Freedom On Display In Dallas

The 153rd NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits opened with a celebration of freedom as big as Texas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center on Thursday, May 16, with the national NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction—and the ever-popular Wall of Guns. On Friday, the Exhibit Hall opened to a packed crowd, and more than 72,000 NRA members attended the three-day event with 14 acres of guns and gear on display from more than 650 exhibitors—including from NRA’s affiliated collecting clubs. More than 100 events and seminars—most of them free—were held for NRA members on topics ranging from “Advanced Long Range Shooting” to “The Guns of D-Day.”

The Women’s Leadership Forum Gala & Auction included a check presentation to NRA-ILA from NRA donors Larry and Brenda Potterfield and their grandchildren in the amount of nearly $23 million—representing the amount MidwayUSA customers have donated to the NRA since establishing the NRA Round Up program in 1992.

The show of strength and solidarity continued as NRA members gathered for the inaugural NRA Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) Gala & Auction on Friday night to support the NRA Institute for Legislative Action’s (NRA-ILA) efforts leading into the 2024 elections. Celebrating the “Shooting Stars over Texas” theme, WLF co-chairs shared how we are united by a common value: “Our freedom and the desire to protect it.” Of course, part of the draw for the sold-out event was keynote speaker Pete Hegseth—New York Times best-selling author, decorated Army veteran and co-host of  “Fox and Friends Weekend” and multiple series on Fox Nation.

In a longstanding tradition, the oldest and youngest Life members were recognized at the Annual Meeting of Members. The oldest was Roger Peterson of Texas, and the youngest was Arabella Penta.

Hegseth delivered an energizing keynote address for which he received a standing ovation, sounding home the need to protect the NRA and the Second Amendment and to put freedom first.

“We have the greatest country in history led by a government that is obsessed with taking our freedom and firearms away,” Hegseth said. And, in step with NRA-ILA in assessing what we will face leading into Election Day 2024, he closed by saying, “Without a strong NRA, we don’t have a big, strong America. It’s about to get ugly. Hold your family close, stay close to God and fight for this nation.”

The 153rd Annual Meeting of Members had a tight timeline limited to two hours to accommodate addresses from the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to NRA members at the Leadership Forum on Saturday. (Customarily, Forum events happen on Friday, but due to unexpected circumstances, it was moved to Saturday.) 

Pete Hegseth, co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” and a decorated combat soldier, author and American patriot was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Women’s Leadership Forum Gala & Auction. “Without a strong NRA, we don’t have a big, strong America,” he told the sold-out crowd.

The Members’ Meeting opened with reports from NRA officers, followed by resolutions from the assembled membership. The first praised the arduous work and Second Amendment advocacy of President Trump and Gov. Abbot. Another resolution passed condemning the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for its recent excesses. The last item voted upon by the members rejected NRA’s move to Texas. There was vigorous debate and changes in your Association’s leadership at Monday’s NRA Board of Directors’ meeting. (You can read more in detail about these events in “The Future Of The NRA” in this issue.)

The final day, Sunday, wrapped up with events such as the NRA National Prayer Breakfast and the NRA Women’s New Energy Brunch.

Get ready for Atlanta, Ga., as plans are underway for the 154th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, April 24-27, 2025.