National Rifle Association

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The National Rifle Association of America, or NRA, is a U.S. non-profit interest group that since the 1990's has lobbied to prevent any and all forms of gun regulation in the U.S.. It is known for "buying" politicians by providing them with so much financial support that they cannot avoid pursuing the group's interests, for running smear campaigns against politicians whose policies are not approved by the organization, and for being one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the U.S. But as of 2024, amid frequent mass shootings in the U.S. and scandals among NRA leadership, the organization lost more than a million members, out of six million at its peak in 2018, and its revenue has dropped by more than 40 percent since 2016.

History

Founding

The National Rifle Association was founded shortly after the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865), but several decades after Samuel Colt opened the first private gun manufacturing facility in 1836. Colt’s company allowed guns to be produced on a large scale, leading to the mainstream use of firearms as practical and recreational devices.

Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside, also a U.S. Senator and the former governor of Rhode Island, was the NRA's first president. Burnside was no stranger to small arms, as both the Union and the Confederacy ramped up the production of weapons throughout the early 1860s. The Civil War launched America into a new era in terms of weapons, and the National Rifle Association stepped up to become a leader in the emerging industry .

The NRA's stated purpose for being formed was to “preserve and defend” the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The NRA was founded in 1871 by Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate, both Union veterans of the American Civil War, and touts itself as America’s oldest civil rights organization. Despite the very high number of gun deaths and mass shootings in the U.S., the NRA is against any form of gun registration and vehemently opposed the renewal of the 1990's ban on assault-style rifles in the U.S. The NRA claims to be a public service organization, stating that it trains hundreds of thousands of gun owners each year and promotes firearm safety with its training courses and educational programs.

Early Years

By the end of the nineteenth century, factories were producing weapons at affordable prices, creating widespread individual ownership of guns. The NRA trained many of these new gun owners, often men in the army, with its rifle ranges. At this point in time, the organization was not concerned with public policy; it did very little lobbying, and was more concerned with developing gun safety classes.

The group’s first rifle range, located on Long Island, was paid for by the New York stage legislature. In 1903 Congress set up the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, now known as the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The NRA helped to run this board, and Congress eventually gave surplus guns to NRA-sponsored rifle clubs, allowing the organization to expand westward.

Due to an overwhelming interest in the NRA’s shooting programs, the group expanded by constructing a new facility near Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio.

WWII Era

In 1934 the NRA formed its Legislative Affairs Division to take up the cause of defending the Second Amendment. While the NRA was not involved in lobbying at this time, it did mail out legislative facts and summaries to members, who could take subsequent action.

The NRA offered its ranges to the government during World War II, and even encouraged its members to serve as guard members throughout the war. The association developed training materials for industrial security, and helped gather more than 7,000 firearms for Britain’s defense against a possible invasion from Germany.

Post WWII

The tenor of the organization changed after World World II, as the NRA began to accommodate the recreational sportsman, even putting together an Olympic rifle team.

The NRA came out in support of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which forbade selling guns by post. In 1980 the group endorsed a presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan, for the first time.

In 1973 the organization released a new magazine, The American Hunter. To further its protection of gun rights, the NRA eventually formed the Institute for Legislative Action, or ILA, in 1975.

In 1997 the NRA began publication of The American Guardian to appeal to a more mainstream audience and focus less on the technical aspect of firearms. The magazine was renamed America’s 1st Freedom in 2000.

This NRA's current shooting range, Camp Perry, is now the home of the annual National Matches, an NRA marksmanship competition with more than 6,000 people competing each year.