National Rifle Association
For the New Deal agency of 1933-35, see National Recovery Administration
The National Rifle Association (or NRA) is a human rights advocacy group which promotes the right to bear arms as well as promoting interest in shooting sports. It runs training classes in gun use and safety, and publishes magazines of interest to gun owners. It is also dedicated to protecting Americans' Second Amendment rights.
As of 2018, a total of 52 U.S. Senators seek the support of the NRA and have grades of A- or better from this organization.[1]
The NRA was founded after the American Civil War by former Union soldiers seeking to improve the shooting skills of the population at large. One of the biggest enemies of NRA is the Ku Klux Klan.[2] However, the NRA's historic opposition to the KKK has been conveniently whitewashed by the Klan's founders, the Democrat Party.[3]
The NRA is non-partisan and has endorsed both Republicans and Democrats. It most often endorses Republicans, as that party is more prone to fielding candidates receptive to Second Amendment rights. For the 2018 election cycle, the NRA has already vowed to spent big money to defeat Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) in conservative Montana. The NRA says it is doing this because Tester voted against the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch, but also Montana is a state where it is easier to defeat a Democrat.
In 2004 the NRA successfully opposed renewal of the federal assault weapons ban of 1994, which banned many features of certain semiautomatic rifles and certain types of removable magazines, against a campaign to make the ban permanent and expand it.[4] The ban expired at midnight, September 13, 2004.
The NRA owns and operates the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia, which is free to the public.
Prominent Members
- Bob Barr (member of the Board of Directors since 1997)
- George H.W. Bush (resigned 1995)
- Dick Cheney
- Larry Craig
- John Dingell
- Charlton Heston (NRA President for several years)
- Michael Moore (Not an active or serious member)[5]
- Ted Nugent
- Mitt Romney (since August 2007)
- Hunter S. Thompson
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/15/52-senators-have-an-a-minus-nra-rating-or-higher-including-four-democrats/?utm_term=.3ba31d9548aa
- ↑ https://dailycaller.com/2012/04/18/the-racist-history-of-gun-control-laws/
- ↑ http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-04-18.html
- ↑ http://www.nra.org/Article.aspx?id=886
- ↑ https://www.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel040403.asp
External links
|