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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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Talking Turkey: Spanberger Admits Legislation Bans Firearms “Frequently Used” for Lawful Purpose

News  

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Talking Turkey: Spanberger Admits Legislation Bans Firearms “Frequently Used” for Lawful Purpose

Anti-gun arrogance, or incompetence, is reaching new heights.

New York:  Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrat Majorities Use The Budget to Adopt Gun Ban

Saturday, May 23, 2026

New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democrat Majorities Use The Budget to Adopt Gun Ban

On Thursday, May 21, the New York Senate and Assembly used the State Budget as a vehicle to not only finance state government but also to pass a handful of their other policy priorities. 

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Maryland’s Glock Ban

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Maryland’s Glock Ban

The National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and Second Amendment Foundation filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging Maryland’s ban on Glock and Glock-style handguns.

New ATF Director Tells Congress Agency Committed to Rebuilding Trust with the Industry, Federal Firearms Licensees, Lawful Gun Owners

News  

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

New ATF Director Tells Congress Agency Committed to Rebuilding Trust with the Industry, Federal Firearms Licensees, Lawful Gun Owners

America’s Second Amendment community had some insights into the outlook of the newly confirmed ATF Director Robert Cekada, when he recently testified before the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement. 

Bloomberg’s Concealed Carry Policy Guide Built on Bureaucracy, Not Public Safety

News  

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Bloomberg’s Concealed Carry Policy Guide Built on Bureaucracy, Not Public Safety

Anti-gun extremist Michael Bloomberg thankfully commands fewer headlines these days. But policy efforts like the latest “Public Carry Permitting Model Policy Guide”  from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions still ...

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. 

NRA-ILA Applauds House Passage of Veterans Protection Bill

News  

Thursday, May 21, 2026

NRA-ILA Applauds House Passage of Veterans Protection Bill

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. This bill, sponsored by Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL-12) would reverse a controversial and deeply troubling policy that stripped veterans of ...

Illinois: Semi-Auto Glock Ban Eligible for Floor Vote

Friday, May 22, 2026

Illinois: Semi-Auto Glock Ban Eligible for Floor Vote

Yesterday, the House Gun Violence Prevention Committee passed HB 4471. The bill is now eligible for a floor vote.

Cert Petition Filed in NRA-Supported Challenge to Maryland’s “Sensitive Places” Carry Restrictions

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Cert Petition Filed in NRA-Supported Challenge to Maryland’s “Sensitive Places” Carry Restrictions

A petition for a writ of certiorari has been filed in the NRA-supported case, Kipke v. Moore, seeking Supreme Court review of Maryland’s sweeping carry restrictions enacted under the Gun Safety Act of 2023.

Massachusetts Officials Embrace Gun Control, Avoid Crime Control, and Force Citizen Action

News  

Monday, May 18, 2026

Massachusetts Officials Embrace Gun Control, Avoid Crime Control, and Force Citizen Action

Massachusetts has among the most restrictive gun control laws in the country. The Bay State is one of an exceedingly small group of states, along with Illinois, to require a license to merely own any ...

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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.