NRA EVP & CEO Doug Hamlin will hold a virtual town hall this Thursday, answering questions and providing important updates about the NRA and our efforts to protect and promote Second Amendment rights.
️ June 26 | 8pm ET
Get registered: https://t.co/VnjJYfWh8c pic.twitter.com/LqbnA58B9F
— NRA (@NRA) June 23, 2025
“The National Rifle Association is working to regain the trust of members,” John Petrolino writes in a Monday announcement on Bearing Arms. “In part of a number of reform-related efforts, EVP/CEO Dough Hamlin is hosting a town hall meeting.”
The event, taking place Thursday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, invites members to “Join the conversation … to hear directly from Doug [and] ask questions about the direction of our Association.” And there’s a link to register. I did.
As a life member and longtime observer and critic of the way the association conducted business under the LaPierre regime (and not just him, but no shortage of complicit officers and directors), I understand as well as any a justified sense of betrayal, and the anger and mistrust that result. I also know that some will view this as primarily motivated by a desperate need to stop hemorrhaging money and members. That’s probably a big component.
That said, I hope hostility is kept in check and the man is given the chance he’s asking for. I hope those who ask questions don’t use this as a forum to pontificate, troll, and insult, because it’s not any one disgruntled member’s forum to air grievances, and the rest of us are going there for answers.
That said, questions can be pointed, and we should expect and deserve answers that aren’t deflections.
I can think of any number off the top of my head, including:
- Why does “single issue” NRA not acknowledge that bad immigration votes can undo good gun votes, and let endorsement candidates know that will be factored into their grades?
- Speaking of grading, why not release candidate answers to questionnaires? It might be used against them doesn’t sound like a credible excuse—anyone with an “A” grade and endorsement will already be on the Democrat/media hitlist as an “extremist,” and if they’re not willing to proudly lead, do they really deserve high marks? Besides, think of all the self-servers who took the endorsement and then stabbed members in the back—why not expose specific promises they made to show the world what liars they are?
- Will NRA give members a way to communicate with all officers and directors? I’m thinking of a page on the website where, once logged in with a valid membership number, we can select who we want to include on our message and know that it will reach them. (H/T 2AWhite Rook for the idea.)
- Why do we need 76 directors? Is there any interest in amending the bylaws and trimming that?
- Here’s one from way back: How can I get that tub of goo Michael Moore expelled?
Once you get going on this, the questions seem to write themselves and it’s doubtful many will be asked and responsively answered in the brief allotted time the “town hall” is scheduled for, leading to another question: “Why only one hour?”
Still, going through this little exercise, and particularly seeing how EVP Hamlin identifies himself, reminded me of another question I’ve had for a long time that may seem like small potatoes compared to more weighty ones, but that points to a core issue:
Per the Bylaws (As amended April 17, 2023 and May 18, 2024), Article V, Section 1 (a):
“The officers of the Association shall be a President, one or more Vice Presidents, an Executive Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chief Compliance Officer, an Executive Director of the National Rifle Association General Operations, and an Executive Director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action.”
Then you get to (b) and it says (in boldface type):
“The Board may not abolish said offices nor create any other offices.”
So, what’s with “CEO”?
It’s not just how he refers to himself, it’s how NRA refers to him, case in point, on official tax documents they file with the government.
Some may say that it’s splitting hairs and there are bigger fish to fry. Originalist that I am, the prohibition is specific and must be there for a reason. And the Bylaws, which is a legal document, offers in a very real sense a Constitution analogy. Start deviating from that, even on little things, and they add up, grow to bigger things, and we’re back to the whole reason everything blew up in the first place.
I’m looking forward to the webinar on Thursday evening. Hopefully, once we join in, it will be clear how to raise our hands to ask a question. Hopefully, all those selected will help make it a productive use of all our time.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
The NRA has a very long way to go before I even think about giving them a penny. FWLP and the current board fucked up the NRA. There are better pro gun organization to donate to; GOA, FPC, NAGR, SAF and local orgs.
If the New NRA will clearly answer your questions satisfactorily David I will seriously reconsider my current well deserved membership boycott.
Ask “Does the Constitution protect the right of 15 year olds, like Sergeant Martin, to keep and bear arms”. It’s the one the compromised always flake out on despite it being fundamental to the 2A.
Several years ago I asked if NRA would provide a list of strategies and talking points that were used to implement Constitutional Carry in other states, to help my state get started on legislation. I actually received a reply:”That’s a great idea.” Never heard anything else from them.
I agree completely with what David & others have said previously. If the NRA is creating new positions & titles out of thin air in direct violation to their own bylaws, then the organization’s leadership HAS NOT LEARNED A DAMN THING!!! Doug Hamlin’s & any board members participation in this obviously illegal modification of the bylaws, then they all should resign immediately. As a Benefactor member, until the NRA discontinues such subterfuge being perpetrated on the organization’s membership WITHOUT SEVERE CONSEQUENCES AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS, then the NRA will never see another penny from me. There are TOO MANY OTHER HONEST… Read more »
Very good catch about the “CEO” part. It doesn’t mention “CEO” in my bylaw book, amended January 7, 2023, either. How the NRA has an “EVP/CEO” is a question that must be answered.