CELEBRATE A LIFE SPENT DEFENDING FREEDOM
A retrospective by Weldon Clark, former member NRA BOD

(January 19, 2005) Neal Knox - Died Jan 17, 2005 of cancer. We need to celebrate a life spent defending our freedom.

I met Neal in 1977 during the "Cincinnati rebellion", a move by members to take control of NRA away from a management team that wasn't doing the job of defending freedom at all. I organized and paid for advertising that urged like-minded members to journey to the annual meeting (in Ohio that year). With a broad base of angry rank and file gun owners backing their play, Neal, along with Francis Winters and Joe Tartaro (now editor of Gun Week), upset the go-along-to-get-along crew. Harlon Carter was elected Executive Vice President of the organization, major bylaw changes were enacted and Neal was hired to head ILA.

While leading the country's premier gun rights organization, Neal Knox rolled up an amazing record of ILA achievements:

  • He stopped the destruction of M1 rifles by the Federal Government.
  • He got funds for overreaching gun grab operations cut from BATF budget.
  • He boosted state and local infrastructure across the country. In my own home state of Maryland alone, his influence made the difference in electing over 25 new pro-gun legislators to the General Assembly.
  • He wrote the McClure Volkmer bill and got it introduced, and passed, hence repealing some of the most ridiculous provisions of the original 1968 Gun Control Act.

    Neal's influence on the community spans well beyond his time with ILA. Not only did he write and publish firearm magazines throughout the 60's, he was knowledgeable about the field, both as a competitor and handloader. After his tour through NRA ILA, he remained influential by keeping leadership's feet to the fire, using his knowledge of the organization's structure to hold NRA accountable to its rank and file members. His Firearms Coalition remains one of the strongest grassroots networks of gun owners in the nation.

    Neal Knox's efforts benefited us all, and while we mourn his passing, we can honor his work by redoubling our own efforts in defense of freedom.

    Weldon Clark
    Liberty, SC