National Association for Gun Rights

National Association for Gun Rights

NAGR Logo
Formation 2000
Headquarters Windsor, Colorado
Board Chairman
 David Warrington
President
 Dudley Brown
Vice President of Political Affairs
 Luke O'Dell
Website www.nationalgunrights.org

The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is a gun rights advocacy group in the United States.[1] They maintain an affiliated PAC and a non-profit legal foundation. NAGR was founded in 2000 by Dudley Brown as a national companion organization to Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.[2][3] NAGR is a rival of the National Rifle Association and considers itself the "conservative alternative" to the NRA. The group spends most of its energy attacking lawmakers deemed too soft on Second Amendment issues via direct mail, robocalls and low-cost television ads.[4]

Activities

NAGR is opposed to the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.[5] The organization is also opposed to legislative actions on "high capacity magazines."[6]

In March 2015, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated a rule change that would ban M855 ball ammunition for civilian use. NAGR reported delivering 132,662 petitions to the ATF that urged the agency to stop the ammunition ban.[7]

NAGR utilized their relationship with the Iowa Gun Owners group during the 2011 Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa.[8]

When a vacancy arose in the Colorado State Legislature in 2012, NAGR supported Tim Neville over State Representative Jim Kerr, whom they felt was not sufficiently supportive of Second Amendment rights.[9]

NAGR supports the passage of no-permit Constitutional Carry.[10][11]

In 2012, NAGR sued the state of Montana over state laws that may require the organization to register as a political committee prior to mailing postcards critical of Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock’s record on gun rights.[12] According to the IRS, “a section 501(c)(4)… may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity.”[13] NAGR’s request for a preliminary injunction was denied in October.[14] Bullock was elected Governor the following month.

In March 2015, the National Association for Gun Rights was involved in opposing gun control measures in Vermont. The NAGR campaigned to stop the Vermont state legislature from passing SB 141.[15]

In April 2015, NAGR supported Kansas bill SB 45, which allows for Constitutional carry.[16][17] NAGR representatives were present at the bill signing on April 2.[18]

Disagreement with the National Rifle Association

In November 2011, the U.S. House passed legislation that would require states that issue concealed gun permits to recognize similar licenses from other states. The bill was supported by the National Rifle Association which considered it to be a top priority, but opposed by the NAGR on the basis that it could become a "Trojan horse for more gun control".[19]

A 2014 Newsmax article compared the NRA and NAGR.[20] In 2013, NAGR spent close to $1.9 million on gun lobbying during the first three months of the year, while the NRA reported spending $700,000 on the same issue.[21]


Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has declared himself a champion of gun rights. He has long supported the National Association for Gun Rights—a group that hypes itself as the conservative alternative to the NRA. Paul was not invited to the NRA's recent convention—because, NAGR president Dudley Brown claimed, "Paul is more pro-gun that the NRA." [22]

National Foundation for Gun Rights

Through its foundation, NAGR filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service, Bonidy v. USPS for prohibiting the carry of firearms on Postal Service property.[23]

The post office gun ban was partially lifted in February 2014. The law now permits firearms in post office parking lots, but the ban on firearms in Postal Service buildings remains. Rand Paul referenced NAGR's support for a complete repeal of the post office gun ban. [24]

During the McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case, an amicus brief, filed by NAGR was cited by the court prior to the victory for gun owners.[25]

In early 2010, NAGR threatened legal action against Colorado State University over the right of students and faculty to legally carry a concealed firearm on campus.[26] CSU rescinded their gun ban in May of that year.[27]

Political action committee

The National Association for Gun Rights PAC (NAGR-PAC) is an affiliated political action committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. Founded in 2010, it endorsed and donated to several candidates for federal office, including Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.),[28] Sharron Angle, Ken Buck, and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).[29]

In the 2012 election cycle, NAGR-PAC endorsed Richard Mourdock, who defeated Dick Lugar for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Indiana, with an initial contribution of $4,500 to his campaign;[30][31] Steve Daines, who ran a successful campaign for Montana’s at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives;[32] and Steve Stockman who ran a successful campaign for Texas's 36th congressional district.[33] NAGR-PAC spent $83,312 in election-related expenses during the 2012 election cycle.[34]

In the 2014 election cycle, NAGR-PAC endorsed candidates throughout the country who went on the record for their support on Second Amendment issues. NAGR's endorsements included Chris McDaniel (R-MS), Scott Renfroe (R-CO), Joe Miller (R-AK) and Mike Turner (R-OK).[35]

References

  1. ↑ Corn, David (April 21, 2015). "Cruz Campaign Accuses Paul and Rubio of Wimping Out on Gun Rights After Newtown". Mother Jones. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. ↑ O'Conell, Vanessa (2010-04-19). "Gun Advocates Open a New Front:Saying NRA Isn't Imaginative, Splinter Groups Seek More Aggressive Tactics". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  3. ↑ Richardson, Valerie (April 20, 2015). "Colorado gun advocates in firefight over raising magazine limits to 30 rounds". Washington Times. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Stokols, Eli (April 9, 2015). "The truth about the NRA’s snub of Rand Paul". Politico. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "EDITORIAL: The U.N. gun grabber". Washington Times. May 27, 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Jervis, Jervis (2012-07-31). "Gun control advocates target high-capacity magazines". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  7. ↑ "ATF Received More than 310,000 Comments on Ammo Ban". 18 March 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Haberman, Maggie. "Pro-gun group says it wants Perry answers". Politico. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  9. ↑ Marcus, Peter (February 3, 2012). "Rival pro-gun groups’ explosive relationship triggers political hits". Colorado Statesman. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Memorandum HB 1092 - Priola -2/9/12" (PDF). House Judiciary Committee Testimony / Handouts. National Association for Gun Rights via Colorado. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  11. ↑ "Hearings on Constitutional Carry and Preemption this Thursday.". New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  12. ↑ Youderian, Annie. "Gun-Rights Group Takes Aim at Montana Laws". Courthouse News Service. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  13. ↑ "Requirements for Exemption". Internal Revenue Service.
  14. ↑ "Judge denies request to bypass disclosure law". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  15. ↑ "A Gun Battle in Vermont". True North Reports. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Kansas Governor Signs Constitutional Carry Bill into Law". Outdoorhub.
  17. ↑ Tim Carpenter (26 March 2015). "Kansas House OKs no-permit carry law". Hays Daily News. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Gov. Sam Brownback to sign bill allowing unlicensed conceal-carry". Topeka Capital Journal. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "House approves bill making travel easier for gun owners". New York Times. November 17, 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  20. ↑ Chilson, Morgan (October 12, 2014). "National Association for Gun Rights vs. NRA: How Do They Differ?". Newsmax. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Schouten, Fredreka (May 2, 2013). "Ultra-conservative gun group outspends NRA on lobbying". USA Today. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  22. ↑ http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2013/04/gun-rights-group-with-close-ties-to/
  23. ↑ "Suit over Postal Service gun ban proceeds".
  24. ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/6/democrats-attack-sen-rand-paul-defending-gun-right/?page=all
  25. ↑ "Amicus Brief in McDonald v. Chicago: On Behalf of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and National Association for Gun Rights".
  26. ↑ "Group Threatens To Sue CSU Over Gun Ban".
  27. ↑ "Colorado State Rescinds Campus Gun Ban After Court Ruling".
  28. ↑ Sandoval, Michael (September 16, 2010). "NRA Set to Endorse Democrat Markey (CO-4)". National Review Online. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  29. ↑ "Committees And Candidates Supported/Opposed".
  30. ↑ "Report shows where the money is going in Congressional races". IndyStar.com. February 1, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  31. ↑ "NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR GUN RIGHTS INC PAC". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  32. ↑ "Top Contributors, 2012 Race: Montana District 01". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  33. ↑ "Top Contributors, 2012 Race: Texas District 36". OpenSecrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  34. ↑ "National Assn for Gun Rights Expenditures". Open Secrets.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  35. ↑ Thompson, D. (May 19, 2014). "NAGR: These 12 men will protect your gun rights". Bearing Arms. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

External links