Who would have believed a year and a half ago what our lives would be like today? Not me! But the COVID-19 pandemic, attacks by governmental entities and officials, and personal and family illnesses have not stopped the NRA. Certainly, my personal journey was not what I envisioned when I was elected to serve as your president, but through it all, I have survived and so has our NRA. Though my husband has been severely ill recently, he has encouraged me to be steadfast—to continue serving our God and our beloved country by leading our Association. My personal road less traveled has not been the road I would have chosen, but through all these trials, I am personally stronger.
As I turn over the reins and end my term of service as your president, I am thankful for the support of NRA members, our Board of Directors and, of course, NRA staff. Our team of officers has been unbelievable! I have known Wayne LaPierre, Charles Cotton, Willes Lee and the other NRA leaders for years. But one of the greatest pleasures of being president was having a front-row seat to observe their dedicated leadership in person. Hailing from different corners of the country, we met almost daily via conference calls to deal with the ever-evolving business of our Association amid the ever-changing political landscape.
We need to continue to be resolute in our defense of freedom, unwavering in our support of country and astutely politically aware. To do otherwise will result in the repeal of the Second Amendment, closely followed by the demise of our country.
The NRA and our way of life have been threatened by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Andrew Cuomo, Letitia James and others. But, here’s the good news—we are still standing! Through it all, you, the members, have not wavered—we are still at five million strong and our Association is financially sound. There are, no doubt, more trials to come. But I have every bit of confidence in our new team of officers that they will keep the NRA on the right path.
They, of course, can’t do it alone. As Wayne always says, the NRA is not some building outside of Washington, D.C.—it is you, the five million defenders of liberty. Therefore, the NRA is only as strong as its members. We need to continue to be resolute in our defense of freedom, unwavering in our support of country and astutely politically aware. To do otherwise will result in the repeal of the Second Amendment, closely followed by the demise of our country.
The battle for freedom is always tumultuous, but the global pandemic brought that to another level! The NRA had to make some difficult decisions during that time, just as every organization did, and I believe we are coming through it all in better shape. However, we must always stay vigilant, and we must never surrender. You might feel like unsung heroes in this fight for freedom, but believe me, the leadership of your NRA will never forget who and what we are fighting for.
We are fighting for our neighbors, co-workers, fellow parishioners and friends. We are fighting for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We are fighting for those who may not have the courage to stand up for their rights. And we are fighting for the soul of our country.
I implore you to not let up. In order for America to survive, the NRA needs to be stronger than ever over the next 150 years and far beyond. Doing so will ensure that future generations will live in a country with a protected Second Amendment. Recruit more NRA members, join your state association or local club, attend Friends of NRA events, and please stay active in the political arena. I intend to do just that.
To my fellow NRA members—you have my heartfelt thanks for never giving up on the fight for the Second Amendment or your NRA. You also have my solemn promise as I move on from my post as president that I will continue to serve alongside you in the fight. We are right in our cause. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
And, please know, as we go down this road less traveled, that we still have a country to save!
