Uncategorized

WNC Friends Event

April 3, 2026 by 0 Comments

If you are in Western North Carolina next Friday, April 10th, I’d encourage to join us at the WNC Friends of the NRA Dinner. It will be held at the Crown Plaza Resort in Asheville in their Expo Center starting at 6pm. The Complementary Spouse and I attended last year and had a wonderful time. The food was good and the company was even better. We even won a raffle prize!

The event was originally scheduled for early February and the organizers postponed it until April 10th so that they could be sure the proceeds did not go to the NRA Foundation but rather the NRA Freedom Action Foundation. As a reminder, half of the profits remain in North Carolina for local and state activities related to training, youth education, and firearms safety.

If like last year, there will be a steak dinner, a cash bar, games, raffles, and auctions galore. Tyrone Phillips who has headed the event for many years puts on a good time!

Ticket prices start at $70 for an individual.

For more information and to buy your tickets, use this link.

You can find the Friends of the NRA event in your area through this link. As a reminder, the monies no longer go to the Old Guard dominated NRA Foundation but rather to the Freedom Action Foundation and the new NRA Patriots Fund. Half the monies raised remain within the state and the other half goes to support the 501c3 activities of the NRA such as competition, training, education, and firearms safety.

Uncategorized

2026 NRA Board Election Results (Update)

April 2, 2026 by 3 Comments

The results from the 2026 NRA board election are in and the draft results have been released. The final results will be announced at the Meeting of the Members at the Annual Meeting in Houston.

As Secretary John Frazer notes in his statement accompanying the results, both the final results as well as the need to elect the 76th Director could change if someone declines a seat.

From John Frazer:

Dear Board and Executive Council members:

The draft tabulation of the NRA mail ballot election results has been received. Notices have been sent by e-mail to each candidate.  The overall results are below, in rank order of votes received.  The final vote tallies will be released in Houston.

Finally, as you know, there is a chance that no 76th Director election will be necessary.  If any candidate declines a seat, or chooses not to run for 76th Director, or if any other vacancy occurs before the Annual Meeting, the partial-term directors will up accordingly.  If that happens, we’ll send a revised list.

Please join us in congratulating these newly elected or reelected directors.

ELECTED FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS ENDING IN 2029

  1. Leroy Sisco
  2. Megan Hilbish
  3. Amanda Suffecool
  4. Ted Carter
  5. Linda Walker
  6. James D’Cruz
  7. Kenneth Bowra
  8. David Raney
  9. James W. Porter II
  10. Jacqueline Janes
  11. Jay Wallace
  12. William Bailey
  13. Eric Mettauer
  14. Bruce Widener
  15. Rob Beckman
  16. Mark Vaughan
  17. Robert Mansell
  18. Charles Brown
  19. Charles Hiltunen III
  20. Mark Robinson
  21. Jerry Kraus
  22. Amy Heath-Lovato
  23. Randy Luth
  24. Eb Wilkinson
  25. Richard Fairburn

ELECTED FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS ENDING IN 2028

  1. Regis Synan
  2. Todd Figard
  3. Deborah Lyman
  4. Kyle Hupfer
  5. Robert K. Brown
  6. Steve Schreiner

ELECTED FOR ONE-YEAR TERMS ENDING IN 2027

  1. Jim Wallace
  2. Alex Carroll
  3. Huey Laugesen
  4. Todd Vandermyde

NOT ELECTED — ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR 76TH DIRECTOR

  1. Isaac Demarest (Withdrew)
  2. Lynn Gipson

WITHDREW

  1. Ernest Myer

I have bolded those candidates whom I endorsed. Eleven won full three-year terms, one got a two-year term, and the other two got one-year terms.

I have also put the names of the candidates that I nominated for the Board in italics. Three – James D’Cruz, Jaci Janes, and Rob Beckman – were nominated by the Nominating Committee and all three won three year terms. The four, Todd Vandermyde, was on the ballot by petition. I am disappointed that he only won a one year term as he has brought a lot of street experience and wisdom from the trenches to the Legislative Policy Committee.

Sometimes there is no rhyme nor reason to where candidates end up on this list. Sometimes it is name recognition, sometimes it is the candidate’s private network of friends and associates, and sometimes it seems to be just plain chance.

Nonetheless, congratulations to all on this list. I look forward to working with you for the betterment of the NRA in the year or years to come.

UPDATE: From John Frazer:

Isaac Demarest has withdrawn from the 76th Director race.  That leaves Lynn Gipson as the only remaining runner-up who would be eligible for the 76th Director ballot, and he can therefore be deemed elected without the need to conduct balloting.

The revised results are below; please join us in congratulating Mr. Gipson on his election to the NRA Board.

Uncategorized

2026 DSC Board Elections

March 27, 2026 by 1 Comment

The Dallas Safari Club recently concluded their elections. They elected three board members (by electronic ballot!) and elected a new president at their March annual meeting.

Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is pleased to announce the election of Rick Warren as the new DSC Board President, along with the election of Chris Ruhman, Colby Hale, and Daniel McGehee to the DSC Board of Directors. These results were confirmed during the Annual General Meeting held on March 19, 2026, following a vote by DSC membership.

“We’re excited to welcome Rick into his new role as President and to have three outstanding individuals joining our Board of Directors,” said Russell Stacy, CEO of DSC. “Each of these leaders brings valuable experience and a deep commitment to our mission. With their guidance, DSC is well-positioned to expand its impact in conservation, education, and advocacy in the years ahead. We also want to extend our sincere thanks to outgoing DSC Board President Ray Mulholland for his exceptional leadership over the past two years—his dedication has helped position DSC for continued success.”

“I am honored to serve as President of DSC and grateful for the trust placed in me by our members,” said Rick Warren. “DSC has a strong legacy of conserving wildlife and preserving our hunting heritage, and I look forward to working alongside our Board and staff to build on this legacy. Together, we will continue advancing meaningful conservation efforts, while strengthening the voice of our community.”

The three newly elected Directors will join six current Directors, contributing to DSC’s 17-member voting Board. Each Director will serve a three-year term.

The Newly Elected DSC Board Officers are as follows:

  • President: Rick Warren
  • President-Elect: Knighton Sample
  • Immediate Past President: Ray Mulholland
  • Treasurer: Richard Biggers
  • Secretary: Steve Miller

We’re also pleased to announce that the proposed DSC bylaw updates—enhancing governance clarity, compliance, and board structure—have been officially approved by membership.

DSC extends its sincere appreciation to all members who participated in this year’s election process and for their continued support of the organization’s mission.

Rick Warren, the new DSC President, is also the founder of the Warren Wildlife Gallery in Austin, Texas. The museum has over 2,300 mounted specimens set in a natural environment. It is one of the coolest small museums out there. It is like being on safari in an Austin residential neighborhood. The best thing about it is that it is free. All they ask is that you make reservations to visit. That keeps out the PETAphiles and other ne’er do wells.

Uncategorized

Melissa Backwoods At Blade Texas 2026

March 27, 2026 by 0 Comments

I have been a fan of Melissa Miller aka “Melissa Backwoods” and her knife videos for some time. I did get a chance to meet her in the press room at the SHOT Show. Not only is she quite attractive but she truly knows her knives.

The video below points out a number of new knife introductions from Blade Texas 2026 as well as a number of the winners of the competition. In the new knife category, a few jumped out at me. First there was the WE NexoMorph prototype. It is a regular folder that transforms into a push dagger. The next was the Escape Button. It is a regular jacket button that contains an ultra small folding knife within it. The thing will probably get through TSA. The final one was the “pocket banana” which looks like a full size banana but contains a karambit.

Uncategorized

NRA App Is Live

March 19, 2026 by 5 Comments

The marketing and IT staff at the NRA have been working for months on a smart phone app for NRA members. As of yesterday, it is now live! It was something we on the Membership Committee had been urging since last September. We wanted it sooner but the reorganization and other issues delayed it.

From Doug Hamlin:

To All:

I am thrilled to share some incredible news—our new NRA App is launching TODAY! This is a milestone moment for our organization, one that reflects months of creativity, determination, and truly exceptional teamwork. I want to personally thank Mike Pedersen, Managing Director NRA Media, for his hard work and leadership in bringing the NRA App to life. 

What started as a bold idea has become a fully realized product that will transform how we serve our membership and advance our mission. This launch isn’t just a technical achievement—it’s a statement about who we are: innovative, courageous, and relentlessly committed to progress.

The NRA App is available for download from the App Store and Google Play.  Go and download the APP right now! It can display your digital NRA ID Card in your apple wallet, access the latest news from ILA, you can read your digital magazine/Official Journal, find local NRA events based on your geolocation or zip code, and access Member Benefits. 

To our staff: thank you for your energy, collaboration, and resilience. To our board: thank you for your guidance, trust, and support every step of the way. This success belongs to all of us.

But make no mistake—we’re just getting started. This launch opens the door to new possibilities, new users, and new impact. I couldn’t be more excited for what comes next.

Let’s celebrate this moment—and then let’s keep building.

Full Speed Ahead,
Doug Hamlin 

I have downloaded it for my iPhone and it was easy to set up. Not only can you read the magazines and get discounts, now you won’t be having to search for your membership card when you need your member number for whatever reason!

Here are the links for both Apple IOS and Android:

IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nra/id6759682557

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.nra&pcampaignid=web_share

Uncategorized

Suppressors Being Removed From ITAR

March 16, 2026 by 3 Comments

Brandon Maddox, CEO of Silencer Central, is reporting that suppressors will be removed from the State Department’s United States Munitions List. This would mean that they are no longer subject to ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations).

While many hunters took their suppressors with them when hunting overseas, they risked having them confiscated upon return to the United States depending on their port of entry. I’ve heard that customs officials in places like Atlanta would look the other way while in others they would not. As a result, the best advice for hunters wanting to use a suppressor in say South Africa was to buy one there and leave it with your outfitter. Indeed, that is exactly what I am doing this year.

Silencer Central has a page dedicated to what this means here.

The only question I have is when it will become effective. His announcement didn’t give time frame for when this will happen. Nonetheless, this is good news.

Uncategorized

Gun Violence Or Political Assassination?

March 15, 2026 by

Given the ongoing conflict with Iran, I found this email from Giffords PAC featuring NBA basketball coach Steve Kerr noteworthy.

I have written about Mr. Kerr’s characterization of his father’s assassination as “gun violence” (sic) a couple of times.

Here is a quick refresher.

Prof. Malcolm Kerr, a noted political scientist and Middle Eastern specialist, was the president of the American University of Beirut from 1982 until he was assassinated in 1984. The assassination was by Shia Lebanese assassins from the Islamic Jihad Organization which we later called Hezbollah and which received significant support from Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Prof. Kerr assumed the presidency of AUB during the midst of the Lebanese Civil War which went from 1975 until 1990. His death in January 1984 came less than a year after the bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut and the bombing of the US Marine Barracks. To say the situation in Lebanon was tenuous for anyone as well as violent would be an understatement. As a prominent American, Prof. Kerr was undoubtedly a target.

Bringing this back to Iran, the Kerr family sued Iran in Kerr v. Islamic Republic of Iran in which they won significant compensatory damages.

From the judgment:

ORDERED, that judgment be entered in favor of the plaintiffs against defendants the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Ministry of Information and Security, jointly and severally, for compensatory damages as follows: Ann Z. Kerr, as executrix of the Estate of Malcolm H. Kerr: $8,025,296.00 Ann Z. Kerr: $10,000,000.00 Susan (Kerr) Van de Ven: $3,000,000.00 John M. Kerr: $3,000,000.00 Stephen D. Kerr: $3,000,000.00 Andrew S. Kerr: $3,000,000.00 Dorothy (Kerr) Jessup: $1,500,000.00 Susan Miller Muhammad, as executrix of the Estate of Marion Kerr Miller: $1,500,000.00 It is FURTHER ORDERED, that the Clerks of Court forthwith enter judgments in accordance with the foregoing; and it is

FURTHER ORDERED, that plaintiffs may arrange for this Decision and Order to be translated into Farsi and, at plaintiffs request, the Clerk’s Office shall cause a copy of the translated Decision and Order to be transmitted to the U.S. Department of State for service upon defendants through diplomatic channels.

Steve Kerr later said he didn’t need revenge nor closure but only went along with the lawsuit as it was important to his family. That indeed may be the case but it was a public acknowledgement that his father’s murder was an act of political violence. In my opinion, political violence, with or without firearms, is a wholly different animal than “gun violence” (sic).

Circling back to the post by Kerr and Giffords PAC, disarming responsible Americans in the face of attacks by Islamic terrorists on a Jewish pre-school in Michigan and an Army ROTC class at Old Dominion University is not only bad policy but dangerous. It was only due to armed private security at the pre-school that no child was hurt. As to ODU, how many more laws could have averted that attack. The killer was a prohibited person, was illegally in possession of a firearm that had been previously stolen, and was in a gun-free zone.

Steve Kerr is free to rail against “gun violence” (sic) all he wants. However, to say he lost his father to “gun violence” is disingenuous at the best and dishonest in light of the facts.

Uncategorized

The Spider And The Fly

March 7, 2026 by 2 Comments

This old poem came to mind when i heard the State of California was suing Second Amendment attorney Matthew Larosiere over the distribution of instructions and 3-D models for printing of firearms.

On Friday, Bonta sued Gatalog Foundation Inc., CTRLPew LLC and three people tied to the foundation — Alexander Holladay, Matthew Larosiere and John Elik — in San Francisco Superior Court.

He argues they illegally distribute code for making 3D firearms and accessories and promote their production, violating California’s unfair competition law.

In most civil rights cases involving the First and Second Amendment one of the keys is finding the right person to either be the named plaintiff or, as in this case, the defendant willing to stand up in supposed violation of the law.

California in their arrogance just solved that issue by suing Larosiere. It is as if Larosiere played the spider and said to California AG Rob Bonta, “”Will you walk into my parlour?” Bonta, playing the fly, just did that. Larosiere, a well-known 2A attorney, will now be able to push the issue in court, will be able to use discovery against California, and will be able to gather a coalition of both First and Second Amendment advocates in support. Larosiere has worked at one time or anther with the Cato institute and the Firearms Policy Coalition. Currently a partner in the Zermay Law Group in Florida, he also serves as Director of Legal Policy for Maryland Shall Issue.

The NRA is supporting Larosiere in the lawsuit. In the short video below put out by the NRA, Frank Miniter of NRA America’s First Freedom is interviewing Larosiere about the suit.

@nra California is suing Matthew Larosiere — known on YouTube as FuddBusters — along with NaviGoBoom, and CTRLPew for sharing 3D models and instructions online. The NRA is proud to stand with them in defense of free speech and the right to keep and bear arms. Matthew joined NRA America's 1st Freedom to talk about the case. ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmvC10R4CRQ #3dprinting ♬ original sound – NRA

Uncategorized

Changes In The Hunting Optics World

March 6, 2026 by 2 Comments

Palero Gruppe, a Munich, Germany based venture capital and private equity investment firm, has announced that they have signed an agreement to purchase the Zeiss hunting and nature optics business. Zeiss Gruppe Global will now concentrate on their industrial, medical, optical, and photography lines of business. I did notice that my endodontist used a Zeiss microscope when he performed my last root canal.

From their announcement in LinkedIn posted on March 2nd.

palero has signed an agreement to acquire the ZEISS Hunting & Nature business, encompassing premium optics for hunting, nature observation, and birding. The business comes in a global share-and asset deal, with ZEISS Group continuing as a key technology and brand licensing partner.

With a strong foundation in analog and digital optical innovation, the global business will continue to grow in its markets as innovation leader under the ZEISS brand.

palero welcomes the ZEISS Hunting & Nature team into this new world and cannot wait to develop the business together as one.

“This is about combining strengths – market-leading products and strong brand heritage with the entrepreneurial freedom of an independent setup,” says Stefan Hämmerle, CEO of Hunting & Nature.
As a specialist in carve-outs and operational transformation, palero will support the business in accelerating growth across North America, Europe, and Asia. The roadmap includes new product launches in all core categories, deeper customer engagement, and increased agility in supply chain and innovation cycles.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary approvals. Both parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction.

A frequent commenter on many hunting forums, Doug at CameraLand NY, thought this was an excellent move and very good for the consumer. Zeiss will still be providing the technical expertise and Palero will bring the necessary monies to allow new quicker product development.

As a side note, the only Zeiss scopes and binoculars made in China are the Terra line.