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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: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Virginia: Legislature Adjourns from 2026 Session; Anti-Gun Bills on Governor's Desk

On Saturday, March 14th, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session, and the future of the Commonwealth hangs in the balance. 

DOJ Legal Filing Renews Concerns About ATF’s Posture on Braced Pistols

Friday, March 20, 2026

DOJ Legal Filing Renews Concerns About ATF’s Posture on Braced Pistols

The saga of ATF’s enforcement of the National Firearm Act’s “short barreled rifle” provisions against braced pistols has been a roller coaster ride of shifting interpretations. NRA-ILA has been keeping up with, reporting on, and ...

Michigan Red Flag Report Sheds Light on Confiscation Orders in Practice

News  

Monday, March 16, 2026

Michigan Red Flag Report Sheds Light on Confiscation Orders in Practice

This month, Michigan’s judicial branch published the 2025 edition of its annual report on the state’s Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (red flag gun confiscation order statute). 

Canada Spending $25K+ per Gun Confiscated from Non-Criminals; 0 Lives Saved

News  

Monday, March 16, 2026

Canada Spending $25K+ per Gun Confiscated from Non-Criminals; 0 Lives Saved

More proof (as if any was needed) has emerged that the Canadian gun ban and confiscation is a massive administrative, practical and economic debacle.

New Jersey: Sherrill Administration Has Yet to Update Permit to Carry Dashboard

Thursday, March 19, 2026

New Jersey: Sherrill Administration Has Yet to Update Permit to Carry Dashboard

After Phil Murphy signed NJ’s Carry Killer bill (A.4769), in a complete rejection of the Supreme Court’s holding in Bruen, the Attorney General’s Office elected to voluntarily release data relating to the number of carry permit applications, including ...

Virginia: Semi-Auto Ban Heads to Governor Spanberger's Desk

Monday, March 9, 2026

Virginia: Semi-Auto Ban Heads to Governor Spanberger's Desk

Yet another piece of anti-gun legislation has made it out of the General Assembly and is on its way to Governor Spanberger.

Kansas: State-Level Suppressor Bill Passes Senate

Friday, March 20, 2026

Kansas: State-Level Suppressor Bill Passes Senate

This week, the Senate passed House Bill 2501, removing suppressors and short barreled firearms from the controlled weapons list at the state level.

Kansas: Senate Vote on State-Level Suppressor Bill TODAY

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Kansas: Senate Vote on State-Level Suppressor Bill TODAY

Today, March 18th, the Senate will hold a floor vote on the Senate substitute for House Bill 2501, removing suppressors and short barreled rifles from the controlled weapons list at the state level.

Michigan: Constitutional Carry Legislation Introduced

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Michigan: Constitutional Carry Legislation Introduced

A package of pro-Second Amendment legislation has been introduced in the Michigan House. House Bills 5653–5657 would make Michigan the 30th state in the nation to recognize Constitutional Carry, allowing individuals who are legally permitted ...

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives rescheduled this morning’s veto override on Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to February 9, 2026.

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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.