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National Rifle Association
| National Rifle Association | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Fairfax, Va. |
| Type: | 501(c)(4) |
| Top official: | Charles Cotton |
| Year founded: | 1871 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Budget | |
| 2013: | $290,550,357 |
| 2012: | $254,161,078 |
| 2011: | $231,071,539 |
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that says of itself, "While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world."[1] In 2013, The Washington Post called the NRA "arguably the most powerful lobbying organization in the nation’s capital."[2]
As of March 2020, the NRA website included the following statement:[3]
| “ | The National Rifle Association is America's longest-standing civil rights organization. Together with our more than five million members, we're proud defenders of history's patriots and diligent protectors of the Second Amendment.[4] | ” |
History
The NRA was founded in 1871 by two Union veterans who said the organization's purpose was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis."[5] TIME summarized that the NRA was formed "by a group of former Union Army officers dismayed that so many Northern soldiers, often poorly trained, had been scarcely capable of using their weapons."[6]
According to The Washington Post, the group largely focused on hunting, conservation, marksmanship and training people to use guns correctly. In 1977, at the group's national meeting, the NRA's focus changed to a more political nature when members voted Harlon Carter, a lobbyist who did not believe in compromise for gun legislation, as executive vice president. The paper said that this was the beginning of the NRA's shift to "a Washington institution representing a large and increasingly hard-line membership."[2] In 2015, The New Yorker said that the group "shaped the public discourse around guns" and that its "biggest asset isn’t cash but the devotion of its members."[7]
In 2016, the NRA's website said that the group had "more than five million members."[8]
Work
Much of the NRA's work in the political realm is done through lobbying Congress and making campaign donations to candidates who support their policies.
The group's lobbying arm is called the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). The NRA-ILA was founded in 1975 and says it is "responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution."[9]
As of 2016, The NRA-ILA website said that the group worked in two ways. The first was lobbying for gun-rights legislation at state and national levels: "These efforts include enacting laws that recognize the right of honest citizens to carry firearms for self-protection; preemption bills to prevent attacks on gun owner rights by local anti-gun politicians, and fighting for legislation to prevent the bankrupting of America’s firearms industry through reckless lawsuits." Second, the group said: "Through the distribution of millions of printed fact sheets, brochures and articles annually and the posting information and the latest news daily on its Internet site (www.nraila.org), the Institute provides facts about responsible firearms ownership, the Second Amendment and other topics."[10]
A 2013 CNN report indicated that the NRA was chiefly concerned with blocking any new firearm regulations and with restricting "studies about the effects of gun violence." The network reported that the NRA was involved in passing a Florida law that would "punish doctors if they asked patients whether they owned a gun" and in a provision of the Affordable Care Act "that prevents the government and health insurers from asking about gun ownership."[11]
Leadership
As of January 2024, Charles Cotton was the president of the NRA.[12] CEO Wayne LaPierre resigned on January 31, 2024.[13]
The group was governed by a 76-member board of directors.[14]
Finances
The following is a breakdown of the NRA's revenue and expenses for the 2011 to 2018 fiscal years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for the NRA, 2011–2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2018[15] | $352,550,864 | $355,275,317 |
| 2017[16] | $311,987,734 | $329,831,651 |
| 2016[17] | $366,889,703 | $412,737,440 |
| 2015[18] | $336,709,238 | $303,534,567 |
| 2014[19] | $310,491,277 | $345,611,985 |
| 2013[20] | $347,968,789 | $290,550,357 |
| 2012[21] | $256,290,928 | $254,161,078 |
| 2011[22] | $218,983,530 | $231,071,539 |
Campaign activity
The NRA’s political action committee, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), grades and endorses political candidates. The group’s endorsement policy says, "NRA has a pro-gun incumbent-friendly policy that dictates our support for pro-gun incumbents seeking reelection. It is important that we stand with our friends who stand with us in Congress or the state legislature through their actions."[23] To search candidates endorsed by the NRA-PVF, click here.
2020 elections
The NRA endorsed Jeff Sessions in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate in Alabama.[24]
2019 elections
The NRA made a $200,000 contribution to Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert's (R) political action committee on September 3, 2019.[25]
2018 elections
The NRA endorsed several Nevada candidates ahead of the June 12 primary, including Dean Heller for Senate, Scott Hammond for NV-03, and Adam Laxalt for governor.
The NRA’s Political Victory Fund broke a 15 year-old fundraising record in March 2018, reportedly bringing in $2.4 million between March 1 and March 31. The Miami-Herald reported it was the most money the PAC reported raising in a single month since June 2003.
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ The National Rifle Association endorsed Donald Trump for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[26]
- See also: Endorsements for Donald Trump
2014 elections
According to a PBS report, the NRA spent over $27 million in independent campaign spending for the 2014 cycle.[27]
The NRA spent $982,152 in campaign contributions in 2014: $808,462 to candidates, $141,790 to parties, $5,000 to outside organizations, and $26,900 to leadership PACs.[28]
Expenditures
The NRA contributed $808,462 to candidates in the 2014 election cycle: $767,662 to Republican candidates and $40,800 to Democrats.[29]
| Top 10 largest NRA candidate expenditures in 2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | ||
| John Barrow |  |
Ga. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Eric Cantor |  |
Va. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Thad Cochran | |
Miss. | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
| Mike Coffman | |
Colo. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| John Cornyn | |
Texas | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
| Ryan Costello | |
Pa. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Tom Cotton | |
Ark. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Joni Ernst | |
Iowa | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
| Bob Goodlatte | |
Va. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Mitch McConnell | |
Ky. | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
| Stewart Mills | |
Minn. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Pat Roberts | |
Kan. | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
| Steve Southerland | |
Fla. | U.S. House | $9,900 | ||
| Thom Tillis | |
N.C. | U.S. Senate | $9,900 | ||
2012 elections
The NRA spent $1,599,951 in campaign contributions in 2012: $1,023,237 to candidates, $411,509 to 527 committees, $104,505 to parties and $61,700 to leadership PACs.[30]
Expenditures
The NRA contributed $1,023,237 to candidates in the 2012 election cycle: $884,687 to Republican candidates and $126,650 to Democrats.[31]
| Top 10 largest NRA candidate expenditures in 2012[31] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | State | Office | Total | Desired Result | ||
| Rick Berg | |
N.D. | House | $12,400 |  | ||
| Tommy Thompson | |
Wis. | Senate | $12,400 | | ||
| Steve King | |
Iowa | House | $12,400 |  | ||
| George Allen | |
Va. | Senate | $12,400 | | ||
| Ted Cruz | |
Texas | Senate | $12,400 | | ||
| John Barrow | |
Ga. | House | $12,400 | | ||
| Dan Benishek | |
Mich. | House | $12,400 | | ||
| Francisco Canseco | |
Texas | House | $12,400 | | ||
| Eric Cantor | |
Va. | House | $12,400 | | ||
| Mike Coffman (Colorado) | |
Colo. | House | $12,400 | | ||
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has taken positions on ballot measures. You can access Ballotpedia’s list of NRA ballot measure positions here: National Rifle Association (NRA) ballot measure positions.
Noteworthy events
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| Coronavirus pandemic |
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more.
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The NRA sued the state of New York seeking firearm businesses to be designated as essential. The NRA tweeted, "This is clearly another assault by Gov. Cuomo on the NRA, on the rights of New Yorkers to defend themselves and their families, and on our 2A freedoms. NRA will continue to fight all such attacks."[32]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'NRA'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NRA, "A Brief History of the NRA," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Washington Post, "How NRA’s true believers converted a marksmanship group into a mighty gun lobby," January 12, 2013
- ↑ NRA, "Home," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ NRA, "About the NRA," accessed January 18, 2016
- ↑ Time, "The Original Reason the NRA Was Founded," November 17, 2015
- ↑ The New Yorker, "Taking on the N.R.A.," October 19, 2015
- ↑ NRA, "Home," accessed January 18, 2016
- ↑ NRA-ILA, "Home," accessed March 18, 2020
- ↑ NRA-ILA, "About," accessed January 19, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "How the NRA wields its influence," January 10, 2013
- ↑ National Rifle Association, "NRA Reelects Charles Cotton as President, Wayne LaPierre as CEO/EVP at Indianapolis Board of Directors Meeting," accessed January 9, 2024
- ↑ National Rifle Association, "NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre Announces Resignation from NRA," January 9, 2024
- ↑ Washington Post, "Three NRA board members resign in latest sign of upheaval at gun rights group," August 1, 2019
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2018)," accessed May 1, 2021
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2016/2017)," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2016/2017)," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2014/2015)," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2014/2015)," accessed April 23, 2020
- ↑ GuideStar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed January 18, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed January 18, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "The National Rifle Association IRS Form 990 (2011)," accessed January 18, 2016
- ↑ NRA, "NRA-PVF Endorsement Policy," May 10, 2010
- ↑ AL.com, "NRA endorses Jeff Sessions over Tommy Tuberville in Alabama GOP Senate runoff," March 14, 2020
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Money flowing to Virginia legislative races from both sides of gun control issue," September 5, 2019
- ↑ Politico, "NRA facing member backlash over Trump endorsement," May 21, 2016
- ↑ PBS, "How Loaded is the Gun Lobby?" January 6, 2015
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "National Rifle Assn," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "National Rifle Assn:Recipients," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "National Rifle Assn," accessed December 3, 2013
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 OpenSecrets, "National Rifle Assn:Recipients," accessed December 3, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com, "The NRA sees a threat, and an opportunity, in COVID-19," accessed April 30, 2020
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