Hawaii – -(Ammoland.com)- Following Hawaii Rifle Association (HIRA) National Director Willes Lee’s election as Executive Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), Lee puts Hawaii on the map yet again.
A Life member of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and member of the Hawaii Rifle Association (HRA), Willes K. Lee makes history as the first from Hawaii nominated to serve on the NRA’s Board of Directors. The NRA Board and leadership, including President Allan Cors and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, oversees the NRA’s overall direction.
Lee was informed that he is “nominated by the National Rifle Association’s Nominating Committee for election to the NRA Board of Directors,” based on his exemplary work as a tireless protector of 2nd Amendment rights in Hawaii and across the nation.
“I am honored and humbled to be nominated. I will continue the valuable tradition of the NRA and will continue to elect legislators to secure our Second Amendment rights,” Lee stated.
The married father of two daughters, Lee is a retired U.S. Army officer having served our nation for twenty-two years as an Airborne-Ranger Armor officer following his graduation from West Point. Lee’s service included five years with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. He is a recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal for contributions to national operations, the Bronze Star Medal for Desert Storm combat performance with the 24th Infantry Division, and the Legion of Merit for combating terrorism in Europe.
Lee’s commitment to gun rights is unrivaled in the islands and his activism nationally displays his worthiness as a national candidate to the NRA board. Presently, Lee serves on the NRA’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. He supports three NRA charitable organizations: the NRA Foundation, Civil Rights Defense Fund and Special Contribution Fund. Previously, Lee served on the NRA’s Urban Affairs Committee, charged with increasing NRA membership among minorities. Lee is also a member of the Second Amendment Foundation which provides valuable 2nd Amendment education while participating in gun rights litigation.
For many years, Lee has worked closely with the Hawaii Rifle Association to protect member rights, fight anti-gun bills and help passage of pro-gun legislation. In pursuit of these goals, Lee has worked to elect pro-gun legislators and participated in range visits by state and local government officials.
Over the years, Lee has worked with Hawaii’s gun community to promote the shooting sports and to strengthen the youth shooting opportunities. Indeed, Lee has been fully responsible for Hawaii visits by NRA Presidents David Keane and Jim Porter to headline Hawaii events, including our FNRA Banquets which support and enhance youth shooting sports education.
In presenting the endorsements of the Hawaii Rifle Association and the Hawaii Friends of NRA, HRA President Harvey F. Gerwig called Lee “a man who will energetically and enthusiastically represent the NRA and it’s goals to the fullest of his abilities.” FNRA’s Dawn Horn writes Willes is “a personal example of the highest standards of individual character and conduct.”
If elected to the NRA board, the wide-ranging wealth of experience Lee brings to the table is formidable. Lee’s primary focus is on political action from coast to coast; through the election of progun candidates at all levels of government, while working to defeat local, state and national anti-gun legislation. Recent campaigns brought Lee to Virginia, New Mexico, Delaware and home to Hawaii.
Lee’s past roles as a member of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and as Chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party make him comfortable and adept at working in political circles to advance the interests of gun owners while fighting legislative attempts to undermine our rights.
Presently, Lee advocates 2nd Amendment rights as Executive Vice President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), National Director of the Hawaii Republican Assembly (HIRA), and on the board of directors for the American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation which hosts the annual, high profile CPAC conferences.
The election is next spring through ballots sent by the NRA to life members and consecutive five-year members.
If elected to fill one of the open 25 seats, Lee will serve with 75 others on the national board. Only 31 nominees nationally were selected from among 60 highly qualified prospects, of which 54 were eligible Life members. Among the nominees are the current incumbents including Oliver North, Ted Nugent, Karl Malone and former NRA Presidents Sandy Froman, David Keene and Jim Porter.
Willes K. Lee is grateful for the support and the endorsements of HRA and HFNRA. He looks forward to supporting the NRA’s advocacy of our constitutional right to bear arms throughout all fifty states.
About Hawaii Rifle Association;
HAWAII RIFLE ASSOCIATION, a non-profit organization registered and incorporated within the State of Hawaii and representing the National Rifle Association as its State Affiliate Organization for the State of Hawaii. Visit:www.hawaiirifleassociation.org
