Ashley Varner is a state liaison for the National Rifle Association of America. Born and raised in Saint Joseph, Missouri, Ms. Varner often accompanied her father, grandfather, uncles and cousins on hunting and target shooting trips. Varner became a political activist at a young age and took on full-time election work and other various political posts while in college. Ashley moved to Washington, D.C. upon graduating from the University of Missouri.Prior to working for NRA, Ashley coordinated women’s-only firearms training courses using instructors and classrooms at the NRA Headquarters Range. During these educational and safety courses, Varner witnessed many women overcome long-held fears by learning to operate a firearm. She was also moved by the increased self-esteem and sense of empowerment these women experienced that comes with self-defense training and learning a new skill. These experiences led her to work for the NRA.
In June 2004, Ashley joined the team at NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action as a media liaison for Second Amendment issues, conducting interviews on radio, television, in newspapers and the foreign press. Over the last four-and-a-half years, Varner worked with the media to promote the Second Amendment, pro-gun legislation and various political battles. Her work as a NRA spokesperson carried her through both victorious and disappointing election cycles, the historic Supreme Court decision overturning the District of Columbia’s unconstitutional gun ban as well as countless pieces of legislation at municipal, state and federal levels across the country. She also enjoyed working with pro-gun bloggers, sharing information about NRA’s work around the country and in Congress, as well as NRA efforts involving the pro-gun community on the Internet. Ashley Varner is excited to become part of NRA-ILA’s State and Local Affairs department and looks forward to her work in Indiana.