EXCLUSIVE — The National Rifle Association is restructuring its media division and will streamline other parts of the organization.
The changes are aimed at “maximizing member dollars, streamlining operations, and investing in critical programs that best serve NRA members and ensure the long-term strength of the organization,” a press release from the NRA reads.
The NRA has more than 5 million members and is one of the top Second Amendment advocacy organizations in the United States.
“The NRA is listening and anticipating our members’ needs,” NRA President Bill Bachenberg told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “NRA 2.0 is re-focusing on its core missions of protecting our God-given Second Amendment rights, gun safety and training, supporting our Clubs & Associations and shooting competitions.”
Bachenberg became the NRA’s 69th president in May, replacing attorney Bob Barr. He suggested that the reorganization will make the NRA more efficient.
“We are flattening the organizational structure, redeploying staff, and exploiting technology to better manage the day-to-day activities of the Association,” Bachenberg said. “By knocking down the current vertical silos and creating cross-functional teams, there will be less duplication, stronger member services, and better communications.”
The organization will also “merge its Membership, Marketing and Advancement Divisions into a single department,” with “new data-driven techniques to increase revenue.”
Staff will be affected by the reorganization, according to the NRA.
“These necessary changes will, unfortunately, impact staff,” the release from the NRA reads. “The NRA’s leadership did not make these decisions lightly but must realign resources to ensure America’s largest and oldest gun rights organization remains strong and ready to address the fight ahead.”
NRA CEO Doug Hamlin said a “leaner NRA” is needed so that the organization can fend off its adversaries.
“The NRA has delivered on its promise to provide a pro-gun President, Congress, and Supreme Court for our members,” Hamlin said.
“These successes have not gone unnoticed by our adversaries, who are doubling down on election spending, lawfare, and new programs to push their radical gun-grabbing agenda,” he added. “To ensure we are prepared for the fights ahead, we must create a leaner NRA that focuses on stretching every member dollar to best protect your right to keep and bear arms.”
NRA OPPOSES RESTRICTING GUNS FROM TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
The new changes will not affect the company’s general operations division or its legislative action branch, NRA-ILA.
The NRA recently sued California for its ban on Glock-style pistols, calling it a “flagrant violation of rights” that cannot go “unchecked.”