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Grassroots Spotlight: Meet Jay M. Littlefield Award Winners Rick Coufal and Dennis Barthenheier

Monday, February 13, 2023

Grassroots Spotlight: Meet Jay M. Littlefield Award Winners Rick Coufal and Dennis Barthenheier

The annual NRA-ILA Jay M. Littlefield Award recognizes individual NRA members for their meritorious defense of the Second Amendment. Late last year, awards were presented to two individuals for their selfless commitment to upholding and supporting the Second Amendment.

Dennis Barthenheier, owner of Wisconsin Firearms Training Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin, received the award for his invaluable work with the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division over the past five years. Combining his passion for the Second Amendment, with his business, Wisconsin Firearms Training Center, he continually serves as a beacon for pro-Second Amendment activities in Wisconsin.

Dennis is always willing to generously let NRA, local volunteers, and pro-2A activists use his business and resources for so many important grassroots events focused on educating and engaging many in Wisconsin in support of our rights. He additionally lends his own personal time to the cause and has assisted NRA-ILA with other endeavors outside his business, such as NRA State Conferences and other events.

Rick Coufal has been volunteering directly with the NRA-ILA in Oregon for just a few short years, but has made a huge impact!  He has been instrumental in important grassroots outreach in Oregon as a Frontlines Activist Leader, as well as the Legislative Director for the NRA affiliated State Association. Rick went above and beyond the call by not only helping the new NRA-ILA PNW Grassroots Coordinator get acclimated to the region, but also helped to staff numerous gun shows and legislative events that contributed to his accumulation of more than 120+ volunteer hours in a single year. Most recently he was an integral part of the Oregonians for Freedom Committee, which was instrumental in fighting the atrocious Oregon gun control ballot initiative. A U.S. Army Veteran, he has always been a wealth of knowledge and commitment and one day aspires to serve the NRA in a greater capacity on the Board of Directors.

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Chicago Woman Shot with Stolen Buyback Gun Files Suit

News  

Monday, August 11, 2025

Chicago Woman Shot with Stolen Buyback Gun Files Suit

NRA has often reported on failed “gun buyback” programs in cities across the country as being worse than useless. 

Jim Acosta Plumbs a New Low in Fake News

News  

Monday, August 11, 2025

Jim Acosta Plumbs a New Low in Fake News

Those who followed the media’s coverage of the first Trump Administration are painfully aware of former CNN personality Jim Acosta. 

Administration Issues Executive Order on Discriminatory “Debanking”

News  

Monday, August 11, 2025

Administration Issues Executive Order on Discriminatory “Debanking”

Last month, we wrote about several important developments to protect the firearms industry and America’s gun owners from discrimination in the provision of financial services.

NRA, Other Leading Second Amendment Groups File Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of the National Firearms Act

News  

Friday, August 1, 2025

NRA, Other Leading Second Amendment Groups File Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of the National Firearms Act

Today, the National Rifle Association (NRA), American Suppressor Association (ASA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Prime Protection STL Tactical Boutique, and two members of the organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality ...

Smith & Wesson’s Clinton-Era Agreement Resurrected in Canadian Lawsuit

News  

Monday, August 4, 2025

Smith & Wesson’s Clinton-Era Agreement Resurrected in Canadian Lawsuit

In 2000, as part of a settlement of dozens of product liability/negligence lawsuits brought by local governments and the threat of litigation by the federal government, the then-British-owned gunmaker Smith & Wesson signed a deal brokered by ...

New Jersey Attorney General Platkin: Making Up Gun Control Laws as He Goes Along

News  

Monday, August 4, 2025

New Jersey Attorney General Platkin: Making Up Gun Control Laws as He Goes Along

The most fundamental requirement for a legitimate legal regime is that a person must be able to know what the law requires before being held accountable to it. 

North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

During a veto override session on Tuesday, July 29th, both chambers passed House Bill 193 (H193) and defeated Governor Josh Stein's veto.

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Armed Citizen Helps Stop Terrifying Mass Stabbing in Michigan

News  

Monday, August 4, 2025

Armed Citizen Helps Stop Terrifying Mass Stabbing in Michigan

Recent headlines continue to serve as important reminders that when seconds count, a lawfully armed citizen is often there in the interval before law enforcement can be.

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.