The National Rifle Association is working to regain the trust of members. In part of a number of reform-related efforts, EVP/CEO Dough Hamlin is hosting a town hall meeting.
Over the last couple of years, major reform efforts have been underway at the NRA. Several moves were made by board and prospective board members to bring together so-called “reform-minded” people into leadership chairs. Part of the much needed reform included the election and hiring of Doug Hamlin in 2024 as CEO and executive vice president. Hamlin has promised commitment to both transparency and good stewardship of the NRA. It was announced that on June 26, 2025, he’s going to be hosting a town hall-style meeting.
“National Rifle Association Executive Vice President & CEO Doug Hamlin is hosting an exclusive virtual town hall to provide important updates about the NRA and its efforts to protect and promote Second Amendment rights,” an NRA Women article stated.
Bearing Arms has had the opportunity to interact with Hamlin several times since taking his post as EVP. During a February 2025 interview, Hamlin said that among his highest priorities is the rebuilding of trust among members, the industry and donors. He further explained that trust rebuilding involves the employees of the NRA, who may have lost faith over the years.
In discussing the issues at the NRA, Hamlin noted there were “a couple of executives that made some poor decisions, [and] they’re no longer with the organization.” He then promised, “It’s my pledge to our members that we are going to be extremely judicious with any expenditures that come from their membership dues. We have a chief compliance officer in place now. Malfeasance will not be tolerated.”
Hamlin addressed members at an in-person town hall-style event during the 2025 Great American Outdoor Show. He explained that since most of the legal issues with the Association were behind them, that they’re committed to investing back into the bread and butter of the NRA.
“Funds that in past years have been spent to represent ourselves [in the courts] are now being put back into the operation,” Hamlin said. “What you’re going to see are direct investments in our programs and our services. We’re getting back to basics. And so specifically, we’re bringing in 20 new staffers here as soon as we can hire them, and they’re going to be deployed against education and training, [and] competitive shooting.”
A June 11, 2024 interview with Bearing Arms’ Cam Edwards was one of the first public conversations Hamlin had. At that point, he only became the EVP about three weeks prior.
When talking to Cam, Hamlin pointed out something that many usually miss about the NRA. He said that the NRA is “a complex place with a unique culture.” Considering the many divisions and facets of the organization, “complex” might be an understatement. “We are going to manage this place with discipline and fiscal responsibility,” Hamlin added.
“We’re going to make it,” Hamlin said to Cam about the NRA changing course and surviving. “The organization is much stronger than people believe it to be. […] We need folks like yourself to give us a chance. We want to welcome home those members we’ve lost. And we want new firearms owners. We want them to come to the NRA family as well.”
According to NRA Women, the town hall meeting is being held to give members an opportunity to ask questions and interact with the Association:
Join the conversation on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 8 p.m. EDT (7 p.m. CDT) to hear directly from Hamlin about the NRA’s commitment to defending constitutional freedoms, promoting the right to self-defense, providing best-in-class firearm safety education, supporting the shooting sports, and more. This virtual town hall will offer you the opportunity to ask questions about the direction of our Association and hear why it is important for all gun owners to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the millions of NRA members in defense of our Second Amendment rights.
In order to participate in the event, registration is required, which you can do so HERE.
Seeing events like this occur shows that commitment to reform is being executed at the National Rifle Association. For years, there was nothing but radio silence from the Association. But since Hamlin took the helm, there’s been more public outreach and interaction between the top brass of the organization and the membership than has been witnessed in about a decade.
[Editor’s Note: Since the NRA’s Annual Meeting in Atlanta, I’ve been working with several NRA committees on a volunteer and unpaid basis. I encourage every gun owner and NRA member to attend this virtual town hall meeting to ask questions of Hamlin, but also to hear about the substantial work being done by NRA employees, directors, and rank-and-file members to improve the organization and advance its core mission of protecting, defending, and strengthening our Second Amendment rights. – Cam]
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