By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
When the Michael Bloomberg-funded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (MDA) recently criticized the National Rifle Association over alleged “sexism” in its critique of MDA founder Shannon Watts, former NRA President Marion Hammer was quick with a rebuttal.
Hammer, known as the “precedent president” for being the organization’s first woman at the helm in the 1990s, is executive director of the Unified Sportsmen of Florida.
In a telephone interview with Hammer, she told TGM, “If their definition of sexism means that NRA is gender neutral, then that is correct, because NRA for many, many years has had more women in leadership positions, and managerial positions than any other organization I personally have heard of.
“I’m fond of saying freedom is gender neutral,” she added. “Everybody has a stake in freedom. NRA was way ahead of its time in terms of hiring women and having women in leadership roles. We did it because it was good for the cause, not because it was politically correct.”
Hammer is a veteran gun rights advocate and activist who has been the driving force behind Florida’s gun rights efforts. A grandmother and skilled debater, Hammer served two terms as NRA president, preceding actor Charlton Heston, who held the post for five terms before retiring.
Hammer noted that the NRA selected women for leadership positions because they were qualified and capable of doing the job. She said that NRA long ago “recognized that women make outstanding leaders.” And where sexism is concerned, she quipped that the title “Moms Demand Action” sounds rather sexist in its own right.
“They do the right thing,” she said about women in gun rights leadership roles, “and they do what they need to do, to get the job done.”
MDA Deputy Director Jennifer Hoppe tried to capitalize on the flap by sending an e-mail fund raising request that blasted the NRA’s magazine piece on Watts. In that e-mail, Hoppe asserted “The NRA’s leadership has a long history of sexism…”
