Mainstream Americans had much to celebrate on the opening day of the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center here in Dallas, May 17-19, as the NRA opened its doors to tens of thousands of fellow NRA members and gun owners eager to peruse a show floor spanning 14 acres of firearms, ammunition, optics and gear. Underscoring the level of innovation on the show floor, NRA Publications held its annual NRA Golden Bullseye Award Ceremony on opening morning to recognize the performance-driven products that best combine innovation, value, utility and reliability, with NRAWomen.com presenting three awards:
Handgun of the Year: Ruger Security-380 Lite Rack
Accessory Product of the Year: The Headrest Safe
Industry Woman of the Year: Karen Butler, President/CEO of Shoot Like a Girl
For more good news, many of us NRA Women headed to the NRA Show’s Inaugural NRA Women’s Leadership Forum Gala & Auction, with proceeds benefitting the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). While we look forward to celebrating the fun “Shooting Stars over Texas” theme, a big draw is also keynote speaker Pete Hegseth, co-host of FOX News Channel's FOX & Friends Weekend, a New York Times best-selling author and an Army veteran of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay who earned two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
The fun continued Saturday as nowhere is the celebration over American freedom bigger than at an NRA show, which draws 70,000-plus NRA members and gun owners each year. As in years past, we NRA members anticipated seeing former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Saturday, May 18, as he delivered the keynote speech at the convention center. This marks Trump's ninth address on the NRA’s stage, reaffirming his strong commitment to the NRA, the Second Amendment, and the rich and uniquely American tradition of firearm ownership, hunting and the shooting sports. Prior to the event, NRA also formally endorsed Trump for President 2024.
Stay tuned for a full wrap up of these events and more in coming weeks.