The History of the NRA in 20 Numbers

When people think America, they think a few things—apple pie, generous portion sizes, an obsession with tipping, SUVs, and, of course, the National Rifle Association (NRA). No organization works harder than this one to ensure that Americans have ample access to weapons. To get to know it a little better, here’s the history of the NRA in 20 numbers.

 

2

Let’s start easy, as in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. This is the one that provides the right to bear arms and is at the center of any contemporary conversation about the NRA. Proposed legislation that could potentially hinder the acquisition of weapons is viewed by some in the organization as a threat to the Constitution.

 

1871

The year the NRA was formed in New York by a group of former Union officers (about six years after the end of the Civil War). The idea was spearheaded by William Conant Church—born in Rochester, NY—and George Wood Wingate—born in New York City—with the hope of improving the rifle marksmanship that the two found lacking among American soldiers. An early focus of the NRA therefore involved various shooting competitions. The nonprofit would move its headquarters to the Washington, DC, area in the early 1900s, but it is still incorporated in New York State.

 

50

The number of years for which the NRA took no position on gun control, with the first obvious endeavors in that regard taking place in the 1920s and being limited to simple editorials. That’s according to this meticulous history by Frank Smyth, owner of a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and member of the NRA.

 

1934

The year Congress passed the National Firearms Act, which imposed an excise tax on and mandated the registration of certain firearms, with support from the NRA. This legislation was followed in 1938 by the Federal Firearms Act, which imposed a federal license requirement on those involved in the manufacture and sale of firearms, again with the support of the NRA.

 

1968

The year Congress passed the Gun Control Act, partly in response to a slew of assassinations in the 1960s. Among other things, the law regulated interstate gun sales and prohibited sales to juveniles, felons, and the mentally ill. The NRA wasn’t fully on board, though it did endorse the latter provisions.

 

1975

The year the NRA established its lobbying arm called the Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), formalizing what was becoming a progressively larger role in American politics.

 

1976

The year the NRA created its political action committee (PAC) called the Political Victory Fund. Managed by the NRA-ILA, this entity solidified the NRA as a legitimate political influencer. Grading candidates based on their record on gun rights and financially backing the preferred ones became par for the course.

 

1977

The year often cited as changing the history of the NRA, marked by a dramatic move from an organization for sportsmen (hunter-conservationists) to one with an unyielding focus on protecting its interpretation of the Second Amendment. An organizational coup—dubbed the Cincinnati Revolution based on the location of the annual meeting that year—ended up placing gun rights advocate Harlon B. Carter, previously convicted of murder, in charge.

 

1986

The year Congress passed the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act. This law reversed some of the provisions of the Gun Control Act, required background checks only for sales made through licensed dealers (creating a loophole that prevents truly universal background checks), and blocked the creation of a federal registry for firearms. The NRA did, however, allow for a near-total ban on fully automatic weapons to make it into the legislation.

 

1991

The year that Wayne LaPierre—born in Schenectady, NY—assumed the role of CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA, a position he has held ever since.

 

1994

The year Congress passed the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, limiting civilian use of certain semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity magazines. It was the one setback for the NRA among a series of victories, including the aforementioned Firearm Owners’ Protection Act, the 1996 Dickey Amendment (which limited the ability of the Centers for Disease Control to use federal funds to conduct research on gun violence), and the ultimate expiration of the assault weapons ban in 2004.

 

2005

The year the NRA sealed yet another victory with the passage of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, protecting firearm manufacturers and dealers from liability if their weapons are misused by purchasers.

 

21.9 million

The amount in US dollars raised by the NRA’s PAC in the election cycle that followed a 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, that killed 26 people. (In the election cycle preceding the shooting, the PAC had raised about $14 million.) No new federal legislation resulted from the tragedy.

 

5 million

A ballpark estimate of the number of paying NRA members. Some believe this number is an overestimate.

 

45

The cost in US dollars of a one-year NRA membership. Multi-year memberships provide a lower yearly cost. The NRA makes no promises regarding how funds are used, and LaPierre—whose salary is in the seven figures—has been accused of using millions for things like private jets, clothes, and makeup for his wife.

 

291 million

The total revenue of the NRA in the 2019 fiscal year. A few revenue sources include membership dues, fees for training programs, selling advertising space in publications, and donations. Several firearm manufacturers donate sizable lump sums and/or a portion of sales to the NRA, leading critics to claim that the organization is an industry lobby that no longer represents the interests of individual gunowners.

 

83

The percent of gun owners, according to one study, in favor of universal background checks on all firearm sales, including ones that are not covered by the current loophole.

 

501(c)(4)

The official nonprofit category of the NRA as per federal law. In simple terms, that’s a social welfare organization. As you might have guessed, such entities are permitted to participate in politics in a way that helps achieve the underlying mission. Donations are typically not tax-deductible.

 

501(c)(3)

The official nonprofit category of the separate NRA Foundation, a charitable organization that supports various firearm-related activities. Political engagement is more restricted, and donations are often tax-deductible.

 

2019

The year the NRA began to face a series of challenges that are ongoing. First, the group severed ties with Ackerman McQueen, its longtime public relations firm. Next, in 2020, the Attorney General of New York State filed a lawsuit relating to financial misconduct with the aim of dissolving the nonprofit. In response, the NRA attempted to file bankruptcy and reincorporate in Texas, though the tactic was disallowed given the absence of legitimate financial distress. As of 2022, the case for dissolving the NRA has been dismissed, but investigation of individual players continues. In the midst of the chaos, membership and revenue may have declined.

 

So, after all that, what’s the bottom line when it comes to the history of the NRA? Despite some recent issues, it boils down to passion, money, and clout. And a lot of guns.