The National Rifle Association of America, or NRA, is an American non-partisan, nonprofit organization which lists as its goals the

protection of the Second Amendment of the

United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as
marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense in the United
States.

the Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States
Constitution are known

It was established in 1871 in New York by William Conant Church and George Wood
Wingate as the American Rifle Association; its first President was former Senator and famous
Civil War Union Army General Ambrose Burnside.[2] President of the United States Ulysses
S. Grant served as the NRA's eighth President[3] and General Philip H. Sheridan as its ninth.
The NRA sponsors firearm safety training courses, as well as marksmanship events featuring
shooting skills and sports. The NRA is sometimes said to be the single most powerful
lobbying organization in the United States.[5] Its political activity is based on the principle that
gun ownership is a civil liberty protected by the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights, and
it claims to be the oldest continuously operating civil rights organization in the United States.
NRA safety programs
The NRA sponsors a range of safety programs to educate and encourage the safe use of
firearms. NRA hunting safety courses are offered all across the U.S. for both children and
adults. In recent years gun safety classes oriented more towards firearm safety, particularly for
women, have become popular. Intended for school-age children, the NRA's "Eddie Eagle"
program encourages the viewer to "Stop! Don't touch! Leave the area! Tell an adult!" if the
child ever sees a firearm lying around. The NRA has claimed that studies prove the "Eddie
Eagle" program reduces the likelihood of firearms accidents in the home, and the program is
used in many elementary schools nationwide.
Political lobbying
Members of Congress have ranked the NRA as the most powerful lobbying organization in
the country several years in a row.[7] Opponents of the organization accuse it of unduly
influencing political appointments.[8] Chris W. Cox is the NRA's chief lobbyist and principal
political strategist, a position he has held since 2002.
During the 2008 presidential campaign, the NRA spent $10 million.[9]
In its lobbying for gun rights, the NRA asserts the Second Amendment guarantees the right of
individuals to own and use guns. The NRA opposes measures that conflict with the Second
Amendment and/or the right to privacy enjoyed by law-abiding citizens who are gun owners.
The NRA has supported gun rights on other grounds as wellthey opposed the Brady Bill in
the courts on Tenth Amendment grounds, not Second Amendment.
Current leadership
The NRA organization is governed by a large (typically 75 member) board of directors. The
directors choose the president, the leading spokesman for the organization, from among their

members. Although traditionally this position changed annually, for several years it was
consecutively held by actor and activist Charlton Heston, who was a compelling promoter of
the NRA agenda. Heston became afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and stepped down in
April 2003. Ron Schmeits is the current president, replacing John C. Sigler in 2009. Sandra
Froman served 2005-2007. Marion P. Hammer was the first female president, serving from
1995 to 1998.
The organization also has an Executive Vice President, who is not a director but functions as
Chief Executive Officer, appointed at the pleasure of the directors. Wayne LaPierre has held
this position since 1991. The Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action is
Chris W. Cox, who has been appointed by LaPierre every year since 2002. Kayne Robinson
was also reappointed Executive Director of NRA General Operations.
Popular culture
The NRA has received both positive and negative criticism in the popular media, and its
image has included references in television shows and other forms of popular culture. In
2000, the NRA announced plans (never completed) to open up a NRA Sports Blast in Times
Square (New York). The themed restaurant would have featured food, arcade attractions, and
other NRA-themed entertainment. The plan received both positive and negative comments in
popular media.
COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine
High School in an unincorporated area in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near
Denver and with Littleton's postal code. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold,
embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and one teacher. They also injured 21 other
students directly, and three people were injured while attempting to escape. The pair then
committed suicide.
The massacre provoked debate regarding gun control laws, the availability of firearms in the
United States, and gun violence involving youths. Much discussion also centered on the
nature of high school cliques, subcultures and bullying, as well as the role of violent movies
and video games in American society.
Gun control
The shooting resulted in calls for more gun control measures. In 2000, federal and state
legislations were introduced that would require safety locks on firearms as well as ban the
importation of high-capacity ammunition magazines. There was concern amongst the gun
lobby over the further erosion of Second Amendment rights in the U.S.
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and liberal
political commentator. He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit
9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Story, four of the top six highest-grossing documentaries
of all time.

Bowling for Columbine

Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 American documentary film written, directed, produced by,
and narrated by Michael Moore. It brought Moore international attention as a rising
filmmaker and won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary
Feature, the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature, a special 55th
Anniversary Prize at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival[2] and the Csar Award for Best Foreign
Film.
Film content
The film explores what Moore suggests are the causes for the Columbine High School
massacre and other acts of violence with guns. Moore focuses on the background and
environment in which the massacre took place and some common public opinions and
assumptions about related issues. The film looks into the nature of violence in the United
States.
In Moore's discussions with various people including South Park co-creator Matt Stone, the
National Rifle Association's then-president Charlton Heston, and musician Marilyn Manson
he seeks to explain why the Columbine massacre occurred and why the United States has a
high violent crime rate (especially crimes involving guns).
VIDEO acquiring firearms in U.S. (NRA laws)
VIDEO Chris Rock talks about Bullet Control
VIDEO Columbine incident vs Charlton Heston
VIDEO Dressing policy
VIDEO Blaming everyone
VIDEO The interview with Charlton Heston