National Rifle Association History

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the National Rifle Association is an organization that promotes gun rights and is one of the most powerful interest group in the country. Its purpose and goals include, “protecting the right to keep and bear arms, furthering the shooting sports, marksmanship and safety training, and the promotion of hunter safety” (National Rifle Association). It is also a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization and is the oldest civil rights group in the US that still operates. Currently, the organization boasts an impressive five million members and is run by President, Allan D. Cors and Executive Vice President, Wayne LaPierre, who are elected by the board of directors. The organization itself is comprised of several bodies that are

Founded on November 16, 1871 by Union veterans Col. William Conant Church and Gen. George Wood Wingate, the NRA was originally formed was to train people in rifle marksmanship. Dissatisfied with the lack of accuracy displayed by their soldiers, Col. Church wanted the NRA to, “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis” (National Rifle Association). In 1871, the state of New York granted the organization a charter making the NRA an official organization. One year after it was founded, the organization purchased a farm in Long Island named, Creed Farm to build a rifle range. The range was opened a year later and called Creedmore. However, due to political opposition, the NRA was forced to leave New York and they settled in Sea Grit, New Jersey. (National Rifle Association). The NRA maintained its status as mostly being an organization for weapons training and shooting sports up until the late nineteen

The organization claims to represent all gun owners, but they have a massive deficit in potential members. As explained by Christopher Ingraham of The Washington Post, “Those 5 million members only comprise somewhere between 6 and 7 percent of American gun owners. That would imply that the overwhelming majority of American gun owners—over 90 percent of them—do not belong to the NRA” (Ingraham). For this reason, the NRA has an enormous incentive to provide many perks to its members. And that they do; there are a multitude of membership levels, each with its own set of perks and benefits. The standard membership levels and current prices are: one year for $40.00, two years for $75.00, three years for $100.00, and five years for $140.00 (NRA Membership). Along with as the NRA puts it, “24/7 DEFENSE of your firearm freedoms,” everyone at any membership level will get a free heavy-duty duffel bag. In addition, members can receive magazines, gun insurance, invitations to special events, gun training lessons, car decals, a membership card, hotel discounts, prescription drug discounts, and identity theft protection. The NRA also offers special membership levels. Junior membership is for those minors who are 15 or older and comes with the same benefits as the regular membership but for a lower cost. Junior members also get access to videos on hunting, shooting and firearm safety. Life members receive the normal