Gun Owners Rights Lobby

Gun Owners Rights Lobby: A Guide to the Groups Defending the Second Amendment

The “gun rights lobby” is often described as one organization. In reality it is a network of national associations, state groups, legal foundations, trade groups, shooting clubs and independent voices, founded over more than 150 years and differing widely in size, style and strategy. Some work the halls of Congress, some file lawsuits, some train new shooters, and some represent particular communities of gun owners. Together they give law-abiding owners a voice in legislatures and courts.

The list below this introduction shows the scale: from the National Rifle Association (1871) and early state rifle associations, through the litigation and grassroots groups of the 1970s, to dozens of newer organizations founded since 2000, including groups for women, veterans, minority gun owners and specific causes such as suppressors or knife rights. Each entry links to a profile on Minuteman University.com.

Use this section to find groups that match your priorities, follow upcoming events, and learn who the people are behind the movement.

Timeline of founding years of major gun rights organizations and key court cases

In This Section

Key Facts

  • The NRA, founded in 1871, is the oldest national group; its lobbying arm, NRA-ILA, dates to 1975.
  • The Second Amendment Foundation (1974) filed McDonald v. City of Chicago, decided in 2010.
  • Since NYSRPA v. Bruen (June 23, 2022), litigation groups have filed many challenges under its text-history-tradition test.
  • NSSF, the industry trade association (1961), owns the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

Ways to Get Involved

  • Join at least one national and one state group whose approach you support.
  • Sign up for legislative alerts and contact your representatives when bills move.
  • Attend a rally, lobby day or the Gun Rights Policy Conference.
  • Bring a new shooter to a range or safety class.

Sources