In the short time I have been in this position—humbled and honored to be serving you and our cause—I have focused on streamlining our programs and services, refocusing our efforts on our competitions and other events, and committing resources to the many legal and legislative fights we are in to defend and, where necessary, to win back our Second Amendment-protected freedom. To get this done, I have been graced with incredible help from many members of the now-refashioned NRA Board, by those who now have leadership positions here at the NRA, and by many others in the greater NRA community. As we look to the future with optimism, we are transforming our organization through modern technology while staying true to our roots as a 155-year-old institution dedicated to freedom.
For several generations now, but especially over the last decade, there has been a concerted effort by the enemies of our freedom to push false narratives about the NRA. Many in the mainstream media and in Hollywood, working in conjunction with gun-control groups and a “usual-suspects” list of politicians, have fabricated and produced false historical and contemporary portrayals of this association. Their goal is to divide us, to quell our enthusiasm, and to deflate our morale.
Unfortunately, they have had some success. And these efforts to marginalize us were given credence from mistakes made by some who previously held leadership positions in your NRA.
This is why part of our communication efforts include emails and old-fashioned direct mailings. We have reduced the amount of direct mail, as it can be too much, but please be on the lookout for a summer mailing from us. This is an important message, and we want to communicate it directly; after all, we can’t often trust the mainstream media to accurately tell our story or to report all we’re doing.
This is critical. We need you—the members—to engage. Please renew your membership, recruit new members to join our ranks, and donate at nra.org. I also urge you to visit friendsofnra.org to find a Friends of NRA dinner in your area, participate and bring like-minded members of your community who share our outdoor traditions and understand the vital importance of our Second Amendment rights. Also, be sure to download the new NRA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. It puts powerful tools, benefits and information right in your pocket.
This is especially critical, as the 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching. These elections will have a profound impact on the future of our Second Amendment rights, and for all the anti-crime and pro-freedom initiatives the Trump administration is now doing to protect and defend this civil right. We must keep majorities of pro-Second Amendment politicians in the U.S. Senate and in the U.S. House of Representatives. If we don’t, the freedom we we have fought for could be in jeopardy. With early voting approaching in many states, we must act decisively. Whether you’re a hunter, a competitive shooter, or someone who simply wants to defend your family, you know how important this fundamental right is.
This year also marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was first signed on July 4, 1776. For 155 of those years, the NRA and our members have stood in defense of our fundamental freedoms.
Here are just a few recent examples of what we do:
• In Washington, D.C., the NRA helped remove the $200 federal excise tax on suppressors and short-barreled firearms, while also helping invalidate the “pistol brace” and “engaged in the business” rules affecting private firearm transfers.
• In the courts, the NRA has built on the landmark Bruen decision, blocked California’s ammunition background-check requirement and ended New Mexico’s seven-day waiting period. As this issue was going to print, we were also engaged in challenging longstanding National Firearms Act restrictions.
• At the state level, the NRA helped expand Second Amendment freedoms nationwide—including universal carry recognition in Texas, lowering Iowa’s carry age to 18, ending Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban, spreading constitutional carry to 29 states, and eliminating “gun-free zones” in multiple states.
Now is the time for all law-abiding gun owners to be members of the National Rifle Association. Together, we can preserve the country and the culture in the United States that we love. America has long been the light of the world because we stand tall together as citizens who understand, cherish and advocate for the restrictions on government as enumerated in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
The strength of this association—and our strength comes from the millions of Americans who are NRA members and from the outstanding people our members employ—has long been, and still is, critical to keeping this freedom alive.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at all the NRA events I attend and to seeing your families, friends and more there with you in this continued struggle to remain free.
