Editors’ Note: Mark “Oz” Geist is a real American hero and proven problem solver. He is campaigning for his first time for the 2019 National Rifle Association’s Board of Directors, please consider him for your vote.
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- My name is Mark “Oz” Geist. I was nominated to run for the NRA board by Lt Col Oliver North. I am a 12-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
After being honorably discharged, I continued to serve my community as a Law Enforcement Officer. Six years later, I began my career as a Private Security Contractor for this great nation.
In doing so, the other members of the Annex security team and I saved more than 25 American lives.
Because of my life experience, I believe I bring to the table a unique perspective on the various issues that face the NRA and its members. Serving on the NRA’s Board of Veteran Affairs, I want to see the NRA expand our membership and outreach to include more Veterans and minorities.
I have traveled across this great country of ours over the past few years and have met tens of thousands of Americans who depend on hunting and fishing to feed their families.
Self-reliance, the right to self-defense and hunting are uniquely American traditions and values that have been handed down from generation to generation. We must continue sharing these values that established this great nation.
The 2nd Amendment was given to “We the People” so that we can have the means to protect the rest of the United States Constitution. In doing this, we must focus on the long game. We must address this fight from both a strategic view as well as a tactical view.
Ultimately it is the war we must win and how we fight this war will vary from battle to battle. I ask that you not get discouraged if it appears that we are weak on one front, for it will allow us to be stronger on another.
Trust in the fact that my focus is on one thing and that is protecting this Country, its people and the Constitution of these United States of America and to do so we must retain a strong and vibrant 2nd Amendment.
The enemy we face is laser-focused on taking away our 2nd Amendment rights. The liberal far left has shown us that they will stop at nothing to degrade, harm and attack those who do not believe the way they do. If we do not stand together, we will lose alone. So, I ask you all to Vote for me and know I will have your 6!
~ Mark “OZ” Geist
Mark Geist Backgrounder:
Mark “Oz” Geist is a member of the Annex Security Team that fought the Battle of Benghazi, Libya, from September 11 to September 12, 2012. A Colorado native, Mr. Geist joined the United States Marine Corps in 1984. During his time in the service, he served in Barracks Duty in the Philippines, then with the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines Golf Company, as well as the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Platoon. He then was chosen to serve in the newly formed Marine Cadre program as an Anti-/Counter- Terrorism Instructor. Upon the completion of a very successful tour and re-enlistment, Mr. Geist changed his military occupational specialty to the Intelligence field, specializing in Interrogation Translation. He attended language school where he studied Persian Farsi.
After serving 12 years in the United States Maine Corps, Mr. Geist became a Deputy Sheriff in Teller County, Colorado. In that role, he was assigned as liaison with the Vice Narcotics and Intelligence Unit in Colorado Springs, Colorado, as well as an Investigator for Crimes against Children. Certified as a Forensic Interviewer of children, he investigated numerous case of abuse in which he helped to secure convictions of the perpetrators. He then took a job as Chief of Police in Fowler, Colorado. After leaving the Fowler Police Department, Mr. Geist began his own business in private investigations as well as bounty hunting and bail bonds.
In 2004, Mr. Geist began doing contract security work in Iraq. He worked for Triple Canopy, providing Personal Security Details for Department of State personnel in Baquba, Iraq. Upon the completion of that contract, he worked for USIS, the United States Investigative Services, training Iraqi SWAT teams and Personal Security Details. He also served as a mentor/advisor to the Personal Security Detail of Dr. Ayad Allawi, the former Prime Minister of Iraq.
Mr. Geist finished his career as a security contractor in Benghazi, Libya, where he was credited with helping to save the lives of more than 25 Americans. Mr. Geist is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in the battle. He is a co-author of the bestselling book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi.
For more on Mark “Oz” Geist visit https://markgeist.com/.
There’s a lot of back and forth here by what many would say are keyboard patriots. If you have question for Mark Geist then ask him. >>> https://markgeist.com <<< Don't talk crap on a forum where he cannot respond as the article is written by someone else. His statements are basic for task of letting you to get to know him. His remarks were not meant to be some sort of constitutional statement to please those with tunnel vision that only see what's in front of them. I've never met Geist but I have had a few occasions to converse… Read more »
Its nice to be able to have time to have a debate and cast your vote. But the RKBA will be fought at each gun owners front door at 3am. Knock Knock! We want your guns! My name could be iron felix.
Only the names have changed, whats ur name?
RKBA FOREVER!
Mark couches his comments in terms of political partisanship throughout. But gun safety and responsible gun ownership is not a political issue. The willingness to accept that america has the worst per capita gun violence rate in the developed world and that responsible gun owners embrace gun safety should be responsibility #1 for any NRA official. Mark hasn’t done that in any way in his statement. The NRA needs a significant change in its leadership. Away from extremism, promoting myths and fear in order to sell guns for the NRAs backers, the gun and ammo industry, should be job 1… Read more »
@Wild Bill is correct and JMR is not in that the Constitution and Second Amendment simply reaffirm an existing INHERENT Right that we are given as human beings. We didn’t “get” this Right because we fought a war against another country and the Founders wrote it on a piece of paper. They knew we already possessed it. Read their foundational studies of Thomas Aquinas and how his works influenced their writings and our form of government. Yeah, a little deep but it gives you a pretty good understanding of what we, as a country and govt, are all about. Back… Read more »
@JMR: I think you have over-analyzed what Mark Geist has said. His point is that before it was written made therefore made so we had no right(s). Mark would and will make a better BOD than most who already hold these seats. Your statement, “Our constitution is (I believe) what’s called a negative rights constitution..” is one that I would never make because it is erroneous. Keep your beliefs to yourself. You have done what the socio-communists do. You have sought to redefine the US Constitution as it suits you. Mark Geist will fight for ours rights not because he… Read more »
The second amendment wasn’t given to anyone, the second amendment was the result of fighting a bloody war against the premiere military of its time, after they took away rights. The second amendment doesn’t give you the right to own a firearm, it prevents the government from taking it away. Our constitution is (I believe) what’s called a negative rights constitution, that means that it recognizes that people have all the rights, and the constitution gives rights to the government, or lays out the process in which citizens can give the power over these rights to the government. The bill… Read more »