National Rifle Association

This article is about the National Rifle Association based in the United States. For other uses, see National Rifle Association (disambiguation).

National Rifle Association of America
Predecessor Company A, 22d regiment, New York National Guard, C.O. Captain George Wingate[1]
Founded November 17, 1871 (1871-11-17)
Founder William Conant Church, George Wood Wingate
Type 501(c)(4)[2]
53-0116130
Focus Firearm ownership rights, political advocacy, publishing[2]
Location
Area served
United States of America
Services Membership organization, magazine publisher, education/certification, museum curation
Method Lobbying, publications, outreach programs
Members
5 million (as of May 2013)[3]
Key people
President, James W. Porter II; Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre
Subsidiaries NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund
NRA Foundation
NRA Special Contribution Fund
NRA Freedom Action Foundation
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
NRA Political Victory Fund
Revenue
$348 million (2013)[4]
Expenses $291 million (2013)[4]
Website NRA.org

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is an American nonprofit organization which advocates for gun rights.[3][5][6] Founded in 1871, the group has informed its members about firearm-related bills since 1934, and it has directly lobbied for and against legislation since 1975.[7] It is also the oldest continuously operating civil rights organization in the United States. [8]

Founded to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA continues to teach firearm competency and safety. It instructs civilians and law enforcement, youths and adults, in various programs. The organization also publishes several magazines and sponsors competitive marksmanship events.[7] It says its membership surpassed 5 million in May 2013.[3]

Observers and lawmakers see the NRA as one of the top three most influential lobbying groups in Washington.[9][10] Over its history the organization has influenced legislation, participated in or initiated lawsuits, and endorsed or opposed various candidates.

The NRA has several charitable subsidiaries: the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund, the NRA Foundation Inc., the NRA Special Contribution Fund, and the NRA Freedom Action Foundation.[2][9][11][12] The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is its lobbying arm, which manages its political action committee, the Political Victory Fund (PVF).

History

Early history

The National Rifle Association was first chartered in the state of New York on November 17, 1871[7] by Army and Navy Journal editor William Conant Church and General George Wood Wingate. Its first president was Union Army Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, who had worked as a Rhode Island gunsmith. Wingate was the original secretary of the organization. Church succeeded Burnside as president in the following year.

Union Army records for the Civil War indicate that its troops fired about 1,000 rifle shots for each Confederate soldier hit, causing General Burnside to lament his recruits: "Out of ten soldiers who are perfect in drill and the manual of arms, only one knows the purpose of the sights on his gun or can hit the broad side of a barn."[13][14][15] The generals attributed this to the use of volley tactics, devised for earlier, less accurate smoothbore muskets.[16][17]

Recognizing a need for better training, Wingate traveled to Europe and observed European armies' marksmanship training programs. With plans provided by Wingate, the New York Legislature funded the construction of a modern range at Creedmoor, Long Island, for long-range shooting competitions. Wingate then wrote a marksmanship manual.[15]

After beating England and Scotland to win the Elcho Shield at Wimbledon, a suburb of London, in 1873, the Irish Rifle Team issued a challenge through the New York Herald to riflemen of the United States to raise a team for a long-range match to determine an Anglo-American championship. The NRA organized a team through a subsidiary amateur rifle club. Remington Arms and Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company produced breech-loading weapons for the team. Although muzzle-loading rifles had long been considered more accurate, eight American riflemen won the match firing breech-loading rifles. Publicity of the event generated by the New York Herald helped to establish breech-loading firearms as suitable for military marksmanship training, and promoted the NRA to national prominence.[15]

Rifle clubs

The NRA organized rifle clubs in other states, and many state National Guard organizations sought NRA advice to improve members' marksmanship. Wingate's markmanship manual evolved into the United States Army marksmanship instruction program.[15] Former President Ulysses S. Grant served as the NRA's eighth President[18] and General Philip H. Sheridan as its ninth.[18] The U.S. Congress created the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice in 1901 to include representatives from the NRA, National Guard, and United States military services. A program of annual rifle and pistol competitions was authorized, and included a national match open to military and civilian shooters. NRA headquarters moved to Washington, D.C. to facilitate the organization's advocacy efforts.[15] In 1903, Congress authorized the Civilian Marksmanship Program, which was designed to train civilians who might later be called to serve in the U.S. military.[19] Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal began the manufacture of M1903 Springfield rifles for civilian members of the NRA in 1910.[20] The Director of Civilian Marksmanship began manufacture of M1911 pistols for NRA members in August 1912.[21] Until 1927, the United States Department of War provided free ammunition and targets to civilian rifle clubs with a minimum membership of ten United States citizens at least 16 years of age.[22]

Contemporary history

The NRA formed its Legislative Affairs Division to update members with facts and analysis of upcoming bills,[23] after the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) became the first federal gun-control law passed in the U.S.[24] Karl Frederick, NRA President in 1934, during congressional NFA hearings testified "I have never believed in the general practice of carrying weapons. I seldom carry one. ... I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses."[25] The NRA supported the NFA along with the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), which together created a system to federally license gun dealers and established restrictions on particular categories and classes of firearms.[26]

Until the middle 1970s, the NRA mainly focused on sportsmen, hunters and target shooters, and downplayed gun control issues. However, passage of the GCA galvanized a growing number of NRA gun rights activists, including Harlon Carter. In 1975, it began to focus more on politics and established its lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), with Carter as director. The next year, its political action committee (PAC), the Political Victory Fund, was created in time for the 1976 elections.[27]:158 The 1977 annual convention was a defining moment for the organization and came to be known as "The Cincinnati Revolution".[28] Leadership planned to relocate NRA headquarters to Colorado and to build a $30 million recreational facility in New Mexico, but activists within the organization whose central concern was Second Amendment rights defeated the incumbents and elected Carter as executive director and Neal Knox as head of the NRA-ILA.[29][30]

Political expansion

After 1977, the organization expanded its membership by focusing heavily on political issues and forming coalitions with conservative politicians, most of them Republicans.[31] With a goal to weaken the GCA, Knox's ILA successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 and worked to reduce the powers of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In 1982, Knox was ousted as director of the ILA, but began mobilizing outside the NRA framework and continued to promote opposition to gun control laws.[32]

At the 1991 national convention, Knox's supporters were elected to the board and named staff lobbyist Wayne LaPierre as the executive vice president. The NRA focused its attention on the gun control policies of the Clinton Administration.[33] Knox again lost power in 1997, as he lost reelection to a coalition of moderate leaders who supported movie star Charlton Heston, despite Heston's past support of gun control legislation.[34] In 1994, the NRA unsuccessfully opposed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB), but successfully lobbied for the ban's 2004 expiration.[35] Heston was elected president in 1998 and became a highly visible spokesman for the organization. In an effort to improve the NRA's image, Heston presented himself as the voice of reason in contrast to Knox.[36]:262–268

Political activity

The primary goal of the National Rifle Association when founded in 1871 was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Then in 1934 it created its Legislative Affairs Division to work officially on Second Amendment issues.[37] According to its present-day bylaws, the NRA's first purpose and objective is:

"To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, especially with reference to the inalienable right of the individual American citizen guaranteed by such Constitution to acquire, possess, collect, exhibit, transport, carry, transfer ownership of, and enjoy the right to use arms...."[2]

The Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), the lobbying branch of the NRA, was established in 1975. According to political scientists John M. Bruce and Clyde Wilcox, the NRA shifted its focus in the late 1970s to incorporate political advocacy, and started seeing its members as political resources rather than just as recipients of goods and services. Despite the impact on the volatility of membership, the politicization of the NRA has been consistent and its political action committee (PAC), the Political Victory Fund established in 1976, ranked as "one of the biggest spenders in congressional elections" as of 1998.[38]

A 1999 Fortune magazine survey said that lawmakers and their staffers considered the NRA the most powerful lobbying organization three years in a row.[9] Chris W. Cox is the NRA's chief lobbyist and principal political strategist, a position he has held since 2002. In 2012, 88 percent of Republicans and 11 percent of Democrats in Congress had received an NRA PAC contribution at some point in their career. Of the members of the Congress that convened in 2013, 51 percent received funding from the NRA PAC within their political careers, and 47 percent received NRA money in their most recent race. According to Lee Drutman, political scientist and senior fellow at the Sunlight Foundation, "It is important to note that these contributions are probably a better measure of allegiance than of influence."[39]

The National Rifle Association, founded in 1871, is "America's longest-standing civil rights organization";[40][41] the National Association of the Deaf, founded in 1880, and the NAACP, founded in 1909, have made similar claims.[37][42] The NRA supports privacy rights for gun owners and, additionally, has invoked the Tenth Amendment to defend gun rights. The modern NRA opposes most new gun-control legislation, calling instead for stricter enforcement of existing laws and increased sentencing for gun-related crimes. The NRA also advocates for concealed carry in the United States and takes positions on non-firearm hunting issues, such as supporting wildlife management programs that allow hunting and opposing restrictions on devices like crossbows and leg hold traps.

Internationally, the NRA opposes the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).[43] As of January 2014, it supported efforts by Republican Sen. Jerry Moran to prevent funding the treaty unless ratified by the Senate, which opposes the treaty.[44] It has opposed Canadian gun registry,[45] supported Brazilian gun rights,[46][47] and criticized Australian gun laws.[48]

Elections

The NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) PAC was established in 1976 to challenge gun-control candidates and to support gun-rights candidates.[49] The NRA is a single-issue organization with regard to advising its members and gun owners on Second Amendment issues. The PVF also grades Congressional and state legislature candidates based on their positions on gun rights, not on party affiliations.[50] An NRA "A+" candidate is one who has "not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment", whereas an NRA "F" candidate is a "true enemy of gun owners' rights".[51] It also helps its members locate an NRA Election Volunteer Coordinator (EVC) for their area and to register to vote.[52]

The NRA endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in 1980 backing Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter.[53][54] The NRA's policy is to endorse pro-gun incumbents because of their established record.[50] For example, in the 2006 Senate Elections the NRA endorsed Rick Santorum over Bob Casey, Jr.,[55] even though they both had an "A" rating.

The NRA spent $40 million on U.S. elections in 2008,[56] including $10 million in opposition to the election of Senator Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential campaign.[57]

The NRA spent over $360,000 in the Colorado recall election of 2013, which resulted in the ouster of state senators John Morse and Angela Giron.[58] The Huffington Post called the recall "a stunning victory for the National Rifle Association and gun rights activists."[58] Morse and Giron helped to pass expanded background checks and ammunition magazine capacity limits after the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, and Sandy Hook, Connecticut, shootings.[59]

Senate confirmations

In 2006, the NRA lobbied U.S. Representative F. James Sensenbrenner to add a provision to the Patriot Act reauthorization that requires Senate confirmation of ATF director nominees.[60] For seven years after that, the NRA lobbied against and "effectively blocked" every presidential nominee.[60][61][62] First was President George W. Bush's choice, Michael J. Sullivan, whose confirmation was held up in 2008 by three Republican Senators who said the ATF was hostile to gun dealers. One of the Senators was Larry Craig, who was an NRA board member during his years in the Senate.[63] Confirmation of President Obama's first nominee, Andrew Traver, stalled in 2011 after the NRA expressed strong opposition.[60][64] Some Senators resisted confirming another Obama nominee, B. Todd Jones, because of the NRA's opposition,[62] until 2013, when the NRA said it was neutral on Jones' nomination and that it would not include the confirmation vote in its grading system.[60] Dan Freedman, national editor for Hearst Newspapers' Washington D.C. bureau, stated that it, "clears the way for senators from pro-gun states - Democrats as well as at least some Republicans - to vote for Jones without fear of political repercussions".[65]

In 2014, Obama weighed the idea of delaying a vote on his nominee for Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, when Republicans and some conservative Democrats criticized Murthy, after the NRA opposed him.[66] In February, the NRA wrote to Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to say that it "strongly opposes" Murthy's confirmation, and told The Washington Times' Emily Miller that it would score the vote in its PAC grading system. "The NRA decision", wrote Miller, "will undoubtedly make vulnerable Democrats up for reelection in the midterms reconsider voting party line on this nominee."[67] The Wall Street Journal stated on March 15, "Crossing the NRA to support Dr. Murthy could be a liability for some of the Democrats running for re-election this year in conservative-leaning states."[68]

The NRA also opposed the appointments of Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan as Supreme Court justices.[69]

Legislation

National Rifle Association Position on Federal U.S. Legislation
Bill/Law Year Supported Opposed
National Firearms Act 1934 No
Federal Firearms Act 1938 No
Gun Control Act 1968 No No
Federal Assault Weapons Ban 1994 No
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act 2005 No
Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act 2006 No
Assault Weapons Ban 2013 No

The NRA supported the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA),[70] which regulated what were considered at the time "gangster weapons" such as machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, and sound suppressors.[71] However, the organization's position on suppressors has since changed.[72]

The NRA supported the 1938 Federal Firearms Act (FFA) which established the Federal Firearms License (FFL) program. The FFA required all manufacturers and dealers of firearms who ship or receive firearms or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce to have a license, and forbade them from transferring any firearm or most ammunition to any person interstate unless certain conditions were met.[73]

The NRA supported and opposed parts of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which broadly regulated the firearms industry and firearms owners, primarily focusing on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by prohibiting interstate firearms transfers except among licensed manufacturers, dealers and importers. The law was supported by America's oldest manufacturers (Colt, S&W, etc.) in an effort to forestall even greater restrictions which were feared in response to recent domestic violence. The NRA supported elements of the law, such as those forbidding the sale of firearms to convicted criminals and the mentally ill.[74][75]

The NRA influenced the writing of the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) and worked for its passage.[76]

In 2000, when evidence surfaced that the Pittman-Robertson Act sportsman's conservation trust funds were being mismanaged, NRA board member and sportsman, U.S. Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act. The NRA-backed bill passed the House 423-2 and became law on Nov. 1, 2000 and defines in what manner the monies can be spent.[77]

In 2004, the NRA opposed renewal of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994. The ban expired on September 13, 2004.[78]

In 2005 President Bush signed into law the NRA-backed Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act which prevent firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products.[79]

The NRA-backed Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 prohibited the confiscation of legal firearms from citizens during states of emergency.[80]

In 2012, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the NRA called on the United States Congress to appropriate funds for a "National School Shield Program", under which armed police officers would protect students in every U.S. school.[81][82] The NRA also announced the creation of a program that would advocate for best practices in the areas of security, building design, access control, information technology, and student and teacher training.[82][83][84][85]

Litigation

In November 2005, the NRA and other gun advocates filed a lawsuit challenging San Francisco Proposition H, which banned the ownership and sales of firearms. The NRA argued that the proposition overstepped local government authority and intruded into an area regulated by the state. The San Francisco County Superior Court agreed with the NRA position.[86] The city appealed the court's ruling, but lost a 2008 appeal.[87] In October 2008, San Francisco was forced to pay a $380,000 settlement to the National Rifle Association and other plaintiffs to cover the costs of litigating Proposition H.[88]

In April 2006, New Orleans, Louisiana, police began returning to citizens guns that had been confiscated after Hurricane Katrina. The NRA, Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), and other groups agreed to drop a lawsuit against the city in exchange for the return.[89]

In 2009 the NRA filed suit again (Guy Montag Doe v. San Francisco Housing Authority) in the city of San Francisco challenging the city's ban of guns in public housing. On January 14, 2009, the San Francisco Housing Authority reached a settlement with the NRA, which allows residents to possess legal firearms within a SFHA apartment building.[90]

In 2010, the NRA sued the city of Chicago, Illinois (McDonald v. Chicago) and the Supreme Court ruled that like other substantive rights, the right to bear arms is incorporated via the Fourteenth Amendment to the Bill of Rights, and therefore applies to the states.[91][92]

In 2013, the NRA joined the ACLU in a lawsuit against the federal government over the National Security Agency's surveillance of Americans, citing concerns that the NSA's data collection violates gun owners' privacy and could potentially be used to create a national gun registry.[93]

In March 2013, the NRA joined a federal lawsuit with other gun rights groups challenging New York's gun control law (the NY SAFE Act), arguing that Governor Andrew Cuomo "usurped the legislative and democratic process" in passing the law, which included restrictions on magazine capacity and expanding the state's assault weapons ban.[94]

In November 2013, the city of Sunnyvale, California, passed an ordinance banning certain ammunition magazines along with three other firearm related restrictions. The new ordinance requires city residents to "dispose, donate, or sell" any magazine capable of holding more than ten rounds within a proscribed period of time once the measure took affect. Measure C also requires: 1) city residents to report firearm theft to the police within 48 hours, 2) residents to lock up their guns at home, and 3) gun dealers to keep logs of ammunition sales.[95] The city of San Francisco then passed similar ordinances a short time later. The NRA has joined with local citizens to file suit and challenge these ordinances on Second Amendment grounds.[96] Additionally, the San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association (SFVPOA) filed a lawsuit challenging San Francisco’s ban on the possession of standard-capacity magazines.[97]

In 2014 the NRA lobbied for a bill in Pennsylvania which grants it and other advocacy groups legal standing to sue municipalities to overturn local firearm regulations passed in violation of a state law preempting such regulations, and which also allows the court to force cities to pay their legal fees. As soon as it became law, the NRA sued three cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster. In Philadelphia, seven regulations the NRA sued to overturn included a ban on gun possession by those found to be a risk for harming themselves or others, and a requirement to report stolen guns to the police within twenty-four hours after discovery of the loss or theft.[98] In Lancaster, a city of fewer than 60,000, mayor Rick Gray who has chaired the pro-gun control group Mayors Against Illegal Guns was also named in the suit. In that city, the NRA challenged an ordinance requiring gun owners to tell police when a firearm is lost or stolen within 72 hours or face jail time.[99] The basis for the lawsuits is "a 1974 state law that bars municipalities against passing restrictions that are pre-empted by state gun laws". At least 20 Pennsylvania municipalities have rescinded regulations in response to threatened litigation.[100][101]

Programs

Museum

NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia

The National Rifle Association owns and operates the National Firearms Museum. It was located in Washington, D.C., from 1935 until 1998, when it moved to Fairfax, Virginia. The museum is focused on the evolution of firearms and the history of firearms in America.

In August 2013, the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum opened at an expansive Bass Pro Shops retail store in Springfield, Missouri, after 10 years of planning. It displays almost 1,000 firearms, including historically significant firearms from the NRA and other collections.[102][103][104]

Publications

The NRA publishes a number of periodicals including American Rifleman, American Hunter, America's 1st Freedom, Shooting Illustrated, Shooting Sports USA, and NRA Family InSights.[105]

Firearms safety

The NRA sponsors a range of programs designed to encourage the safe use of firearms. NRA hunting safety courses are offered in the United States for both children and adults. Classes focusing on firearm safety, particularly for women, have become popular. Intended for school-age children, the NRA's "Eddie Eagle" program encourages the viewer to "Stop! Don't touch! Leave the area! Tell an adult!" if the child ever sees a firearm lying around.[106] The NRA has also published an instructional guide, called The Basics of Personal Protection In The Home (published in 2000).[107]

Shooting sports

Instigated on by the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the NRA mandated the establishment of National Teams and National Development Teams, a national coaching staff, year-round training programs, and a main training site for Olympic shooting sports. In 1994, following disagreements between the NRA and athletes over control of the program, the U.S. Olympic Committee recommended USA Shooting replace the NRA as the National governing body for Olympic shooting. The NRA dropped out just before the decision was announced, citing a lack of appreciation for their efforts.[108]

The NRA hosts the National Rifle and Pistol Matches at Camp Perry, events which are considered to be the "world series of competitive shooting"[109] Commonly known as Bullseye or Conventional Pistol, shooters from the military as well as many top-ranked civilians gather annually in July and August for this competition.

A large number of trophies are awarded during the annual competition, including:

  • Leech Cup, established in 1874 for long-distance rifle shooting
  • Wimbledon Cup, established in 1875 for 1000-yard rifle shooting

The NRA also sponsors its National Muzzle Loading Championship at the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association's Friendship, Indiana facility and the Bianchi Cup in Columbia, Missouri.

The current NRA competitions division publishes its own rulebooks, maintains a registry of marksmanship classifications, and sanctions matches. The NRA also represents the United States on the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations (ICFRA) which administers the World Long-Range Rifle Team Championships, contested every four years for the PALMA trophy.

Instructors

The National Rifle Association issues credentials and trains firearm instructors in a wide variety of disciplines. NRA Certified Instructors teach marksmanship, safety, firearm maintenance, and legalities.[110] NRA Certified Instructors are commonly found at privately owned firearms ranges, and are required by the Boy Scouts of America at their summer camps. NRA Certified Instructors are also required in many states for teaching legally-required classes necessary for individuals interested in obtaining CCW (Carrying Concealed Weapon) state licenses.

Relationship with other organizations

The National Rifle Association maintains ties with other organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H.[111] Involvement includes monetary donations, equipment to supply firearms ranges, and instructors to assist in their programs.

Organizational structure and finances

Leadership

Presidents

Presidents of the NRA are elected by the Board of Directors.

Executive staff and spokespersons

Since 1991, Wayne LaPierre has been the organization's executive vice president, and functions as the chief executive officer.[116] Previous holders of that office include: Milton Reckord (1934), Floyd Lavinius Parks (1956-19659), Franklin Orth, Maxwell Rich (1970-1977), Harlon Carter (1977-1985), G. Ray Arnett (1985-1986), and Warren Cassidy (1986-1991). Gary Anderson was Executive Director - General Operations (1977-1992).

Chris W. Cox is the executive director of the NRA's lobbying branch, the Institute for Legislative Action. Kyle Weaver is executive director of general operations.[117]

Actor Chuck Norris serves as a celebrity spokesperson for the association.[118] Colion Noir hosts a video program on the NRA's online video channel.[119]

Board of directors

The NRA is governed by a board of 76 elected directors. Of these, 75 serve three-year terms and one is elected to serve as a cross-over director who "holds office from the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of Members at which [this person] was elected until the adjournment of the next Annual Meeting of Members, or until a successor is elected and qualified." The directors choose a president, one or more vice presidents, an executive vice president (the leading spokesperson for the organization), a secretary, and treasurer from among their fellows. Two other officers are also elected by the board: the executive director of the NRA General Operations and the executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA).[120] In 205, 71 members were white and 65 were male. More came from Texas than any other state.[121] Only seven percent of eligible members vote.[122]

Most nominations are vetted by a nine-member Nominating Committee.[123] The committee is appointed, though the appointment process is not public.[124] One member is George Kollitides of the Freedom Group.[123] The nomination committee has been called "kingmakers" by MSNBC and Jeff Knox says "the process is front-loaded to give incumbents and Nominating Committee candidates a significant advantage".[122][125]

Notable directors, past and present, include:[121]

Membership

According to Wayne La Pierre, as of May 2013, NRA membership exceeded 5 million, one-tenth of whom had joined in the prior six months.[3] Mother Jones has questioned the membership numbers published by the NRA. They say that in 2008, for example, the organization claimed both 3 million and 4.3 million members. Journalist Osha Gray Davidson suggested in 2000 that many deceased "life members" are kept on the books in order to inflate the membership rolls.[139]

A survey of NRA members found that the majority support certain gun control policies, such as a universal background check:

For instance, 84% of gun-owners and 74% of NRA members (vs. 90% of non–gun-owners) supported requiring a universal background-check system for all gun sales; 76% of gun-owners and 62% of NRA members (vs. 83% of non–gun-owners) supported prohibiting gun ownership for 10 years after a person has been convicted of violating a domestic-violence restraining order; and 71% of gun-owners and 70% of NRA members (vs. 78% of non–gun-owners) supported requiring a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison for a person convicted of selling a gun to someone who cannot legally have a gun.[140]

Notable members

Eight U.S. Presidents have been NRA members. In addition to Grant, they are: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush (who resigned in 1995).[141] Two U.S. Vice Presidents, two Chief Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, and several U.S. Congressmen, as well as legislators and officials of state governments are members.[142]

Current or past members also include journalist Hunter S. Thompson,[143] Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh,[144] documentarian Michael Moore,[145] actor Ricky Shroder,[146] and singer James Hetfield,[147]

Interconnected organizations

The National Rifle Association is composed of several financially interconnected organizations under common leadership.[148]

NRA Institute for Legislative Action

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) manages the NRA's Political Action Committee (PAC). Some of its activities include retaining lobbyists to support gun-rights legislation and election operations such as the purchase of campaign advertising.[148]

NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund

The NRA Civil Defense Fund is a 501(c)(3) that does pro bono legal work for people with cases involving Second Amendment rights. As of December 2012, it was litigating in 35 states cases concerning the possession, use, and carrying of firearms.[148]

According to its website, the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund was established in 1978 by the NRA Board of Directors "to become involved in court cases establishing legal precedents in favor of gun owners."[149] Harlon Carter and Neal Knox were responsible for its founding.[150]

In 1994, the Fund spent over $500,000 on legal fees to support legal cases involving guns and gun control measures. [151]

The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund donated $20,000 in 1996 for the defense of Bernhard Goetz when he was sued by a man he shot and left paralyzed.[151]

It supported the case of Brian Aitken, a New Jersey resident sentenced to seven years in state prison for transporting guns without a carry permit.[152] The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund helped to pay Brian Aitken's legal bills.[153] On December 20, 2010, Governor Chris Christie granted Aitken clemency and ordered Aitken's immediate release from prison.[154]

NRA Foundation

The NRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that raises and donates money to outdoors groups and others such as ROTC programs, 4-H and Boy Scout groups. The NRA Foundation has no staff and pays no salaries.[155]

According to its website, the NRA Foundation was established in 1990 and "is the country's leading charitable organization in support of the shooting sports, having awarded thousands of grants in support of educational programs."[156]

In 2010, the NRA Foundation distributed $21.2 million in grants for gun-related training and education programs: $12.6 million to the NRA itself, and the rest to community programs for hunters, competitive shooters, gun collectors, and law enforcement, and to women and youth groups, such as the Boy Scouts and 4-H clubs.[155]

Friends of NRA is a grassroots program, conceptualized by National Rifle Association of America's Wayne Sheets and MidwayUSA's Founder and CEO, Larry Potterfield,[157] that raises money for The NRA Foundation, the organization's 501(c)(3).[158] As part of Friends of NRA activities, volunteers in the United States organize committees and plan events in their communities.

Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation raises tax-deductible contributions in support of a wide range of firearm related public interest activities. These activities are designed to promote firearms and hunting safety, to enhance marksmanship skills of those participating in the shooting sports, and to educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. Funds granted by The NRA Foundation benefit a variety of constituencies throughout the United States including children, youth, women, individuals with disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters, and competitive shooters.[159]

NRA Freedom Action Foundation

According to its website, the NRA Freedom Action Foundation was created to focus on voter registration and citizen Second Amendment education.[160] [161][161]

NRA Political Victory Fund

According to its website, the NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) is a political action committee (PAC) that grades candidates based on their voting records and public statements, and on their answers to a PVF survey. In the 2008 elections, the PVF spent millions "on direct campaign donations, independent campaign expenditures and on mobilizing the most aggressive grassroots operation in NRA history."[162]

NRA Special Contribution Fund (Whittington Center)

The NRA Special Contribution Fund supports the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. The center was founded in 1973 and is a 33,300 acre outdoor recreation facility that hosts competitive, educational, and recreational shooting activities. The site also says that although the center is associated with the National Rifle Association, it is not underwritten or managed by the NRA.[163]

Affiliates

The NRA allows clubs and businesses to affiliate with it.[164]

State affiliates

The NRA has an official state association in every state and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.[165]

  • Alabama State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Alaska Outdoor Council, Inc.
  • Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association,
  • Arkansas Rifle & Pistol Association
  • California Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc.
  • Colorado State Shooting Association
  • Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Association
  • Delaware State Sportsmen's Association
  • Florida Sport Shooting Association
  • Georgia Sport Shooting Association
  • Hawaii Rifle Association
  • Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Illinois State Rifle Association
  • Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Iowa State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Kansas State Rifle Association
  • League Of Kentucky Sportsmen
  • Louisiana Shooting Association
  • Pine Tree State Rifle & Pistol Association (Maine)
  • Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Gun Owners' Action League (Massachusetts)
  • Michigan Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Minnesota Rifle & Revolver Association
  • Mississippi State Firearm Owners Association
  • Missouri Sport Shooting Association
  • Montana Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Nebraska Marksmanship Association
  • Nevada Firearms Coalition
  • Gun Owners Of New Hampshire
  • Association Of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs
  • New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
  • New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Association
  • North Dakota Shooting Sports Association
  • Ohio Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Oklahoma Rifle Association
  • Oregon State Shooting Association
  • Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Gun Rights And Safety Association Of Puerto Rico
  • Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition
  • Gun Owners Of South Carolina
  • South Dakota Shooting Sports Association
  • Tennessee Shooting Sports Association
  • Texas State Rifle Association
  • Utah State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Vermont Federation Of Sportsmen's Clubs
  • Virginia Shooting Sports Association
  • Washington State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • West Virginia State Rifle & Pistol Association
  • Wisconsin Force
  • Wyoming State Shooting Association

Finances

Name Year Income in Millions Expenses in Millions
National Rifle Association (NRA) 2011[166] 218.9 231.0
NRA Institute for Legislative Action n/a n/a n/a
NRA Civil Defense Fund 2012[167] 1.6 1.0
NRA Civil Defense Fund 2013[168] 1.3 0.9
NRA Foundation 2012[169] 43.0 29.1
NRA Foundation 2013[170] 41.3 31.4
NRA Freedom Action Foundation 2012[171] 2.1 2.3
NRA Freedom Action Foundation 2013[172] 0.5 0.1
NRA Political Victory Fund 2012[173] 14.4 16.1
NRA Political Victory Fund 2014[174] 21.9 20.7
NRA Special Contribution Fund 2012[175] 3.3 3.1
NRA Special Contribution Fund 2013[176] 4.3 3.6

In 2010, the NRA reported revenue of $227.8 million and expenses of $243.5 million,[177] with revenue including roughly $115 million generated from fundraising, sales, advertising and royalties, and most of the rest from membership dues.[178][179] Less than half of the NRA's income is from membership dues and program fees; the majority is from contributions, grants, royalties, and advertising.[155][178][180] The NRA has said that less than 5% of its funding comes from the firearms industry, with the majority coming from small donors.[181]

Corporate donors include a variety of companies such as outdoors supply, sporting goods companies, and firearm manufacturers.[155][178][180][182] Since 2005, the NRA has received at least $14.8 million from more than 50 firearms-related firms.[178] An April 2011 Violence Policy Center presentation said that the NRA had received between $14.7 million and $38.9 million from the firearms industry since 2005.[182] In 2008, Beretta exceeded $2 million in donations to the NRA, and in 2012, Smith & Wesson gave more than $1 million. Sturm, Ruger & Company raised $1.25 million through a program in which it donated $1 to the NRA-ILA for each gun it sold from May 2011 to May 2012. In a similar program, gun buyers and participating stores are invited to "round up" the purchase price to the nearest dollar as a voluntary contribution. According to the NRA's 2010 tax forms, the "round-up" funds have been allocated to both public interest programs and lobbying.[155]

Public opinion and image

In six of seven Gallup polls between 1993 and 2013, a majority of Americans reported holding a favorable opinion of the NRA.[183] A Reuters/Ipsos poll in April 2012 found that 82 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of Democrats saw the NRA "in a positive light".[184] In December 2012, 54 percent of Americans held a favorable opinion of the NRA, though there was a wide spread among party affiliations: 83 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents, and 36 percent of Democrats.[183] A Washington Post/ABC News poll in January 2013 showed that only 36 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of NRA leadership.[185]

Criticism

The National Rifle Association has been criticized by newspaper editorial boards, gun control and gun rights advocacy groups, political commentators, and politicians. Democrats and liberals frequently criticize the organization, as do Republicans and conservatives.[186][187][188] The NRA's oldest organized critics include the gun control advocacy groups the Brady Campaign, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV), and the Violence Policy Center (VPC). Twenty-first century groups include Everytown for Gun Safety (formerly Mayors Against Illegal Guns), Moms Demand Action, and Americans for Responsible Solutions. In 1995, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush resigned his life membership to the organization after receiving an NRA-ILA fund-raising letter, signed by executive vice president Wayne LaPierre, that referred to ATF agents as "jack-booted government thugs".[189][190] The NRA later apologized for the letter's language.[191]

In December 2008, The New York Times editorial board criticized the NRA's attacks, which it called false and misleading, on Barack Obama's presidential campaign.[192] In December 2012, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette board said the NRA spoke for gun makers, not gun owners.[193] In February 2013, USA Today editors criticized the NRA for flip-flopping on universal background checks for gun purchases.[194] In March 2014, the Washington Post criticized the NRA's interference in government research on gun violence,[195] and both Post and Los Angeles Times editors criticized its opposition of Vivek Murthy for U.S. Surgeon General.[196]

In 2011, the VPC's executive director, Josh Sugarmann, said: "Today's NRA is a virtual subsidiary of the gun industry. While the NRA portrays itself as protecting the 'freedom' of individual gun owners, it's actually working to protect the freedom of the gun industry to manufacture and sell virtually any weapon or accessory."[182] The NRA and some of its leaders were criticized in the wake of the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.[180][197] New Jersey Governor Chris Christie called an online video created by the NRA and released after the Sandy Hook shooting "reprehensible" and said that it demeaned the organization.[198] A senior lobbyist for the organization later characterized the video as "ill-advised".[199]

Pro-gun rights critics include Gun Owners of America (GOA), founded in the 1970s because some gun rights advocates believed the NRA was too flexible on gun issues.[200]:110–111 Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) has also disagreed with NRA for what it perceives as a willingness to compromise on gun control.[201] In June 2014, an open carry group in Texas threatened to withdraw its support of the NRA if it did not retract its statements critical of the practice. The NRA-ILA's Chris Cox said the statements were a staffer's personal opinion and a mistake.[202]

See also

References

  1. Windgate, George Wood (1874). Manual for Rifle Practice; Including a Complete Guide to Instruction in the Use and Care of the Modern Breech-Loader. Secaucus, NJ, U.S.A.: GENERAL BOOKS. ISBN 9781230465593.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "National Rifle Association". guidestar.org.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Korte, Gregory (2013-05-04). "Post-Newtown, NRA membership surges to 5 million". USA Today.
  4. 1 2 "NRA Form 990 filing" (PDF). Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. Carter, Gregg Lee, ed. (2012). "National Rifle Association (NRA)". Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. pp. 616–620. ISBN 978-0-313-38670-1. Retrieved 2014-06-06. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is the nation's largest, oldest, and most politically powerful interest group that opposes gun laws and favors gun rights.
  6. More gun rights sources:
    • Carter, Greg Lee (2006). Gun Control in the United States: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 285. ISBN 9781851097609. Almost all of [the groups listed] are readily classifiable as either advocating a 'gun control' or a 'gun rights' position.
    • Knox, Neal (2009). Knox, Christopher, ed. Neal Knox: The Gun Rights War. MacFarlane Press. p. 159. One of the few advantages - possibly the only advantage - that supporters of gun rights hold is the fact that there are more one-issue voters on the pro-gun side than on the anti-gun side.
    • Patterson, Samuel C.; Eakins, Keith R. (1998). "Congress and Gun Control". In Bruce, John M.; Wilcox, Clyde. The Changing Politics of Gun Control. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8476-8615-9. OCLC 833118449. Retrieved 2014-04-08. During the gun control legislation battles of the 1960s, the NRA, although it had no registered lobbyists, was the most powerful gun rights organization. It still enjoys this distinction, although it has undergone significant change.
    • Utter, Glenn H. Encyclopedia of Gun Control and Gun Rights. Grey House. ISBN 9781592376728.
    • Wellford, Charles F; Pepper, John V; Petrie, Carol V, eds. (2013) [Print ed. 2005]. Firearms and Violence: A Critical Review (Electronic ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. p. 283. ISBN 0-309-54640-0. Another commentator pointed out, however, that a significant number of the articles supporting the individual right model published between 1970 and 1989 were written by lawyers who had either been employed by or who represented gun rights organizations, including the NRA.
  7. 1 2 3 "A Brief History of NRA". nrahq.org. National Rifle Association. Archived from the original on 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  8. https://books.google.com/books?id=BjKWfAz0tx4C&pg=PA506#v=onepage&q&f=false
  9. 1 2 3 "FORTUNE Releases Annual Survey of Most Powerful Lobbying Organizations" (Press release). Time Warner. 1999-11-15. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  10. James Q. Wilson; et al. (2011). American Government: Institutions & Policies. Cengage Learning. p. 264.
  11. "Universal Coin & Bullion Offers Matching Gift to Benefit NRA's Voice of Freedom Programs". National Rifle Association.
  12. "Poll: Most Americans support NRA, right to protect self, but also a few gun limits". Reuters. April 13, 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  13. Bellini, Jason (December 20, 2012). "A Brief History of the NRA". The Wall Street Journal.
  14. Achenbach, Joel; Higham, Scott; Horwitz Sari (January 12, 2013). "How NRA’s true believers converted a marksmanship group into a mighty gun lobby". The Washington Post. .
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Craige, John Houston The Practical Book of American Guns (1950) Bramhall House pp.84–93
  16. "Timeline of the NRA", The Washington Post, Jan. 12, 2013.
  17. Kerr, Richard E. (1990). Wall of Fire – The Rifle and Civil War Infantry Tactics (PDF) (Thesis). U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  18. 1 2 "The 'Academy' Must Now Share Michael Moore's Cinematic Shame". National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. 2003-03-27. Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  19. Davis, Richard (March 8, 1990). Evaluation of the Army's Civilian Marksmanship Program (PDF) (Speech). Before the Subcommittee on Readiness, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
  20. Canfield, Bruce N. (September 2008). American Rifleman (National Rifle Association): 72–75. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  21. Ness, Mark (June 1983). American Rifleman (National Rifle Association): 58. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  22. Camp, Raymond R. (1948). The Hunter's Encyclopedia. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole and Heck, Inc. p. 599.
  23. "National Rifle Association". TheFreeDictionary.com. Farlex. 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  24. "National Firearms Act of 1934". TheFreeDictionary.com. Farlex. 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
  25. Jilani, Zaid. "For Most Of Its History, The NRA Actually Backed Sensible Gun Regulation". Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  26. Jill Lepore (2012-04-23). "Battleground America: One nation, under the gun". The New Yorker (Condé Nast).
  27. Shaiko, Ronald G.; Wallace, Marc A. (1998). "Going Hunting Where the Ducks Are: The National Rifle Association and the Grass Roots". In Bruce, John M.; Wilcox, Clyde. The Changing Politics of Gun Control. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-8476-8615-9. OCLC 833118449. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  28. Knox, Neal (2009). Knox, Christopher, ed. Neal Knox: The Gun Rights War. MacFarlane Press. pp. 299–300.
  29. Achenbach, Joel; Higham, Scott; Horwitz, Sari (2013-01-12). "How NRA's true believers converted a marksmanship group into a mighty gun lobby". Washington Post.
  30. Glen H. Utter, Encyclopedia of Gun Control and Gun Rights (2000) pp 137-8, 161-3, 166-7, 186, 219-220
  31. Glen H. Utter, Encyclopedia of Gun Control and Gun Rights (2000) pp 99-100, 162
  32. Knox, Neal (2009). Knox, Christopher, ed. Neal Knox: The Gun Rights War. MacFarlane Press. pp. 314–20.
  33. Glen H. Utter, Encyclopedia of Gun Control and Gun Rights (2000) pp 62, 158, 162, 166-7
  34. Robert J. Spitzer, The Politics of Gun Control (2nd ed. 1998) p 88
  35. Richard Feldman (2011). Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist. John Wiley. p. 174.
  36. Raymond, Emilie (2006). From My Cold, Dead Hands: Charlton Heston and American Politics. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-2408-7. OCLC 77125677.
  37. 1 2 "NAD is the Oldest Civil Rights Organization in the USA!". nad.org. National Association of the Deaf. 2014-01-30. Archived from the original on 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  38. Bruce, John M.; Wilcox, Clyde, eds. (1998). The Changing Politics of Gun Control. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-8476-8614-0. OCLC 833118449.
  39. Drutman, Lee (2012-12-18). "NRA’s allegiances reach deep into Congress". sunlightfoundation.com. Sunlight Foundation.
  40. "NRA Digital Network". nra.org. National Rifle Association. Archived from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-05-30. The National Rifle Association is America's longest-standing civil rights organization.
  41. Froman, Sandy (2007-04-12). "NRA: The largest civil-rights group ever". WND.com. Retrieved 2013-07-19. ...the National Rifle Association of America is the oldest and largest civil-rights organization in the history of the United States. Froman was president of the NRA.
  42. "NAACP: 100 Years of History". naacp.org. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  43. Editorial Board (2013-09-30). "Containing the Conventional Arms Trade". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  44. "Sen. Moran Discusses Prohibiting U.N. Arms Trade Treaty Implementation on NRA Radio" (Press release). 2014-01-16. Archived from the original on 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  45. "NRA involved in gun registry debate". Ontario, Canada: CBC. 2010-09-13. Archived from the original on 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  46. Kurlantzick, Joshua (2006-09-17). "Global Gun Rights?". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  47. Flannery, Nathaniel Parish (2013-07-11). "What Are The NRA And Smith and Wesson Up To In Latin America?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  48. O'Malley, Nick (2013-12-12). "Sandy Hook massacre: Gun lobby targets Australia". Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, Australia: Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  49. Bruce, John M.; Wilcox, Clyde, eds. (1998). The Changing Politics of Gun Control. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield. p. 186. ISBN 0-8476-8614-0. OCLC 833118449.
  50. 1 2 Cox, Chris W. (2012). "NRA Political Victory Fund: Making Endorsements Count". nrapvf.org. National Rifle Association. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  51. Lowes, Robert (2014-03-11). "NRA Opposes Surgeon General Nominee Vivek Murthy". WebMD. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  52. "NRA-ILA: Election Center". nraila.org. National Rifle Association of America Institute for Legislative Action. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  53. Schmidt, Gina M. "100 Years: Remembering President Ronald Reagan". National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  54. Facts on File 1980 Yearbook, p.844
  55. O'Toole, James (2006-10-25). "Santorum touts gun stand: Senate candidate showcases NRA endorsement". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PG Publishing). Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  56. Carter, Gregg Lee, ed. (2012). "National Rifle Association (NRA)". Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. pp. 616–620. ISBN 978-0-313-38670-1. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  57. "NRA has 'anti-gun' Obama in its sights". Orlando Sentinel. Cox News Service. 2008-10-19. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  58. 1 2 Siddiqui, Sabrina (2013-09-10). "Colorado Recall Results: Democratic State Senators Defeated In Major Victory For NRA". Huffington Post.
  59. "Morse, Giron Lose Recalls Over Gun Laws Support". CBS Local Media. Associated Press. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  60. 1 2 3 4 Horwitz, Sari (2013-07-31). "Senate confirms ATF director". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  61. Yager, Jordy (2013-06-18). "Sen. Durbin pressures gun lobby with threat to move ATF authority to FBI". The Hill (Capitol Hill Publishing). Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  62. 1 2 Serrano, Richard A. (2013-07-11). "ATF nominee faces obstacles to confirmation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  63. Horwitz, Sari; Grimaldi, James V. (2010-10-26). "ATF's oversight limited in face of gun lobby". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  64. Skiba, Katherine (2011-02-16). "Gun lobby stands firm in opposing Obama's ATF nominee". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  65. Freedman, Dan (2013-07-30). "Acting ATF director Todd Jones appears headed for confirmation". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  66. Viser, Matt; Bierman, Noah (2014-03-15). "Surgeon general nominee runs into Senate resistance". Boston Globe (Boston Globe Media Partners). Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  67. Miller, Emily (2014-02-28). "NRA to score Senate vote on Obama’s nominee for surgeon general, Vivec Murthy". Washington Times.
  68. Peterson, Kristina; Nelson, Colleen McCain; Dooren, Jennifer Corbett (2014-03-15). "Some Democrats Balk at Confirming Obama's Surgeon General Pick". Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company). Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  69. Elliot, Philip (2013-01-09). "INFLUENCE GAME: NRA lobbying targets courthouses". Yahoo-ABC News Network. Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-06-10.
  70. Winkler, Adam (2011-10-03). "When the NRA Promoted Gun Control". Huffington Post.
  71. "National Firearms Act". atf.gov. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  72. "Suppressors-Good for Our Hearing". nraila.org. National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  73. Ascione, Alfred M. (1939). "The Federal Firearms Act.". saf.org. Second Amendment Foundation. Archived from the original on 2013-06-18. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  74. Knox, Neal. "The Dodd Bill Both Fact...and Fantasy". The Gun Rights War. MacFarlane. pp. 50–65. Originally in Guns & Ammo Magazine, June 1966.
  75. Rosenfeld, Steven (2013-01-14). "The NRA once supported gun control". Salon Media Group.
  76. Jacobs, James B.; Burger, Warren E. (12 September 2002). Can Gun Control Work?. Oxford University Press. pp. 27–28, 49. ISBN 978-0-19-534921-4.
  77. "Pittman–Robertson Act: Friend Of The Hunter & Hunted". nraila.org. National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. 2001-08-28. Retrieved 2011-12-01.
  78. Cox, Christopher W. (2004-09-17). "Live Online: The Assault Weapons Ban: NRA". washingtonpost.com. Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2005-03-27. Transcript of chat with NRA's chief lobbyist.
  79. "President Bush signs Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act". nra.org. National Rifle Association.
  80. "H.R.5441". The Library of Congress> THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions.
  81. "NRA releases statement on Conn. shooting". USA Today. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  82. 1 2 "NRA December 21st Press Briefing" (PDF) (Press release). National Rifle Association. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  83. Sullivan, Sean (2012-12-21). "Put armed guards in every school, NRA leader Wayne LaPierre says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  84. Cushman Jr., John H. (2012-12-22). "N.R.A. Calls for Armed Guards in Schools to Deter Violence". New York Times.
  85. "NRA calls for armed police officer in every school". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  86. Egelko, Bob; Goodyear, Charlie (2006-06-13). "Judge invalidates Prop. H handgun ban". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  87. Egelko, Bob (2008-04-10). "State high court shoots down S.F. handgun ban". San Francisco Chronicle (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  88. Matier, Phillip; Andrew Ross (2008-10-27) "Newsom's city car makes trip to his wedding." San Francisco Chronicle. (Retrieved on 11-2-08.)
  89. "N.O. Police Returning Guns Confiscated Post-Katrina". FOX News Network. Associated Press. 2006-04-19. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  90. Egelko, Bob (2009-01-14). "San Francisco Housing Authority settles gun lawsuit". SFGate.com. Retrieved 2009-01-16.
  91. "In McDonald v. Chicago another Supreme Court landmark ruling on guns?". The Christian Science Monitor. 2010-03-01.
  92. Mears, Bill (2009-06-28). "Court rules for gun rights, strikes down Chicago handgun ban". CNN.
  93. Winter, Michael (2013-09-04). "NRA joins spy lawsuit, says NSA creating gun registry". USA Today.
  94. "NRA joins lawsuit challenging New York's gun control law". FOX News. Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  95. Jones, Carolyn (2013-11-06). "NRA vows to fight Sunnyvale's tough new gun law". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  96. "California: Lawsuit Filed Challenging Sunnyvale Ban on Possession of Standard Capacity Firearm Magazines". National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  97. Richardson, Valerie. "Veteran cops challenge San Francisco’s gun limit laws". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  98. Howard, Brian (January 14, 2015). "Here’s the Lawsuit the NRA Just Filed Against Philadelphia Organization says city has "openly defied state law for decades."". Philadelphia magazine. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  99. Ward, Miriam (January 17, 2015). "NRA quick to draw new weapon in Pennsylvania". MSNBC. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  100. RUBINKAM, MICHAEL (January 14, 2015). "NRA uses new state law to sue Pennsylvania cities over gun measures; mayor vows fight" (online). US News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  101. The NRA’s Diabolical New Plan for Killing Gun Laws Alec MacGillis, Slate Feb. 4 2015
  102. Murphy, Kevin (2013-08-03). "NRA opens Midwest museum showing nearly 1,000 firearms". Reuters. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  103. "NRA National Sporting Arms Museum". National Rifle Association. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  104. "NRA National Sporting Arms Museum". Bass Pro Shop. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  105. "NRA Publications". nrapublications.org. National Rifle Association.
  106. "Victories: Eighteen Million Safer Kids". nraila.org. National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. 2006-07-27. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  107. Wormley, Jr., Stanton L. (2000). The basics of personal protection in the home (1st ed.). Fairfax, VA: National Rifle Association. p. 223. ISBN 0935998993.
  108. "Split Leaves U.S. Team Short of Its Target : Shooting: Funding is biggest problem without NRA, but group says progress is being made that may again include NRA.". latimes.
  109. Standifird, S.L. (2010-09-17). "Making his mark: El Paso sergeant member of winning national rifle team". El Paso Times. Retrieved 2010-10-09. The national matches are considered America's World Series of competitive shooting and have been a tradition at Camp Perry since 1907
  110. "Education & Training". nrahq.org. National Rifle Association. 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  111. "National: 11 facts about the NRA". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  112. "NRA-ILA :: The "Academy" Must Now Share Michael Moore`s Cinematic Shame". Archived from the original on 3 December 2010.
  113. Heller, Jean (1996-08-18). "Marion Hammer Leads NRA With Unabashed Passion (News/National/International)". Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO). Retrieved 2014-05-29.  via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  114. Bragg, Rick (1996-04-14). "Leader as Hard as Nails Is Taking Reins at N.R.A.". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  115. Vertuno, Jim (2013-05-04). "NRA's new president has penchant for bold words". Yahoo News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2013-05-05. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  116. Garrett, Ben. "Biography: Wayne LaPierre A Look at the Life and Career of the NRA's Executive Director". About.com. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  117. "Kyle Weaver". nra.org. National Rifle Association. 2011-04-22. Retrieved 2013-07-19.
  118. "Chuck Norris". meetthenra.org. Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  119. Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (23 July 2013). "NRA's black commentator becomes Web sensation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  120. "The National Rifle Association of America Bylaws". NRA. 2012.
  121. 1 2 "These Are the People Who Really Run the NRA". Mother Jones.
  122. 1 2 Frank Smyth (13 September 2013). "Introducing the NRA kingmakers". MSNBC.
  123. 1 2 Jordan Weissmann. "New Evidence that the NRA Might Be Just Another Corporate Front". The Atlantic.
  124. "EXCLUSIVE: Unmasking the NRA's Inner Circle". Mother Jones.
  125. "Shake up status quo at NRA". WND.
  126. "Inside the Gun Lobby". Rolling Stone.
  127. "John Bolton". meetthenra.org. Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  128. TOM MORTON Star-Tribune staff writer (7 August 2004). "Cubin garners NRA nod again". Casper Star-Tribune Online.
  129. "John Dingell on Gun Control". Ontheissues.org. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
  130. "R. Lee Ermey". meetthenra.org. Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  131. Alan Zilberman. "'Red Dawn' Wasn't About the Cold War; It Was About Shooting People". The Atlantic.
  132. "NRA Announces New Officers" (Press release). National Rifle Association. April 19, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  133. "Welcome meetthenra.org - BlueHost.com".
  134. "Ted Nugent (Board Member)". meetthenra.org. Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  135. "Crossfire: The War Behind the Closed Doors of the NRA - FrankSmyth.com". FrankSmyth.com.
  136. "The Gun Zone -- SHOT Show Bimbos".
  137. Hardy, David (July 19, 2007). "NRA director Bruce Stern, and former director Jim Nicholson, pass on". Of Arms & the Law (Blog). David T. Hardy.
  138. Kopel, David (2011-04-18) Rep. Harold Volkmer, R.I.P., Volokh Conspiracy
  139. "Does the NRA Really Have 4 Million Members?". Mother Jones.
  140. "MMS: Error".
  141. "Did You Know?". National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  142. The National Rifle Association of America Bylaws. Inside front cover, organization summary: NRA. 2012.
  143. Susman, Tina (February 22, 2005). "Writer's suicide shocks friends". Newsday.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  144. "PBS - frontline: documents: mcveigh chronology".
  145. Collins, Andrew (November 11, 2002). "Guardian/NFT interview: Michael Moore". The Guardian (London). Retrieved August 22, 2011. ...I became a lifetime member after the Columbine massacre because my first thought after Columbine was to run against Charlton Heston for the presidency of the NRA. You have to be a lifetime member to be able to do that, so I had to pay $750 to join. My plan was to get 5m Americans to join for the lowest basic membership and vote for me so that I'd win and dismantle the organization. Unfortunately, I figured that's just too much work for me so instead I made this movie.
  146. Mark David. "Rick Schroder’s Itty Bitty Beach Shack". Variety.
  147. "NRA member James Hetfield under fire; activists want Metallica's hunter out of Glastonbury Festival - Washington Times". The Washingtion Times.
  148. 1 2 3 Hickey, Walter (2012-12-18). "How The NRA Became The Most Powerful Special Interest In Washington". Business Insider.
  149. "Civil Rights Defense Fund: About Us". nradefensefund.org. National Rifle Association of America. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  150. "Inside the Gun Lobby". Rolling Stone.
  151. 1 2 "Fund Linked to N.R.A. Gave $20,000 for Goetz's Defense". The New York Times. 16 April 1996.
  152. "Freed New Jersey Man Wants Gun Conviction Overturned". Fox News. 2010-12-23.
  153. http://briandaitken.com/content/2011/01/BrianAitken-NRA.jpg
  154. "NJ Gov. Chris Christie commutes Aitken's sentence". The Daily Caller. 2010-12-20. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  155. 1 2 3 4 5 "Do Assault Weapons Sales Pay NRA Salaries?". FactCheck.org. 2013-01-15.
  156. "NRA Foundation". nrafoundation.org. National Rifle Association. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  157. "Missouri hosts last Friends of NRA event of 2012 this Friday" (Press release). NRAblog. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  158. "Friends of NRA Reaches $400 Million Milestone" (Press release). NRA. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
  159. "Charity Navigator Rating – The NRA Foundation". Charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  160. "NRA Freedom Action Foundation". nrafaf.org. NRA Freedom Action Foundation. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  161. 1 2 "NRA Freedom Action Foundation". nrafaf.org. NRA Freedom Action Foundation. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-09.
  162. "NRA-PVF: About PVF". nrapvf.org. National Rifle Association, Political Victory Fund. 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-14.
  163. "Our History". nrawc.org. NRA Whittington Center. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  164. "NRA Business Alliance - Benefits".
  165. "Business Alliance & Associations-State Associations".
  166. "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax - 2011" (PDF). foundationcenter.org. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  167. McGladrey, LLP (2013-09-16). "NRA Civil Defense Fund" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  168. McGladrey, LLP (2014-11-05). "NRA Civil Defense Fund" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  169. McGladrey, LLP (2013-10-04). "NRA Foundation" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  170. McGladrey, LLP (2014-11-05). "NRA Foundation" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  171. McGladrey, LLP (2013-09-27). "NRA Freedom Action Foundation" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  172. McGladrey, LLP (2014-11-05). "NRA Freedom Action Foundation" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  173. "National Rifle Assn Spending by Cycle: 2012 PAC Summary Data". opensecrets.org. Center for Responsible Politics. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  174. "National Rifle Assn Spending by Cycle: 2014 PAC Summary Data". opensecrets.org. Center for Responsible Politics. 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  175. McGladrey, LLP (2013-09-16). "NRA Special Contribution Fund" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  176. McGladrey, LLP (2014-11-05). "NRA Special Contribution Fund" (PDF). guidestar.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  177. "Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax - 2010" (PDF). foundationcenter.org. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-05-31. Retrieved 2014-06-02.
  178. 1 2 3 4 Robison, Peter; Crewdson, John (2011-12-28). "NRA Raises $200 Million as Gun Lobby Toasters Burn Logo on Bread". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  179. Greene, Jeremy. "Friends of NRA Industry Supporter directory". http://www.friendsofnra.org. Retrieved 2013-02-02. External link in |publisher= (help)
  180. 1 2 3 Hickey, Walter (2013-01-16). "How The Gun Industry Funnels Tens Of Millions Of Dollars To The NRA". Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  181. "American Rifleman - Ruger Launches 2 Million Gun Challenge".
  182. 1 2 3 "National Rifle Association Receives Millions of Dollars From Gun Industry "Corporate Partners" New VPC Report Reveals" (Press release). Violence Policy Center. 2011-04-13.
  183. 1 2 Newport, Frank (2012-12-27). "NRA Has 54% Favorable Image in U.S.: Republicans most positive about NRA; Democrats most negative". Gallup. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  184. "Poll: Most Americans support NRA, right to protect self, but also a few gun limits". NBCNews.com. 2012-04-13. Archived from the original on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  185. Clement, Scott (2013-01-22). "Everything you need to know about Americans' views on guns — in 7 easy steps". Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
  186. "Bloomberg Throws Punch at NRA, Obama: Bloomberg says NRA 'encourages behavior that causes things like Connecticut' shooting". ABC News. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  187. Robillard, Kevin (2012-12-26). "Frank Luntz: NRA not listening to public". Politico. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  188. Poor, Jeff (2012-12-31). "Ann Coulter rails against NRA's Wayne LaPierre". Daily Caller. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  189. Butterfield, Fox (1995-05-08). "Terror in Oklahoma: Echoes of the N.R.A.; Rifle Association Has Long Practice In Railing Against Federal Agents". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  190. Bush, George H.W. (1995-05-11). "Letter of Resignation Sent By Bush to Rifle Association". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  191. Keil, Richard (1995-05-18). "NRA Apologizes for 'Jack Boot' Letter". Seattle Times. Associated Press.
  192. Editorial board (2008-12-01). "The Gun Lobby's Loss". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  193. Editorial board (2012-12-26). "NRA nonsense: LaPierre speaks for gun makers, not gun owners". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  194. Editorial board (2013-02-10). "Enact universal background checks: Our view". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  195. Editorial board (2014-03-22). "Guns are a health-care issue". Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  196. Editorial board (2014-03-23). "Why NRA opposition shouldn't doom Obama's surgeon general nominee: The group is wrong to attack Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy over his support for gun control". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  197. Eller, Donnelle (2013-02-03). "Iowa gun accessories supplier a key part of community". Des Moines Register (USA Today).
  198. Knox, Olivier (2013-01-17). "Christie: NRA ad with Obama daughters 'reprehensible'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
  199. Cornwell, Susan (2013-01-25). "Exclusive: NRA senior lobbyist says attack ad was 'ill-advised'". Reuters. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
  200. Spitzer, Robert J. (2012). The Politics of Gun Control. Boulder, Colorado: Paradigm. ISBN 978-1-59451-987-1. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  201. >Zelman, Aaron (1994-05-23). Aaron Zelman Talks to the NRA Board (Speech). Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
  202. "NRA rolls back 'open carry' criticism". Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas). Associated Press. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2014-06-05.

Further reading

Books

News

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Rifle Association.

Coordinates: 38°51′47″N 77°20′7.8″W / 38.86306°N 77.335500°W / 38.86306; -77.335500

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.