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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: Multiple Gun Control Bills Advance in Senate

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Advance in Senate

On Monday, January 26th, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced a slate of gun control bills targeting semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines, carry rights, home storage, and more.

The Stakes are High as U.S. Supreme Court Considers Anti-gun “Vampire Rule”

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

The Stakes are High as U.S. Supreme Court Considers Anti-gun “Vampire Rule”

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in a Second Amendment case that asked whether handgun carry licensees could be presumptively banned from carrying their arms onto publicly accessible private property. 

ATF Rewrites Rules for Addicts/Unlawful Drug Users as Supreme Court Case Looms

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

ATF Rewrites Rules for Addicts/Unlawful Drug Users as Supreme Court Case Looms

On Jan. 22, ATF published an interim final rule (IFR) that revises the agency’s approach to determining who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” and therefore prohibited from owning or receiving firearms ...

Commonwealth Countries Continue to Illustrate Folly of Overreach on Guns

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

Commonwealth Countries Continue to Illustrate Folly of Overreach on Guns

As America gets ready to embark on its 250th birthday celebrations, it’s a good time to assess and appreciate how lucky we are, with constitutional protections of speech and gun rights. Nothing puts that into ...

Virginia: More Gun Control Bills Filed Including Semi-Auto Ban and Tax on Suppressors!

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Virginia: More Gun Control Bills Filed Including Semi-Auto Ban and Tax on Suppressors!

Anti-gun legislators in Richmond have been busy ahead of the 2026 legislative session working on ways to burden your Second Amendment rights.

Second Amendment Momentum: Quick Takeaways from SHOT Show

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

Second Amendment Momentum: Quick Takeaways from SHOT Show

Last week’s 48th annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade) Show hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)) showcased not only the latest and greatest guns and gear, but an invigorated and promising outlook for the Second ...

Grassroots Spotlight – VCDL Lobby Day

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

Grassroots Spotlight – VCDL Lobby Day

On January 19th, grassroots activists came together in Richmond for the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) Lobby Day, and it was a resounding success.

New Mexico: Anti-Gun Legislation to be heard Wednesday in Senate Committee

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

New Mexico: Anti-Gun Legislation to be heard Wednesday in Senate Committee

Tomorrow, the New Mexico Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on an omnibus gun control package that would severely undermine the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Mexicans and threaten ...

Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Up in Committee on Monday

Friday, January 23, 2026

Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Up in Committee on Monday

On Monday, January 26th, the Senate Courts of Justice committee will hold a hearing on over a dozen gun control bills, including semi-automatic bans and concealed carry prohibitions. The hearing will begin at 8am.

Virginia: Gun Bills in Committee This Thursday

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Virginia: Gun Bills in Committee This Thursday

On Thursday, January 23rd, the House Public Safety Subcommittee – Firearms will hold a hearing on several pro-gun measures.

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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.