As more women are coming into the shooting sports and becoming more active in supporting, and protecting their Second Amendment Rights, it is exciting to also see that the NRA Nominating Committee has nominated so many women to the 2018 NRA Board of Directors. Many of the elements of firearm-ownership, hunting and self-protection are unique to the female shooter, so I sat down with the newest nominees to ask them their opinion on some of those issues.
The Flame is sponsored by AZFirearms
In this article, you will meet (in alphabetical order) Julie Golob, Carrie Lightfoot, Il Ling New, and Kristy Titus (at the time of this writing Edie Plimptom Fleeman and Carolyn Meadows did not respond to requests for an interview). Other names that appear on the list of nominees, such as Maria Heil and Kim Rhode, are already serving on the Board and are up for reelection, and therefore were not interviewed as part of this article, which is focused specifically on the newest nominees who have not previously served.
It is my hope that as you are evaluating the various 2018 Nominees to the NRA Board of Directors, you will find this article a valuable resource to help you get to know these women a bit better and what each one would bring to the 2018 NRA Board of Directors.
Julie Golob is a Champion, Army veteran, author and ambassador to the firearms industry, Julie is more than just a professional shooter, she’s truly passionate about the National Rifle Association mission. From participation in Town Hall and pro-gun articles she contributes to America’s First Freedom, this NRA Benefactor is also the lead trainer for NRA Women’s Love At First Shot on NRATV.
Julie found her love for shooting and an appreciation of the Second Amendment at a young age. Competing in action shooting matches with her father as a young girl, a weekend hobby turned into a career as an accomplished professional athlete with over 50 world and national titles. Julie is also a published author and is regularly featured on outdoor television programming, offering helpful tips, introduction and insight into the shooting.
Last, but certainly not least, Julie is a loving wife and a mother who believes the preservation of gun rights and firearm safety starts with family and in the home. Julie is committed to her lifelong role as an ambassador to the shooting sports, sharing the importance of safe, responsible gun ownership and the Second Amendment.
What would you say uniquely qualifies you to serve on the NRA Board of Directors?
As a professional shooter with a passion for the shooting sports extending more than 25 years, I am extremely familiar with the NRA’s competitive shooting programs as well as many other shooting sports. According to research by the NSSF it is estimated that more than 50 million Americans participated in “target shooting” in 2014. This represents a huge demographic that the National Rifle Association must reach. Cultivating firearm programs to make shooting sports accessible for those who identify as recreational shooters and connecting the joy of shooting with the Second Amendment is critical in the fight to preserve our rights.
What does the Second Amendment mean to you, and why is it important to you to protect and preserve this part of the Bill of Rights?
In America, we take freedom for granted. When you live in country where, as a man or woman, you can speak your mind, believe what you wish and vote, it is hard to imagine life without those rights. For too many the Second Amendment is an afterthought or unnecessary because these individuals simply assume they will always have their freedom. To them, the battle was won long ago.
Those who understand what freedom is know that, to truly be free, you must also have the right to defend freedom. We all know the saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. To simply trust those in power and the potentially corrupt, welcomes oppression. Arms and specifically firearms are the ultimate American tools. Not only do we use them for protection, hunting and recreation, they are our line of defense against any and all that would deny us the most basic rights.
Preserving the Second Amendment is also personal for me. As a woman and a mother of daughters, knowing there are places in the world where women are silenced, oppressed and even mutilated, just because they are female, is not just shocking, it’s terrifying. It’s why I teach my girls that they have value, the right to freedom, and responsibility to defend it.
Should you be elected, what experience(s) will you bring to help make future policy within the NRA, as a Board Member?
If elected, I will bring with me the champion mindset that has helped me realize many personal accomplishments. I know the steps necessary to make realistic goals and achieve them, both on and off the range. Not only must we engage in the immediate battles that threaten gun rights, but we must always think of making progress for the Second Amendment. I will work to find ways to maintain engagement with our current members while also connecting and expanding our reach to women and younger generations.
If you are successfully elected to the Board, what is one area you would like to be instrumental in changing or growing within the NRA? And, how would you make that happen?
I believe it is important that we not just look at the NRA as an umbrella for competition shooters, hunters and concealed carry holders who believe in the Second. Instead we must look at it as a network with strong elements that are bonded together in common beliefs and goals.
Real progress requires frequent audits to assess programs and determine their effectiveness because a program or outlet represents a touch point to a member or potential member. The NRA has so many excellent programs and media outlets, but most run independently of one another as segments of the NRA. I propose we make those audits with the goal to bring awareness to these programs, make necessary updates or adjustments, and help connect the dots between them. Successfully communicating their value to our full membership and beyond will help us use what we already have to grow even greater.
Adding in the responsibilities of NRA Board Member to your already very busy schedule, how will you stay accessible to, and connected with your Constituents, who are NRA Members all across the country?
I have always viewed gun owners as a community, and one that I am very proud to be a part of. I have already been asked if my nomination is one of a celebrity nature. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am committed to doing the best I can for our organization. If you follow me on social media, you know that despite a rather large following I make it a point to read and actively comment. I have even created a dedicated email list and Facebook group for those interested in connecting with me specifically with regard to the NRA. I often tell my daughters that listening is a super power. I am committed to listening to our member and those who are considering joining us.
As Members might have questions or concerns, how can they reach out to you?
I have a page dedicated to the campaign on my website at https://www.juliegolob.com/julieg-for-nra and I can also be reached through various social media accounts: Facebook.com/JulieGolob, Twitter.com/JulieG1 and Instragram.com/JulieGolob.
Carrie Lightfoot is the founder and owner of The Well Armed Woman, LLC, and founder and Chairwoman of the Board of TWAW Shooting Chapters Inc. a 501(c)3 Non profit organization with 230 chapters in 50 states. Named in Newsmax as one of 2015’s 100 Most Influential Pro-Gun Rights Advocates. The Well-Armed Woman is the largest and most trusted women’s resource in the USA, committed to bringing innovative products, training and information to women gun owners everywhere.
Carrie is a published author with articles in leading industry magazines and of her book “The Well Armed Woman’s Concise Guide To Concealed Carry”. She is a popular national speaker and frequent guest in national media including TIME Magazine, NBC Nightly News, USA Today, FOX News and NRA News.
What would you say uniquely qualifies you to serve on the NRA Board of Directors?
Because my passion, work, and focus is women’s armed self-protection, I bring a unique understanding of the American woman gun owner. Women are coming to gun ownership primarily because they want and need the ability and the tools to protect herself and her loved ones and as the largest and fastest growing demographic in the industry, it is critical that they have a voice and representation. My understanding of who she is and what is important to her will allow me successfully give women a voice in the Second Amendment conversation. I also believe my experience as a business owner, entrepreneur and non-profit leader within the women’s firearms industry allows me the opportunity to bring the voice of the small business owner and mission-driven organizations to the table as well.
I believe some of the most significant strengths I bring to the table are my strong relationship building skills and my ability to communicate and articulate a message effectively. I am a no-nonsense person with the confidence to not only carry a message but to hold fast to what I believe to be true. My common sense “see it as it is” and “speak it as it is” style keeps me on track to accomplish what I set my sights on.
What does the Second Amendment mean to you, and why is it important to you to protect and preserve this part of the Bill of Rights?
Naturally, the right to protect my life and those I love with the most effective tool available is vital to me. Any restrictions placed on the law-abiding citizen that limits their ability, in any way to protect themselves is very concerning and not acceptable to me. What is most important to me at this time is the assault that is taking place on these rights. The rights that the Bill of Rights secure, are not “given” to us by the government, nor is the government “allowing” us to have them. Rather, they are rights we have as human beings, imparted to us by our Creator, God, and are protected from the government and secured in the Bill of Rights. They are protected as rights that no one or government can take away or infringe upon. The outright assault on these rights and the attempt to legislate them into a government-given right is exceedingly concerning. We must do all we can to preserve them as they were meant to be.
There is no organization that can match the access to legislative action and the influence necessary to protect our Second Amendment Rights that the National Rifle Association has. I consider the NRA to be our shield against an enemy that threatens the American way of life and our warrior to hold accountable those in whom we entrust with the reigns of governance.
Should you be elected, what experience(s) will you bring to help make future policy within the NRA, as a Board Member?
I have been blessed with extensive leadership and non-profit board experience. I understand board dynamics and how to get things done as part of a team. As the founder and chairman of the board of The Well Armed Woman Shooting Chapters non-profit, we have successfully built the largest woman’s shooting organization in the country with 376 chapters across the country in less than four years. I also had the honor to lead the team that designed the first charter school in the state of AZ, successfully navigating this complex educational legislation and creating one of the top performing schools in the state of Arizona. I also served as the school’s first president.
As a business owner and entrepreneur in numerous endeavors, I have a track record of being able to take an idea and effectively bring it to life to bring value. I love to solve problems and am comfortable taking on a challenge to solve them successfully. I am a believer that God has a plan and purpose for all of us, and that He uses everything we have been, everything that we are, and every skill we possess, for good.
If you are successfully elected to the Board, what is one area you would like to be instrumental in changing or growing within the NRA? And, how would you make that happen?
Although I promise to do my best in representing every single responsible gun owner – man, woman, and child, I do feel that the Second Amendment conversation and the battle to preserve these rights have been in predominantly male hands. I see a passion and spirit coming alive in women all over this country and their desire to get involved and to educate themselves on Second Amendment issues. They want to join the ranks and be on the front lines in the fight to preserve and protect our Second Amendment Rights. I would love to not only empower and encourage them but to also help to open new doors to usher them in in a significant way. I believe women are and will be instrumental in the advancement of Second Amendment issues and in the fight to protect our rights. I would be honored to advance and magnify their voices and efforts.
Adding in the responsibilities of NRA Board Member to your already very busy schedule, how will you stay accessible to, and connected with your Constituents, who are NRA Members all across the country?
I am a workhorse; there is no other way to put it. I love to work and am driven to accomplish what I set my mind to and to use all that I am to help others. I think I work better and get more accomplished by keeping my plate very full! I believe one can only successfully serve others when he or she truly knows what they need and want. For me, this can only happen by being extraordinarily accessible and involved on a daily basis with the people I serve. Having excellent lines of communication and creating opportunities to connect with people is vital. It’s important to me to always be accessible and approachable, and this is not something a leader can ever delegate to others. It is important to me to have relationships and to build trust, and I believe this can only happen through direct and personal interaction. I travel the country extensively throughout the year and have the opportunity to meet and get to know so many rights-loving Americans in cities across the nation. I find that social media is a very useful tool and one I use daily to connect with people. The bottom line is I am always available and accessible, and I depend on hearing from, and talking with, those I am committed to serving. There is no successful business, organization or board of director’s position without it.
As Members might have questions or concerns, how can they reach out to you?
My door is always open and I welcome hearing from you, and I have multiple ways you can connect with me:
Join my campaign email list.
Bookmark my campaign webpage.
Follow me on Facebook/TheWellArmedWoman & Facebook/CarrieLightfootTWAW
My personal email address is carrie@thewellarmedwoman.com
Il Ling New grew up hunting, and started working for her father’s outfitting service as a teen; she received her first guide’s license at 17. Later, she became the first female captain of Yale University’s Skeet and Trap team. After college, she spent twenty years working in global marketing — but still took every opportunity to hunt and shoot. She has a BA from Yale, and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine.
A career change led her to back to hunting, and to firearms training, and she has been a fulltime guide and firearms instructor for 17 years. Il Ling was a professional guide in the US, and has also hunted in the UK, Asia, Australia, and Africa. At the Gunsite Academy, she teaches hunting rifle, hunting handgun, and wingshooting, as well as defensive handgun, rifle and shotgun.
What would you say uniquely qualifies you to serve on the NRA Board of Directors?
I’ve been working with the public and firearms for almost 40 years – variously as a competitive shooter, a trainer, a writer, a speaker – but I also have a background that has afforded me plenty of experience with those who don’t understand or accept firearms.
What does the Second Amendment mean to you, and why is it important to you to protect and preserve this part of the Bill of Rights?
The Second Amendment is the bulwark of our inalienable right to self-protection. While I am an avid hunter and recreational shooter, I most value the Second Amendment’s protection of my natural right to defend myself. In addition, I have lived and worked in countries in which possession of firearms is not allowed, so I have seen the dark side, first hand!
Should you be elected, what experience(s) will you bring to help make future policy within the NRA, as a Board Member?
I hope that my varied background and circle will help me better understand and communicate through the many social and political challenges we, the NRA, face. I also have over thirty years working within some of the most conservative corporate and social cultures in the world – which is to say that I have lots of patience!
If you are successfully elected to the Board, what is one area you would like to be instrumental in changing or growing within the NRA? And, how would you make that happen?
There are so many American who “fear the gun” — and yet, who have no constructive experience with them. More important, many uninformed Americans have little experience with people like us (never mind the tools we use: firearms, ammunition, etc), who understand and treasure the Second Amendment. I want to talk with that segment of the population to help them better understand what has been sadly misrepresented in the media and in movies.
While I have had wonderful experiences doing just that on my own — I once taught a shotgun safety class in the conference room of a downtown San Francisco office building – in the future, being identified as an “official” NRA Board member will help me open people’s eyes and minds even more.
Adding in the responsibilities of NRA Board Member to your already very busy schedule, how will you stay accessible to, and connected with your Constituents, who are NRA Members all across the country?
I consider being an NRA Board member a priority, and deserving of a rearranged schedule to accommodate it.
As for staying in touch, thank goodness for social media! And seriously, I am fortunate in that my work as a firearms trainer takes me around the country, where I enjoy interacting with like-minds — and soon-to-be like minds!
As Members might have questions or concerns, how can they reach out to you?
I invite members to write me at: ilnew@onthewildside.com. I also have Twitter @MiniNew.
Kristy Titus serves as host of NRA Women TV Tips & Tactics, is co-host of The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Team Elk Television Show, and in 2017 she launched a new digital television series called Pursue the Wild. Kristy is an ambassador for Cabela’s, Swarovski Optik, Buck Knives, Montana Silversmiths, and Wilderness Athlete. She is a hunting and nutrition editor for Western Hunter Magazine. Her greatest hope is to inspire others, giving them the confidence to tackle the most demanding outdoor activities. Kristy is also an NRA Refuse to be a Victim and Basic Pistol Instructor.
What would you say uniquely qualifies you to serve on the NRA Board of Directors?
Advocating for the rights of hunters and future generations to follow, I actively share in the experience of hunting and shooting sports with a focus on the importance of the relationship between firearms owners, hunters, wildlife and conservation. True conservation has no end and my knowledge and unwavering passion of the outdoors would be of great benefit to the NRA and the continued focus on hunter leadership. As Freedom’s Safest Place, the National Rifle Association appeals to those individuals and patriots who seek to advance and protect not only the rights ensured within the Second Amendment, but the ideals presented by the Founders of the United States of America. I have served as a communicator with a clear grasp of issues to my audience of thousands of hunters, sportsmen and women providing a unique platform for delivering the messages of the NRA and conversely the message of constituents back to the NRA. Women are key in changing the discussions concerning gun control to topics that will make a difference as our Nation faces a challenge with violent criminals, mental health issues and education about safe use and handling of firearms. My voice and dedication to inspire others will no doubt help fuel the NRA’s mission to preserve the core of American values and traditions.
What does the Second Amendment mean to you, and why is it important to you to protect and preserve this part of the Bill of Rights?
Our founders knew that the only thing that would protect us from a tyrannical, out of control, government was the right to bear arms as provided by the good Lord himself and as protected by the Second Amendment. Guns in the hands of responsible law-abiding citizens save lives. We are one generation from losing our freedoms that have been paid for with the many sacrifices, blood, sweat, tears and in some cases, the ultimate price paid with the loss of cherished lives of our servicemen and women and their families. As I watch some of our current political leaders and judges from both political parties attempt to shred our constitution, I wonder how much longer we can survive as a country. Gun registration leads directly to gun confiscation, as happened in very recent history in Australia. When politicians, and elites whom themselves are all protected by guns want to disarm us, we should be very aware and wary. In our society, the police cannot protect us from every danger, it is our duty to protect ourselves, and our families. Criminals will always have guns, and the only thing that will stop a criminal with a gun, is a good guy or gal with a gun. Like my driver’s license, my concealed carry permit, should be valid in ALL 50 STATES in accordance with the Second Amendment. I should not have to choose between being an unarmed victim, or committing a crime, simply due to arbitrary gun-laws in different states, in order to protect myself and my family while traveling the country. Now is the time, within our homes, our communities and throughout our country that we cultivate a climate that grows personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, the value of hard work and determination and the fight to strengthen our Second Amendment. That is the climate that has led to the success of our country, we must reawaken that spirit and protect that environment before it is gone.
Should you be elected, what experience(s) will you bring to help make future policy within the NRA, as a Board Member?
As life-long hunter, competitive shooter, conservationist, NRA Recruiter, NRA Pistol instructor, NRA Refuse To Be A Victim instructor and Range Safety Officer, serving as an instructor for Shoot Like A Girl and instructor at The Well-Armed Woman National Chapter Leadership Conference I am in contact with a diverse demographic of Second Amendment supporters. Also, as a volunteer for Wounded Warrior Outdoors’ Adventures Enabled Program, taking active duty military on therapeutic hunts, I hear the concerns of our veterans, women, new shooters, hunters and competitive shooting community. It is my goal to help change the face and strengthen the voice of the NRA not only for women, but from the standpoint of firearms owners, hunters and conservationists. I have truly dedicated my life to teaching and promoting firearms, conservation and hunting.
If you are successfully elected to the Board, what is one area you would like to be instrumental in changing or growing within the NRA? And, how would you make that happen?
Serving on the NRA Board of Directors is a great opportunity to unite more women, to defend Second Amendment freedoms and help to encourage and inspire more women to participate in shooting sports. It is because of the NRA, through philanthropic leadership that the participation of women in shooting sports is on the rise. The natural progression for many is hunting- and there is no better place to spend time with friends and family than afield creating memories that last a lifetime. I will continue to serve as an educator through various platforms from personal instruction, social media and other digital media like my Pursue The Wild YouTube channel and NRA Women TV.
Adding in the responsibilities of NRA Board Member to your already very busy schedule, how will you stay accessible to, and connected with your Constituents, who are NRA Members all across the country?
I live a rather public life. I am easily reached on social media outlets as well as at numerous trade shows including NRA Annual Meetings that support our Second Amendment and conservation efforts.
As Members might have questions or concerns, how can they reach out to you?
My website www.kristytitus.com contact page provides direct access to my email inbox. Also, my Facebook/Kristy Titus, Instagram/KristyTitus, and Twitter @KristyTitus, are all ways in which I can be reached.
The future belongs to those who are engaged, informed, and involved. And protecting, preserving, and restoring our rights is of paramount importance yesterday, today, and into the future. As you decide who you would like to represent your voice and your interests on the 2018 NRA Board of Directors, these powerful women will be among your choices. Please reach out to each of them with your individual questions and concerns so that they will can effectively impact the Board on your behalf.
Cheryl Todd is the executive producer and co-host of “Gun Freedom Radio,” owner of AZFirearms Auctions, Pot Of Gold Auctions and founder of the grassroots movement Polka Dots Are My Camo. Cheryl is the Arizona state director for The DC Project and travels the country speaking as a champion for our Second Amendment rights. She is a driving force in preserving the legacy of freedom for generations to come. View all posts by Cheryl Todd
