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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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Firearm Access During Shutdown Act introduced in Congress

Monday, November 10, 2025

Firearm Access During Shutdown Act introduced in Congress

On October 30th, 2025, Senator Jim Risch [R-ID] introduced the Firearm Access During Shutdown Act (S.3085), with Congressman Ben Cline [R-VA-6] introducing the companion legislation in the U.S. House (H.R. 5874).

The Latest Lurch in Canada’s Gun Grab: Test Run Nets “Less than 30” Guns

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

The Latest Lurch in Canada’s Gun Grab: Test Run Nets “Less than 30” Guns

In a tacit acknowledgement of just how unworkable its gun ban and confiscation program is, Canada’s Liberal government quietly extended the gun amnesty for an additional year, just before it was due to expire on October 30 ...

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Friday, October 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

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

President Trump Signs Appropriations Package that Includes Protections for Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights into Law

News  

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

President Trump Signs Appropriations Package that Includes Protections for Veterans’ Second Amendment Rights into Law

Today, President Donald Trump signed into law a legislative proposal to reopen the federal government. Included in the legislation is a provision that prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from stripping the constitutional right ...

Pennsylvania: Firearm Registration Bill Scheduled for Committee This Week!

Monday, November 10, 2025

Pennsylvania: Firearm Registration Bill Scheduled for Committee This Week!

On Wednesday, November 12, the House Judiciary Committee will take action on HB 1891, a gun registration bill that the NRA opposed last year and continues to fight this session. While supporters claim the bill is ...

Veteran’s Sad Lament Shows Why Surrender is Not an Option

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Veteran’s Sad Lament Shows Why Surrender is Not an Option

Gun owners in Virgina, home of NRA’s Headquarters, are still absorbing the results of last Tuesday’s elections. In addition to the election of Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former Mom’s Demand Action volunteer, as governor, we now ...

Gun owners should approach firearm product liability suits with discernment

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Gun owners should approach firearm product liability suits with discernment

Few communities take the products they use as seriously as gun owners. A firearm is often a tool that a person needs to be able to trust their life with. Add brand loyalty and differences ...

Virginia: Election Results Threaten Your Second Amendment Rights

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Virginia: Election Results Threaten Your Second Amendment Rights

The recent election has brought significant changes to the electorate, and the results couldn’t be clearer. An anti-gun majority now controls the House of Delegates, and an anti-gun Governor is preparing to take office. Together, they ...

Trump Administration Cuts Off Funding Spigot to More Gun Control Groups

News  

Monday, November 3, 2025

Trump Administration Cuts Off Funding Spigot to More Gun Control Groups

An NRA-ILA alert last month highlighted the ways in which President Donald Trump has used his office to safeguard our rights protected under the Second Amendment.

Michigan: Support Legislation to Expand and Restore Second Amendment Rights

Friday, November 7, 2025

Michigan: Support Legislation to Expand and Restore Second Amendment Rights

On Wednesday, the Michigan House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on four critical pro-gun bills designed to: lower the age to carry a concealed pistol to 18 years and old, allow eligible individuals 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.