Marion P. Hammer has influenced many in her fight to preserve Second Amendment freedoms. From her role as lobbyist in the passage of Florida’s Right-to-Carry legislation, to her grassroots efforts in educating youth about firearm safety, Ms. Hammer exemplifies activism and leadership. To honor her pioneering spirit, the National Rifle Association bestows the Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award in her name.
Who Is Marion P. Hammer?
Marion P. Hammer is an American gun advocate and lobbyist who was the first female president of the NRA from 1995-1998. She has been an NRA member all her adult life and had served as second and first vice president before being elected to the NRA’s highest office.
Marion became a lobbyist during the 1970s and works with the Florida legislature to write pro-gun legislation. She is credited with influencing many of Florida’s gun laws including the 2005 Stand Your Ground law. The success of her pro-gun lobby has had an impact on similar laws across the United States. Marion began to develop the NRA Eddie Eagle GunSafe program for children in 1988. To date, more than 28 million children have completed this very successful program.
Marion was awarded the NRA-ILA Legislative Achievement Award, Roy Rogers “Man of the Year” Award and was the first woman to receive this award. The National Safety Council awarded her the Outstanding Community Service Award, and in 2005 she was inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2018 she was awarded the NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marion is a speaker, instructor and author.
Marion is a trailblazer, a leader and an outspoken activist and leader. She is a staunch defender and protector of our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We celebrate her achievements and are inspired by her extraordinary life of service.
If you know of a woman who also represents those qualities and fulfills the following requirements, you can nominate her for the award here.
To qualify for the Marion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award, the nominee must have demonstrated two or more of the following qualifications on a state, regional or local Level:
- Recognition for performance in competitive shooting; dedication to hunting ethics and conservation or promotion of recreational shooting activities on a state or local level.
- Educational contributions to advance the purposes and goals of the National Rifle Association including appearance and/or writings of significance on a state or local level.
- Meritorious performance under perilous conditions through the lawful use of a firearm in defense of self or others.
- Protection of the Second Amendment through extensive legislative and/or legal contributions at the state or local level.
- Promotions of NRA programs, goals and issues in a volunteer capacity at the state or local level, that have a recognized positive impact on the organization.
For completes rules for nominating a candidate, visit the nomination page.
