NRA election coming up

[somorris]

For those of you interested, we should be getting an NRA ballot for 2025 in the February magazine as I understand it. You may remember Jeff Knox’s thread from last year about electing reformers. Jeff and (I think) three other reformers were elected. Based on what I have read, they are making great progress in changing the NRA, or what they call NRA 2.0. Good news!

There is a website, ElectANewNRA.com that has a list of recommended Board candidates who are committed to continuing the reforms at the NRA. we need to keep this ball rolling. Maybe Jeff will jump in here and give us an update. I also participate in the Ruger forum, and Amanda Suffacol, an NRA BOard member and reformer provided a great update on the goings on at the NRA. Hopefully I have this thread in the correct place, but if not, I would appreciate a moderator moving it.

[BU1]

I apologize if this has been asked before and I missed the answer, but why in the world do they need 76 board members?

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by BU1

I apologize if this has been asked before and I missed the answer, but why in the world do they need 76 board members?

I have always wondered the same thing. I’d believe many, if not most, don’t contribute much worthwhile beyond showing up for meetings. I am always in a quandary over who to vote for as all I know is what their mini-bios say, and they may not be factual. Normally I vote for only a few on the ballot who seem to be little more impressive.

[lrrifleman]

This is an important issue for me. In my opinion, the NRA that I have the most contact with is on a path of self destruction. I clicked on the link that the OP provided. In particular, the format/content of the page entitled DO NOT VOTE FOR is confusing.

[Bekeart]

I would like to see an itemized listing of all money received by every incumbent running for re-election.

The list shall include a plain english justification for the each payment.

Look how they spent our money.

Also would like an itemized listing for any/all non cash benefits.
e.g. Airline tickets / hotel rooms / gifts from manufactures / etc.

Most juries have 12 members.

NRA has 76 board members

The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435

Tell me again how "more is better".

Bekeart

Resident Cynic

[stansdds]

With 76 board members, I wonder how anything gets done?

[WR Moore]

They probably have smaller committees for things that need to get done.....or to spread the blame.

[lrrifleman]

It is my understanding that BoD members (in the past) were assigned to committees, not necessarily by qualifications but more through loyalty. From tidbits that I've heard, committees seem to be comprised by BoD members that are more local to the Fairfax headquarters.

[Engineer1911]

This is a list of candidates I received as post-LaPierre favoring the new outlook of NRA 2.0"

Al Hammond, Anthony Colandro, Cathy Wright, Charles T. Hiltunen III, Charles Brown, David Mitten,

Emory Jack Hagan III, Frank Tait, Howard Massingill, James Sheckels, James Fotis, Jason Wilson,

Jim Porter, Jim Wallace, John Richardson, Phillip Gray, Jonathan Goldstein, Knox Williams,

Mitzy McCorvey, Paul Babaz, Regis Synan, Richard Fairburn, Richard Figard, Richard Scott Emslie,

Theresa Inacker, Todd Ellis, Todd Vandermyde, Willes Lee, LTC, USA Ret.

[ISCS Yoda]

Originally Posted by BU1

I apologize if this has been asked before and I missed the answer, but why in the world do they need 76 board members?

It's ridiculous - but I have to ask - how many of these Board members are there for their political connections and not to actually run the NRA?

[BigMuddy]

I’m going to take a “guess” at the reason for 76 board members is to prevent four reformers from reforming anything.

Dan

[bobsguns]

Looking at the list of candidates above, I don't recognize ANY of them.

I am heavily involved in TN politics (as far as awareness & participation), heavily into 2nd Amendment issues in TN via the TN Firearms Assoc. I read a LOT of political info on gun boards & whatnot.

Don't know ANY of those people.

[DWalt]

As I said earlier, I find it difficult to vote for any of them, knowing so little beyond reading a probably sanitized self-bio and having nothing else to base a decision on.

I remember reading that Tom Sellick was described as largely a hands-off and do-little leader.

[somorris]

I am the OP, but don’t consider myself an NRA expert. The site I linked in my first post includes a list of candidates we should vote for based on recommendations from folks I trust. As far as why 76 Board members, the people trying to reform the NRA agree that having that many is ridiculous. If enough “reformers” can get on the Board, at some point I believe they will change the number to a dozen or so. They also want to get rid of “celebrity” Board members who don’t show up for meetings.

I agree the NRA has gotten way off course. We need to vote to change that.

[DWalt]

Originally Posted by somorris

I agree the NRA has gotten way off course. We need to vote to change that.

But how do you know who to vote for to accomplish that? Very few NRA members know the first thing about any of the candidates. Or about those who put together lists of the candidates they say you should vote or not vote for.

[90-10]

It is a shame what the NRA has become. I have no confidence that Bob Barr can turn things around; it's just more of the same: spend our membership fees on their own personal toys.
I have been an annual member since 1979 but I'm letting it expire in April and giving that money to Gun Owners of America and The National Association for Gun Rights (the only organization that helped Kyle Rittenhouse).

[Mike, SC Hunter]

I am STILL MAD with them.....So I don't care.

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Originally Posted by DWalt

But how do you know who to vote for to accomplish that? Very few NRA members know the first thing about any of the candidates. Or about those who put together lists of the candidates they say you should vote or not vote for.

Agreed. However, Jeff Knox knows a thing or two, and his father was on this subject from what was pretty much the beginning. He was the leader of the original "Cincinnati revolt."

I think that we are best led ny Jeff Knox's recommendations.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by ImprovedModel56Fan

Agreed. However, Jeff Knox knows a thing or two, and his father was on this subject from what was pretty much the beginning. He was the leader of the original "Cincinnati revolt."

I think that we are best led ny Jeff Knox's recommendations.

I agree with this, where can we find his recommendations?

[rwsmith]

...asking him to come forth.

[stansdds]

Originally Posted by ImprovedModel56Fan

Agreed. However, Jeff Knox knows a thing or two, and his father was on this subject from what was pretty much the beginning. He was the leader of the original "Cincinnati revolt."

I think that we are best led ny Jeff Knox's recommendations.

I agree and I am hoping that he will post his recommendations for this election.

[rwsmith]

BoD membership must be an 'honorary' position for many people, who want to be identified with the NRA but don't want to do any work. Like the guy you get teamed up with in Laboratory Finals.

[lrrifleman]

I am a little confused with the content of the recommendations of who to vote for, and who to vote against.

In one statement, the NRA 2.0 candidates want to bring the NRA back to training and competitions, but in another statement, want to remove 2 of the known, active, competitors from the BoD!

Most of the candidates forming NRA 2.0 are not competitors. Most of the current BoD are not competitors. Perhaps that is why members that are competitors feel like abandoned step-children!

[Grayfox]

Most of the BOD is just as corrupt as WLP was. They were the ones looking the other way and kept him in power for so long.
Change is definitely needed. But they keep us in the dark and we don't know who to vote for and who to kick out.
Jeff Knox offered good guidance last time. He needs to come forward again and post here.
I consider severely reducing the size of the board a priority.

[GypsmJim]

What about the amend proposal? Yea or Nay?

[BSA1]

Is Phillip Journey running for election?

Are the “2.0 Reformers” wanting the NRA to stop lobbying in Washington and stop filing lawsuits against anti-2A laws and regulations?

The BoD needs to communicate directly to the members through its website and by emails on a monthly basis what the organization leadership is doing.

[somorris]

Originally Posted by BSA1

Is Phillip Journey running for election?

Are the “2.0 Reformers” wanting the NRA to stop lobbying in Washington and stop filing lawsuits against anti-2A laws and regulations?

The BoD needs to communicate directly to the members through its website and by emails on a monthly basis what the organization leadership is doing.

They do update us monthly in the magazines. In the past, I think it has mostly been smoke and mirrors. I am hopeful things are rapidly changing.

[SethHaan]

If you’re an NRA voting member, your ballot for the NRA election is now arriving in the February issue of your NRA magazine.

This year’s election is especially important because, now that the New York Attorney General’s attempt to put NRA out of business has failed, we must now direct our energy and efforts to rebuilding and strengthening NRA. How we do this, and under what leadership, will determine how quickly we can restore and regain our unified strength for our mission, our members, our donors, and indeed for our country.

Our team has the knowledge, skills and experience to guide NRA though this challenging transition period to a strong financial and political resurgence.

We are: Bob Barr, Sharon Callan, Larry E. Craig, Isaac Demarest, Lawrence Finder, Jeff Fleetham, Carol Frampton, Joel Friedman, Sandra S. Froman, Tom King, Charles Rowe, Ronald L. Schmeits, John C. Sigler, Danny Stowers, Dwight D. Van Horn and Blaine Wade

We’re a group of concerned Second Amendment activists, attorneys, former members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S Senate, business executives, financial experts, distinguished competitive shooters and respected law enforcement leaders. We’re running for the NRA Board of Directors because we’re very concerned about the future of NRA and the Second Amendment.

Many of our team participated in the reform of NRA’s financial operations, putting in place robust accounting oversight controls to protect NRA’s finances, many of which were specifically endorsed by the Judge in the New York case. Under our leadership, new NRA committees were appointed to oversee the financial operations of the NRA. Now, we must direct our efforts to rebuilding and strengthening NRA.

Each member of our team brings a solid record of accomplishment.

One of our team initiated the landmark lawsuit, NYSRPA v Bruen, which resulted in the US Supreme Court upholding the right to carry and ruling that the New York law restricting concealed carry permits was unconstitutional.

Other members of our team have been responsible for landmark pro-2nd Amendment decisions in state and federal courts. Our team includes former legislators and law enforcement leaders who have considerable experience promoting pro-Second Amendment legislation and opposing anti-gun laws. Still other team members who come from business and banking backgrounds will provide valuable oversight for NRA financial and budgetary policies.

Our team also includes an International Distinguished Rifleman and a Police Pistol Champion. These team members are strongly committed to the expansion of the many NRA training and shooting programs that benefit all NRA members.

We ask for your vote in this very important NRA Board of Directors election. Help us keep NRA strong and effective. Vote for this winning team of candidates.

For more information about our team members, please see our biographical sketches on the pages next to your ballot in the February issue of your NRA magazine or go to www.StrongNRA.com or see the attached flyer.

You can also see more about us at Ammoland:

NRA 2025 Board Election: Vote For These Strong & Effective Leaders

[lkabug]

NRA Board Election 2025 Endorsements: Future of NRA is in Members’ Hands

[lkabug]

The below link published today on AMMOLAND website by Jeff Knox.
You may remember his insighful post and surveys from last year on the NRA election.

NRA Board Election 2025 Endorsements: Future of NRA is in Members’ Hands

[somorris]

There you have it. I agree with Jeff Knox. Unlike Mr. Haan, I believe those who sat by for years and let the NRA get in the mess it is should step aside and let new Board members have the opportunity to fix our organization. No disrespect meant for Mr. Haan. Thank you so much for the link to Jeff Knox’s article, lkabug.

[SethHaan]

Jeff Knox frequently starts his attack on his fellow Board members with “This is not some sort of personal vendetta.” and launches on an attack full of ridiculous claims . Of course it is a personal vendetta. He’s been on a crusade to get revenge against NRA and certain board members ever since he and others were not elected to the NRA Board by the voters over 25 years ago.

Most of what Jeff Knox says is distorted, inaccurate, innuendo, speculative and in some cases even ridiculous. This is why the voters gave him and his cronies the boot in the late 90’s.

He claims that NRA has been a failure for the past 20 years. Where is the evidence? NRA spent over $60 million to help get Donald Trump elected in 2016 and now we have a pro-Second Amendment majority in the Supreme Court. Was that a failure? NRA helped elect numerous successful pro-gun candidates in federal, state and local elections over the past 20 years. NRA helped pass numerous pro-gun laws. Where is the failure?

Knox is acting like a democrat propagandist. He blames board members for nonexistant "failures over the past 20 years". Its all just gaslighting, bloviating, fear mongering.

One of Knox's more ridiculous statements was his suggestion that the NRA should have fired its attorneys right in the middle of the New York court case! Yes, during the actual negotiations to conclude the case against NRA, Jeff Knox supported firing NRA's attorneys! What was his reason? To save NRA money in legal fees!!!

And what would have happened to the NRA if it had actually fired its attorneys? It would have had to hire new attorneys at a great cost to the NRA to have new attorneys come up to speed. Unless maybe Jeff was figuring that NRA should have gone into court nekkid as a jaybird, before God and everybody, without any attorney at all?

And now Jeff Knox has the temerity to post his ridiculous attack on board members who opposed firing NRA's attorneys during the actual court proceedings. He actually expects you to not see through this nonsense.

Jeff Knox is just a bitter old man, desperately seeking revenge for events that happened a quarter century ago.

[Cholo]

SethHaan, regarding your post #28 in this thread:

I'm very pro NRA and am a Benefactor Member. I'm also friends with an NRA Board Member. It's odd how everyone you have on your list to vote for is on my DO NOT vote for list.

You said "WE". Are you one of the people you posted for us to vote for?

Anyway, you're as entitled to your opinion as I am to my opinion, but nobody on your list is getting my vote.

[Imissedagain]

^^^^
Would you please tell us about why not those people and why you choose others?
Specifics are what many of us are looking for.
Thanks

[Cholo]

I just got my ballot today and it will be a few days before I get my notes sorted out. I'll be glad to share who I'll be voting for. Who you, or SethHaan, vote for is your business.

I'll be voting to clean house. The NRA needs many many new faces. I'll say that anyone who was buddies with WLP will not be on my list.

I believe the NRA will bounce back and be a force to be reckoned with once again. Every vote matters, choose wisely!

It will be helpful to go to www.ElectANewNRA.com

[luvsmiths]

Originally Posted by SethHaan

Jeff Knox frequently starts his attack on his fellow Board members with “This is not some sort of personal vendetta.” and launches on an attack full of ridiculous claims . Of course it is a personal vendetta. He’s been on a crusade to get revenge against NRA and certain board members ever since he and others were not elected to the NRA Board by the voters over 25 years ago.

Most of what Jeff Knox says is distorted, inaccurate, innuendo, speculative and in some cases even ridiculous. This is why the voters gave him and his cronies the boot in the late 90’s.

He claims that NRA has been a failure for the past 20 years. Where is the evidence? NRA spent over $60 million to help get Donald Trump elected in 2016 and now we have a pro-Second Amendment majority in the Supreme Court. Was that a failure? NRA helped elect numerous successful pro-gun candidates in federal, state and local elections over the past 20 years. NRA helped pass numerous pro-gun laws. Where is the failure?

Knox is acting like a democrat propagandist. He blames board members for nonexistant "failures over the past 20 years". Its all just gaslighting, bloviating, fear mongering.

One of Knox's more ridiculous statements was his suggestion that the NRA should have fired its attorneys right in the middle of the New York court case! Yes, during the actual negotiations to conclude the case against NRA, Jeff Knox supported firing NRA's attorneys! What was his reason? To save NRA money in legal fees!!!

And what would have happened to the NRA if it had actually fired its attorneys? It would have had to hire new attorneys at a great cost to the NRA to have new attorneys come up to speed. Unless maybe Jeff was figuring that NRA should have gone into court nekkid as a jaybird, before God and everybody, without any attorney at all?

And now Jeff Knox has the temerity to post his ridiculous attack on board members who opposed firing NRA's attorneys during the actual court proceedings. He actually expects you to not see through this nonsense.

Jeff Knox is just a bitter old man, desperately seeking revenge for events that happened a quarter century ago.

YouTube

[326MOD10]

Mr. Haan earlier in this thread a poster requested that you list the reasons why he (or we) should vote for the people you have listed on your list.

You have not bothered to answer that request but have taken time to attack Mr. Knox and call him a "bitter old man".

Mr. Knox took the time to come on this forum last year and explain his point and the point of those he endorsed. It seems to have worked as those individuals were elected to the Board.

I understand why you come on here putting forth your list but you do so with no substance to go along with it. Just we were there when things went bad and know what to do to fix it.

I would inquire if you now know what to do to fix it where were you when it all went down hill?

I will pass on your list but thanks for taking the time to come on here and address this "bitter old man".

[rwsmith]

...maybe he will tune in when the election gets nearer. I'll reserve more comments until later.

[luvsmiths]

Originally Posted by rwsmith

...maybe he will tune in when the election gets nearer.

As all Politicians seem to do?

[ladder13]

Long time Life and Endowment member.

Waiting on Jeff Knox before marking my ballot. If he can’t close the deal, I’ll go it myself.

[serger]

I think Seth is a troll. caveat emptor.

[rockquarry]

Originally Posted by ladder13

Long time Life and Endowment member.

Waiting on Jeff Knox before marking my ballot. If he can’t close the deal, I’ll go it myself.

He suggests a number of candidates; a link in an earlier post.

[SethHaan]

Originally Posted by 326MOD10

Mr. Haan earlier in this thread a poster requested that you list the reasons why he (or we) should vote for the people you have listed on your list.

You have not bothered to answer that request but have taken time to attack Mr. Knox and call him a "bitter old man".

Mr. Knox took the time to come on this forum last year and explain his point and the point of those he endorsed. It seems to have worked as those individuals were elected to the Board.

I understand why you come on here putting forth your list but you do so with no substance to go along with it. Just we were there when things went bad and know what to do to fix it.

I would inquire if you now know what to do to fix it where were you when it all went down hill?

I will pass on your list but thanks for taking the time to come on here and address this "bitter old man".

When I posted the list of candidates to vote for, I also provided a link to an article that explained the reasons to vote for these listed candidates. That link is:

NRA 2025 Board Election: Vote For These Strong & Effective Leaders

Regarding your question about what I propose to do to fix things, I say this: Things have already been fixed long ago by the NRA Board.

Back in 2018 the NRA discovered solid evidence of the improper financial transactions and immediately stopped them. Since then the candidates on my list NRA participated in the restructuring of NRA’s business and financial operations, implementing policies and accounting controls to safeguard NRA’s finances, as mentioned in the above linked content.

Since the restructuring of NRA's business and financial operations to this day, there have been no further improper financial transactions. The court documents show that all improper transactions ceased long before the NY AG initiated her lawsuit against NRA in 2020. The court documents also show that no NRA board members knew about the fraudulent transactions until they were discovered by the NRA board's investigators and stopped.

So, anyone telling you otherwise is deliberately lying to you.

Regarding Jeff Knox's candidates I have this to say:

I strongly oppose those candidates because they are not independent thinkers. They blindly follow the leadership of six angry old men seeking revenge for events that occurred going back twenty five years.

Those candidates unthinkingly accepted the ridiculous attempt to fire NRA's attorneys while the New York Attorney General's lawsuit against NRA was still being litigated in court! And how was the NRA to defend itself in court without attorneys? They had no plan! And what was the reason for wanting to fire NRA's attorneys? Because they wanted to save money!

And then they childishly accused those who opposed firing NRA's attorneys of trying to destroy the NRA.

These candidates are gullible, easily manipulated opportunists who will follow deeply flawed leaders blindly. These people are a menace to NRA. I recommend that you do not vote for them.

[Cholo]

www.ElectANewNRA.com

The list of who has been recommended to vote for is in the link above that I also added in my post above.

Scroll down and you will see a link to click under:

Who The Candidates Are That Want To Save The NRA

Then you will have a link to click under:

Who You Shouldn't Vote For!

Then you will have a link to click under:

Who Voted To Destroy The NRA

The first link will have 28 candidates who have been recommended to vote for if you want to get the NRA back on track. The next 2 links are who you might not want to vote for.

You can only vote for 28 candidates! Only 26 of the recommended candidates are listed on the front ballot page where you mark a circle. Turn the ballot over and write in:

1) Charles Brown Dayton, OH

2) Paul Babaz Atlanta, GA

This will give you your 28. Read about them in the link at the top of the post. It's past time to clean house.

Here's what the ballot would look like front and back:





I am giving recommendations of who to vote for that I believe will lead the NRA back into the right direction. You can choose to vote for whomever you like.

Cholo
NRA Benefactor Member

PS: The NRA Board member I know said to vote Yes to the Amendment.

[Sistema1927]

In the February American Rifleman there are ads for two different slates of reform candidates. How does the average voting member, like myself, sort them out?

[326MOD10]

Originally Posted by Sistema1927

In the February American Rifleman there are ads for two different slates of reform candidates. How does the average voting member, like myself, sort them out?

Obviously your vote is your vote so you need to decide.

With that said if you recall Jeff Knox from last year and his reform group there is a link above to am Ammoland article providing his candidates of choice.

In the magazine they are the larger group, 28 I believe, listed under NRA 2.0 Pledge Takers. They are also a different group than who Mr. Knox advocates to elect.

The other group was mentioned by the poster Seth Hann, above, who listed the names and said the group is working to make NRA better. When sked how it appears he forgot how to type.

So basically there are two groups advertising in the NRA magazines and a 3rd group headed up by Mr. Knox.

Confusing, I know.
I would read the Ammoland info and the comments above and make your choice.

[SethHaan]

Originally Posted by Sistema1927

In the February American Rifleman there are ads for two different slates of reform candidates. How does the average voting member, like myself, sort them out?

I have posted up above (dated 1-27-25) in my name Sethhaan. The post explains about one of the groups of candidates shown in your American Rifleman magazine. The above post also has a link to an good article on Ammoland by NRA President Bob Barr where he describes the candidates as well.



Thanks

[somorris]

I understand your desire to maintain the status quote, but most of us here that have been paying any attention to our organization realize that the Board we have has allowed us to get in the mess we are in now. Talk is cheap, but actions speak louder than words. Our membership has fallen off a cliff and the clout of our organization has diminished. I don’t mean this as a personal attack on anyone and appreciate your time on the Board, but it is time to step aside and give other people a chance to right the ship. They may be unsuccessful, but we have already seen the results from current leadership.

[Cities n Dust]

Well
I have filled out my Ballot. Thanks to many of you who spoke up and voiced your concerns and put forth good arguments Pros and Cons of course! I took the time to research all of the perspective candidates and chose by my own informed opinions. I urge all members to do this as you may find some pretty good info on some of the candidates. I'm not providing a screenshot of my vote because its just that .... my vote. Not making anything of those who listed names or pic's of votes. You are free to do so of course!

Cities

[SethHaan]

Well, nobody that I am supporting wants to maintain the status quo. The candidates that I am supporting have made the major reforms to protect NRA's finances. These reforms were endorsed recently by the New York Judge, who has acknowledged that NRA's finances are in order in his final judgement. The most recent reforms made by the StrongNra.com candidates that I am supporting are the appointment of new Audit, Ethics and Finance committees that are totally committed to making sure that the NRA has the strongest financial safeguards, the most realistic budgets and robust new ethical standards for conduct for all employees and board members. The ship is on the right path, the finances are sound and NRA is moving forward.