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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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Oregon Incident Illustrates Obvious Flaws in Red Flag Laws

News  

Monday, May 11, 2026

Oregon Incident Illustrates Obvious Flaws in Red Flag Laws

A recent case involving an Oregon man who was the subject of two “red flag” gun confiscation orders illustrates one of the many problems with the foolish policy.

A “Thought Experiment” That has Already Been Tried—And Failed

News  

Monday, May 11, 2026

A “Thought Experiment” That has Already Been Tried—And Failed

Washington Post opinion columnist Megan McArdle recently wrote an article (paywall alert) exploring a “new” idea to combat violent crime where firearms are used.

Beyond Colorado: DOJ Lawsuits Herald a National Defense of the Second Amendment

News  

Monday, May 11, 2026

Beyond Colorado: DOJ Lawsuits Herald a National Defense of the Second Amendment

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and her newly hired brigade of Second Amendment attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division Second Amendment Section are clearly ready to work. 

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Hear the Case of Navy Veteran Patrick “Tate” Adamiak

Monday, May 4, 2026

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Hear the Case of Navy Veteran Patrick “Tate” Adamiak

The National Rifle Association joined the Second Amendment Foundation, California Rifle & Pistol Association, Second Amendment Law Center, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in ...

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. 

Canada’s Multi-Million Dollar “Red Flag” Regime: All Show, No Go

News  

Monday, May 11, 2026

Canada’s Multi-Million Dollar “Red Flag” Regime: All Show, No Go

American “red flag” laws (“punishment now, due process later”) have been opposed for years by groups as varied as the NRA and the ACLU because of their shaky science, minimal evidentiary requirements, and significant erosions of constitutional ...

Connecticut Senate Rams Through Unconstitutional Pistol Ban in Dead of Night

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Connecticut Senate Rams Through Unconstitutional Pistol Ban in Dead of Night

Last night, in the early morning hours of May 6th, progressives in the Connecticut Senate passed H5043, the Governor's bill banning future manufacture, sale, and importation of many commonly owned handguns in Connecticut.

Pennsylvania: Pair of Pro-Gun Bills Advance In Senate

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Pennsylvania: Pair of Pro-Gun Bills Advance In Senate

Wednesday, May 6 was a big day in Harrisburg for gun owners as the Senate took action on a couple important gun bills.  

NRA Files Amicus Brief Arguing that Firearm Prohibitions for Nonviolent Felons Violate the Second Amendment

Thursday, May 7, 2026

NRA Files Amicus Brief Arguing that Firearm Prohibitions for Nonviolent Felons Violate the Second Amendment

Today, the National Rifle Association, along with the Firearms Policy Coalition and FPC Action Foundation, filed an amicus brief in Atkinson v. Blanche, a challenge to the federal lifetime prohibition on firearms possession by nonviolent felons.

New Jersey: Sherrill Administration Begrudgingly Updated Permit to Carry Dashboard, Legislation is Still Needed

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

New Jersey: Sherrill Administration Begrudgingly Updated Permit to Carry Dashboard, Legislation is Still Needed

In March, gun owners and NRA members around the state contacted their lawmakers and, as a result, Attorney General Davenport reluctantly began updating the NJ Permit to Carry Dashboard which reports statistics on the approval and denial of licenses ...

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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.