When looking at the struggle of Black people in the United States for their natural rights—those of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—the right to bear arms, and particularly those arms employing multi-shot technology, has been vital.
If you had lived in the 1870s, you might have considered the NRA to be America’s leading sports organization. If you served in World War II, you might have felt gratitude for the NRA training that helped you return home alive.
Just four days after the patriots defeated the Red Coats at Lexington and Concord in 1775, the inhabitants of occupied Boston were desperate to flee the city.
1975: The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) was formed. ILA is the lobbying arm of the NRA. ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
AR-15s and other semi-automatic rifles are used daily by Americans from all walks of life, legally and safely, for everything from hunting to home defense, to competitive shooting and just plinking.