by 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
Mostly in jest since I understand the crazy has been cut back, but will security accept the digital card as proof of membership? Will they still be seizing phones, therefore removing our ability to prove we’re NRA members? Those who were there in those times…oh boy do we remember the crazy & paranoia. (And, hey, bonus that many board members who supported that are still on the board. I figure at some point a couple of committee chairs will be turning such overbearing measures against me for the crime of being an engaged & informed member who asks serious questions about leadership.)
As I have said on X, I’m absolutely willing to give this some time to catch on and realize it won’t be immediate. But I’m also going to be reading the relevant committee minutes & board minutes closely to make sure that this wasn’t just an “everyone has an app, let’s have one, too!” idea that wasted money. I hope that strong metrics for ROI and engagement were included with the request & milestones for when those (or unexpected bonus engagement results) will be met or issues addressed. I know other groups have done target testing with audiences and found that it was better to invest in web overhauls to focus more on mobile/tablet-friendly designs and work in functions they were looking for through that format rather than doing a separate app that has its own needs for support & security maintenance. I hope we members who fund this will be able to see the reports on its results.