The position of president of the
National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a symbolic figurehead role,[1][2] which dates back to the organization's foundation in New York on November 17, 1871.[3] Founded by
George Wood Wingate and
William Conant Church, two
Union veterans dismayed by the lack of shooting skills among recruits,[4] the rifle association voted to have Union general
Ambrose Burnside as its first president.[5] Church succeeded Burnside as the second president of the organization,[6] and Wingate became the tenth in 1886.[7] Traditionally, the first vice president is elevated to president when the position becomes open while the second vice president is similarly promoted,[8][9] but this practice has not always been followed.[10]
Throughout its history, presidents have served purposes and effects including providing the NRA greater legitimacy;[7][11] holders of the office have also intentionally provoked outrage and condemnation.[3][12] Since the 1990s, some NRA presidents have made controversial statements such as when
James W. Porter II referred to
Barack Obama, whose administration he perceived as hostile to gun rights,[13] as a "fake president" and when
Charlton Heston proclaimed to gun control advocates that they could only have his firearm after taking it "
from my cold, dead hands."[3][14]
While once elected at the annual convention,[15] as of 2020[update], NRA presidents are chosen by the board of directors.[1][16] They generally serve out two one-year terms.[17] However, the NRA board of directors amended the organization's bylaws to make a personalized exception for actor Charlton Heston to allow him to serve out a unique five-year term.[10] Under said bylaws, the position of president is unpaid.[18] During
Oliver North's time in office he sought to make the position a paid one, but this initiative failed when he was ousted as president after a power struggle with executive vice president
Wayne LaPierre.[19] Some presidents have been employed by the NRA after leaving office.[20]Marion Hammer was the association's first female president and went on to be executive director of the group's Florida affiliate.[21][22] The executive vice president acts as the group's
chief operating officer. Wayne LaPierre held this post between 1991 and 2024,[23][24] despite several internal challenges to his role.[25][26]
There have been 65 NRA presidents, serving 67 distinct tenures as both
Smith W. Brookhart and
Carolyn D. Meadows have served two nonconsecutive times in the office. Others who have held the position include former United States president
Ulysses S. Grant, lobbyist
Harlon Carter,
American Football League commissioner
Joe Foss, and conservative activist
David Keene. The current president as of 2021[update] is Charles Cotton. In April 2023, the NRA Board of Directors voted to amend the bylaws allowing Cotton to serve a third term.[27]
^Libbey, Rick (February 2006).
"Colonel WILLIAM LIBBEY 6-4-8-2-4-5-1"(PDF). The Libby Family Newsletter. The John Libby Family Association. p. 6.
OCLC46697183.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
^Waterbury, Fred M., ed. (March 1925).
"The N. R. A. Directors Annual Meeting"(PDF). New York National Guardsman. Vol. 1, no. 12. New York City: National Guard of the State of New York. p. 31.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019 – via NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.
^Hutchinson, William K. (September 1, 1925).
"Hobbies of the Great and Near Great". Clarion-Ledger. Mississippi. p. 8.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Chapple, Joe Mitchell (June 5, 1925).
"Face to Face with Smith W. Brookhart". Brooklyn Daily Times. p. 6.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Waterbury, Fred M., ed. (October 1926).
"Annual Meeting of the N. R. A."(PDF). New York National Guardsman. Vol. 1, no. 12. New York City: National Guard of the State of New York. pp. 5 & 19.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019 – via NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.
^"Pope Again Heads National Riflemen". Detroit Free Press. February 20, 1938. p. 43.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Howe, John K. (October 16, 1915).
"Cambridge Tribune 16 October 1915". Cambridge Tribune. Vol. 38, no. 33. p. 4.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Cambridge Public Library.
^"Rifle Asso. Head, Speaker". The Menasha Record. Menasha, WI. September 23, 1946. p. 1.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"NRA Re-Elects Woodson Scott". The Central New Jersey Home News. Washington. AP. April 10, 1970. p. 29.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Gailey, Phil; Thornton, Mary; Gay, Lance (June 12, 1981).
"NRA United On Guns, Torn Internally". The Indianapolis News. p. 24.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Clipped From Hattiesburg American". Hattiesburg American. February 17, 1985. p. 30.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Palko, Jerry (June 12, 1988).
"Lead Shot Controversy Roars Again". The Times-Tribune. p. 63.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Richard Riley". Manchester Union Leader (Obituary). Laconia, NH. December 2009.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Legacy.com.
The position of president of the
National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a symbolic figurehead role,[1][2] which dates back to the organization's foundation in New York on November 17, 1871.[3] Founded by
George Wood Wingate and
William Conant Church, two
Union veterans dismayed by the lack of shooting skills among recruits,[4] the rifle association voted to have Union general
Ambrose Burnside as its first president.[5] Church succeeded Burnside as the second president of the organization,[6] and Wingate became the tenth in 1886.[7] Traditionally, the first vice president is elevated to president when the position becomes open while the second vice president is similarly promoted,[8][9] but this practice has not always been followed.[10]
Throughout its history, presidents have served purposes and effects including providing the NRA greater legitimacy;[7][11] holders of the office have also intentionally provoked outrage and condemnation.[3][12] Since the 1990s, some NRA presidents have made controversial statements such as when
James W. Porter II referred to
Barack Obama, whose administration he perceived as hostile to gun rights,[13] as a "fake president" and when
Charlton Heston proclaimed to gun control advocates that they could only have his firearm after taking it "
from my cold, dead hands."[3][14]
While once elected at the annual convention,[15] as of 2020[update], NRA presidents are chosen by the board of directors.[1][16] They generally serve out two one-year terms.[17] However, the NRA board of directors amended the organization's bylaws to make a personalized exception for actor Charlton Heston to allow him to serve out a unique five-year term.[10] Under said bylaws, the position of president is unpaid.[18] During
Oliver North's time in office he sought to make the position a paid one, but this initiative failed when he was ousted as president after a power struggle with executive vice president
Wayne LaPierre.[19] Some presidents have been employed by the NRA after leaving office.[20]Marion Hammer was the association's first female president and went on to be executive director of the group's Florida affiliate.[21][22] The executive vice president acts as the group's
chief operating officer. Wayne LaPierre held this post between 1991 and 2024,[23][24] despite several internal challenges to his role.[25][26]
There have been 65 NRA presidents, serving 67 distinct tenures as both
Smith W. Brookhart and
Carolyn D. Meadows have served two nonconsecutive times in the office. Others who have held the position include former United States president
Ulysses S. Grant, lobbyist
Harlon Carter,
American Football League commissioner
Joe Foss, and conservative activist
David Keene. The current president as of 2021[update] is Charles Cotton. In April 2023, the NRA Board of Directors voted to amend the bylaws allowing Cotton to serve a third term.[27]
^Libbey, Rick (February 2006).
"Colonel WILLIAM LIBBEY 6-4-8-2-4-5-1"(PDF). The Libby Family Newsletter. The John Libby Family Association. p. 6.
OCLC46697183.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
^Waterbury, Fred M., ed. (March 1925).
"The N. R. A. Directors Annual Meeting"(PDF). New York National Guardsman. Vol. 1, no. 12. New York City: National Guard of the State of New York. p. 31.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019 – via NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.
^Hutchinson, William K. (September 1, 1925).
"Hobbies of the Great and Near Great". Clarion-Ledger. Mississippi. p. 8.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Chapple, Joe Mitchell (June 5, 1925).
"Face to Face with Smith W. Brookhart". Brooklyn Daily Times. p. 6.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Waterbury, Fred M., ed. (October 1926).
"Annual Meeting of the N. R. A."(PDF). New York National Guardsman. Vol. 1, no. 12. New York City: National Guard of the State of New York. pp. 5 & 19.
Archived(PDF) from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019 – via NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center.
^"Pope Again Heads National Riflemen". Detroit Free Press. February 20, 1938. p. 43.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Howe, John K. (October 16, 1915).
"Cambridge Tribune 16 October 1915". Cambridge Tribune. Vol. 38, no. 33. p. 4.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Cambridge Public Library.
^"Rifle Asso. Head, Speaker". The Menasha Record. Menasha, WI. September 23, 1946. p. 1.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"NRA Re-Elects Woodson Scott". The Central New Jersey Home News. Washington. AP. April 10, 1970. p. 29.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Gailey, Phil; Thornton, Mary; Gay, Lance (June 12, 1981).
"NRA United On Guns, Torn Internally". The Indianapolis News. p. 24.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Clipped From Hattiesburg American". Hattiesburg American. February 17, 1985. p. 30.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^Palko, Jerry (June 12, 1988).
"Lead Shot Controversy Roars Again". The Times-Tribune. p. 63.
Archived from the original on November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Richard Riley". Manchester Union Leader (Obituary). Laconia, NH. December 2009.
Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2019 – via Legacy.com.