Heston Says He’s Ready to Run for 5th Term as NRA President

Charlton Heston said Friday he is ready to run for an unprecedented fifth term as president of the National Rifle Assn.

After addressing members at the 131st annual meeting here, Heston 78, said he has been encouraged by their continued support for his leadership.

“As long as I don’t screw it up completely, I suppose I’ll keep coming back,” Heston said.

NRA members elect a national board of directors today. The more than 70 board directors vote Monday on a president.

The current board of directors requested unanimously that Heston, who was first elected to head the 4.2-million-member gun rights group in 1998, run for reelection.

NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said he did not foresee any challengers to Heston.

“If the board of directors supports him unanimously, why would anyone else run?” he said.

During the opening of the meeting at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Heston helped lead the gathering of 2,500 in a tribute to heroes and survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Some members voiced concerns about the future of the NRA after Heston steps down.

“Charlton Heston is well known and credible, but he’s getting older,” said J. Reed of Roseville, Calif. “It’ll be a problem down the road when he retires. In California, they listen to movie stars, and I wish someone like Tom Selleck would replace him.”