NRA’s EVP Hamlin Weighs in on Friends of the NRA Dinners

January 28, 2026
5:50 pm

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In a bold move that's got the 2A world buzzing, NRA Executive Vice President Doug Hamlin has stepped up to the plate on the hot-button issue of Friends of the NRA (FONRA) dinners, right as the organization battles a high-stakes lawsuit from the New York Attorney General. Hamlin's recent statement isn't just damage control—it's a rallying cry, reassuring grassroots supporters that these legendary fundraisers, which have pumped over $800 million into youth shooting programs, scholarships, and Second Amendment advocacy since 1992, aren't going anywhere. Amid accusations of financial mismanagement leveled by AG Letitia James in her ongoing crusade against the NRA, Hamlin emphasized the dinners' ironclad compliance and their role as the lifeblood of local gun rights chapters. This comes at a pivotal moment, with the lawsuit dragging into 2024, threatening to siphon funds that could otherwise fortify defenses against creeping gun control. Digging deeper, Hamlin's intervention is a masterstroke of transparency that flips the script on critics who've painted FONRA as a cash cow for NRA insiders. These events—think black-tie galas with exclusive firearms auctions, live music, and paddle raises that turn supporters into superfunders—aren't mere social mixers; they're the NRA's secret sauce for community-driven impact, funding everything from Boy Scouts marksmanship to women's self-defense clinics. The lawsuit's shadow, however, underscores a broader assault: New York's weaponized AG office is gunning for the NRA's treasury to kneecap its lobbying muscle ahead of 2024 elections. Hamlin's weighing in signals resilience, potentially stabilizing donor confidence and volunteer turnout, but it also spotlights vulnerabilities—diverted legal fees mean less ammo for battles like blocking ATF pistol brace rules or state-level red flag expansions. For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear: FONRA's survival is a bellwether for the NRA's phoenix-like rebound under Hamlin's steady hand. If these dinners endure, expect a surge in on-the-ground activism, from range builds to school safety initiatives that counter anti-gun narratives. But a loss could cascade, emboldening blue-state DAs to target other pro-gun nonprofits. 2A patriots, this is your cue—pack those dinners, bid high on that custom AR, and keep the pressure on. Hamlin's message? The fight's far from over, and neither are the friends who fuel it.

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In a bold move that’s got the 2A world buzzing, NRA Executive Vice President Doug Hamlin has stepped up to the plate on the hot-button issue of Friends of the NRA (FONRA) dinners, right as the organization battles a high-stakes lawsuit from the New York Attorney General. Hamlin’s recent statement isn’t just damage control—it’s a rallying cry, reassuring grassroots supporters that these legendary fundraisers, which have pumped over $800 million into youth shooting programs, scholarships, and Second Amendment advocacy since 1992, aren’t going anywhere. Amid accusations of financial mismanagement leveled by AG Letitia James in her ongoing crusade against the NRA, Hamlin emphasized the dinners’ ironclad compliance and their role as the lifeblood of local gun rights chapters. This comes at a pivotal moment, with the lawsuit dragging into 2024, threatening to siphon funds that could otherwise fortify defenses against creeping gun control.

Digging deeper, Hamlin’s intervention is a masterstroke of transparency that flips the script on critics who’ve painted FONRA as a cash cow for NRA insiders. These events—think black-tie galas with exclusive firearms auctions, live music, and paddle raises that turn supporters into superfunders—aren’t mere social mixers; they’re the NRA’s secret sauce for community-driven impact, funding everything from Boy Scouts marksmanship to women’s self-defense clinics. The lawsuit’s shadow, however, underscores a broader assault: New York’s weaponized AG office is gunning for the NRA’s treasury to kneecap its lobbying muscle ahead of 2024 elections. Hamlin’s weighing in signals resilience, potentially stabilizing donor confidence and volunteer turnout, but it also spotlights vulnerabilities—diverted legal fees mean less ammo for battles like blocking ATF pistol brace rules or state-level red flag expansions.

For the 2A community, the implications are crystal clear: FONRA’s survival is a bellwether for the NRA’s phoenix-like rebound under Hamlin’s steady hand. If these dinners endure, expect a surge in on-the-ground activism, from range builds to school safety initiatives that counter anti-gun narratives. But a loss could cascade, emboldening blue-state DAs to target other pro-gun nonprofits. 2A patriots, this is your cue—pack those dinners, bid high on that custom AR, and keep the pressure on. Hamlin’s message? The fight’s far from over, and neither are the friends who fuel it.

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