Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen received one of the most prestigious honors for gun rights over the weekend, accepting the Legislator of the Year award from the Second Amendment Foundation at its 40th annual conference in Salt Lake City.
The national recognition highlights Nguyen's work championing gun rights as chairman of Arizona's House Judiciary Committee. For the Republican lawmaker, the award caps years of advocacy rooted in a profoundly personal understanding of freedom.
Nguyen's passion for gun rights comes from his family's escape from Vietnam. He frequently draws on that background to explain his strong defense of the Second Amendment, viewing the right to bear arms as a critical safeguard that his family has firsthand experience with.
That perspective has made him a leading voice in Arizona's Republican-controlled legislature, where he represents District 1, covering Prescott and portions of Yavapai and Maricopa counties.
Legislative Record
Since taking office, Nguyen has built an extensive track record on firearms issues. In 2021, Nguyen sponsored an amendment to legislation that provided legal protections for gun and ammunition manufacturers and sellers from certain civil lawsuits, particularly when their products are misused by others in crimes.
He's consistently opposed local gun ordinances, arguing they conflict with state law and infringe on constitutional rights.
Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, praised Nguyen, commenting that he has "rarely encountered a public servant as principled and tireless as Representative Quang Nguyen. Since his first day in office, [he] has stood as a stalwart voice for your rights and mine, not just voting the right way, but leading from the front."
Nguyen was joined in Salt Lake City by House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Representative Nick Kupper. Montenegro participated in a fireside chat highlighting Arizona Republicans' record on gun rights.
"It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Second Amendment Foundation," Nguyen said. "I will always defend the Constitution as written and protect Arizonans' right to self-defense."
