Phoenix, AZ -- Following the National Rifle Association’s 138th Annual Meeting and Exhibits this week, Ronald Schmeits, president, chief executive officer and director of International Bank in Raton, New Mexico, was elected president of the NRA by the organization’s board of directors. Schmeits most recently served the NRA as first vice president. He has been an NRA Life Member for more than 20 years and a Benefactor Member since 2005. Schmeits was first elected to the board of directors in the fall of 2000.

The board of directors also reappointed Wayne LaPierre executive vice president. LaPierre has served in this role since 1991. Under his tenure, the NRA has more than doubled its membership rolls. Upon his re-election, LaPierre reappointed Chris W. Cox to the position of executive director of NRA Institute for Legislative Action and Kayne Robinson to the position of executive director of NRA General Operations.

David Keene was elected first vice president. Keene was first elected to the NRA Board of Directors in 2000 and most recently acted as second vice president. An attorney, political activist and columnist, Keene has written, spoken and lobbied on behalf of hunters, shooters and firearms owners for decades.

James W. Porter, II was elected second vice president. Porter previously served as president of the NRA Foundation Board of Trustees. Porter is a longtime NRA board member, Second Amendment activist and an attorney and legal advisor to NRA in federal firearms cases. He is an attorney in Birmingham, Alabama.

Major Jim Land (USMC – Ret.) and Wilson Phillips were also re-elected by the NRA Board of Directors to serve as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

 -NRA-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.