RSWC #248, Terra Semaia, Terra Talks 2A, GOA’s Empowered2A

Riding Shotgun With Charlie
#248
Terra Semaia
Terra Talks 2A, YouTube
Gun Owners of America, Empowered

Terra and I were Facebook friends long before we met in real life. She was a friend of a friend, in the 2A space, and in Massachusetts. So, of course, we got along well. The first time we met in person was at SHOT Show 2025 while I was doing shows at the Otis Technology booth. We’ve run into each other at 2A events in the Commonwealth and even when we both testified at the State House on Beacon Hill in Boston on Halloween in 2025.

She grew up in upstate New York in Utica. Her grandfather was an avid hunter who passed that on to his son, her father. Her father was a police officer in New York state who wasn’t able to get a carry permit for when he was off duty. So she grew up around shooting and firearms. Her father did take her hunting, but she’s never pressed the trigger while hunting. The first gun she shot was her dad’s GLOCK 22 in .40 cal.

Like many folks, life happens and they move away from shooting but eventually get back into it. She moved from New York state to Massachusetts around 2016. Once she figured out the process to get a license to carry, she took a course, applied and got the license and started training. She got into it very much and worked to become an instructor. After she started instructing, she reached out to the range where she took her licensing course and offered women’s courses. It’s good when women instruct women. They do ask different questions when they aren’t with men.

Once she saw all the anti-gun nonsense in Mass, she spent more time calling and writing legislators. Doing it alone is much harder than with others. So she reached out to some of the local and national groups. At SHOT Show 2025, she was on a mission to meet Stephen Willeford (RSWC #088). They started talking about training and advocacy, he introduced her to the Empowered 2A team with Gun Owners of America. The Empowered 2A team found out she was in Massachusetts and they needed someone in the state. So she became the GOA representative.

She’s done several range days with GOA all around the country. During the conversation, she hints that they were scoping out a place to do one in New England. Since we filmed, they decided that June 5 & 6, 2026 at the SIG Academy in Epping, NH. She and Suk Finnell have taken over the Empowered2A brand and are moving it forward with lots of events around the country.

The days before SHOT Show 2026, she helped with their Project Gunway, a high fashion concealed carry show. This is the first year they held this. The project showcases female focused brands that are taking over the firearm industry. By all accounts, it was a success and I’m sure they’ll do it again next year.

Other things keeping Terra going is that she’s writing for News2A. We love the folks at News2A! She’s got a series of articles about her origin story of surviving a domestic violence situation and becoming a firearm instructor. And she’s started a YouTube channel! It’s called Terra Talks 2A. It’s an interview style show catching up with many influencers in the firearm community. You can also find her on We The Free! She’s going to have videos on that platform, too.

Terra has been hard at work, connecting with all sorts of instructors, influencers, and groups to help make things happen. Her focus is on helping and training women. She’s doing all this while holding down a “regular job” which isn’t in the 2A space. Getting around the country to these events even with a job that understands and lets you work remotely still takes time and energy. Terra is doing it flawlessly.

Favorite quotes:

“Even my father, as law enforcement, didn’t have an unrestricted permit.”
”We’re suffering the repercussions from Bruen….but then we have states like Massachusetts that are just making it so impossible.”
“When I started going to the range, I realized I calm down.”
“We focus on advocacy, leadership, and education.”
“Getting women to understand their best means of self defense is themselves.”

Gun Owners of America
https://www.gunowners.org/

GOA Foundation Empowered
https://foundation.gunowners.org/empowered

Terra Talks 2A YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@TerraTalks2A

News2A
https://www.news2a.com/author/tsemaia

Terra on IG
https://www.instagram.com/terra.semaia

Terra on FB
https://www.facebook.com/terra.semaia

Second Amendment Foundation
https://secure.anedot.com/saf/donate?sc=RidingShotgun

Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms