Comments on: The Champion: Remembering Marty Hayes

By: Don Lynch

Don Lynch — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:43:54 +0000

I cannot remember when I met Marty Hayes. I do remember the Rhonda Reynolds murder and cover up. Before I met Marty, he decided to run for Lewis County Coroner. The coroner, Terry Wilson, was a huge part of the cover up of the murder of Rhonda Reynolds and a part of the corrupt elite running Lewis County. I was at the Lewis County Fair and at the Republican booth Terry Wilson asked me who I was voting for in the coroner’s race. I told him, “Marty Hayes.” Terry Wilson asked me, “What do you know about him?” I answered, “I know he is not you.” Sadly, Terry Wilson was re-elected that time. Later, in 2008 he was ousted by Warren McLeod.

As I told Terry Wilson, almost the only thing I knew about Mary Hayes was that he was not Terry Wilson. Before long, word of my encounter with Wilson got to Marty, we met and became friends. I was very saddened when Gila told me of his passing.

By: Justin DB

Justin DB — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:39:34 +0000

God bless Marty and Gila for all they have done. He and ACLDN will be missed.

By: BCS

BCS — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 23:29:32 +0000

I was a long time member of The ACLDN, an organization I could trust and that gave me great comfort to belong to, until it turned into CCW Safe. I met and talked to Marty on several occasions, he was always friendly and a font of worthwhile information. I’m saddened by his passing, we need more people like him on our side. RIP Marty and my deepest condolences to Gila.

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:49:47 +0000

RIP Marty, thanks for all the carbine classes you hosted and taught.

By: Dean Benjamin

Dean Benjamin — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:52:59 +0000

I had the pleasure of knowing Marty for just over 4 years. He was a great neighbor and friend. I could always count on him for help if not outside working or maybe making sure my bourbon didn’t go dry. We had many conversations about deep things or sometimes nothing at all, but he almost always had a smile on his face.

By: Chris T in KY

Chris T in KY — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:43:39 +0000

Rest in peace sir. And God bless his family. I never met him. But listening to the podcasts that had him on as a guest. I did learn a great deal.

Thank you sir.

By: Brady Wright

Brady Wright — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 02:46:29 +0000

Marty. In my house, I never had to say a last name. Marty is responsible for the basis of all the formal firearms and related training I have taken over the last 25 years. Marty was the in-house Instructor at the old Gun Works range i south Everett, where I was the manager for some years. I took all fhe classes he offered, most right and.then again left handed, and then was fortunate enough to become a special projects coordinator during the rampup and later years of the ACLDN. Shared several NRA convention trips with him, Gila, Mas and Vincent. When he and Gila revealed that they had bought property in Idaho, not more than an hour from us, I was thrilled to think we might have lunch or even a hunting trip together. To say that the shooting world has lost a giant is not to even scratch the surface. He will be missed.

By: John Allen

John Allen — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 01:04:57 +0000

I had joined ACLDN many years ago right after I discovered the organization. As an instructor myself, I always looked forward to the monthly newsletter Marty & Gila sent out, as I always learned a thing or two from each one that I would share with my students. I handed out to each of my students and fellow instructors to be a copy of the “What Every Gun Owner Needs to Know About Self-Defense Law” booklet, it was written by Marty and gave a good outline of When is Deadly Force Justified, explained the The Reasonable Man doctrine in simple plain English that anyone could understand.
I was fortunate to meet Marty in person at one of the NRA annual Membership meetings.
Sincere condolences to Gila and the ACLDN family. He has left a legacy of accomplishments & knowledge of us all.

By: Russ

Russ — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 22:17:23 +0000

Thank you for this article… I guess kind of an informal obituary. Marty was a great guy. I never had any personal dealings with him, I never met him, and I only had occasional E-mail exchanges with Gila, who was a wonderful person and I could feel her warmth in her replies and comments helping me through one thing or another regarding my membership from time to time.

Though I never met marty, I feel like I had a fairly good read on him through the many training videos and interviews that are online, and I always looked forward to the next newsletter update appearing in my inbox. I did not know these behind-the-scenes things you mentioned about him, but I could tell he was a good guy.

The Second Amendment community has suffered a loss, and we are all diminished.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 21:41:24 +0000

I first met Marty in 2014 when I took MAG-40 at FAS. We didn’t always see eye to eye about every topic, but he was always willing to listen and consider viewpoints other than his own, and I never doubted his commitment to his students. May his memory be for a blessing to everyone who knew him.