The NRA has evolved from a marksmanship group founded in the late 19th century to a massively influential gun organization with millions of members. However, it has struggled with declining membership and revenue in recent years, along with internal scandals. Here are 17 facts about the NRA most people don’t know.
Origins and Evolution
Britannica explains that the NRA “was founded in New York state in 1871 as a governing body for the sport of shooting with rifles and pistols.” In the 1970s, it transitioned from a sport-oriented marksmanship group to political advocacy, which continues today.
Membership Dynamics
Membership of the NRA skews heavily to the right, with the majority of its members describing themselves as Republicans. NRA members also tend to own more firearms than gun owners who don’t belong to the organization.
Educational Programs
The NRA offers its members a mix of web-based courses, classroom lessons, and firearm training to learn the basics of shooting techniques and personal defense strategies. It also teaches its members how to fulfill the requirements for obtaining concealed carry permits if their states require one.
Media and Communication
The NRA has used the media to influence public opinion on firearms. From 2016 to 2019, it ran NRATV, an online video channel that featured commentary and investigative and lifestyle content about the organization and gun rights.
International Influence
The NRA has asserted its views on global gun policy debates. In 2013, it opposed the UN’s Arms Trade Treaty, which sought to ban weapons sales to regimes committing war crimes or genocide, and has also worked to defeat gun-control bills in the UK, Canada, and South Africa.
Cultural Impact
The NRA’s vigorous denials that widespread gun ownership has contributed to gun violence that plagues America have been influential among gun owners. Their A-F grading of lawmakers’ voting records on the Second Amendment has also hurt the electoral prospects of Republican politicians.
Political Influence
The BBC notes that the NRA “has grown into one of the most powerful political organizations in the US.” It has successfully lobbied against any form of gun control on multiple occasions over the past few decades and enjoys support from Republican politicians.
Leadership Figures
Perhaps the most famous leader of the NRA, especially in recent decades, was Wayne LaPierre, who served as its CEO and executive vice president from 1991 to 2024. He recently resigned after allegations of corruption that he was ordered to repay to the NRA.
Strategic Campaigns
The NRA has a history of successful strategic campaigns at the state and local levels. It has pushed state governments on several occasions to remove the ability of local governments to regulate guns and to remove restrictions on firearms in public places like campuses.
Financial Aspects
The NRA’s major sources of funding include membership fees and donations. A-Mark Foundation explains that in 2022, membership funds “contributed the largest percentage (39.4%) of the NRA’s total revenue of $211,332,026,” followed by private contributions and grants, advertising income, program fees, and royalties.
Mass Shootings
Typically, the organization declines to issue a public statement following a mass shooting. When it does, it asserts that gun-control measures wouldn’t have prevented the violence and deaths, but more bystanders or victims carrying guns would have.
Legal Battles
The NRA has been involved in key court cases involving Second Amendment rights, notably District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008, which found the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns unlawful. However, it has also had less successful legal battles. Bloomberg recently reported that the NRA and Wayne LaPierre “were found liable for violating New York law with lavish spending of donor funds.”
Educational Contributions
The NRA Foundation provides grants to promote shooting as a pastime among young Americans through competitions, training, and safety courses. It also partly funds law enforcement training and hunter education.
Fundraising Events
The NRA holds multiple fundraising events annually. The Friends of the NRA has held over 25,000 events since 1992 that raised over $1.1 billion for the NRA Foundation and raised money through celebrity endorsements.
Crisis Management
The NRA is no stranger to controversy. When its actions are linked to gun violence, it deflects by arguing more people having guns makes America safer, and its CEO had to step down recently for corruption.
Rival Organizations
The NRA may be the most famous firearm organization in America, but it has declined in recent years while others have flourished. The NSSF is a much younger association that has become America’s largest firearms trade association. In 2023, it spent over twice as much as the NRA on federal lobbying.
Current Performance
The NRA stated in 2013 that it aimed for 10 million members. It hasn’t reached that goal, and its membership has declined from 4.9 million in 2021 to 4.3 million in 2023. It’s suffered from revenue erosion, collecting tens of millions less than expected.
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