerous letters of appreciation from ATF, FBI, and foreign law enforcement, and was presented with a commendation from the Director of Diplomatic Security. He was also awarded ATF’s Distinguished Service Medal and Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Year for the United States Marine Corps.
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Mike Giaramita, Esq.
Michael Antonio Giaramita Jr. is the founder of Giaramita Law Offices, P.C. with offices in the Philadelphia and Harrisburg areas. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Giaramita has civil litigation experience advocating for clients against Fortune 500 companies and governmental entities in both state and federal court. His criminal trial experience extends to both Pennsylvania and New Jersey defending a variety of significant criminal charges.
Giaramita has become a source of authority on the laws of firearms in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is the co-author of Pennsylvania Gun Law: Armed and Educated, and authored an article for the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers examining complicated issues that affect Pennsylvanians’ firearms rights.
Furthermore, Giaramita has been a featured lecturer to both attorneys and interested citizens at over 500 seminars regarding the laws of firearms. He was a featured guest at Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Continuing Legal Education course on Firearms Preemption, National Business Institute, Simply CLE, the Conference of Townships, Boroughs & Authorities, Annual Meeting and Educational Conference Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners, the Garden State Outdoor Show, the Eagle Arms Show at the Greater Philly Expo Center, and many more.
Throughout his career, Giaramita’s legal efforts have garnered media coverage, serving as a featured guest on Cam & Company of NRA News, Fox News Radio, ABC 27, CBS 21, FOX 43 and dozens of additional news sources. He has additionally served as a featured panelist for “town hall” style events for ABC, CBS, and NPR.
He is now a permanent contributor for We the People . . . The Constitution Matters, a radio show on Greater Philadelphia’s Fox News Radio, WFYL 1180. It airs every Friday at 8 AM, with rebroadcasts on Saturdays and Sundays, and the podcast version available online.
Giaramita prides himself in being a competitor, having played baseball at the collegiate level and competing in martial arts throughout his life.
He resides in the Five County Philadelphia Area with his wife of seven years and their dog.
Kyle Baughman
Kyle consults with Federal Firearms Licensees regarding their compliance with Federal and State Law, and provides technical evaluations and testimony for firearms related litigation. Kyle also performs computer aided design and manufacturing for various businesses, including the firearms industry.
Kyle is a also a former Deputy U.S. Marshal, and in this role was involved in fugitive apprehension, sex offender compliance, missing and exploited children investigations and provided Medic duties. Prior to becoming a Deputy Marshal Kyle was an ATF Firearms Technology Officer specializing in firearms classification. In this role he also provided expert testimony and technical evaluations. Kyle has also served his country in the U.S. Navy and Army National Guard.
Gilbert Ambler, Esq.
Attorney Ambler is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Much of his practice focuses on constitutional issues and criminal defense throughout Virginia and in central and western Pennsylvania, with many of his cases involving weapons or self-defense related issues. He also has experience representing both individuals and Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) in compliance with the ATF. Gilbert is a contributor to multiple firearms blogs, has taught CLE (continuing legal education) to other attorneys on the subject of firearms law, has been a featured guest on tv and radio programming to discuss important constitutional concepts, and has taught hundreds of self-defense legal seminars to thousands of people. Gilbert is also one of the founding members of the American Council of 2nd Amendment Lawyers (see 2alawyers.org). He is author of the 2021 issue of "Virginia Gun Law, Armed and Educated" and co-author of "The Ultimate FFL Resource Guide," a comprehensive guidebook for Federal Firearm Licensees. Gilbert has represented groups including U.S. LawShield, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, and Virginia Citizens Defense League in various firearm related cases. In addition to state courts for Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, Gilbert is licensed to practice in federal court for both the Eastern and Western District of Virginia, the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Southern District of Texas. When not working, Gilbert enjoys fast cars, baseball, shooting, and spending time with his wife and son, Weston.