Tom Gresham Signs Up More than 16,000 NRA Members

by
posted on April 8, 2013
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
20134815642-gresham_m.jpg

Often NRA members will suggest that if every one of us signed up just one new member, we could double NRA’s size overnight. How about signing up more than 16,000? And not just Annual members but Life members? In just seven weeks, from early February to the end of March, outdoor personality and nationally syndicated radio show host Tom Gresham signed up 16,630 NRA Life members.

Gresham has long encouraged his Gun Talk listeners to join NRA. “The point is when Chris Cox goes into a congressmen’s office, they ask how’s membership?” he said. “That’s the yardstick.”

At the time, NRA was running a special promotion on new Life memberships if sponsored by a Life member. “I wondered if I could give my Life Membership number?” so he sent it as a tweet and gave it out on air. “People really started responding,” he said, and then it went viral on forums and chat rooms.

But his listeners had trouble getting through NRA’s switchboard to sign up. Demand and waits were at an all-time high. Gresham’s listeners appealed to the host and he sought help from inside NRA, eventually working with Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “NRA set up a separate phone number for just Gun Talk,” Gresham said.”If people called that number, they knew it was from Gun Talk.” Once everything was in place, the radio host went on air and the response was overwhelming.

“After three weeks, we had 6,000. I pumped it like crazy on the radio.”

“America’s gun owners obviously want to be part of the fight to not only protect, but to regain gun rights, and they are saying so with their hard-earned dollars,” said Gresham. At a time when money is short and people are concerned about the economy, this massive response shows just how important Second Amendment rights are to the public.”

Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio airs Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. E.S.T. in 138 markets and on XM satellite radio, and you can learn about the show more at guntalk.com.

Latest

1720 Cap And Ball Revolver
1720 Cap And Ball Revolver

Caring For & Feeding Your Cap-and-Ball Revolvers

Compared to pistoleros of the 19th century, today’s handgunners have it easy. It's not enough just to get an old-school, cap-and-ball revolver. You also need to acquire everything to shoot and clean it.

Lighter & Better: Savage’s Updated Ultralite Series of Rifles

Savage Arms kicked off 2026 by announcing a new generation of Model 110 bolt-action rifles, and now, the company has also introduced an updated series of Ultralite rifles.

Gun of the Week: Franchi Momentum Elite MULE

One of the latest entrants into the general-utility rifle market is Franchi with its Momentum Utility Lite Elite bolt-action rifle, also known as the MULE.

The Armed Citizen® Sept. 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Have .22 LR Handguns Finally Become Viable Options for Self-Defense?

Although .22 LR pistols and revolvers are plentiful and affordable, they still have notable limitations when it comes to self-defense applications. 

Aero Precision Returns with New Owners

An investment group comprised of family members passionate about firearms and the outdoor sports has purchased Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms and VG6.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.