National Rifle Association of America

National Rifle Association of America (NRA), group founded (1871) to promote shooting, hunting, firearm safety, and wildlife conservation. The NRA has nearly 3 million members. The association sponsors shooting competitions and maintains a collection of antique and modern firearms. It also lobbies vigorously against gun control legislation and gun registration, basing its position on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; this position is disputed by most legal scholars.

See E. F. Leddy, Magnum Force Lobby (1987); L. Nisbet, ed., The Gun Control Debate (1990).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.