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. It most often endorses Republicans, as that party is more prone to fielding candidates receptive to Second Amendment rights.
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.[1] 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.
Criticism
The ethics of the organization are somewhat questionable. There are few arguments that suggest that it is a right to posess firearms, and from a Christian perspective to do so is almost immoral in itself, as a gun is only a deterrent if there is a chance that one would use it.
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[2]
- Ted Nugent
- Mitt Romney (since August 2007)
- Hunter S. Thompson