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2026 NRA Board Endorsements, Part 1

January 4, 2026 by

For 2026 I am returning to my tradition of encouraging a bullet vote. Last year I departed from that tradition to encourage voting for the full slate of reformers. This year thanks to multiple resignations there will be a total of 33 open positions if one includes the 76th Director and only 38 candidates. In other words, most on the ballot will be elected. My goal in encouraging a bullet vote is to assure that the best candidates get three year terms.

My first set of endorsements goes to the four whose names I submitted to the Nominating Committee. If I didn’t think they would be worthwhile additions to the Board of Directors, I would not have nominated them. It is as simple as that.

Four in alphabetical order are Rob Beckman, James D’Cruz, Jacqueline Janes, and Todd Vandermyde.

Rob Beckman

I first met Rob in person at the 2024 GOALS conference in Knoxville, TN. He later had me on his Firearms Trainer’s Podcast when I was running for the NRA Board of Directors. We caught up again at the NRA Annual Meeting in Atlanta during a meeting for clubs and associations. That is when I thought he’d make a great addition to the Board of Directors as he brought so much to the table. From being a senior project manager in IT for a global industrial company to being a podcaster to being the VP and Hunting Director for a state level 2A group (Ohio RPA) he checked all the boxes.

Rob’s official bio is below:

Proudly dual nominated by the members and Nominating Committee.  NRA Benefactor member, training counselor, NRA-FAL/ILA, volunteer for FoNRA in SE-Indiana, and dedicated 2A advocate.  Professional IT project manager, experienced with implementing enterprise systems in legal, finance, operations, manufacturing, audit, and organizational change management.  A devoted husband of 37 years, father, and grandfather. The host/creator of the Firearm Trainer Podcast, and VP/Hunting Director for the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association.  Former board member and current adult leader for the local Boy Scout council.  Selected for the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings “Voices of the Second Amendment” and guest on numerous podcasts.  Proud member of numerous pro-gun/conservation organizations including SCI, IALEFI, NSSF, NMLRA, FPC, GOA, GOAL, CNJFO, OGCA, BHA, RMEF, NDA, Boone & Crockett Club, NTA, OSTA, F4WM, IHEA. NMSSA, NKSSA, Buckeye Firearms, League of Ohio Sportsmen, League of Kentucky Sportsmen, Indiana State Rifle and Pistol Association, and the Illinois State Rifle Association.

I should point out that Rob is one of only three candidates who were nominated by both petition and the Nominating Committee. I kept in touch with Rob during the petition process and he worked his tail off to get those signatures.

James D’Cruz

I first became aware of James when he was a freshman at Texas Tech and the lead plaintiff in two NRA suits that challenged the prohibition on the purchase of handguns from FFLs by those age 18 to 20 and Texas’ restriction on carry by those under 21. The cases were D’Cruz et al v. BATFE et al and D’Cruz v McCraw. That was 15 years ago when this blog was very new. For his efforts to stand up and advance gun rights at that age, he was vilified by the gun prohibitionists. Josh Horwitz of CSGV disgustingly tried to portray him as a wannabe school shooter thanks to his Halloween costume while Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign accused him having “angry, violent Facebook postings.”

While James and his family later relocated to Florida and he was replaced in the cases, I stayed in touch with him over the years. I watched as he graduated from college and then went on to law school at Harvard where he earned his J.D. He served as a senior editor on the Harvard Business Law Review and had an article on the NFA published in the Harvard Journal of Law Public Policy. After law school he served in the trenches as an Assistant States Attorney in Orlando and then later in private practice in both Texas and Florida. He also serves this country as a Captain in the US Army Reserves JAG Corps.

James’ official bio is below:

Nominated by NRA Nominating Committee. NRA Life member.  Attorney in Texas and Florida. Firearms enthusiast, collector, and advocate. Outspoken advocate for overturning the National Firearms Act and the Hughes Amendment. Promoter of constitutional and open carry, as well as nationwide reciprocity. Second Amendment scholar and author. At 18, was the lead plaintiff in two national NRA-backed lawsuits challenging ban on handgun possession and carry by 18–20-year-olds. Served as a felony domestic violence prosecutor in Orlando. Currently a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps. NRA pistol instructor. President of the Harvard Law School Target Shooting Club (2015–2017). Owner of Cerebral Arms Company, LLC (07/02), which manufactures and sells firearms, provides firearms and self-defense consulting to the legal community, and provides concealed weapon permit training. Participates in match pistol, sporting clays, and high-power rifle shooting. Board Member of Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses (FAVOB).

We need younger people on the Board of Directors. James, only in his early 30s, has accomplished more than most and I think he’d continue that trend if elected to the NRA Board of Directors. He stood up when it counted, took his lumps, and has come back stronger than ever.

Jacqueline Janes

I first met Jaci and her partner Robert in 2011 at the LuckyGunner.com Blogger Shoot. After that, we’d run into one another at the NRA Annual Meeting, the SHOT Show, and the Gun Rights Policy Conference. I remember being at a business conference in Scottsdale, AZ. I had posted something about being there on social media and I got an email within hours asking if I wanted to join Jaci for an evening pistol competition at her gun club. She promised to provide all the firearms and ammo. Unfortunately, I could not make it but it would have been cool

When the Nominating Committee issued the attributes they were seeking for nominees, I immediately thought of Jaci. She checked so many boxes – competitor, younger with business experience, membership organizational experience, grassroots, social media experience, and an industry professional. For those that don’t know, Jaci is the marketing director for Apex Tactical Specialties which makes triggers, barrels, and other after market accessories for the leading handgun brands. At a time when the NRA has recently switched marketing firms and is seeking a new approach, I think it would be highly advantageous to have an actual marketing professional on the Board to provide both insight and guidance.

Jaci’s official bio is below:

NRA Life Member with over 14 years of volunteer experience as an NRA-ILA Grassroots FrontLines Activist Leader in Arizona. Recipient of the 2012 Jay M. Littlefield NRA-ILA Volunteer of the Year Award. Nominated by the NRA Nominating Committee, leadership experience includes serving as an Executive Board Member of Phoenix Rod and Gun Club and the Women’s Outdoor Media Association. An accomplished competitive shooter with experience in IDPA, USPSA, ICORE, 3-Gun, and Long-Range Precision Rifle. Former Certified NRA Pistol Instructor, IDPA Match Director, Certified IDPA Range Safety Officer, and competed on the Team SIG Shooting Team. Brings over 25 years of marketing expertise as a marketing director in the firearms industry, writing featured in leading industry publications, including Shooting Illustrated, USPSA Magazine, IDPA Tactical Journal, and the Beretta Blog.

Todd Vandermyde

I’ve known Todd seemingly forever. We first met at a NRA Annual Meeting sometime after I started this blog. He was the NRA’s contract lobbyist in Illinois at the time and was a great resource on what was then happening in the Prairie State.

I nominated him for the Board in 2025 and am proud to do it again in 2026. He is on the ballot by petition and I don’t think anyone gathered as many signatures as he did or even came close. As of late October, Todd is now on the NRA of Directors filling out the term of a resigned director and deserves to be elected to serve a full three year term. He has hit the ground running since joining the Board and is just the sort of disruptive influencer that the NRA needs if reforms are to continue.

Todd’s official bio is below:

Proudly nominated by petition. NRA Life Member. Lifelong shooter, hunter, amateur gunsmith, veteran, operating engineer, retired lobbyist, and gun club president. Retired operating engineer and Director of Government Relations, Local 150 Operating Engineers. Represented NRA, gun owners, and FFLs as a lobbyist before the Illinois legislature for 30 years. Responsible for legalizing SBRs in Illinois, organizing litigation overturning the Illinois carry ban, and lead plaintiff in challenge to Cook County’s gun and ammo tax. President, Aurora Sportsman’s Club – largest gun club in Illinois; VP, Second Amendment Law Center; VP, Second Amendment Defense and Education Coalition. US Army Reserve, 18 years – Staff Sgt, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Member of Gun Owners of America, Firearms Policy Coalition, Illinois State Rifle Association (life), and Single Action Shooting Society (life). Former gun store owner with 07 FFL and SOT. 2018 Sturgis Freedom Fighters HOF inductee. Freedom’s Steel YouTube channel creator. Shoot house instructor.

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Superman Has Left The Board

January 2, 2026 by

I received an official notice this morning that Dean Cain aka Superman has resigned from the NRA Board of Directors. Given that Mark Shuell was the last remaining runner-up and was seated after the last set of resignations, Cain will not be replaced and the Board is now at 75 members.

From John Frazer:

We received a resignation letter from Board member Dean Cain, effective December 31.

Because there are no more runners-up from the 2025 mail ballot, the Board will have 75 members until the Annual Meeting.  However, Mr. Cain’s resignation does create an additional vacancy to be filled in this year’s election.  Members will now vote to fill the following vacancies:

  • Twenty-five three-year terms that expire in 2029
  • Four two-year terms that expire in 2028
  • Three one-year terms that expire in 2027

Please join me in thanking Mr. Cain for his service to the NRA, and wishing him well in his future projects.

The bottom line is that a total of 33 directors will be elected if you include the 76th Director from the slate of 38 nominees.

While last year I encouraged voting a full slate of candidates, this year I am reverting back to encouraging bullet voting. My rationale is that I want my most favored candidates to get the 3-year terms of office.

The other alternative is to just say who NOT to vote for. However, I prefer to stay positive.

I will start posting my endorsements for bullet voting in the coming days.

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Phil Schreier, RIP

December 30, 2025 by 3 Comments

Phil Schreier, the Director of the NRA Museums, has passed away. I first saw it on multiple Facebook posts from people who knew and had worked with Phil. Then I received the official notice from the Secretary’s Office.

To All:

It is with deep sadness that I share with the NRA staff the passing of our friend, colleague, and Director of NRA Museums, Phil Schreier, who passed away peacefully yesterday at home, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Phil served on the NRA staff for more than 36 years, beginning in June 1989. An Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Maryland, Phil was widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on historical firearms. His depth of knowledge, passion for history, and ability to communicate made him truly exceptional.

For many years, Phil was the face of the NRA through his numerous television appearances and public engagements. He was universally respected and warmly received wherever he went. Through his work, Phil became a great ambassador for the NRA and a deeply passionate advocate for the Second Amendment.

Phil’s passing is a profound loss to the NRA family and to all who had the privilege of knowing him and working alongside him. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be shared when available.

Please keep Phil’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Doug Hamlin

I had met Phil many years ago at an NRA Annual Meeting where he arranged a special showing of historical firearms for bloggers. Most recently I saw Phil when he gave us new Board members a special tour of the NRA Museum in Fairfax this past June. From what I now know, Phil had cancer but one would not have known it from the enthusiastic way he showed us the museum.

My photo of Phil, June 2025

The NRA has put together a short video retrospective of his life and work.

He will be missed.

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More Resignations – More New BOD Members

December 30, 2025 by 2 Comments

I received an email this morning from NRA Secretary John Frazer announcing two more resignations from the Board of Directors and two new replacement Board members. As my friend Michael Bane likes to say we are “getting down to stems and seeds” as there are no more runners-up candidates to fill empty Board positions.

From John Frazer:

Dear Board and Executive Council members:

We have two additional changes on the Board to announce.  Barbara Rumpel and Gene Roach have both resigned. 

These vacancies will now be filled by 2025 runners-up Steven Dulan and Mark Shuell.  (Greer Johnson was next in line after Mr. Dulan, but declined to serve.)  Mr. Shuell was the final runner-up in the 2025 mail ballot, so any additional vacancies will go unfilled until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members.

Because Ms. Rumpel’s term was expiring in 2026 and Mr. Roach had filled a previous vacancy, there is no additional effect on the 2026 Board elections.

Please welcome Mr. Dulan and Mr. Shuell, and please join me in thanking Ms. Rumpel and Mr. Roach for their service.

I can’t say I’m surprised by Barbara Rumpel’s resignation as she is on the Board of Trustees of the NRA Foundation and she was not re-nominated nor qualified by petition for the 2026 Board election. While she and I probably were on opposite sides, I always enjoyed speaking with her and I did sign her petition.

As to Tom Roach, I’m a little surprised that he resigned as he only accepted a position on the Board in October and had not attended one of the in-person Board meetings.

Both Steven Dulan and Mark Shuell were in what I called “No Man’s Land” for the 2025 Board election. That is, they were neither Team NRA 2.0 nor Team Strong NRA. Mr. Dulan has served on the Board in the past. Mark Shuell and I have a shared background as financial planners. He and I had a good conversation when he was running for the Board. He has also been active on the Members Take Back Facebook page.

In between Dulan and Shuell as runners-up were Lane Ruhland and Greer Johnson in that order. Both declined the opportunity to serve. Ms. Johnson is also on the NRA Foundation Board of Trustees and that might have been a factor in her decision.

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Risk Management

December 28, 2025 by 3 Comments

California Assembly Bill 1263 was signed into law on October 11th and will go into effect on January 1, 2026. Ostensibly the bill is aimed at personally manufactured firearms or what the prohibitionists call “ghost guns” (sic). Like all California gun laws it goes much further than that.

Orchid Advisors gives this summary:

California AB-1263, signed into law on October 11, 2025, significantly broadens the definition of unlawful firearm manufacturing; imposes new rules for barrels, accessories, and manufacturing machines; increases liability for digital firearm manufacturing code; and creates new 10-year prohibitions for certain  misdemeanors. The law affects not only California FFLs, but also out-of-state businesses selling into California or interacting with California residents.

If one starts reading the bill, it is much worse than the summary above. As my friend and fellow NRA Board member told me years ago, let me write the definitions and I’ll always win. In this case it is obvious that the definitions were written by the prohibitionists. For example, a “firearm accessory” includes anything that could be attached to a firearm that would allow an “increase a firearm’s rate of fire or to increase the speed at which a person may reload a firearm or replace the magazine.” Taken at face value, a lighter or smoother trigger would allow you to increase the rate of fire. Likewise, a flared magwell would allow you to replace the magazine quicker.

Reading deeper into the bill and it becomes clear that the target of this bill is not gangs, cartels, or individual criminals. Rather it is aimed squarely at the firearms industry including retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers both in and outside of California.

Thus, it is not surprising that companies like Geissele are planning to end or restrict sales to California. “Mrgunsngear” published a letter from Geissele to their resellers on Facebook a couple of days ago.

I think the approach of Geissele is prudent risk management. I foresee that other companies will be doing the same thing. Frankly, it would be foolish on their part not to suspend sales of anything covered by the overly broad definitions within the bill. Indeed, if I were one of the major manufacturers of CNC machines, I’d stop selling for delivery in California. While I’m sure the authors of AB 1263 aimed it at machines like Defense Distributed’s Ghost Gunner 3-S, any CNC machine with the proper instructions – another thing that is restricted – could be a target of an ambitious prosecutor or ambulance chasing plaintiffs attorney.

This law is not about public safety. It is not about curbing so-called “gun violence” (sic). No, it has other aims – one overt and the other covert.

The first one which is overt is to create so much inherent risk for anyone in the firearms industry that they will stop selling or shipping any product that could conceivably be covered this law.

The second which is much far more insidious is that is just another attempt to kill the gun culture in California. The whole array of bills over the last number of years going back to the handgun registry and continuing on with this and the law about firearm ads “attractive to minors” seek to make it harder and harder for a gun culture to exist.

As far as I know there is no pending litigation about this law. However, given it does not become effective until January 1, there may be injunctive lawsuits just waiting to be filed. I certainly would hope so.

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ATF Blackout Starts December 26th

December 19, 2025 by 2 Comments

The ATF has an announced blackout on processing NFA items from December 26th at midnight until January 1, 2026. The purpose as Brandon Maddox explains below is to update the system for the new zero tax for suppressors, short barreled rifles and shotguns, and any other weapons.

I noticed that the Department of Justice has filed replies in both Silencer Central Foundation et al v. BATFE and Brown et al v. BATFE. The first case is the one brought by GOA and others while the second was the coalition of the NRA, SAF, FPC, and American Suppressor Association. Disappointingly, the DOJ argues the zero tax is irrelevant and doesn’t do away with the need for registration. I will be having a post on both of those after I have studied them.

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Another Day, Another Set Of Resignations

December 19, 2025 by 5 Comments

This afternoon I was going along my merry way preparing for an online book club run by my good friend Prof. David Yamane. I didn’t think to check email beforehand and then I got caught up in dinner, Jeopardy, and then Thursday Night Football. Then Todd Vandermyde calls and asks what I think about today’s resignations from the NRA Board of Directors.

I’m like, WTF?

Quickly checking my email I see the notice below from NRA Secretary John Frazer.

Bill Carter, Blaine Wade, and Judi White have also notified us of their resignations. 

The resulting vacancies will be filled by three more runners-up, Charles Rowe, Isaac Demarest, and Lucretia Hughes Klucken. 

Because both Mr. Carter’s and Ms. White’s terms were expiring in 2026, their resignations do not affect the 2026 Board election.  Chief Wade’s resignation creates an additional two-year vacancy, so the mail ballot election will now fill the following seats:

  • Twenty-five three-year terms that expire in 2029
  • Four two-year terms that expire in 2028
  • Two one-year terms that expire in 2027

Please join me in welcoming Mr. Demarest, Mr. Rowe and Ms. Klucken to the Board, and in thanking Mr. Carter, Chief Wade, and Ms. White for their service to the NRA.

Both Carter and Wade serve as trustees of the NRA Foundation so that might have been in play. Jeff Knox had a comment on yesterday’s resignations to the effect that there might have been fiduciary conflicts for Eb Wilkinson and Joel Friedman. He may be correct but we just don’t know.

I will note that all the resignations with the exception of Jim Fotis have been from directors who were considered Old Guard or who had sided with them. Read into that what you will.

The bottom line is that anyone running for the Board in this election has a great chance of being elected. There will now be a total of 32 seats filled if you include the 76th Director. Of those who have just assumed seats on the Board with the most recent resignations, only Issac Demerest is on the ballot.

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NRA Board Resignations

December 17, 2025 by 6 Comments

Eb Wilkinson and Joel Friedman have tendered their resignation from the NRA Board of Directors effective today. Eb’s term would have expired at the close of the Meeting of Members in Houston in April. I should note that he is on the ballot by petition for the 2026 Board of Directors election.* Joel’s term expires in 2027.

From John Frazer announcing the resignations:

We have received resignation letters from Eb Wilkinson and Joel Friedman.

Until the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of Members, these additional vacancies will be filled by the next runners-up in the 2025 mail ballot election, Todd Figard and Jim Wallace.  (Kim Rhode was the runner-up after Mr. Figard, but declined to serve due to schedule conflicts with the January meeting.)

The mail ballot election will now fill the following seats:

  • Twenty-five three-year terms that expire in 2029
  • Three two-year terms that expire in 2028
  • Two one-year terms that expire in 2027

Please join us in thanking Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Friedman for their Board service, and in welcoming Mr. Figard and Mr. Wallace.

There are 38 candidates on the ballot. If one includes the 76th Director, then a total of 31 out of those 38 will be elected to the Board of Directors. To clarify, the eight runner-up candidates will vie for the 76th Director one-year seat.

Both Todd Figard and Jim Wallace are on the ballot for the 2026 Board election. They were both selected by the Nominating Committee.

Finally, it should be noted that both Wilkinson and Friedman are trustees of the NRA Foundation. Whether this is another move by those trustees to distance themselves from the NRA is up in the air. There are plenty of rumors regarding the aims of the Foundation and for the time being they will remain rumors.

*I do not know at this time whether Eb Wilkinson has removed himself from the 2026 ballot as well and I have that question into John Frazer.

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Those Are Rookie Numbers!

December 12, 2025 by 3 Comments

The cult of personality known as Giffords gives North Carolina a C-. The Tar Heel State needs to do better. If Tennessee and South Carolina can get an F, why can’t we. If we will finally override Gov. Stein’s veto of SB50 on permitless concealed carry, I bet that would help.

On a more serious note, Giffords “reports” that North Carolina ranks 19 out of 50 in gun death rank. I’m not sure how this is determined. That said, given that North Carolina is the ninth largest state in the United States by population, our per capita rate is better than one would expect.

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A Day That Will Live In Infamy Plus 84 Years

December 8, 2025 by 1 Comment

I missed posting on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day last year for which I sincerely apologize. I have tried to recognize the day every year since I started this blog in 2010. Part of it is due to the history and part of it is due to family history. It may be a myth but my Mom’s brother, my Uncle John, supposedly skipped college along with a number of his friends on December 8th, 1941 to enlist in the US Navy. He was a freshman at Manhattan College’s Staten Island Division which was adjacent to St. Peter’s High School where he had graduated.

My Uncle John passed away in 2008 at the age of 83. He did serve in the Navy as an Electronics Technician, first at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn and later on the USS Bennington. His interest in electronics in the Navy lead to a 35 year career with IBM as a service engineer.

While 2,000 survivors attended the 50th anniversary in 1991, today only 12 survivors of Pearl Harbor remain. Unfortunately, none will be able to attend ceremonies in Hawaii. As all are centenarians, travel at their age is hard.

Lest we forget this day in US history, I will do my best to remember it every year featuring stories and posters on the attack. As you can see in the poster below, the attack was used to help unite the nation and its workers in the post-attack rebuilding.