1984 NRA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee: Manipulation, Lies, and Betrayal

AmmoLand ^ | May 16, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In 1984, the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the first Annual Meeting this correspondent attended. It was characterized by manipulation, lies, and betrayal.

In 1984, this correspondent was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin. A masters degree in mining engineering was nearing completion. A life membership in the National Rifle Association had been paid off in installments. When informed the annual meeting would be held in Milwaukee, this correspondent, his brother, and a mutual friend, Jim Blair, made plans to attend.

Neal Knox had been booted as head of the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) and off the NRA Board of Directors in 1982, because he was considered too aggressive in defending Second Amendment rights on Capitol Hill. Neal was the first head of the ILA after reformers had taken control of the NRA in what became known as the revolt in 1977, at the annual meeting of that year. He had submitted the motions for the By-Law changes which affected the “revolt”.  Neal had been aggressively recruited by the Executive Vice President, Harlon Carter, in 1977, to head up the ILA. Carter reportedly fired Knox at the request of Senate Majority Leader Robert (Bob) Dole.

Neal and supporters had organized a mini-revolt for the 1984 meeting in Milwaukee. The plan was for the membership to pass resolutions reinstating Knox on the Board of Directors and condemning his removal from the ILA. As a young activist, this correspondent became aware of the plan. Activists in the NRA were not happy with Knox’s removal from the ILA. We planned to do something about it.

During the meeting, it became clear the political winds favored Neal Knox. The person chairing the meeting saw what was happening and put a counter-plan into action.

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 1984; 2ndamendment; banglist; milwaukee; nra; secondamendment

[marktwain]

After many activists left to obtain food in anticipation of a long night of debate, motions and counter-motions, the chair adjourned the meeting. He could do so because the rules had been suspended.

[BobL]

Reminds me of the ‘vote-counters’ in Atlanta with their “Water Leak”. Eventually our side will get wise to these stunts...maybe.