NRA ILA

by

NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA)

founded in 1975


– the legislative lobbying faction of the NRA, the

nra ila Letterhead

John David Dingell Jr.

in 1968 Urged the NRA to fight for 2nd Amendment rights & the concept of the NRA ILA

John Dingell

Harlon Carter

1975-1976 served as director of the NRA’s lobbying arm NRA ILA
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlon_Carter

Harlon Carter

“Neal” Knox

1978-1982 Executive Director of NRA Institute for Legislative Action (ILA)
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neal_Knox

Neal Knox

Chris W. Cox

 April 2002 – 2019  executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA)
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_W._Cox

Chris Cox

 

About the NRA Institute for Legislative Action

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) is the registered lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association. It was formed in 1975, when NRA management allowed Harlon Carter to create a dedicated legislative operation, and it was joined in 1976 by the NRA Political Victory Fund, the association’s political action committee. NRA-ILA describes its mission as preserving the right of law-abiding individuals to buy, possess and use firearms as protected by the Second Amendment, and it works on federal and state legislation, ballot measures and public advocacy.

NRA-ILA was at the center of the NRA’s turn toward political advocacy. In November 1976 much of Carter’s staff was dismissed and Carter resigned in protest; at the 1977 annual meeting in Cincinnati, Carter and Neal Knox led a members’ challenge that replaced much of the incumbent leadership. Carter became executive vice president, Knox was elected head of NRA-ILA, and the institute’s funding was increased as gun rights became the NRA’s primary cause. Later leaders included Chris W. Cox, who directed NRA-ILA from 2002 to 2019. In April 2023 Randy Kozuch was appointed interim executive director after the previous director resigned. NRA-ILA continues as the NRA’s legislative arm in 2026.

Key Facts

  • 1975: NRA-ILA formed as the NRA’s lobbying arm under Harlon Carter
  • 1976: NRA Political Victory Fund established as the NRA’s PAC
  • November 1976: Carter resigns after much of his staff is dismissed
  • 1977: Cincinnati Revolt; Neal Knox elected head of NRA-ILA
  • April 2023: Randy Kozuch named interim NRA-ILA executive director
Timeline of key dates for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Sources

Profiles on Minuteman University.com are editorial content compiled from public sources. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of, sponsorship by, or affiliation with this site or the Gun Websites Firearms Network. Corrections and removal requests are welcome through Contact Us.