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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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NRA Announces Third Lawsuit Challenging the National Firearms Act

Thursday, February 26, 2026

NRA Announces Third Lawsuit Challenging the National Firearms Act

Today, the National Rifle Association announced the filing of a third lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA). The case, Roberts v. ATF, was filed in the U.S. District Court for ...

Virginia Gun Owners Face Magazine Confiscation!

Monday, February 2, 2026

Virginia Gun Owners Face Magazine Confiscation!

Astute Virginia gun owners anticipated terrible gun control legislation from the 2026 General Assembly. Still, some may be shocked to learn that anti-rights zealots in the Virginia Senate have advanced a bill to CONFISCATE standard capacity firearm ...

Virginia: Gun Bill Updates As Crossover Deadline Arrives

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Virginia: Gun Bill Updates As Crossover Deadline Arrives

Today, February 17th is the legislative crossover deadline in Virginia, and any bills that have not left their chamber of origin by the end of the day are considered dead for the session.

Minnesota: Gun Control Bills Stall in Committee

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Minnesota: Gun Control Bills Stall in Committee

Following committee votes on Tuesday, February 24th, and Wednesday, February 25th, many of the most egregious gun controls bills in the legislature have stalled and may not receive further action this session.

Connecticut’s “Convertible Pistol” Ban Picks up Where California’s Overreach Left Off

News  

Monday, February 23, 2026

Connecticut’s “Convertible Pistol” Ban Picks up Where California’s Overreach Left Off

What the Second Amendment community has long known has become increasingly difficult for gun grabbers to deny: no handgun is safe from the prohibitionist agenda.

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives rescheduled this morning’s veto override on Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to February 9, 2026.

Oregon: Ballot Measure 114 Override Bill Passes House

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Oregon: Ballot Measure 114 Override Bill Passes House

This afternoon, House Bill 4145, the Ballot Measure 114 override bill, passed out of the House and will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.

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.

California: Lawmakers Introduce New Bill that Would Censor Private 3-D Printers

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

California: Lawmakers Introduce New Bill that Would Censor Private 3-D Printers

Last week marked the deadline for bill introductions in the California Legislature. As we anticipated in our previous alert, anti-gun lawmakers used this opportunity to file additional measures aimed at further restricting the rights of ...

Washington: Bill Removing Fee Cap on Firearm Background Checks Advances AFTER Crossover Deadline

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Washington: Bill Removing Fee Cap on Firearm Background Checks Advances AFTER Crossover Deadline

On Tuesday night, the Washington legislature suspended the rules to move House Bill 2521 and voted to pass it off the House Floor AFTER the legislative crossover deadline of February 17th.

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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.