Get to Know the Network Leaders

The Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. is a privately-owned, for-profit corporation led by President Marty Hayes, Vice-President Vincent Shuck and Operations Manager Gila Hayes. Brief biographical sketches of each follow.

MARTY HAYES

The concept of the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network, Inc. is the idea of the Network’s President Marty Hayes, who, after founding and running a successful firearms training business (The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc.) for many years, chose to address the issues of post shooting legal issues. In 2003, Marty decided to pursue a law degree with the expectation of working in the legal arena, and during this time, the idea of the Network was born. Upon graduation in 2007, he set out to form the structure of the Network, along with working with other top firearms training professionals to ensure the success of the Network.

Marty brings 30 years experience as a professional firearms instructor, 30 years of law enforcement association and his knowledge of the legal profession both as an expert witness and his legal education to the leadership of the Network.

GILA HAYES

Gila Hayes serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Network, in addition to editing the Network's online journal. She brings over two decades of shooting and firearms instruction to the job.

A free-lance writer, Gila is author of the books Effective Defense and Personal Defense for Women and Concealed Carry for Women, was women's editor for Gun Digest for several years and has work published in Police Magazine, Women and Guns Magazine, Handguns, NRA American Guardian and Woman's Outlook, American Handgunner, Gun Week, GUNS Magazine, Combat Handguns Annual, Glock Annual, Smith & Wesson Annual and others. Before working in the firearms industry, she was publisher of a small-town newspaper.