February 21, 2025 – In a bold move aimed at reshaping the future of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Daniel Defense has released a new video urging members to vote for a slate of NRA 2.0 reform candidates in the upcoming NRA Board of Directors election. The video, titled “The NRA Needs A Reset,” emphasizes the need for accountability, transparency, and a return to the core values of defending the Second Amendment.
The video asserts that the NRA has removed its “questionable leadership team” and that electing the right board members will restore trust and effectiveness within the organization. Daniel Defense is throwing its support behind the “NRA 2.0” slate, a group of reform candidates who pledge to prioritize accountability and member interests over past mismanagement. This effort has been widely praised as a necessary step to ensure the NRA remains an effective force for protecting gun rights.
NRA 2.0 Slate: A Push for Change
The slate of candidates endorsed by the reform movement includes a mix of longtime Second Amendment advocates, firearm industry professionals, and NRA members committed to change. Among them are:
- Frank Tait (Nominated by Members Petition)
- John Richardson (Only Guns & Money Blog)
- Knox Williams (Founder/President ASA) ~ Endorsed by AmmoLand News
- Theresa Inacker (NY/NJ Licensed Attorney)
- Jason Wilson (CEO, Lucid Optics)
- Howard Massingill, Jr. (CEO, Massingill Security)
- Jim Wallace (Current NRA Board Member)
- Todd Vandermyde (Founder/President, NCPD)
- David Mitten (30-year NRA Volunteer)
These candidates are being positioned as the solution to years of financial scandals and leadership failures under Wayne LaPierre, whose tenure was marred by allegations of misusing member funds. Many of the old-guard board members responsible for this past mismanagement are seeking reelection, making this a critical vote for the NRA’s future.
Backlash & Skepticism on Social Media
The NRA needs a reset. Let’s bring it back to what matters: protecting the Second Amendment and defending our rights. Be the change. pic.twitter.com/BdK3VOXLXG
— Daniel Defense (@DanielDefense) February 21, 2025
Following the video release, Daniel Defense took to X (formerly Twitter) to promote their stance, but the response was mixed. Many pro-Second Amendment voices remained skeptical of the NRA’s ability to reform, though their criticisms were directed at the previous leadership rather than the reform efforts Daniel Defense is supporting.
- @NickSchockett dismissed the effort, stating: “NRA is a lost cause. They mean nothing now. GOA and SAF all the way. No more paying for Wayne’s $5K suits.”
- @pew_mechanic questioned the need for the NRA at all, arguing: “Why? GOA, FPC, NAGR, the 2A foundation, and a host of small orgs have been doing the real work for decades. We don’t need the NRA, let it die and focus our resources on groups who do the work instead of cutting deals.”
- @Val6283243 echoed the frustration of many longtime NRA members: “As a lifetime member, it’s too little too late. I’m done, and they will never see another dime from me. GOA and FPC are leagues ahead of them.”
- @tito0126BB criticized the NRA’s bureaucracy, saying: “It has become yet another DC organization filled with money-grabbing bureaucrats who happen to like guns. All the 2A Protecting Patriots have fled the NRA and gone to other REAL 2A Protecting Patriot Groups.”
- @KJB_1958 was open to the idea but remained cautious: “I agree, but the new NRA leadership is going to have to prove that they are for gun owners’ rights first before they will ever see another dime from me. “
Despite the skepticism, some commenters saw the potential for change.
@regularguyguns noted: “The NRA needs to be fixed. A loss of the NRA, while it wouldn’t affect the number of gun owners, would be a big psychological victory for those who are in opposition to us.”
Daniel Defense’s Vocal Endorsement of Reform
Unlike previous years, where reformers were vastly outnumbered, the 2025 election presents a unique opportunity to elect a majority of pro-reform board members. Daniel Defense’s video serves as a rallying call, emphasizing that gun owners shouldn’t abandon the NRA but should instead help elect those who will correct its course.
By supporting candidates outside the entrenched leadership, Daniel Defense is making a clear yet tactful statement: the NRA can still be salvaged, but only if members take action to ensure the right people are in charge. The company has positioned itself as an ally in this effort, using its platform to amplify the voices of those committed to genuine change.
The Bigger Picture: NRA at a Crossroads
The NRA is still reeling from years of legal battles, financial scandals, and declining membership engagement. The 2025 board election is being seen as a pivotal moment that could determine the organization’s future. Reformers argue that without a strong NRA, gun rights advocacy will become fragmented, while critics insist that organizations likeGun Owners of America (GOA), and the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) are more effective and trustworthy alternatives.
With voting open through March, NRA members now face a crucial decision: attempt to salvage the organization through internal reform or abandon it in favor of alternative pro-gun groups. Either way, the election results will be a significant indicator of whether the NRA can regain its footing or if it will continue to lose relevance in the fight for Second Amendment rights.
Have Your Say NRA voting members can cast their ballots through the February edition of NRA magazines. The results will shape the direction of the NRA for years to come. Whether the “NRA 2.0” slate succeeds or not, one thing is clear—gun rights supporters are watching closely, and they won’t accept business as usual anymore.
NRA Board Election 2025 Endorsements: Future of NRA is in Members’ Hands
The NRA might be salvaged if the incontrollable 75-member Board is reduced to a manageable 25 or less.
I’m already making my choice. I’m not renewing. Not only did they completely screw up, most of the same people still remain on a bloated board.
On a minor issue, the magazine is thinner, there is too much groveling for more money, and too many articles from officers berating membership to do more.
Do more with less.
I’m going with GOA or any other org that isn’t the NRA.
Lifetime membership who quit voting, stopped supporting and left to support real gun rights groups. I was hopeful to see a great revival after the removal of the old corrupt board but seems like nothing will ever change with the nra.
I think “former NRA”, is pre 1934 NFA support. Long list of Negotiating Rights Away, and later corruption, from 1934 onward.
I’m a life member of the NRA. I say let it die. The betrayal began with their support of the NFA back in 1934, and has only grown since. Add in all the financial corruption which started in the 1980’s, to the endless compromising on 2A policy, and to hell with them.
NRA’s toast.
I’m supporting GOA.
No comment from people like Jeff Knox or Frank Tait on this massive endorsement?
Maybe they don’t like black rifles?
Let the NRA die.
And both have been working to take guns away since 1934, with the NFA!