NRA elects former Georgia congressman Bob Barr to lead association

Barr previously served in the House of Representatives from 1995-2003, and was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president in the 2008 presidential election.

By Misty Severi

Published: May 22, 2024 4:43pm

Former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr on Wednesday was elected as the next president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and Doug Hamlin as the NRA executive vice president & CEO.

The election comes after the NRA held its 153rd NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits this weekend, which featured 72,000 members in attendance. The association on Saturday also officially endorsed former President Donald Trump for president this November.

Barr previously served in the House of Representatives from 1995-2003, and was the Libertarian Party's nominee for president in the 2008 presidential election.

“I thank my colleagues for their support of my election as NRA President,” Barr said in a statement on his election as NRA president. “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.”

Hamlin was previously the executive director of NRA Publications, and has spent more than a decade working in publishing, according to a news release. He also worked as the vice president and group publisher of Motor Trend magazine, and publisher of Guns & Ammo magazine.

“I am truly humbled to be elected by the NRA Board of Directors as the next Executive Vice President & CEO of the NRA,” Hamlin said. “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.”

Pennsylvania businessman William Bachenberg was also elected as the NRA first vice president and Oklahoma Rifle Association President Mark Vaughan, as NRA second vice president.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.