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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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NDAA 2026: A Win for Surplus Firearms Collectors and the Second Amendment

News  

Monday, December 15, 2025

NDAA 2026: A Win for Surplus Firearms Collectors and the Second Amendment

It is indeed that time of year. Time for the 65th annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This critical federal legislation specifies the budget and policies for the United States Department of Defense for the next fiscal year. 

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

In September, the North Carolina General Assembly briefly returned from recess and re-referred Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to the House Rules Committee.

CPRC’s Latest Report Outlines the Robust State of Concealed Carry in America

News  

Monday, December 22, 2025

CPRC’s Latest Report Outlines the Robust State of Concealed Carry in America

Dr. John Lott’s Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) has released its latest annual report on the state of concealed carry in the United States. 

Virginia: Gun Control Looms on the Horizon – Make Plans to Attend Lobby Day in January!

Monday, December 22, 2025

Virginia: Gun Control Looms on the Horizon – Make Plans to Attend Lobby Day in January!

Anti-gun legislators in Richmond have already begun filing legislation ahead of the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session. 

Minnesota: Governor Walz Issues Two Gun Control Executive Orders

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Minnesota: Governor Walz Issues Two Gun Control Executive Orders

With the holiday season upon us, former VP candidate Governor Tim Walz has once again proven his "Bah Humbug" stance on the Second Amendment. 

DOJ Defends Federal Firearms Registration in NRA Challenge to the NFA

Thursday, December 18, 2025

DOJ Defends Federal Firearms Registration in NRA Challenge to the NFA

In the NRA’s case, Brown v. ATF, the Department of Justice filed its opposition to the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, along with its own cross-motion, defending the National Firearms Act of 1934’s registration requirement for suppressors, short-barreled ...

DOJ (Again) Goes to Court to Defend 2A

News  

Monday, December 22, 2025

DOJ (Again) Goes to Court to Defend 2A

We recently reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it had created a new section under its Civil Rights Division—the first ever dedicated to protecting the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.  

Evidence of Firearm Industry “Debanking” Uncovered as Trump Administration Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices

News  

Monday, December 22, 2025

Evidence of Firearm Industry “Debanking” Uncovered as Trump Administration Takes Aim at Discriminatory Practices

President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order earlier this year on “politicized or unlawful debanking” and so-called “reputational risk” assessments that financial institutions used in denying services because of a customer’s political or religious beliefs ...

Tenth Circuit Lets NRA’s Victory Stand in New Mexico Waiting Period Case

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Tenth Circuit Lets NRA’s Victory Stand in New Mexico Waiting Period Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has denied New Mexico’s petition for rehearing en banc in Ortega v. Grisham, allowing a prior ruling invalidating the state’s firearm waiting period law to remain in effect.

SCOTUS Denies Cert in NRA-ILA Challenge to NFA Short-Barreled Rifle Restrictions

Monday, December 15, 2025

SCOTUS Denies Cert in NRA-ILA Challenge to NFA Short-Barreled Rifle Restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Rush v. United States, a challenge to the National Firearms Act of 1934’s restrictions on short-barreled rifles.

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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.