The National Rifle Association

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in 1871, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was organized by two Union army officers, who were upset by the poor marksmanship of their troops during the Civil War, to provide civilians with firearms training and to encourage shooting sports. The author points out that the NRA established a Legislative Affairs Division in 1934 and, forty-one years later, the Institute for Legislative Action to lobby legislators actively. The paper relates that the organization's emphasis upon the utility of guns in protecting law-abiding citizens is a major reason for the NRA's success. The author concludes that, while NRA is often criticized sharply, it deserves credit for its political acumen, for spearheading gun education initiatives and for introducing the "other side" in the gun control debate.

From the Paper:

"Not to be overlooked, the NRA is not afraid to play "hard-ball" as its punitive campaign against House Republican Peter P. Smith a number of years ago makes clear; in fact, the NRA - by as early as the late 1980s - was well-known on Capitol Hill for its ambitious mass-mailing programs and for its ability to mobilize its membership (and presumably sympathetic private citizens, as well) to "flood" representatives with letter and mailgrams. In addition to the tactics discussed above, the NRA has become well-known for distributing copies of videotape outlining its position on controversial issues ..."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bowling for Columbine. Dir. Michael Moore. 2002. DVD. Alliance Atlantis, 2002.
• "Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act(?)", Congressional Digest, (1991, Jun-Jul), pp.175-189.
• "Gun Control Controversy," Congressional Digest, (1986, May): 130-139.
• Idelson, Holly. "Gun Rights and Restrictions: The Territory Reconfigured." Congressional Quarterly(?), (1993, 24 Apr.): 1021-1027. .
• Matlack, Carol. "Under Assault." National Journal 22 Apr. 1989: 978-982.

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