By Lucretia Hughes
WASHINGTON — Women from across the country gathered in the nation’s capital for the 2026 Women for Gun Rights National Summit, carrying a message too often overlooked in America’s gun debate: Women are not waiting for politicians to speak for them.
We are mothers, grandmothers, survivors, gun owners, voters and community leaders. We understand that protecting our families and defending our constitutional rights are not competing priorities.
They are part of the same responsibility.
The Sept. 12-14 summit brought advocates together for leadership training, policy discussions, grassroots organizing and direct engagement with government officials. The gathering marked the organization’s 10th year of giving women a national voice in the debate over the Second Amendment.
I traveled to Washington as a Georgia delegate, speaker and longtime advocate for Women for Gun Rights.
Standing on the National Mall with the U.S. Capitol behind me, I delivered a two-minute message rooted in personal loss and hard-earned conviction.
My son, Emmanuel Hughes, was 19 when he was killed in 2016 by a convicted felon using an illegally obtained firearm. The man responsible was already prohibited from possessing a gun.
That tragedy changed my life, but it did not convince me that law-abiding citizens should surrender their rights. It convinced me that government must enforce existing laws, hold violent criminals accountable and stop treating responsible gun owners as the problem.
Taking firearms away from mothers, survivors and other law-abiding Americans will not disarm the criminals who ignore the law.
That is why my message in Washington was clear: We can demand safer communities while protecting the constitutional rights of innocent people. We can support education, responsible firearm ownership and meaningful accountability without abandoning the Second Amendment.
During the summit, participants took part in a public demonstration in which women read the Second Amendment and sang the national anthem. We also met with elected officials and carried our message into the rooms where national policy is discussed.
One of the most significant moments was attending a White House policy briefing focused on the Second Amendment and public safety.
Walking into the White House complex was not about recognition or taking photographs. It was about making sure decision-makers heard directly from the women affected by the policies being debated.
Women should not be reduced to statistics or used as political talking points. We deserve a seat at the table.
I also visited the office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., where I offered my support and discussed the importance of continued constitutional leadership. These conversations matter because the fight for freedom does not happen only during elections. It happens every day through education, organization and participation.
I previously carried this message before Congress on June 8, 2022. I told lawmakers then what I continue to say today: My son was not killed because America has a Second Amendment. He was killed by a violent criminal who had no respect for the law or for human life.
The answer is not to disarm the mother who wants to protect her children.
The answer is to confront violent crime, enforce the law and give responsible citizens the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves.
How to Join Women for Gun Rights
Women do not need to be politicians, professional speakers or firearms experts to become involved.
They simply need to believe that their voices and constitutional rights matter.
Those interested in joining can visit my official Women for Gun Rights affiliate page:
Join Women for Gun Rights through Lucretia Hughes
Follow the instructions on the page to register, receive organizational updates and learn about opportunities to participate in advocacy, training and future events.
Members can become involved by connecting with advocates in their state, contacting elected officials, attending public meetings, sharing accurate information and encouraging other women to speak confidently about personal safety and constitutional freedom.
Some women may eventually testify before lawmakers or speak at national rallies. Others may educate neighbors, organize locally or simply begin conversations with family members.
Every role matters.
The Washington summit demonstrated what becomes possible when determined women stand together. We spoke on the National Mall, walked the halls of government and entered the White House carrying the voices of women who could not be there.
The trip may be over, but the mission continues.
Gun rights are women’s rights. Personal safety is not a privilege reserved for the powerful or politically connected. It belongs to every law-abiding American.
Now is the time to learn, organize and stand.
God. Family. Country. Constitution.
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