Posted on 11/06/2026 3:37:07 PM PST by marktwain
A Talk with NRA Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Jonathan Goldstein. The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Jonathan Goldstein was speaking in his personal capacity, and not on behalf of the NRA.
NRA Finance Committee Chairman Jonathan Goldstein discusses financial accountability, the NRA 2.0 reform movement, and rebuilding trust with gun owners. IMG Credit: John Petrolino
Jonathan Goldstein has an interesting history of how he came to be on the NRA Board. Goldstein became involved with the NRA shortly after law school. The Heller decision had recently been published by the Supreme Court. Jonathan started volunteering with the NRA, with considerable success. Chris Conte, who managed much of the NRA litigation work at the Institute for Legislative Action, noticed him.
In 2011, Goldstein won an award from the NRA for his volunteer work. Jonathan did enough volunteer work and raised enough money that he attracted the attention of NRA directors and was appointed as a non-director member of some committees. He was appointed to the legal affairs committee and to the nominating committee.
“This was at the time…Wayne was at peak thievery,” Goldstein told AmmoLand. “They realized I was competent. I was on the legal affairs committee. They were spending tens and tens and tens of millions of dollars on legal fees without oversight. I got sort of marginalized. I was asking questions and wasn’t getting answers.”
“This was during the Brewer’s years. We were spending tons of money with Brewer, and I was on the Legal Affairs Committee. At the time, I was saying, ‘Guys, we should hold a legal affairs committee meeting and review some of this spending.’ The chair at the time flatly refused. It was Sandy From.”
Jonathan Goldstein made a moral decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
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I’ve only used ChatGPT twice now (see synopsis below)....
In this interview, Jonathan Goldstein discusses the financial recovery, organizational restructuring, and reform efforts underway at the National Rifle Association (NRA) under its new leadership, commonly referred to as “NRA 2.0.”
Goldstein describes how his earlier involvement with the NRA exposed serious problems with financial oversight, particularly excessive legal expenditures and a lack of accountability during the organization’s previous leadership. After stepping away from the organization, he returned as a reform candidate in 2025 and was appointed chairman of the Finance Committee.
His primary objective has been to restore financial discipline through realistic budgeting, spending oversight, and aligning organizational expenditures with member priorities. Goldstein reports that the NRA has returned to operating in the black and anticipates approximately $135 million in revenue for 2026, with a modest surplus. He emphasizes that future spending decisions will focus on programs that deliver measurable value to members.
A significant portion of the interview addresses the reported expenditure of approximately $200 million on legal services associated with the Brewer law firm. Goldstein calls the spending unjustifiable and indicates that the NRA is examining whether some of those funds can be recovered. He also discusses ongoing concerns involving the NRA Foundation, now known as the 1791 Foundation, and efforts to bring assets raised in the NRA’s name back under NRA control.
Goldstein acknowledges that previous leadership failures damaged the organization’s credibility and membership trust. He argues that reforms have restored internal controls, improved budgeting, and refocused the NRA on its core missions: Second Amendment advocacy, firearms education, training, competitive shooting, youth programs, and civil rights litigation.
He also outlines potential future legal initiatives challenging government violations of constitutional rights.
Overall, the interview presents NRA 2.0 as an effort to rebuild the organization through financial accountability, improved governance, renewed member engagement, and a stronger focus on Second Amendment advocacy. Goldstein’s central message is that the NRA is financially stabilizing and attempting to regain the confidence of members who left or lost faith in its leadership.
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““This was at the time…Wayne was at peak thievery,” Goldstein told AmmoLand.” That’s why I’m no longer an NRA member, after close to forty years.
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