In recent years, a number of Chinese gun associations have emerged in the United States, most notably the Great Philadelphia Chinese Gun Club (GPCGC) and the Chinese-American Network of Firearm Owners (CANFO) in Chicago. On the surface, these groups present themselves as advocates for lawful gun ownership and community self-defense under the Second Amendment. But their activities, structure, and social networks point to something far more troubling.
In Philadelphia, GPCGC has staged armed parades with participants marching in strict formation, carrying firearms under the escort of police vehicles. Organizers emphasized that every participant underwent multiple vetting and training steps to ensure “discipline and safety.” Such choreography resembles state-managed mobilization typical in authoritarian countries, rather than grassroots civic activism rooted in America’s tradition of individual liberty.
In Chicago, CANFO has gone even further. During the 2020 racial unrest, it organized armed patrols in Chinatown, presenting itself as a “self-defense force.” More concerning, however, is its web of connections:
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Direct contact with Chinese delegations: In November 2016, CANFO arranged firearms activities for an official or semi-official “visiting delegation” from China — a shocking overlap between U.S.-based gun clubs and potential PRC government or military-linked visitors.
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Ties to pro-PRC community networks: Its leadership has participated in Chinese hometown associations, which are closely linked to Beijing’s United Front system.
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Links to Chinese Scientists and Engineers Association (CSEA): A group long viewed as part of China’s talent-recruitment and political influence operations. CANFO repeatedly appeared at CSEA events, including those attended by Chinese diplomats.
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Outreach through alumni associations: Its instructors have been invited to speak at Chinese university alumni gatherings in Chicago, expanding recruitment channels within the Chinese diaspora.
Taken together, this is not simply a “gun hobbyist group.” It looks more like a Leninist-style social organization: highly disciplined, embedded in Chinese community networks, and potentially aligned with Beijing’s political agenda.
This concern becomes sharper when viewed alongside the CCP’s aggressive legal doctrine. In May 2024, China’s top judicial and security organs jointly issued rules enabling the prosecution of so-called “Taiwan separatists” with penalties up to death. The rules expand the notion of jurisdiction, allowing Chinese courts to claim authority if speech or online content abroad “produces harmful effects” inside China. In practice, this is a framework for long-arm jurisdiction over foreigners — including Chinese-Americans — whose speech is deemed hostile to Beijing.
When the existence of quasi-militarized gun groups in U.S. cities intersects with the CCP’s willingness to claim legal control over overseas Chinese, the risk is clear: Chinese nationals and immigrants in America could be pressured or mobilized as instruments of Beijing’s agenda, in ways fundamentally incompatible with U.S. security and values.
These developments deserve scrutiny not only from law enforcement but also from policymakers. What is being built is not a cultural association or a neighborhood watch. It is the scaffolding of an authoritarian influence operation, weaponized through community organizations, legal intimidation, and — most alarmingly — firearms.
