UPDATE 5/26/2016

As Promised, here is the link to the Petition. I prefilled my name and my sponsors name.  The only thing you MUST DO, is print on LEGAL SIZE PAPER (this is IMPORTANT: If it is not LEGAL SIZE PAPER they will invalidate all signatures).  

Link to petition


Download the form. Print on legal size paper.  First: Where it says “NAME OF PERSON CIRCULATING PETITION,” fill in with your name, City, State and Zip Code. (this is located under “Name of Sponsor” on top right of form).

Second: Please fill in your member number, name, address (as listed in the NRA files) then sign and date on the same line as your information.  All your information must be on the same line.  If you don't know your member number, or unsure about your voting status, call 877-672-2000 and speak with membership.  



Once the petitions are signed (and they don't have to be "full" (for example, if you only print and have one signature, please send it to me anyways, we don't have to fill all 15 lines).  Send the petitions, once signed/filled out, to ME, NOT the NRA.  I need to keep track of the numbers to make sure we get enough valid signatures.  I will verify each signature and member number to make sure we have valid signatures.  Please return the petitions to me at the following address

Stamboulieh
P.O. Box 4008
Madison, MS 39130

If you don't have a printer or can't print on legal paper, send me an email/PM, smoke signal to me and give me an address and I will mail you one with return postage to me.  Thank you for everything, and let me know if you have questions.

First post:

For those of you who don’t know me personally, my name is Stephen Stamboulieh - and I’m running for the National Rifle Association’s Board of Directors.  I’m not doing it for fun, I’m not doing it for attention, and I’m not trying to pad my professional resume.  I’m doing it because I sincerely believe that the Second Amendment is why we remain free.  Period.

I live in Mississippi, home of some of the most pro-gun citizens in these United States.  In the past six years, we have passed open carry, strengthened our preemption laws, passed an enhanced carry permit , enacted Constitutional carry, and just recently, abolished state-level suppressor registration.  I believe we can do just as much in every state, especially ones that ban suppressor ownership or make it incredibly difficult for their citizens to own and carry a firearm.  I have been a lawyer for eight years but have worked on Second Amendment issues for even longer, and I believe my considerable legislative and administrative experience will be as valuable elsewhere as it has been in my home state.  In short, I want to put my experience to YOUR use.  

My personal beliefs are simple.  I believe the Second Amendment says what it means, and means what it says.  “Shall not be infringed” is not some cliché to me, but sets the tone for all future discussions.  I believe that all law-abiding citizens should be able to own any firearm they wish - yes, including machineguns – and do not believe the founders thought any differently.  I believe that gun rights are not just some political game and that the courts should be utilized more to defend them.  I believe that every vote that touches on firearms issues in any way should be rated by the NRA and that the NRA should flex its ratings muscle more.
 
I am the attorney that filed “the machinegun cases” - Hollis v. Lynch, et al, in Texas and Watson v. Lynch, et al in Pennsylvania  – and argued before two separate Courts of Appeals just a few weeks ago to press for our rights.  I do not and will not sit idly by while our freedoms are ignored by our government and, no matter how each of the cases turns out, I will know that I did not simply wait for someone else to do the heavy lifting.  I saw an opening - a need for action - and sought to fill it.

That same need exists within the NRA.  We need to press forward and take back what we have lost while, at the same time, preventing the loss of more of our precious freedom.  I can’t promise to fix all issues but, if elected to the Board of Directors, I will do everything in my power to bring the full weight of the NRA to bear on gun rights causes that need a champion.  Yes, even the ownership of “black rifles,” machineguns and other NFA firearms because it is our right.  That is my word and, like the Second Amendment itself, I mean precisely what I say.

If I am to secure a seat on the Board, it can only be with your help.  It is a two-step process and will be an uphill fight for me throughout.

Step 1:  I will need to complete a member petition this year to get on the 2017 ballot.  Between May 21st and September 15th, I need to submit 250 valid signatures from voting members of the NRA (5 years continuous and Life or higher).  There will be errors and incorrect data so, to be safe, I need to collect well over 500. The form will be posted here on the afternoon of May 21st. Please follow the directions closely (paper size & orientation are key) and do this as soon as possible.  I will update this post with my contact information.  If you need me to send you a petition, email me with your name, address and NRA member number and I will get one to you as soon as possible.

Step 2: Once I have enough signatures to get on the ballot, I will need your vote to be elected.  The ballots will ship early in 2017 in either your monthly magazine or, if you get an electronic subscription, by mail. When you get your ballot please consider bullet voting – selecting only those candidates you most want to see on the Board.  By voting for fewer people, you bring up your select choices and bring down the rest of the field.  I cannot stress this enough.  It is your vote – use it!  I will need all of you to vote if I am to get elected in 2017.  

If  you are not yet a voting member, please sign up now. It can take months to process your membership and the NRA can use your membership now too. Easy pay Life members only get the right to vote when they are paid off or have already served their five continuous years. If you are unsure about your membership voting status call the NRA at 877-672-2000 and ask to speak with Membership.

I look forward to answering your questions and to represent each one of you on the NRA Board of Directors.

You will have my vote.

Let me think about it.

How long?

I joined arfcom 9 years ago today.  A lot has happened in 9 years!

I will be sharing this with the members of our Conservation Club as well as parents of our 4-H shooting sports clubs.

I'm not a life member yet but I wish you the best