How the NRA Works

by Vivien Bullen

Browse the article How the NRA Works

The NRA is probably the most intimidating single-issue pressure group in the United States.

Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Introduction to the How the NRA Works

Each year, American students study United States history, lear­ning about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They're taught that the founding fathers fought tirelessly to build the government we have today and protect our freedom and rights. Of the 10 amendments on the Bill of Rights, most of us remember the basics, but we're probably a little fuzzy on some of the finer details. The National Rifle Association (NRA) is doing everything in its power to make sure no American citizen forgets the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment states, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" [source: National Archives]. In layman's terms, this amendment says that American citizens have the right to own a gun. But the world is obviously a different place now than it was in the 18th century, and many politicians believe that gun ownership should be restricted and regulated. The NRA isn't pushing for complete freedom regarding public ownership of guns, but it is concerned that some gun legislation is infringing upon citizens' rights. Today, the NRA focuses much of its energy on protecting the Second Amendment.

­The NRA is probably the most intimidating single-issue pressure group in the United States, so it has a huge name-recognition factor [source: BBC]. The largest of the 13 national pro-gun groups, the NRA has nearly 4 million members, who focus much of their attention on action in Washington, D.C. In 1998, they contributed roughly $4 million to political campaigns, organizing strong grassroots efforts for the 200 plus pro-NRA members of Congress. And with seven lobbyists permanently in D.C. to watch over the Second Amendment, it's safe to say the NRA won't be backing down anytime soon.

So, how did this powerhouse come to be? Check the next page to find out.

Risky Politics

President George W. Bush was a member of the NRA. Keyword -- was. He left the group shortly after an NRA vice president insulted federal law enforcement officers in an NRA newsletter [source: BBC].

History of the NRA

Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate sought to promote and encou­rage rifle shooting within their troops when they decided to form the National Rifle Association in 1871. In November of that year, the state of New York granted them a charter, and they NRA was officially born.

­The NRA needed a first president, and one candidate stood out above the rest. Ambrose Burnside was a Civil War veteran and had also served as the governor of Rhode Island and as a U.S. senator. His first order of business was procuring grounds for rifle practice. Practice grounds were funded by the state of New York and established on Long Island, but public opposition of rifle shooting forced the NRA to return the land to the state and move their operations to New Jersey in 1892. Here, they found a permanent home to hold practices and competitions.

By 1903, the NRA decided to reach out to the youth of America by chartering rifle clubs at colleges, universities and military academies. All the while, it continued to encourage great marksmanship, which it asserted was for the benefit of the country. This theory would be tested in the years to come.

The NRA dove into World War II headfirst. It lent land to the military for practice and instruction and spearheaded a gun collection to aid weapon-lacking Britain. After the war, the group began to seek its next demographic and began to focus on training hunters.

Today, the NRA still aims to educate citizens about rifles but has taken on a heavily political role as reformers have threatened to change the Second Amendment. Read on to find out the NRA's mission.

Charlton Heston

Born in a tiny northern Michigan town, Charlton Heston would become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. As an actor, he was best known for his roles in "Ben Hur," "Planet of the Apes" and "The Ten Commandments," but he also gained household recognition as the president of the NRA. He took the seat in 1998 and stayed until Kayne Robinson succeeded him in 2003. To date, he is the only three-term president the organization has ever had.

Mission of the NRA

As you've already read, protecting the Second Amendment is a priority for the NR­A. The government is feeling a lot of pressure from anti-gun organizations and constituents, so the NRA has taken on an active role in securing the right to bear arms for American citizens. But it hasn't forgotten why the group was founded.

­According to the NRA, the group still aims to promote shooting sports and provide the necessary education. It has branched out to younger children with the mascot "Eagle Eddie," who instills children with the idea that guns are a right and an everyday object.

As a part of the NRA's lobbying to protect the Second Amendment, it asserts a strong belief in safety. The organization supports tough punishment for gun-related crimes -- but the NRA urges the government, courts and people to blame the person, not the weapon.

In an effort to raise tax-exempt money to support firearm-related public interest groups, the NRA started the NRA Foundation. The mission statement of the foundation lays out its intent to defend the Second Amendment, promote firearm and hunting safety, enhance marksmanship in shooting sports, and educate citizens on firearms in the contexts of history, technology and art [source: NRAFoundation].

Interested in joining or learning more information about the NRA application process? Check out the next page.

The NRA Blacklist adn A Tough Flight Ahead

In 2003, when nonmembers found a 19-page list on the NRA's official Web site that contained the names of hundreds of celebrities and corporations, the NRA was slow to explain. Organization spokespeople claimed that it was merely a list of corporations and celebrities that opposed the Second Amendment, but the media soon deemed the list the "NRA Blacklist." The people who found the list created a grassroots campaign targeting the NRA and urging citizens to voluntarily commit themselves to the blacklist [source: Serjeant].

With Barack Obama in the Oval Office, the NRA is going to need to prepare for a fight. Obama is openly opposed to concealed weapons and has expressed his wish to get guns out of inner-city hands. Records show that he has continuously voted in favor of gun restrictions, including bans on many forms of rifle ammunition.

Joining the National Rifle Association

You know the history and the mission ­of the NRA, so now you should decide if being a member is something you're interested in. If you oppose gun control, joining the NRA is a way to push your platform. If you don't agree with a literal translation of the Second Amendment, you have options too.

Joining the NRA is as simple as going to its Web site and filling out the online application. But prospective members should do their homework, as they'll be presented with options when they apply.

There are distinctions of membership to choose from:

• one-, two-, three- or five-year memberships
• life membership
• associate membership
• youth membership [source: NRA]

­The NRA lists the following benefits for its members:

• defense of the Second Amendment
• a members-only cap
• subscription to an NRA magazine of the member's choice
• membership card
• decal
• insurance for member and their gun
• invites to "Friends of the NRA" dinners and other special events [source: NRA]

You're now pretty well versed in the ways of the National Rifle Association. If you feel strongly one way or the other, look into your options more deeply. There are plenty of ways to get involved.