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A Red Letter Day For Transparency

December 2, 2025 by 5 Comments

Today marks a red letter day for transparency at the NRA. Governance materials including three years of Form 990s, the up-to-date NRA Bylaws, NRA Committee responsibilities, and NRA Board minutes going back to 2022 are now available for all members to see online.

The announcement to the Board:

Dear Board and Executive Council members:

I’m pleased to report that in response to the resolution passed at the September meeting, governance materials (including meeting minutes, Forms 990, and the Bylaws) have been posted to the member self-service website. 

These items are now available to registered members at https://www.nramemberservices.org/.  (Once you’ve signed in, go to the menu on the left and scroll down to “Governance Information.”)

Many thanks to April Miller in my office, and Gary Dent and Don Zimmer in Information Services, for their hard work in making this happen.

Sincerely,

John Frazer

Getting these materials online has been something of a personal mission for me. I offered the resolution at the 2025 Meeting of Members that was passed thanks to the votes of virtually all who attended. As I noted at the time, my resolution was the rare resolution that went directly to the Board and not to one of its committees. It was worded as a “request” and not an “order”.

The Board approved my resolution at our September meeting to direct the EVP to put these materials online. It was decided to table the live streaming of Board meetings due to the cost of approximately $15,000. The Secretary’s Office was a great help in wording and formatting the final resolution.

I see this as not only a win for transparency but a win for the members who for too long were treated like mushrooms. In other words, they were kept in the dark.

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Suggestions For Giving Tuesday

December 2, 2025 by 0 Comments

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has now become Giving Tuesday. The intent is to unleash the power of generosity by encouraging people to do good, participate in a global day of giving back, and support charities and communities. It has somewhat leftist origins as it was intended as a repudiation of the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That said, there is no reason that donations cannot be given to organizations that support causes that are not leftist in intent.

Every organization or foundation I will be suggesting is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity. Donations are tax deductible. However, with most people taking the standard deduction, this is somewhat irrelevant this year. However, starting in 2026, you will be able to deduct up to $2000 (married filing jointly) in charitable contributions even if you take the standard deduction.

Here are my suggestions. If you have others, leave them in the comments.

Rights Watch International

Rights Watch International is the 501(c)3 affiliate of Grass Roots North Carolina. Monies donated to RWI go to support Second Amendment civil rights litigation, to fund amicus briefs on 2A cases, and to fund non-partisan political education. Donations can be made online here. In full disclosure, I serve as the Treasurer of RWI.

DSC Carolinas Foundation

DSC Carolinas Foundation is the Dallas Safari Club chapter covering all of North Carolina and a good part of South Carolina. Our mission is to help fund conservation projects along with youth and hunter education. I say “our” because I am a founding director of this chapter. Donations can be made through our Paypal account. If you are in the Carolinas, as a reminder our banquet will be held on January 31st in Huntersville, NC.

Hunter Nation Foundation

Not only does Hunter Nation educate on America’s hunting heritage, their program called Hunt the Vote works to get the 50% of hunters that don’t vote out to the polls. I heard a presentation by Keith Mark, the founder and CEO of Hunter Nation, in September to the NRA’s Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Committee. I was greatly impressed by their efforts to get out the vote especially those who are registered and haven’t voted in recent elections. With the 2026 mid-terms around the corner, these efforts are critical. You can contribute here.

NRA Freedom Action Foundation

Just like Hunter Nation works to get the vote out, so does NRA Freedom Action Foundation through their Trigger the Vote program. The Freedom Action Foundation provides non-partisan Second Amendment education across the board to all Americans. Information on how to donate can be found here.

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund

The NRA CRDF supports Second Amendment litigation on both the individual level and in broader cases. On the individual level, it helps supports individuals in their defense against violations of federal, state, and local laws that prohibit the acquisition or possession of firearms. Additionally, the CRDF helps fund civil rights litigation which challenges anti-2A laws such as AWBs, magazine restrictions, etc. Just as importantly, the CRDF supports legal research on the Second Amendment and gun rights. I know a number of the trustees of the CRDF personally and I trust them to do the right thing with your donation. You can donate here.

Second Amendment Foundation

No organization has done more or been more at the forefront of Second Amendment civil rights litigation than the Second Amendment Foundation. Whether it was McDonald v. Chicago, North Carolina’s Bateman v. Perdue, Ezell I and II, or the many other cases, the SAF has been there. In more recent times, they have prudently filed joint cases with the Firearms Policy Coalition and their foundation, the NRA, and other 2A organizations. Where they are not the plaintiff, they have filed amicus briefs which is a critical aspect of civil rights litigation. Donations can be made here.

FPC Action Foundation

This is the 501(c)3 affiliate of the Firearms Policy Coalition. Their mission is more libertarian than other 2A groups. They said it is “to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutionally protected rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom.” That said, they are funding a lot of Second Amendment litigation. It is often is conjunction with the FPC, the SAF, and even the NRA. Donations can be made here.

Gun Owners Foundation

The Gun Owners Foundation is the 501(c)3 arm of Gun Owners of America. Grass Roots North Carolina has partnered with them on a number of amicus briefs and lawsuits. In addition to supporting 2A litigation and amicus briefs one distinctive thing that GOF does is support FOIA requests. This has been helpful in shedding light on many government agencies especially ATF. You can donate to them here.

There are many other deserving groups working in the conservation, hunting, and Second Amendment litigation realm. Many of these are affiliated with your state or local firearms or conservation groups.

As I said at the top of this post, if you have others that you think are worthy of your donations, please leave their names and info in the comments.

Update: Another organization worthy of support is the Firearms Research Center at the University of Wyoming College of Law. Headed by legal scholar George Moscary, the FRC supports legal and academic research into firearms and Second Amendment issues. Unlike the Duke Center for Firearms Law, the FRC is pro-Second Amendment. They have just recently been awarded a large grant from the US Dept of Education to develop a national program that will provide secondary school teachers with nonpartisan, historically grounded content on the origins, legal interpretation and civic implications of the Second Amendment. You can donate to them here.

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Tweet And Meme Of The Day

December 1, 2025 by 2 Comments

The tweet of the day which includes a meme comes from our friends at the Firearms Policy Coalition. If anything points out the hypocrisy of the prohibitionists, it is their use of Jim Crow gun laws as historic support for gun control. Those laws were an abomination in the post-Civil War era and they remain so today.

One only needs to look to North Carolina’s former pistol purchase permit to understand this. It took 104 years to get it repealed. The impetus for that law was white supremacy which was only possible if blacks and others were disarmed.

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Unconsciously Ironic

November 28, 2025 by 3 Comments

If you are like me your email accounts are filled with notices regarding Black Friday Sales. I even got one from Everytown pushing Moms Demand Action merchandise.

Now if you were imagining the stereotypical Demanding Moms supporter it would be an upper middle class suburban Caucasian woman with a degree in the arts, social sciences, or gender studies who is looking for her next virtual signaling “cause”.

Moms Demand Action has come up with the perfect gift for her. It is even on sale at 40% off!

What better way to virtue signal to your lefty girlfriends while swilling box wine or a vodka and cranberry than to offer them a drink in these glasses! It will show you care and what is more important than that. Plus you won’t have to wear one of those tacky red t-shirts.

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Support Conservation; Win Firearms

November 24, 2025 by 1 Comment

The Carolinas Foundation chapter of Dallas Safari Club is holding our Christmas Raffle. Monies raised will help support our conservation efforts in both Carolinas.

To make it easier, we can take either Venmo or Zelle and will fill out the tickets for you. Email me at dsccarolinas AT gmail DOT com for details on that. Paypal is out as they refuse to allow payments for “gambling”.

Here is what you could win:

Number One – Beretta A-300 Ultima 12 gauge. This shotgun comes with multiple chokes and would be great for waterfowling.

Number Two – Henry Lever Action .22. Who doesn’t want a lever action in .22 LR for plinking?

Number Three – Diamondback AR-15. Sure you already have an AR-15 but two is one and one is none.

Number Four – Ruger American rifle Go Wild Camo edition in 6.5 Creedmoor. (Scope not included) This is much nicer than the 6.5 Creedmoor I plan to take with me to Africa next year.

Number Five – Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistol in 9mm. This is a solid pistol for concealed carry.

While the DSC Carolinas Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit, the IRS in its infinite wisdom has decreed that raffle tickets are not tax deductible.

The raffle ends on December 15th so don’t procrastinate. Get your tickets now!

While we are at it, put January 31st, 2026 on your calendar. That is the date of our annual gala. This year it will be held in Huntersville, NC (just north of Charlotte).

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Save The Date – GRNC Annual Meeting

November 23, 2025 by 0 Comments

Grass Roots North Carolina will be having its 31st annual meeting in Raleigh on Saturday, December 6th. It will be held at Triangle Shooting Academy, 6501 Mt Herman Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617. Preceding the meeting will be a training seminar for activists and following the meeting there will be an impromptu Christmas party.

See below for more details:

Thanks to the generosity of Triangle Shooting Academy (TSA) and its world-class facility, GRNC will hold its 31st annual meeting, together with a legislative tactics seminar, on December 6, 2025 at Triangle Shooting Academy, 6501 Mt Herman Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617. Afterward, we will also have an informal get-together at Irish “gastropub” called Tra’li Brier Creek at 10370 Moncreiffe Rd., Raleigh, NC 27617. See details below.

December 6th Agenda

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: “Defending the 2nd Amendment in a Politically Polarized Environment”

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM:     Grass Roots North Carolina 2025 Annual Meeting

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM:     GRNC board of directors meeting

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM:     GRNC Christmas party & informal get together at Tra’li Brier Creek

Seminar by Paul Valone:

‘Defending the 2nd Amendment in a Politically Polarized Environment’

Learn how GRNC has won so many legislative battles in the 31 years of its existence. Taught by GRNC co-founder and president Paul Valone, you will learn why conventional lobbying fails by comparison to grass roots mobilization, and why everything you have heard about politics is conveniently wrong. We invite people interested in volunteering at the NC General Assembly with GRNC’s Legislative Action Team to join us, as well as anyone interested in learning better ways to defend your rights. Please RSVP to DirectorOfDevelopment@GRNC.org.

Seminar topics:

  • Why you are probably unprepared for political action
  • The real nature of politics
  • The real nature of politicians
  • The nature of your opposition
  • Issue management
  • Political mechanics of direct action – it ain’t ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’
  • Legislative action via grass roots mobilization
  • How & why we must WIN ELECTIONS

GRNC Legislative Action Team needs you!

GRNC is looking for volunteers for our Legislative Action Team to help pass constitutional carry in the upcoming session of the General Assembly. In addition to performing a vital function, legislative team members will learn valuable skills useful in defending your freedom. Attending the legislative tactics seminar above is recommended, but not required. If you can serve, please contact DirectorOfDevelopment@GRNC.org .

Lunch break (12:30-1:00 PM)

For those staying for both events, we will take a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:00. Catered lunches will be available from TSA’s excellent café, Nero’s.

2025 GRNC Annual Meeting (1:00-2:30 PM)

The Grass Roots North Carolina Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Triangle Shooting Academy, 6501 Mt Herman Rd, Raleigh, NC 27617. A short meeting of the board of directors will follow.

Christmas party & get together

At 4:00 PM, GRNC will have an informal Christmas party and get together at an Irish “gastropub” called Tra’li Brier Creek at 10370 Moncreiffe Rd., Raleigh, NC 27617. If you plan to attend the party, please RSVP to DirectorOfDevelopment@GRNC.org to give us an idea how many are attending.

Voting Members

If you are a paid and current member of Grass Roots North Carolina, you should already have received a proxy postcard for use if you are unable to attend. Please return it ASAP. If you need another proxy, you can mail in the one below. Thanks for helping us make GRNC possible!

As a follow-up note, as the Secretary-Treasurer of GRNC, I will be the one voting your proxy. I didn’t realize that until I got my own proxy card!

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The Gimlet – Fiction Vs Reality

November 23, 2025 by 4 Comments

If you are a fan of old hard-boiled detective novels, the name Philip Marlowe evokes memories. Marlowe was Raymond Chandler’s prototypical private eye and appeared in seven of his novels. He was played on the big screen by none other than Humphrey Bogart.

In Chandler’s The Long Goodbye (1953), Marlowe’s friend Terry Lennox opined,

“We sat in a corner of the bar at Victor’s and drank gimlets. ‘They don’t know how to make them here,’ he said. ‘What they call a gimlet is just some lime or lemon juice and gin with a dash of sugar and bitters. A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s Lime Juice and nothing else. It beats martinis hollow.’”

I don’t disagree with Lennox’s assertion that it “beats martinis hollow” but the recipe I followed tonight was actually 2/5ths Rose’s Lime Juice and 3/5ths gin. That was the recipe from the bottle of Rose’s Lime Juice. I have also done a gimlet with 50/50 gin and Rose’s Lime Juice with a teaspoon of simple syrup added.

Bookstore owner Rebecca Romney who has Chandler’s own copy of Trader Vic’s Bartenders Guide just published a short video discussing this. As you will see, Chandler’s notes on the gimlet had a somewhat different recipe.

@rebeccaromney Philip Marlowe’s REAL gimlet recipe in Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye — using Chandler’s personal copy of a famous cocktail book. On display this weekend at the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair in the Hynes Convention Center. Come visit and see! #noir #cocktails #rarebooks #booktok #gimlet ♬ original sound – Rebecca Romney

Either way, fiction or reality, the gimlet is a good and easy drink to make.

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An Alternative Suggestion

November 14, 2025 by 13 Comments

The Everytown Gun Safety (sic) Action Fund – their PAC for supporting anti-rights candidates – is trying to use the 154th anniversary of the NRA’s founding to raise money. They are seeking $154,000 or $1,000 for each year the NRA has been around. This is according to an email I received from them this morning.


The NRA turns 154 years old this week. We’re raising $154,000 to keep holding them accountable.

For decades, the NRA has pushed a dangerous guns everywhere agenda—putting profits over people and leaving our communities to pay the price. Everytown has been the counterweight to their chaos, fighting back against their reckless rhetoric and the politicians who parrot it.

So we’re raining on their birthday parade.

 Chip in to the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund today to help us hit our $154,000 goal and keep holding the gun lobby accountable, elect Gun Sense Candidates, educate the public, and mobilize our 11 million supporters.

I’ll be honest. I wish the NRA was the all-powerful, big bad wolf that Bloomberg’s Everytown uses in money raising fear mongering. I really do. Reality says differently.

While it would be easy to blame Tish James and the New York lawsuit for the NRA’s decline in political power, that would be a false narrative. I place the blame squarely on the heads of the grifters and those who enabled them along with the law firm who thought it was fine to rape and pillage the NRA’s coffers. The repugnance felt by many current and former members over their actions is certainly justified.

That said, all of the grifters are gone and most of their enablers as well. As my friend and former director Tim Knight has said, it is time to come back. Tim was one of the first directors who called out the problems and left when he was prevented from fulfilling his fiduciary duties. The people running the NRA today from the executive staff to the officers to the majority of the board are not those who almost ran it into the ground.

Thus, some alternative suggestions on where to make donations to support gun rights.

First, if you let your membership lapse, now is the time to rejoin.

Second, the mid-term elections are less than one year away. The NRA-Political Victory Fund needs to replenish it funds in order to fight the good fight. You can donate here.

Third, you can donate to the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund which helps support 2A litigation. Here is where you can donate.

Finally, you can just send a check made out to NRA-ILA. If you want to specify it is for litigation, put litigation in the memo field. That is what I’ve done. Send that check to NRA-ILA, attn John Commerford, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Any or all of the above are a good way to tell Bloomberg and his minions who would take away your right to defend yourself and your family to go screw themselves.

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And At The Eleventh Hour The Guns Fell Silent

November 11, 2025 by 2 Comments

This is a reposting of the post I did on the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day or what we now call Veterans Day. Then, as now, I felt sorrow over the death of Private Henry Gunther of Baltimore who died one minute before the armistice went into effect. Likewise, the recording from the Imperial War Museum remains eloquent.

H. G. Wells called the Great War or World War I the “war to end all wars.” We know that was a mythical false hope. Indeed, it can be rightly said that the Treaty of Versailles created the conditions that led, in no small part, to World War II.

The Armistice that ended the fighting on the Western Front went into effect at 11 am Paris Time on November 11, 1918. At that time, fighting was to cease. However, as I noted in a post a few years ago, fighting continued and men still died right up to until that time. Private Henry Gunther of Baltimore continued fighting to the end and was killed at 10:59 am as he charged a German machine gun nest. He was officially the last Allied soldier to die in combat.

Thus, this recording released by the Imperial War Museum in London is all the more eloquent as it begins with artillery fire and ends with the sound of birds singing. It comes from a recording made in the American sector near the River Moselle just before and after the eleventh hour.

So on this Veterans Day, the 100th anniversary of the Armistice ending fighting in World War I, let us remember all those living and dead who served in our country’s armed services.

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This Is Becoming A Pattern

November 11, 2025 by 4 Comments

This afternoon I received notice that NRA Director and former President Bob Barr resigned his seat on the Board of Directors. This makes the fifth resignation from the Board within a month. The resignation of Jim Fotis to deal with a family emergency was regrettable but understandable. The resignation of David Coy to accept the position of treasurer of the NRA Foundation and avoid a conflict of interest also makes sense. However, the resignations of former NRA presidents Sandy Froman, Charles Cotton, and now Bob Barr leaves me to wonder what the underlying unstated issue was that led them to resign.

From the announcement:

Board member and past President Bob Barr has resigned from the Board, effective today.  He will remain a member of the Executive Council.

Ron Schmeits was the next runner-up, but has declined to serve.  The next runner-up, Mr. David Mitten of Chillicothe, Ohio, has accepted the position and will fill the vacancy until the adjournment of the 2026 Members’ Meeting.  Past President Barr’s resignation leaves an additional two-year vacancy that will be filled by the members via the 2026 mail ballot.

Please join me in thanking Congressman Barr for his long service, and in welcoming Mr. Mitten.

David Mitten was part of the ElectANewNRA aka NRA 2.0 team in the 2025 election. However, he is not on the ballot for the 2026 Board election.

Mr. Barr is currently the chair of the Legislative Policy International Affairs Subcommittee. There is no word if he has resigned that position but he certainly could remain in that seat regardless of whether he was on the Board. Interestingly in my opinion, Mr. Barr, like Ms. Froman, remains a member of the Executive Council unlike Mr. Cotton who resigned from it. A longtime observer of NRA internal politics suggested to me that Mr. Cotton resigned from the Executive Council so as not to violate his fiduciary duty of loyalty to the NRA.

Going into the 2026 Board election, there will be a total of 30 seats to be filled. There will be the 25 regular 3-year seats that will be filled. In addition, with the resignation of Mr. Barr, there will be three 2-year terms that need to be filled (Fotis, Froman, and Barr) and a 1-year term (Coy). Finally, the nine runners-up will compete to fill the 76th Director 1-year term.

All I can say is that our winter Board meeting in January will be interesting.