'''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.
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]].<ref>http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/18/the-racist-history-of-gun-control-laws/</ref>
The NRA is non-partisan and has endorsed both [[Republican Party|Republicans]] and [[Democratic Party|Democrats]]. It most often endorses Republicans, as that party is more prone to fielding candidates receptive to Second Amendment rights.