On May 9, 1983, NRA named President Reagan an Honorary Life Member, a title bestowed to just 19 individuals in the 133-year history of NRA. The resolution to confer the title on the President, as it appeared in the August 1983 issue of American Rifleman, is reprinted below:
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan has restored confidence in government and has again raised the office of President to its rightful stature by his character, personal integrity, leadership and devotion to fundamental principles of constitutional government; and
WHEREAS, throughout his entire public life, President Reagan has been steadfast in his defense of individual rights and freedoms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, despite great personal adversity, President Reagan has forcefully stood by his convictions in support of the second amendment right of citizens to keep and bear arms for any legitimate purpose, including self-defense; and
WHEREAS, he vigorously rejects the myth that gun control is crime control but instead firmly believes in the reality that the most effective form of crime control is swift and certain punishment for criminals; and WHEREAS, President Reagan, as a hunter, rancher and outdoorsman, is a conservationist in the truest sense; and
WHEREAS, the National Rifle Association of America is proud and greatly honored to have President Reagan as a Life Member; and
WHEREAS, the membership of the National Rifle Association of America has been singularly privileged to have Ronald Reagan as the first sitting President of the United States to address them at an annual meeting and to have him there reaffirm his commitment to those rights and principles which he and we share; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan so exemplified the values, beliefs, and views of the membership of the National Rifle Association of America that in 1980 he became the only candidate in its history to be endorsed by the Association for the office of President of the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that President Reagan be highly commended for his steadfast defense of the right to keep and bear arms, as well as the other fundamental principles upon which this great nation was founded; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that President Reagan be congratulated for his contributions toward restoring the greatness and dignity of the presidency and confidence in our federal government here and abroad; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association of America on May 9, 1983, by this resolution convey to President Reagan this Association's highest recognition for exemplary service to our nation and our association - Honorary Life Membership, and, be it further
RESOLVED, that Ronald Reagan heed the call of his 2.6 million NRA member fellow citizens to continue his vital service to this nation and the free world by serving a second term as President of the United States of America.