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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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Virginia: Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Gun Bills into Law

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Virginia: Spanberger Signs Unconstitutional Gun Bills into Law

Today, April 23rd, Governor Spanberger Signed HB1525 and SB727/HB1524 into law. 

Running Out of Targets: New York Bills Go After Air, Pellet and BB Guns

News  

Monday, April 20, 2026

Running Out of Targets: New York Bills Go After Air, Pellet and BB Guns

Anti-gun lawmakers in the Empire State are running out of things to ban.

Virginia: Spanberger Bill Threatens to Ban Most Centerfire Semi-autos, Devastate Right-to-Carry!

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Virginia: Spanberger Bill Threatens to Ban Most Centerfire Semi-autos, Devastate Right-to-Carry!

As bad as the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly’s ban on commonly-owned semi-automatics is, phony moderate Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) is seeking to make it even worse.

Virginia: Legislature Acts on Gun Bills; Ball Back in Spanberger's Court

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Virginia: Legislature Acts on Gun Bills; Ball Back in Spanberger's Court

Today, April 22nd, during the General Assembly's reconvened session, the House and Senate passed by Governor Spanberger's amendments on SB749/HB217 and SB173/HB229. 

Connecticut: Firearms Restrictions Pass Connecticut House Despite Bipartisan Opposition

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Connecticut: Firearms Restrictions Pass Connecticut House Despite Bipartisan Opposition

This week, the Connecticut House voted to advance Governor Lamont's H5043 - a proposal banning the future manufacture, sale, and importation of many commonly owned handguns in Connecticut.

U.S. House Removes Anti-Hunting Language from Farm Bill

News  

Monday, April 20, 2026

U.S. House Removes Anti-Hunting Language from Farm Bill

Last week, legislators on Capitol Hill delivered a significant victory for hunters and Second Amendment supporters by securing a critical fix to the House Farm Bill (Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026).  

Tennessee: Legislature Adjourns 2026 Session

Friday, April 24, 2026

Tennessee: Legislature Adjourns 2026 Session

The Tennessee General Assembly adjourned Sine Die last night, marking the end of the 2026 legislative session.  

Trump Administration Shuts Down “Reputation Risk” as a Cudgel Against Gun Industry

News  

Monday, April 20, 2026

Trump Administration Shuts Down “Reputation Risk” as a Cudgel Against Gun Industry

The decades long discriminatory tension between the financial sector and the firearm industry underwent a positive shift with a final rule published on April 10 by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the ...

North Carolina: Legislature Convenes in Raleigh

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

North Carolina: Legislature Convenes in Raleigh

Today, Tuesday, April 21st, the General Assembly kicked off their yearly legislative session at the capitol in Raleigh.

Michigan: Crippling Firearm Dealer Licensing Bill Hearing Tomorrow

Monday, April 27, 2026

Michigan: Crippling Firearm Dealer Licensing Bill Hearing Tomorrow

On Tuesday April 28, the Senate Judiciary Committee, will be hearing Senate Bills 853 & 854,  creating a burdensome and costly state licensing and training system for firearm dealers in addition to restricting consumer access to ...

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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.