National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association (or NRA) is a human rights advocacy organization of Americans who are interested 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.
The NRA was founded after the American Civil War by former Union soldiers seeking to improve the shooting skills of the population at large.
The NRA claims non-partisan and has endorsed more often than not Republicans rather than Democrats.
Assault weapon ban of 1994
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. The ban expired at midnight, September 13, 2004.