The National Rifle Association has been moving forward in a fierce rebound since the closure of New York’s lawsuit against them and the resignation of former CEO Wayne LaPierre. Part of their efforts to further engage with members and the public include a new program launching at the 2025 Annual Meeting. The Voices of the Second Amendment is going to feature Second Amendment media personalities and they’re going to be creating and broadcasting right from the show’s floor.
Voices of the Second Amendment is a project being spearheaded by NRA Editorial Director Mark A. Keefe, IV and his team. Media personalities and video journalists have been hand selected to participate.
Some of the participants include hosts of Gun Talk, The Firearms Trainer Podcast, Riding Shotgun With Charlie, On The Range Podcast, Forge of Freedom Podcast, Eye on The Target Radio, Meet The Pressers/Trigger Pressers Union, 2A4E Podcast, Gun Club Radio, Grassroots Warrior Network, GunStuff TV, The Reload, The Weekly Roundtable Liberty First Foundation, and ArmsRoom Radio.
Bearing Arms’ very own Editor-in-chief Cam Edwards and contributor Tom Knighton are also scheduled to participate in the inaugural event at booth #665.
While personalities involved come by invitation only, that does not mean that this is a pool of “yes men.” Over the years, Stephen Gutowski – one of the Voices participants – from The Reload, has closely scrutinized the Association.
“I plan to cover the NRA Annual Meeting the same way I have in the past,” Gutowski said in a statement. “I think the key thing to watch for is how the reformers fare in the latest NRA board election. They seem poised to increase their majority, and that could lead to significant reforms beyond what the group has already done.”
“It’s also probably a good sign they’re willing to engage in good faith with writers and outlets that have covered critical stories about the NRA in the past,” Gutowski observed. “We’ll see how it all goes. I’m looking forward to attending.”
Seeing the NRA welcome outspoken journalists who have been critical of the organization shows their willingness to be reported on as they are – as they transition further into the new NRA 2.0.
The Voices of the Second Amendment is fashioned after the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show® “radio row.” Like radio row, Voices will be set up where working media can be seen in action.
The difference with the NRA version though is this opportunity is not just pigeonholed to industry members only. The NRA Annual Meeting is open to all members – non-members are able to join on site to gain entry. This won’t be an experience that’s exclusive to a select few.
“Our goal is to put it out there to where people can walk through, see it in action,” said NRA Board Member Amanda Suffecool, one of the volunteers helping organize the program. “We want to invite people to come and look for their favorite podcasters. We want to invite people to come and find new favorite podcasters.”
Suffecool explains that “podcasters are a unique kind of blend, because you only find them when someone on another podcast mentions them.” Generally consumers find new podcasts or shows to tune into because they’ve read about them or heard about them elsewhere. Suffecool noted, “It’s not like you find them because you’re turning the radio dial.”
The Voices row is going to be a great opportunity for the consumer to watch the sausage get made by some of their favorite personalities.
“This was really Doug Hamlin‘s idea. He has seen how the nature of communication has changed,” said NRA Editorial Director Mark Keefe, the lead organizer of the project. “Mainstream media has absolutely no interest in our message or our voices.”
“Responsible gun use, the fun of the shooting sports, the benefit of safety and education training, the right to keep and bear arms itself, those are stories they do not want told,” Keefe continued. “But there are so many avenues to reach like-minded people available today. Even people who don’t agree with us. That’s why we wanted to create an opportunity for different Second Amendment Voices to stand together at the NRA Annual Meetings in Atlanta.”
If you’d like to get in on the action, the NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibition is being held in Atlanta, Georgia April 24 – 27, 2025. The lineup of talent who’s involved in this new addition to the NRAAM is impressive and you’re not going to want to miss them. This is surly going to be a new and unique experience and folks are not going to want to miss out on it.
Read the full article here
