National Rifle Association - Essay Example

National Rifle Association Number Goals, Charter and Mission ments The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is an American non-profit association which promotes firearm competency, safety and a\ownership including police training, marksmanship, hunting and self-defense training in the United States. Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship displayed by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the association in 1871, with the primary goal of promoting and encouraging riffle shooting on a scientific basis. After being granted charter by the state of New York, the NRA was founded and former governor of Rhode Island U.S senator, Gen. Ambrose Burnside, became its first president (Aagaard, 1990). An important step in its creation was the development of a practice ground. Under the NRA Bylaws Article II, the purposes and objectives (mission statements) of the NRA include first and foremost, to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. This is especially concerning the inalienable right of an American to acquire, possess, collect, exhibit, transport, carry, transfer ownership of and enjoy the right to use arms so that citizens may always be able to exercise their legitimate individual rights of self-preservation and defense of family, person and property as well as serving effectively in the appropriate militia for the common defense of the nation and individual liberty of Americans (Aagaard, 1990). Another NRA mission statement is to train members of law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, the militia and people of good repute in marksmanship and in safe handling and efficient use of small arms. In addition, the association aims to, through its activities, to promote public safety, law and order and national defense. The NRA also endeavors to enhance hunter safety and promote and defend hunting as a shooting sport and as a viable and necessary method of fostering the propagation, growth, conservation and wise use of country’s renewable wildlife resources. In addition, the NRA aims to foster and promote shooting sports as well as the promotion of amateur competitions in marksmanship at the local, state, regional, national and international level (Jones, 2009). The NRA maintains that the 2nd Amendment offers the right of individuals to bear arms and opposes measures it deems in conflict with the 2nd Amendment and the right to privacy relating gun owners. The NRA opposes gun control laws by calling instead for stricter observance of existing legislation like prohibiting convicted felons and violent criminals from owning firearms and also increasing sentencing for gun crimes. The association may take all actions necessary and prudent in the achievement of these purposes and objectives (Rifle Association, 1988). How NRA Fulfills its Goals: Lobbying and Finances The National Rifle Association is a 501 (c) (4) membership association with four 501 (c) (3) charitable subsidiaries and a section of 527 Political Action Committee (PAC) separate segregated fund, has a total of four charities. These are the NRA Foundation Inc., NRA Freedom Action Foundation, the NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund and the NRA Special Contribution Fund. The Political Action Committee is the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) or as simply referred to as by members – the ILA (Aagaard, 1990). The organization has received at least 14.8 million dollars from more than 50 firearms-related firms since 2005 and in 2008, Berretta offered more than 2 million USD in donations to the NRA. A similar feat was repeated in 2012 when Smith and Wesson donated 1 Million. In the year 2010, the tax exempt 501 (c) (3) group - the NRA Foundation, distributed approximately 12.6 million dollars to the NRA and donated another 5.5 million to local groups such as 4-H and the shooting clubs. As per April 2012 media reports, Sturm, Ruger and Company raised 1.25 million through an initiative in which it gave 1 million dollars to the ILA for every gun it sold from May 2011 to May 2012. In addition, gun buyers and participating stores are often invited to round up the buying price to the nearest dollar as a charitable contribution to the NRA. These round-up initiatives raise millions of dollars for the NRA yearly. According to NRA’s 2010 tax forms, these round-up moneys have been assigned to both public interest programs and lobbying. Corporate sponsors include a myriad of companies such as outdoor supply, sporting goods companies and firearm manufacturers. According to published statements, in 2010, the organization raised roughly 115 million in revenue from fund raising, sales, advertising and royalties with the rest coming from membership dues. An income of 227.8 million was reported. In 2011, NRA’s total income was approximately 219 million with a total expenditure of up to 231 million. On average, 78% of NRA’s total expenditure goes to program services, 13.3% to administration and 11.7% cater for fundraising costs. The NRA Foundation has no staff and pays no salaries (Jones, 2009). The NRA over the years has maintained close links with other organizations such as Boy Scouts of America and the 4-H with such ties yielding monetary donations, program instructors and equipment to supply firearm ranges. In addition, in joint letters to President Clinton in January 10th 1994 and to the House Committee on the Judiciary in 24th October 1995, the NRA joined the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil liberty organizations in a call for referendum law enforcement reforms drawing on lessons from the Wacko Siege and the Ruby Ridge. In 2013 the NRA and the ACLU initiated a lawsuit against the federal government over NSA’s surveillance of Americans, arguing such actions violate gun owner’s privacy and could eventually be used to create a national gun registry. The Friends of NRA is an initiative that raises money for the NRA Foundation. The NRA Foundation raises tax deductible contributions to support a plethora of firearm related public interest activities designed to promote firearm and hunting safety, enhance marksmanship skills and educate the general public about firearms. Over the years, the politicization of the NRA has been consistently rampant with members of Congress for several years in a row declaring the NRA the most powerful lobbying organization in America. Chris W. Cox is the chief lobbyist and principal political strategist. The NRA will support any incumbent politician who supports its position even if its challenger supports them as well. In addition to supporting legislation that favor its goals, the NRA often uses lawsuits such as in 2005 when the NRA successfully sued New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and others to halt gun seizures following the Hurricane Katrina. The NRA also publishes a number of periodicals such as the American Rifleman, Shooting Illustrated, American Hunter and so on through its affiliate Palladium Press LLC (Jones, 2009). After the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 (the first federal gun control legislation passed in the United States), the NRA formed a Legislative Affairs Division which was tasked with updating members with financial matters and analysis of upcoming budgets. (Until the middle of the 1970s, the NRA was predominantly focused on target shooters, sportsmen and hunters while ignoring gun regulation affairs). The NFA and the Gun Control Act (GCA) of 1968, which both facilitated a system which federally licensed gun dealers while setting up restrictions on certain groups and classes of firearm received great support from the NRA. The passage of the GCA brought together an ever increasing lot of NRA activists such as Harlon Carter (Aagaard, 1990). In 1975, with Carter as director, the NFA established its lobbying arm which came to be known as the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) and started getting more into politics. In the following year, the Political Action Committee was elected along with the Political Victory Fund. After 1977, membership was expanded through massive emphasis on politics and formation of alliances with conservative politicians (mostly Republicans). In 1986, ILA successfully lobbied congress to pass the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) with the aim of weakening the GCA and also worked to reduce the influence of Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In 1994, the NRA unsuccessfully stood against the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) but was successful in lobbying for the ban’s 2004 expiration. In 1998, Heston rose to the Presidency of the association and became a highly visible spokesman of the NRA, exhibiting himself, unlike Knox, as a voice of reason in attempts to improve NRA’s image (Jones, 2009). Membership, Opinion and Assessment The NRA is led by a 76-member board of directors, 75 of which are elected to serve three year terms. The 76th director is elected to act as a cross-over director holding office from the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of Members where they are elected to the next annual meeting when they step down or till a successor is elected and qualified. The directors select the president, one or more of the vice presidents, an executive vice president, the secretary and the treasurer from amongst themselves. The Executive Director of the National Rifle Association General Operations (currently Kyle Weaver) and the Executive Director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) (currently Chris W. Cox who has been appointed by LaPierre every year since 2002) are additionally elected by the board of directors. The Executive Vice President serves as the leading spokesman for the association and as the chief executive officer. Since 1991, this position has been held by Wayne LaPierre. Some of the people who have served as presidents of the association at various times include Ambrose Burnside, former U.S President Ulysses S. Grant, Marion P Hammer (frist female president, 1995-1997), Charlton Heston (1997-2003), Sandra Froman (2005-2007), John C. Sigler (2007-2009), Ron Schmeits (2009-2011), David Keene (2011-2013) and currently James W. Potter II (since May 6th 2013). In its history, the NRA has boasted a plethora of notable members such as eight presidents of the United States, two Vice Presidents of the United States, two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, numerous U.S Congressmen, legislators and state officials. Other reputable members include actress Whoopi Goldberg, actors Tom Selleck, Kurt Russell and James Earl Jones, singer Miranda Lambert, screen writer John Milius, musician Ted Nugent, NBA player Karl Malone, Olympian Karl Frederick, civil rights activist Roy Innis, amongst others. Even though the National Rifle Association has often come under criticism from certain quarters like gun control advocacy groups such as the Americans for Responsible Solutions, the Brady Campaign, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action and so on, it has over time grown in influence and stature and has done particularly well in terms of achieving its mission statements. Many more individuals, homes and businesses are now safe thanks to some of their activities. Law enforcement officers and activities have also become more efficient as a result (overall, there has been reduced criminal activity). The NRA benefits a wide range of constituencies including children, youth, workers, individuals with physical disabilities, gun collectors, law enforcement officers, hunters and competitive shooters. Their aims are beneficial to the society’s well-being. Consequently, public opinion about the association has been positive and according to a poll conducted in 2012, majority of Americans (82% of Republicans and 55% of Democrats) favor its activities and mission statements (Jones, 2009). References Aagaard, F. (1990). Finn Aagaard on hunting rifles & cartridges. Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association. Jones, C. (2009). NRA: Protector of the Second Amendment or the Gun Industry?. New York: McGraw-Hill. Rifle Association, A. N. (1988). NRA international pistol rules (Rev. Jan. 1, 1988. ed.). Washington, D.C.: The Association. Read More