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The National Rifle Association

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"The National Rifle Association"
Justin Griswell
Government
November 08, 2012

National Rifle Association In 1871 two former union soldiers Col. William C. Church, and General George Wingate created the National Rifle Association. What Col. William C. Church and General George Wingate set out to do was create an association that would promote and encourage rifle shooting. The two men visited a bank in 1871 and was given a loan by the state of New York to create and work toward the National Rifle Association. The two men discussed who they would hire to become president. They decided on a former General of the Cilvil War, General Ambrose Burnside. The three men then purchased land in Long, Island, New York to build a rifle range, which would eventually hold the first rifle shooting matches. Because of various complications the three men had to sell their land back to the state of New York and move the NRA to Sea Girt, New Jersey. In 1903 the NRA set out to promote shooting clubs in colleges, universities, and military establishments. By the year 1906 the NRA was hosting more then two hundred young men from around the world in shooting competitions in New Jersey. Even today the shooting competitions of young men is one of the largest for the NRA. They have over one million participants including the 4-H, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and the US Jaycees. Because the NRA was getting so large, they needed to open a new range to host all participants. Construction on a new range was started just off the shores of Lake Erie. This new range was called "Camp Perry". Camp Perry became the host of the national shooting matches. With over six thousand people attending this shoot annually, it is one of the largest sporting events in the United States. In 1934 the NRA was hit with a lot of attacks on violating the Second Amendment rights, "Right to bear arms". Because of this the NRA was forced to create a Legislative Affairs Division in the year 1934. In 1975 the NRA realized the need for political defense of the Second Amendment. The Institution for Legislative Action or ILA was born. The entire time the NRA was getting questioned and challenged by the United States government, the NRA was still training and educating young people about the importance and safety of guns. When World War II started the NRA offered their ranges to the government to help train soldiers and military personal on the rifle. They also assisted the United States by creating training materials, and telling members to guard their homes and businesses. The NRA and its members reloaded ammunition for soldiers and military personnel guarding plants around the United States. After World War II was over the NRA shifted its focus from military to educating and informing the hunting community about gun safety and protection. In 1949 the NRA teamed up with the State of New York to create the first hunter education program. By doing this the hunter education course has made hunting one of the safest sports on earth. The hunter education course has been so successful it is now offered in forty-three states and more then three canadian providences. They estimate the hunters safety course involving over forty-thousand people. The NRA is the leader in firearms and weapons with over fifty-thousand certified instructors which train over seven hundred and fifty-thousand gun owners a year. In many destine courses from rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloader rifles, personal protection courses, and ammunition reloading. Today it is estimated that the National Rifle Association has over four and a half million members in all parts of the world.

Works Cited
"About NRA-ILA". http://www.nraila.org/about-nra-ila.aspx.© 2012 National Rifle Association of America. Institute for Legislative
Action
"11 facts about the NRA".http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/11-facts-about-the-nra/2012/07/24/gJQANYcM7W_gallery.html#photo=1.

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