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64-748: American Rifleman is a United States–based monthly shooting and firearms interest publication, owned by the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). It is the 33rd-most-widely-distributed consumer magazine and the NRA's primary magazine. The magazine has its headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia . Arthur Corbin Gould , an avid shooter and member of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, published The Rifle in 1885 as an effort to focus discussion on
128-458: A Rhode Island gunsmith , was elected president . When Burnside resigned on August 1, 1872, Church succeeded him as president. Union Army records for the Civil War indicate that its troops fired about 1,000 rifle shots for each Confederate hit, causing General Burnside to lament his recruits: "Out of ten soldiers who are perfect in drill and the manual of arms , only one knows the purpose of
192-470: A Manhattan jury. When the National Rifle Association of America was officially incorporated on November 16, 1871, its primary goal was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis". The NRA's website says the organization is "America's longest-standing civil rights organization". On February 7, 1872, the NRA created a committee to lobby for legislation in the interest of
256-422: A PAC which is excluded from these figures. The organization donated to congressional races for both Republicans (223) and Democrats (9) to candidates for Congress . The NRA has been described as influential in shaping American gun control policy. The organization influences legislators' voting behavior through its financial resources and ability to mobilize its large membership. The organization has not lost
320-509: A coalition of moderate leaders who supported movie star Charlton Heston , despite Heston's past support of gun control legislation. In 1994, the NRA unsuccessfully opposed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB), but successfully lobbied for the ban's 2004 expiration. Heston was elected president in 1998 and became a highly visible spokesman for the organization. In an effort to improve the NRA's image, Heston presented himself as
384-417: A firearm successfully. Other sources National Rifle Association of America Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Miscellaneous Other The National Rifle Association of America ( NRA ) is a gun rights advocacy group based in
448-523: A growing number of NRA gun rights activists, including Harlon Carter . In 1975, it began to focus more on politics and established its lobbying arm, the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), with Carter as director. The next year, its political action committee (PAC), the Political Victory Fund , was created in time for the 1976 elections. The 1977 annual convention was a defining moment for
512-632: A letter that was sent to President Abraham Lincoln and published in The New York Times , R.G. Moulton and R.B. Perry recommended forming an organization similar to the National Rifle Association in Britain, which had formed a year and a half earlier. They suggested making a shooting range, perhaps on the base on Staten Island , and were offering Whitworth rifles for prizes for the first shooting competition with those rifles. They suggested
576-419: A major battle over gun control legislation since the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban. At the federal level, the NRA successfully lobbied Congress in the mid-1990s to effectively halt governments-sponsored research into the public health effects of firearms, and to ensure the passage of legislation in 2005 largely immunizing gun manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits. At the same time, the NRA stopped efforts at
640-663: A provisional committee to start the Association which would include: President Lincoln, Secretary of War, officers, and other prominent New Yorkers. The National Rifle Association of America was chartered in the State of New York on November 17, 1871 by Army and Navy Journal editor William Conant Church and Captain George Wood Wingate . On November 25, 1871, the group voted to elect its first corporate officers. Union Army Civil War General Ambrose Burnside , who had worked as
704-504: A rifle purchased from a Klein's Sporting Goods ad in the February 1963 issue of American Rifleman . This prompted what the magazine called "a wave of anti-firearm feeling" and an "almost universal demand for tighter controls over the mail-order sales of guns." In 1966, Ashley Halsey Jr. became editor for the magazine, bringing much more focus to the political realm, given the prominence of the bills proposed by senator Thomas Dodd restricting
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#1732863151778768-502: A single take that emphasizes clarity under daily deadlines. Illustrated reporting, or comics journalism, takes days, weeks, or months to craft a story, which can run for pages, and which may or may not be presenting an opinion.'" The 2022 award went to a work of comics journalism . Through 2017, eighteen people have won the Editorial Cartooning Pulitzer twice, and five of those have won it three times. Nelson Harding
832-521: A trustee to oversee the organization's affairs. Hale doubted that the NRA was "faced with financial difficulties", instead ruling that the true purposes of the lawsuit were "to gain an unfair litigation advantage" against the New York Attorney General, and to "avoid" regulation from New York. On March 2, 2022, New York state court in Manhattan ruled against Letitia James's effort to break up
896-452: Is among the most influential advocacy groups in U.S. politics. The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is its lobbying division, which manages its political action committee (PAC), the Political Victory Fund (PVF). Over its history, the organization has influenced legislation, participated in or initiated lawsuits, and endorsed or opposed various candidates at local, state, and federal levels. Some notable lobbying efforts by
960-464: Is one of four NRA-owned magazines included with an NRA membership, although discounted memberships with no magazine subscription are available. Each issue contains reviews of different firearms, historical articles about firearms, technical information about reloading, notes from the President of the NRA and a column called "The Armed Citizen" which lists specific events of people defending themselves with
1024-512: Is one who has "not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment", whereas an NRA "F" candidate is a "true enemy of gun owners' rights". The NRA endorsed a presidential candidate for the first time in 1980, backing Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter . The NRA has also made endorsements even when it viewed both candidates positively. For example, in
1088-508: Is the successor to the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning awarded from 1922 to 2021. Since 1922 the prize had been awarded for a distinguished editorial cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect. Since 1980, finalists (usually two) have been announced in addition to the winner. Only two comic strips have been awarded
1152-466: The 2006 Pennsylvania Senate elections , the NRA endorsed Rick Santorum over Bob Casey Jr. , even though they both had an "A" rating. Despite this endorsement, Santorum lost to Casey. Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning The Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting and Commentary is one of the fourteen Pulitzer Prizes that is annually awarded for journalism in the United States . It
1216-662: The Elcho Shield in 1873 at Wimbledon , then a village outside London, the Irish Rifle Team issued a challenge through the New York Herald to riflemen of the United States to raise a team for a long-range match to determine an Irish-American championship. A team was organized through the subsidiary Amateur Club of New York City . Remington Arms and Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company produced breech-loading weapons for
1280-524: The Packard Car Company. During World War II , editor Bill Shadel received press credentials from CBS and shipped overseas to cover the European Theater as a War Correspondent for CBS and NRA. His duties were taken over by his associate editors, and The American Rifleman carried articles and interviews by Shadel up until the end of the war. Also during World War II , the physical size of
1344-568: The Sunlight Foundation , "It is important to note that these contributions are probably a better measure of allegiance than of influence." Internationally, the NRA opposes the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). It has opposed Canadian gun registry, supported Brazilian gun rights, and criticized Australian gun laws. In 2016, the NRA raised a record $ 366 million and spent $ 412 million for political activities. The NRA also maintains
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#17328631517781408-688: The United States Department of War provided free ammunition and targets to civilian rifle clubs with a minimum membership of ten United States citizens at least 16 years of age. After the passage of the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934, the first federal gun-control law in the US, the NRA formed its Legislative Affairs Division to update members with facts and analysis of upcoming bills. Karl Frederick , NRA president in 1934, during congressional NFA hearings testified "I have never believed in
1472-654: The right to bear arms . The organization has been the focus of intense criticism in the aftermath of high-profile shootings, such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Parkland High School shooting , after both of which they suggested adding armed security guards to schools. A few months after the Civil War began in 1861, a national rifle association was proposed by Americans in England. In
1536-539: The sights on his gun or can hit the broad side of a barn." The generals attributed this to the use of volley tactics, devised for earlier, less accurate smoothbore muskets. Recognizing a need for better training, Wingate sent emissaries to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany to observe militia and armies' marksmanship training programs. With plans provided by Wingate, the New York Legislature funded
1600-762: The 1876 Centennial celebrations of the founding of the nation. Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Canada accepted the challenge, and the Centennial Trophy was commissioned from Tiffany & Co. (later known as the "Palma Trophy"). The United States won the 1876 match, and the Palma Match went on to be contested every four years as the World Long Range Rifle Championships. The NRA organized rifle clubs in other states, and many state National Guard organizations sought NRA advice to improve members' marksmanship. Wingate's marksmanship manual evolved into
1664-488: The Man , which had primarily focused on shooting competition results and discussion of rifles, began to expand into hunting stories, ballistics, handgunning, shotgunning and new shooting products In June 1923, the publication changed its name for the fourth and final time to the current title, The American Rifleman . In the aftermath of the name change, the scale of the magazine widened and four influential writers that would help shape
1728-572: The NRA backed the Federal Firearms Act of 1938 . The NRA supported the NFA along with the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), which together created a system to federally license gun dealers and established restrictions on particular categories and classes of firearms. The organization opposed a national firearms registry, an initiative favored by then-President Lyndon Johnson . Until the 1970s,
1792-517: The NRA was nonpartisan . Previously, the NRA mainly focused on sportsmen, hunters, and target shooters. During the 1970s, it became increasingly aligned with the Republican Party . After 1977, the organization expanded its membership by focusing heavily on political issues and forming coalitions with conservative politicians. Most of these are Republicans. However, the passage of the GCA galvanized
1856-520: The NRA while allowing the portion of the legal actions against the NRA's leadership to continue. The judge found that dissolving the NRA would have a negative impact on the free speech and assembly rights of the organization's members. It was also found that the NRA as an organization did not benefit from the alleged misconduct of its leadership and "less intrusive" remedies against NRA officials could be sought instead. In February 2024, NRA leaders were found guilty of financial misconduct and corruption by
1920-459: The NRA's organizational policies, following what is now referred to as the Revolt at Cincinnati at the 1977 NRA annual convention. The changes, which deposed former NRA executive vice president Maxwell Rich and included new organizational bylaws, have been described as moving the organization away from its previous focuses of "hunting, conservation, and marksmanship" and toward a focus on the defense of
1984-466: The NRA's traditional focus on gun-related issues. There were also concerns about possible conflicts of interest, such as the $ 1 million contract to host NRATV between Ackerman and NRA president Oliver North . Leading up to the NRA's 2019 national convention in April, there were reports that North and LaPierre were at odds, with North demanding that LaPierre resign and LaPierre accusing North of extortion. At
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2048-473: The NRA, purchased the magazine and renamed it Arms and the Man , becoming its editor and publisher. Two years later, as President of the NRA, Drain moved both the magazine and the NRA—officially two distinct entities—back to Washington D.C. in order to establish closer ties with the political aspects of rifle shooting. Though there was still no explicit tie between the magazine and the NRA, their relationship
2112-701: The NRA-ILA are the Firearm Owners Protection Act , which lessened restrictions of the Gun Control Act of 1968 , and the Dickey Amendment , which blocks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from using federal funds to advocate for gun control. Starting in the mid- to late 1970s, the NRA has been increasingly criticized by gun control and gun rights advocacy groups, political commentators, and politicians. This criticism began following changes in
2176-479: The NRA-ILA. Insurgents including Carter and Knox had demanded new leadership in part because they blamed incumbent leaders for existing gun control legislation like the GCA and believed that no compromise should be made. With a goal to weaken the GCA, Knox's ILA successfully lobbied Congress to pass the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986 and worked to reduce the powers of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In 1982, Knox
2240-407: The US, the National Firearms Act . The Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), the lobbying branch of the NRA, was established in 1975. According to political scientists John M. Bruce and Clyde Wilcox, the NRA shifted its focus in the late 1970s to incorporate political advocacy, and started seeing its members as political resources rather than just as recipients of goods and services. Despite
2304-579: The United States Army marksmanship instruction program. Former President Ulysses S. Grant served as the NRA's eighth president and General Philip H. Sheridan as its ninth. The US Congress created the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice in 1901 to include representatives from the NRA, National Guard, and United States military services. A program of annual rifle and pistol competitions
2368-445: The United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship , the modern NRA has become a prominent gun rights lobbying organization while continuing to teach firearm safety and competency. The organization also publishes several magazines and sponsors competitive marksmanship events. According to the NRA, it had nearly 5 million members as of December 2018, though that figure has not been independently confirmed. The NRA
2432-454: The bankruptcy trial LaPierre stated that he had kept the bankruptcy filing secret from the NRA's board of directors and most of its senior officials. LaPierre's spending of NRA funds on himself and his wife, such as upscale suits, chartered jet flights, and a traveling "glam squad" for his wife, became a subject of testimony in the eleven-day Texas proceedings. On May 11, 2021, Judge Harlin Hale of
2496-473: The construction of a modern range at Creedmoor , Long Island , for long-range shooting competitions. The range officially opened on June 21, 1873. The Central Railroad of Long Island established a railway station nearby, with trains running from Hunter's Point , with connecting boat service to 34th Street and the East River , allowing access from New York City. After beating England and Scotland to win
2560-418: The convention a letter was read from North, saying he had been told he would not be granted a second term as NRA president and adding that he intended to create a committee to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement. A subsequent resolution to oust LaPierre over "highly suspect" financial practices was hotly debated for an hour before members voted not to discuss financial issues in public and to refer
2624-480: The decision to include all NRA members with free copies of the magazine, helped boost the circulation to over 30,000, making the publication self-sustainable for the first time in its history. Despite the harsh economic climate during the Great Depression in the 1930s, The American Rifleman continued to gain readers, eventually reaching a circulation of 56,000 and carrying its first full-color advertisement from
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2688-841: The dissolution of the NRA as being "fraught with fraud and abuse". On the same date, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Karl Racine filed a lawsuit against the NRA for misusing charitable funds. On January 15, 2021, the NRA announced in a press release that it and one of its subsidiaries had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas in Dallas. It also announced that it would reincorporate in Texas , subject to court approval, although its headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia , would not move. During
2752-402: The federal bankruptcy court of the Northern District of Texas, dismissed the bankruptcy petition without prejudice, describing that it "was not filed in good faith", warning that if the NRA chose to file a new bankruptcy case, Hale's court would immediately revisit concerns about "disclosure, transparency, secrecy, conflicts of interest of litigation counsel", which could lead to the appointment of
2816-485: The federal level to increase regulation of firearms. At the state and local level, the NRA successfully campaigned to deregulate guns, for example by pushing state governments to eliminate the ability of local governments to regulate guns and removing restrictions on guns in public places (such as bars and campuses). The NRA Political Victory Fund (PVF) PAC was established in 1976 to challenge gun-control candidates and to support gun-rights candidates. An NRA "A+" candidate
2880-740: The finalists' names had been made public.) In 2022, the Editorial Cartooning prize was superseded by the revamped category of Illustrated Reporting and Commentary, In response, the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists "issued a statement calling for the Pulitzer board to reinstate Editorial Cartooning as its own category while also recognizing Illustrated Reporting as a separate form." They wrote: "'Editorial cartoons are quick, in-the-moment commentary, whose artists have to educate themselves on complex issues and craft well-informed opinions in
2944-432: The future of both The American Rifleman and shooting sports in general joined: Julian S. Hatcher , Charles Askins , Townsend Whelen and C. B. Lister . Also during this time, Hatcher began his column "The Dope Bag," a write-in question and answer column, which still continues today. By 1928, "The Dope Bag" had grown to three staff members, answering over 5000 letters that year. The prominence of rifle shooting, as well as
3008-409: The general practice of carrying weapons. I seldom carry one. I have when I felt it was desirable to do so for my own protection. I know that applies in most of the instances where guns are used effectively in self-defense or in places of business and in the home. I do not believe in the general promiscuous toting of guns. I think it should be sharply restricted and only under licenses." Four years later,
3072-471: The impact on the volatility of membership, the politicization of the NRA has been consistent and its PAC, the Political Victory Fund established in 1976, ranked as "one of the biggest spenders in congressional elections" as of 1998. A 1999 Fortune magazine survey said that lawmakers and their staffers considered the NRA the most powerful lobbying organization three years in a row. Chris W. Cox
3136-496: The magazine had to be cut in half due to wartime paper shortages. Due to the poor quality of paper that was used, The American Rifleman began to rely on artwork more heavily than photography. Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist James T. Berryman was brought in as art director. Following the war, C.B. Lister retained editorship of the magazine. The American Rifleman continued to develop in scope following World War II . Lee Harvey Oswald killed US President John F. Kennedy with
3200-441: The magazine to the NRA, since Arms and the Man had effectively become an unofficial NRA journal. On July 1, 1916, James A. Drain sold Arms and the Man to the NRA for $ 1. Fred H. Phillips took over as editor, and Kendrick Scofield as associate editor, and, due to Drain's close ties to the organization, though there was a transition in leadership, there was no disruption of publication. Following its move into NRA control, Arms and
3264-529: The magazine. Shortly afterward, in October 1973, hunting stories, reviews and tips were spun out into a separate publication, American Hunter , which was operating profitably within two years of its premiere. In 1997, the NRA launched another magazine titled American Guardian that focused political activism and rebranded it as America's First Freedom in June 2000 to focus explicitly on protecting gun rights. The magazine
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#17328631517783328-710: The organization and came to be known as " The Cincinnati Revolution " (or as the Cincinnati Coup, the Cincinnati Revolt, or the Revolt at Cincinnati). Leadership planned to relocate NRA headquarters to Colorado and to build a $ 30 million recreational facility in New Mexico, but activists within the organization, whose central concern was Second Amendment rights, defeated the incumbents (i.e. Maxwell Rich ) and elected Carter as executive director and Neal Knox as head of
3392-498: The organization. Its first lobbying effort was to petition the New York State legislature for $ 25,000 to purchase land to set up a range . Within three months, the legislation had passed and had been signed into law by Governor John T. Hoffman . In 1934, the National Rifle Association created a Legislative Affairs Division and testified in front of Congress in support of the first substantial federal gun control legislation in
3456-416: The prize: Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau in 1976 and Bloom County by Berkeley Breathed in 1987. In 2021, with Ruben Bolling , Marty Two Bulls Sr , and Lalo Alcaraz the finalists, no winner was selected, which drew controversy. (The same thing happened in the category in 1923, 1936, 1960, 1965, and 1973, but it had not happened in 48 years, and it was the first time no winner was selected when
3520-670: The resolution to the NRA board. On June 25, 2019, the NRA severed all ties with Ackerman McQueen and shut down the NRATV operation. Following an 18-month investigation, on August 6, 2020, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil lawsuit against the NRA, alleging fraud , financial misconduct, and misuse of charitable funds by some of its executives, including its long-time former CEO and EVP Wayne LaPierre , treasurer Wilson Phillips, former chief of staff and current executive director of general operations Joshua Powell, and general counsel and secretary John Frazer. The suit called for
3584-442: The revitalization of the NRA and established a board of directors to help manage the nationwide organization. Following Gould's death in 1903, Shooting and Fishing deteriorated. There had been no official connection between the NRA and the magazine, but Gould's prominence in the shooting world had helped establish and lend credibility to the organization as it tried to gain national footing. In 1906, James A. Drain, then Secretary of
3648-505: The sales of firearms across state lines. Halsey Jr. was a former writer at the Saturday Evening Post for 18 years, and became known for his prominent editorials and investigative articles. In 1971, The American Rifleman published a special centennial issue that was 168 pages long, by far the largest in the magazine's history. The centennial edition also included the first full-sized, full-color photographs of firearms ever printed in
3712-421: The sport of rifle shooting. The Rifle later changed its title to Shooting and Fishing in 1888, branching out into other outdoor sports. In 1894, while the magazine was titled Shooting and Fishing , Gould attended the National Rifle Association matches held at Sea Girt and was impressed with the level of competition, leading him to write several editorials urging the public to join. This call eventually led to
3776-506: The team. Although muzzle-loading rifles had long been considered more accurate, eight American riflemen won the 1874 Irish-American Match firing breech-loading rifles. Publicity of the event generated by the New York Herald helped to establish breech-loading firearms as suitable for military marksmanship training, and promoted the NRA to national prominence. In 1875, the NRA issued a challenge for an international rifle match as part of
3840-528: The voice of reason in contrast to Knox. In April 2019, the group unexpectedly sued its longtime public relations firm Ackerman McQueen , which was responsible for two decades of aggressive gun-rights advertising on behalf of the NRA. The lawsuit alleges that the firm refused to turn over financial records to support its billings to the NRA, which amounted to $ 40 million in 2017. The lawsuit questioned recent programming on NRATV, an online channel operated by Ackerman, which has taken political positions unrelated to
3904-501: Was authorized, and included a national match open to military and civilian shooters. In 1907, NRA headquarters moved to Washington, D.C. to facilitate the organization's advocacy efforts. Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal began the manufacture of M1903 Springfield rifles for civilian members of the NRA in 1910. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship began manufacture of M1911 pistols for NRA members in August 1912. Until 1927,
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#17328631517783968-441: Was extremely close. In 1916, seven years after the end of his NRA presidency, James A. Drain decided to part with the magazine in order to fully devote himself to his law practice, though Arms and the Man had become the top magazine of its kind. At first, Drain tried unsuccessfully to sell the magazine to his former staff writer, Frank J. Kahrs, who had since moved on to Remington Arms , but Kahrs suggested instead that Drain offer
4032-550: Was ousted as director of the ILA, but began mobilizing outside the NRA framework and continued to promote opposition to gun control laws. At the 1991 national convention, Knox's supporters were elected to the board and named staff lobbyist Wayne LaPierre as the executive vice president. The NRA focused its attention on the gun control policies of the Clinton Administration. Knox again lost power in 1997, as he lost reelection to
4096-580: Was the NRA's chief lobbyist and principal political strategist, a position he held from 2002 until 2019. In 2012, 88% of Republicans and 11% of Democrats in Congress had received an NRA PAC contribution at some point in their career. Of the members of the Congress that convened in 2013, 51% received funding from the NRA PAC within their political careers, and 47% received NRA money in their most recent race. According to Lee Drutman, political scientist and senior fellow at
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