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Bob Barr Elected NRA President, Doug Hamlin Elected to Serve as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO

Monday, May 20, 2024

Bob Barr Elected NRA President, Doug Hamlin Elected to Serve as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO

Today, the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America elected former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr as President of the NRA and Doug Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President & CEO. The meeting of the Board of Directors followed the 153rd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits where over 72,000 NRA members filled the halls of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to check out the latest firearms, gear, and accessories from close to 700 exhibitors. On Saturday, President Trump delivered the keynote address at the NRA Leadership Forum in front of a capacity crowd where he accepted the official endorsement from the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) for his re-election as President of the United States of America.

“I thank my colleagues for their support of my election as NRA President,” said Bob Barr. “I have been a fighter my whole life and I commit to boldly fight for our Second Amendment rights on behalf of the millions of NRA members. We need to grow our ranks, especially in this election year, and I pledge to focus my attention on doing just that.”

The NRA Board of Directors also elected Pennsylvania businessman William A. Bachenberg as NRA First Vice President and Mark E. Vaughan, President of the Oklahoma Rifle Association, as NRA Second Vice President.

NRA Executive Vice President & CEO Doug Hamlin recently served as Executive Director of NRA Publications. Prior to joining NRA in 2014, Mr. Hamlin had a long career in the publishing industry. For 14 years he served in numerous sales, marketing, and management positions at the Petersen Publishing Company. He also was vice president and group publisher of Motor Trend magazine and served as the publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine. Mr. Hamlin served six years on active duty as a regular Marine Officer, including serving overseas with the Third Marine Division. He also has been active in Veteran charitable causes.

“I am truly humbled to be elected by the NRA Board of Directors as the next Executive Vice President & CEO of the NRA,” said Doug Hamlin. “Our Association is at a decisive moment in our history, and the future of America and constitutional freedoms depends on the success of the NRA. I look forward to working with NRA staff to execute NRA’s gold standard programs and promote political and public policies that are in the best interest of our members and all gun owners.”

Following the election of Mr. Hamlin as NRA Executive Vice President, he re-appointed Randy Kozuch as the Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and appointed Joseph P. De Bergalis, Jr., as the Executive Director of NRA General Operations.

The Board of Directors also re-elected Sonya B. Rowling as NRA Treasurer and John C. Frazer as NRA Secretary. This year, the NRA membership voted overwhelmingly to create the position of NRA Chief Compliance Officer. Robert Mensinger was elected by the Board to serve in that position.

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Connecticut: Pistol Ban Advances in the Legislature

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Connecticut: Pistol Ban Advances in the Legislature

Last week, the Connecticut Judiciary Committee voted to advance HB5043 - A bill championed by Governor Ned Lamount aimed at banning so-called "convertible pistols".

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

On Saturday, March 14th, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session, and the future of the Commonwealth hangs in the balance. 

Ammunition Serialization: The Five-Cent Fiasco in Illinois

News  

Monday, March 30, 2026

Ammunition Serialization: The Five-Cent Fiasco in Illinois

Democrat officials in Illinois have long taken unabashed pride in the abridgement of Second Amendment rights, and their latest attempt at “bullet control” is again making headlines.

California Court’s “Technical Issue” Nullifies Background Checks

News  

Monday, March 30, 2026

California Court’s “Technical Issue” Nullifies Background Checks

California, already well known for its de-policing, non-prosecution, and other soft-on-crime policies, has taken enabling criminals to a whole new level.

Washington: Governor Signs 3D-Printing Ban

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Washington: Governor Signs 3D-Printing Ban

The Washington legislature adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session on March 12. 

NRA Defeats California Gun Control Law; State Must Pay Nearly $500,000 in Attorney Fees Incurred by NRA

Monday, March 23, 2026

NRA Defeats California Gun Control Law; State Must Pay Nearly $500,000 in Attorney Fees Incurred by NRA

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted a stipulation for final judgment and permanent injunction in Safari Club International v. Bonta, under which the state conceded that its firearm advertising restriction is unconstitutional ...

DOJ Legal Filing Renews Concerns About ATF’s Posture on Braced Pistols

Friday, March 20, 2026

DOJ Legal Filing Renews Concerns About ATF’s Posture on Braced Pistols

The saga of ATF’s enforcement of the National Firearm Act’s “short barreled rifle” provisions against braced pistols has been a roller coaster ride of shifting interpretations. NRA-ILA has been keeping up with, reporting on, and ...

NRA Seeks to Invalidate California’s Handgun “Roster” in Legal Challenge

News  

Monday, March 30, 2026

NRA Seeks to Invalidate California’s Handgun “Roster” in Legal Challenge

The National Rifle Association has taken legal action challenging California’s Handgun Roster, a regulatory regime that effectively bans most commonly owned handguns.

Is Finland Looking to Emulate America’s Founding Era on Firearms?

News  

Monday, March 30, 2026

Is Finland Looking to Emulate America’s Founding Era on Firearms?

We’ve written before about Finland, a European nation with arguably better gun laws than the majority of the continent.  

“Gun Free Zones” Herd Honest Citizens into Physical and Legal Peril

News  

Monday, March 30, 2026

“Gun Free Zones” Herd Honest Citizens into Physical and Legal Peril

Never mind the homelessness, drug use, and routine violence … according to Empire State politicians, New York City’s transit system is a “sensitive place.”

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.