Hard to imagine a year ago, wrapping up 2 weeks of Republican National Convention. America, and the world has changed. Started with Pence a year before there were 17 & then Pence never got in. Went with Walker for the month of his campaign. Helped organize and then led the Ted Cruz for President team from my state. We were glad to be in it to the end (competition, and all). Cleveland and the people of Cleveland were great hosts. It was hot and humid as heck from the time we landed, until we left. First of two weeks is the RNC meeting, and the committees. With several NRA reps, our focus was on the Platform Committee to ensure the Republican Second Amendment plank remained strong and unequivocal, for Cruz I watched the Credentials Committee. For NFRA the Platform issues of life (during Platform, I usually sit next to our friend National Right to Life President Carol Tobias), guns and taxes were priority. Security was heavy, very heavy from local and other jurisdiction uniformed and plain clothes police forces. Second week is convention. Protesters were terrible, as protesters go – unorganized, no coherent message, and almost all from out-of-town. Met with lots of our National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) folks, had fun (concert, dinners, bars, Congressional Sportsman Foundation-NRA sponsored Sporting Clays Shoot), and other stuffs (did I mention there is a casino downtown virtually touching the convention hall?). American Conservative Union (I’m on the Foundation board) hosted several events during the week. All the time, many of us were doing interviews and providing comments to home state media at all hours because of the time differences. Can use only clear plastic bag to carry stuff in the arena, so I brought and used a Colt firearms bag. Left Cleveland ready to win with Trump-Pence. Some may have known, but 99% of us at adjournment didn’t yet realize that the only guy who could win, won. And, it took a lot of work. More convention memories on my FB personal page, 2A memories at FB WillesLeeNRA. #MAGA #Gorsuch 
VCDL July meeting
Good VCDL – Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. meeting last night in Annandale. Whenever I’m here, it is on the calendar. Nice to have State Pres Philip Van Cleave up front. Reviewed process to co
ntact congress to pass #reciprocity & #HPA. Then, used video training to discuss lessons learned from actual home invasion. Good turnout w 35-40 mostly local members (w 35-40 opinions). @WillesLee #2A #NRA #M2AGA#VCDL #ICarryMySafePlace #selfdefense #gunrights #gunowners #safety More at www.WillesLee.com
NRA HQ day
Earlier this week, spent the day at NRA HQ in Fairfax VA. Overview from the department and division chiefs. Building is full of folks working 24/7/365 for my rights. 
NRA is massive. Many see and hear of the ILA side – Institute for Legislative Action – and miss that GO – General Operations – oversees 180 programs. Then, there’s the Foundation, Legal actions, Advancement, and more. Next day, shot some video and photos in the NRA National Firearms Museum for a future project. Had an hour on the NRA range, this day was .45 and .380 work. Headed out of town before the ridiculously hot day for Moms Demand women’s march.
All the way
From the middle of the Pacific, all the way to the Atlantic. Wouldn’t normally post this because it isn’t 2A, or political, or even important. It is a beautiful oddity of nature. On the beach; tried to line up the photos – see the rainbow, see the moon, see the rainbow. Watch the video, doh, but not here. Too fat to upload in blogland. Go to Twitter @WillesLee to see this incredible video. Leave here early tomorrow for meetings at NRA, these scenes are a nice memory. 
#nature’sbeauty
We do grassroots
Three-hour Saturday morning, holiday weekend. East Honolulu GOP regional meeting because, even if most of your work is inside the beltway, grassroots is where everything happens. Friend “Never been in a room with so many never-Trumpers”. No worry – we brought conservatives with a strong pro-Trump presence to listen to them whine. State party establishment & incumbents are D-lite: you know, they think that if they act & vote like a D, then voters will like them more than their actual Ds. It is sorting itself out, Rs hold 5/51 state house seats, and 0/25 senate seats, 0 US congress, 0 state offices. Conservatives now established a voice to turn this place around – the last TWO R house leaders finally switched to D party. #MAGA #turnbluetored #GOPfail #keeptweeting Hawaii 2A relies on Ds. During the huge community shoot last weekend, only D legislators showed. No R legislator nor any member of state party leadership attended. #M2AGA FB WillesLeeNRA @WillesLee
UPDATE: Hawaii Public Radio http://hpr2.org/post/hawaii-gop-divided-eyes-2018 “Willes Lee is a former State Party Chair, currently national director for the Hawai’i Republican Assembly, the conservative arm of the Hawai’i GOP. “Until the party’s willing to reach out to all factions of the party and all the coalitions, we’re not going to be together. I believe we need conservative solutions and conservative candidates. The party obviously believes differently and they want to be more like Democrat Light.” “
Ammoland.com covers Hawaii range weekend
Reaching out to the aloha state, https://www.ammoland.com/2017/06/hawaii-rifle-association-wins-shooting-sports-fair/#axzz4lBiUD100. There’s more a few entries prior to this and at www.facebook.com/WillesLeeNRA.
From the article “Saved for last is this comment on the weather
: spectacular. You can enjoy the trade winds and shooting again next year on Father’s Day weekend. For those with shooting in all fifty states on your bucket list, visiting Hawaii in June and shooting as much as you want helps to make a great trip. The HRA super volunteers clean the firearms Sunday night while you’re back to sunning and sightseeing. More www.HawaiiRifleAssociation.org and www.Facebook.com/Hawaii-Rifle-Association.”
Push For Reciprocity
Too many people killed & threatened. Call your Congressman TODAY at 202-224-3121. Demand ACTION on National Right to Carry Reciprocity. Waited too long for our civil rights. https://www.facebook.com/WillesLeeNRA/videos/1366329176755568/ #reciprocity #Icarrymysafeplace #2A #CCW #M2AGA #MAGA #NRA #NRABoard NRA Institute for Legislative Action Willes Lee NRA Board of Directors
DC Project
SHOUT OUT. Last weekend, our friends finished a week in DC to help protect my civil rights. The DC Project founded by Dianna Muller and supported by A Girl and A Gun Women’s Shooting League met to carry our message to legislators. “The DC Project is a nonpartisan initiative bringing 50 women, one from each state, to Washington DC to meet legislators & to reveal the faces and stories of 2A supporters.” (there’s more when you check their website and FB page) It is volunteer work taking time from their business, school, family and life to educate gun folks and antigun weenies on Capitol Hill. Not just any women, these are talented carriers of our 2A and American values, representing every facet of our Second Amendment community. From their reports, they also had a great time with many DC area historic & contemporary activities. Thank you, ladies (and the men and families who support you). Borrowed their photo, their rally video is on their page. [I missed bc of a shoot in Hawaii (only a little faux pain).] #2A #gogirl #M2AGA @WillesLee
NRA Committees for 2017-2018
This month, we received our NRA committee assignments. In addition to Board of Directors duties, Board members and others* are invited to serve on NRA committees with a specific focus. There are 36 NRA committees, three special committees, and several finance committees. They range (no pun) from Competition Rules and Programs, to Gun Collectors, to Hunting and Wildlife Conservation, to Civil Rights Defense Fund. For ’17-’18, my focus is on five. I am privileged to continue work on the NRA Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee chaired by LtCol Ollie North, and our NRA Outreach Committee with Sheriff David Clarke and LTC Allen West. I am excited to join our NRA Grassroots Development and NRA Legislative Policy committees and NRA Federal Affairs Subcommittee. Each Board and non-Board committee member assists as possible with Special Contribution Fund, Civil Rights Defense Fund, and NRA Foundation. A Defender of Freedom for 26 years in the military, I am honored to continue to defend freedom at NRA. Facebook.com/WillesLeeNRA @WillesLee Instagram.com/WillesLee
*Individuals from across the nation are invited to serve on committees in their field of expertise. As non-Board committee members, we have full voice and vote in committee.
Hawaii Shooting Sports Fair
In Hawaii for the Hawaii Rifle Association two-day SSF at Koko Head Crater range over Father’s Day weekend. HRA provides the firearms and ammo. Guests pass a safety brief, then purchase script, like at a carnival, and move station to station to fire guns. Over 2,ooo attend this community event; entire families and LEO and military. Some come to shoot “cool” guns, some test fire before going to the store to purchase. As “NRA Director” guy, it helps to boost interest and attendance. Spoke to many, several first-time shooters received an NRA travel mug or hat. Couple of state legislators with their families participated – in Hawaii, HRA must rely on pro-2A Democrats to help protect our civil rights. Last year, a 1900’s Enfield got my attention. This year, fired shotgun, AR 10 & FN FAL in .308, .38 Special S&W Model 66, Krinkov 7.62×39 and took a turn with the M2HB (movie version, lots of noise and no rounds downrange). Over 150 different firearms. 300 volunteers conduct the event; every RSO and line officer is NRA certified. Great fun, most inexpensive activity on the island. Plan to attend next year for the beautiful weather while you shoot. #2A #M2AGA #NRA #HRA @WillesLee More story and photos at FB WillesLeeNRA Will add link to published story when it happens. Here is Ammoland.com entry https://www.ammoland.com/2017/06/hawaii-rifle-association-wins-shooting-sports-fair/#axzz4lBiUD100
