The National Rifle Association (or NRA) is an 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.
The NRA is non-partisan and has endorsed both Republicans and Democrats.
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.[Citation Needed] The ban expired at midnight, September 13, 2004.[Citation Needed]
The NRA owns and operates the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia, which is free to the public.
Prominent Members
- Michael Moore
- George H.W. Bush (resigned 1995)
- Charlton Heston
- Larry Craig
- Mitt Romney (since August 2007)
- Dick Cheney
- Ted Nugent
- John Dingell