BFA represents Ohio at NRA meeting in Georgia

Nearly a dozen Buckeye Firearms Association leaders represented Ohio's gun owners and Second Amendment supporters at the 154th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Atlanta April 24-27.

The event drew more than 70,000 members and their families from all 50 states and even other countries and featured numerous seminars, a 14-acre exhibit hall with more than 600 guns and gear exhibitors, the NRA Foundation's banquet and auction, a live performance by Big & Rich and Will Jones, and the annual meeting of NRA members.

Among the seminars attended by BFA leaders was the annual National Firearms Law Seminar, which is the largest gathering of Second Amendment attorneys in the country. One important session focused on some of the anti-gun laws enacted or making their way through legislatures in other states.

Dean Rieck, BFA executive director, said that attending this annual event benefits the organization in many ways. It helps with representing Ohio’s gun owners, builds valuable connections, and allows the group to learn new ideas from national experts in law and the firearms industry. He explained that this commitment to learning is crucial in advancing gun‑friendly laws in Ohio and in keeping the Buckeye State from following the strict rules seen in states like California, Colorado, or Hawaii.

"While the NRA has faced significant legal and management challenges in recent years," Rieck said, "it remains a powerhouse for gun rights at the national and state level. The work we've done over the last 20 years here in Ohio is part of an American revolution in how the Second Amendment is understood and implemented. And I think that it is vital for us to learn from other states — something that this annual legal seminar makes possible."

Linda Walker, BFA board president and an NRA board member, said both NRA and BFA have achieved a great deal in defending the right to keep and bear arms. She noted that the annual NRA meetings provide an opportunity to meet others who share our constitutional values and to learn from a wide range of experts.

"“I’ve always viewed the NRA Annual Meetings as a gathering of patriots, or more so a huge family reunion. Over the years, it’s been a great place for the coming together of Second Amendment leaders from across the country and welcoming others into the family," Walker said. "NRA 2.0 is moving in the right direction under the leadership of Doug Hamlin as the executive vice president. I’m excited about the future of NRA under the leadership of our new president, (Bill) Bachenberg, as we move forward with reforming the organization. The future looks bright."

NRA 2.0: Linda Walker shares vision to return organization to its members

Following the four-day event, the NRA Board of Directors elected Bachenberg as NRA president and unanimously reelected Hamlin as NRA executive vice president and CEO. The board also elected Mark Vaughan of Oklahoma as NRA first vice president and Rocky Marshall of Texas as second vice president.