Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Ruger Answers the Call for Freedom

Friday, October 7, 2016

Ruger Answers the Call for Freedom

When Bill Ruger, Sr. founded Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. in 1949, his newly minted company faced an uphill battle. Experts cast doubt that a new firearms company could stand up to the established name-brand gunmakers in an industry that was already viewed to be in a state of decline.  

More than 60 years later, the Ruger name is respected around the world.  In the spirit of Bill Ruger, Ruger CEO Mike Fifer and President/COO Chris Killoy have taken a stand to not only provide customers with a great firearm, but to ensure their customers have the right to use them for years to come.

They know the real threats looming just around the corner:

The next President could nominate three or more anti-gun Supreme Court Justices, making possible the virtual eradication of Second Amendment freedom.

The reinstatement of the failed federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.

Increased federal funding on gun control research.

A policy to use secret government lists to deny Second Amendment rights.

The creation of a federal firearm registration scheme.

The Ruger leaders were determined to make a difference by doing more than just donating. They wanted to get their loyal customers and gun owners across America involved. 

“We started with the One Million Gun Challenge a few years ago because the NRA-ILA needed money to fight the battles on our behalf,” explained Ruger CEO Mike Fifer. “It seemed like a stretch goal for us. So, we went out and did it. We made more than a million guns and we sold more than a million guns.” 

Flash forward four years, and support for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action was more important than ever. Fifer says that after hearing Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox explain that they were hoping to raise fifty to sixty million dollars, the 2.5 Million Gun Challenge was born. 

“We thought, gee, could we do it again? And it just didn't seem like enough. So, we said, let's double everything. Let's try to raise four million dollars."

“And we hope that they know that their decision to buy a Ruger means more than just owning and shooting a great firearm,” explained Ruger president and COO Chris Killoy. “It means supporting their Second Amendment rights, helping Ruger support the NRA-ILA, especially in this critical election year.”

Undeterred, Ruger again met the challenge goal of selling two million new firearms, raising a total of $4,000,000 for the NRA-ILA between the 2015 and 2016 NRA Annual Meetings. 

"Ruger's continued commitment to supporting the NRA-ILA is outstanding," said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox. "The funds raised from this program will help us in both our fight to protect the Second Amendment and our effort to educate voters and get them to the polls in this crucial election year."

But Ruger’s unwavering support for the Second Amendment and the NRA didn’t end there. On August 1, 2016, Ruger announced the $5 Million Match Campaign to continue its support for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). Until October 31, 2016, any donation made to the NRA-ILA that is affiliated with the challenge will be matched by a donation from Ruger, up to a maximum Ruger contribution of $5,000,000. All donations will benefit the NRA-ILA’s efforts to protect the Second Amendment in the upcoming November elections. 

The Ruger $5 Million Match Challenge further exemplifies Ruger’s commitment to our Second Amendment rights. This campaign provides firearms enthusiasts and supporters of the Second Amendment with an opportunity to give at whatever level they choose, whether or not they have participated in the 2.5 Million Gun Challenge.

“We wanted to offer an opportunity for folks to contribute to the NRA-ILA, knowing that their donation will be backed by a matching contribution from Ruger,” Fifer added. “Make no mistake, the Second Amendment is on the ballot this November and we all have to be completely committed to preserving it.”

As of September 16, 2016, the Ruger $5 Million Match campaign has raised $3.8 million in donations alone, and with Ruger’s matching contributions that is a total of $7.6 million in funds to protect our Second Amendment rights. But there’s still time for you to show your support for Ruger, the NRA and the Constitution by donating to the $5 Million Match Challenge. 

“NRA members, loyal Ruger customers and everyone who values their right to bear arms together constitute a force to be reckoned with—whether it’s at the polls or with our checkbooks,” said Fifer. “Now is the time to put that power behind the NRA to ensure they have the resources they need to defend our rights from an ever-increasing anti-gun agenda.”

To make a donation, visit Ruger’s contribution page on the NRA-ILA website at www.nraila.org/grassroots/contribute/ruger-5-million-match/, or through the Ruger website at www.Ruger.com/TakeAction. You can also learn what is at stake this election year, discover how you can “take action” to defend the Second Amendment— from buying a Ruger® firearm, writing to congressmen, voting in the upcoming election, joining the NRA and finding out more about how Ruger is on the frontlines of the fight for freedom. 

“When it comes to the Second Amendment, every election is important but this year especially we know the results are going to be critical to our future as an industry and our future as firearms owners,” explains Killoy.

“Here's what you can do,” says Fifer. “First, get out and vote. Second, take at least one friend with you to vote. Help folks get out to the polls who wouldn't otherwise get there on their own for whatever reason. And third, participate in the challenge because we can really make a difference if we help fund NRA-ILA.” 

Fifer and Killoy want to impress upon gun owners across America that although the $5 Million Match Challenge will be over on October 31, the battle will continue.  “The NRA needs our support more than ever,” says Killoy. “Together, we can answer the call for freedom and stand together to protect and defend our constitutional rights. Only we can provide the NRA with the monetary funding and grass-roots manpower it needs to safeguard the Second Amendment for our generation and the next.”

“Friends, the fight is already on. If we wait until November, we will lose everything. So challenge every gun owner you know,” stated Chris Cox, Executive Director of the NRA-ILA. “This is a fight for our freedom!”

 

 

 

IN THIS ARTICLE
Ruger Sturm Ruger
TRENDING NOW
Federal Judge in Colorado Insists There is No Second Amendment Right to Buy a Gun

News  

Monday, November 20, 2023

Federal Judge in Colorado Insists There is No Second Amendment Right to Buy a Gun

Honest people can disagree with the Founders’ decision to enshrine the Second Amendment within the Bill of Rights. They cannot, however, pretend that decision never happened. For much of the 20th Century, however, gun control activists ...

Following Terrorist Attack, Israel Relaxes Gun Laws and Arms Civilians

News  

Monday, October 16, 2023

Following Terrorist Attack, Israel Relaxes Gun Laws and Arms Civilians

Following an unprecedented terrorist attack on civilians that indiscriminately targeted even the elderly, women, and children, Israel has loosened its gun laws and is distributing firearms to civilians. As of press time, the number of victims killed in ...

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License Requirement in NRA-Backed Case.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Strikes Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License Requirement in NRA-Backed Case.

On Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals ruled that Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License (“HQL”) requirement is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. 

Seventh Circuit Strains to Uphold Illinois’ Gun and Magazine Ban

News  

Monday, November 13, 2023

Seventh Circuit Strains to Uphold Illinois’ Gun and Magazine Ban

At this point, gun owners and other productive Americans don’t anticipate much good news out of Chicago. On November 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit lived up to those expectations when it upheld Illinois’ ...

Virginia: Omnibus Gun Control Bills Filed Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Virginia: Omnibus Gun Control Bills Filed Ahead of the 2024 Legislative Session

In Virginia, the pre-filing of legislation has begun for the 2024 session and anti-gun legislators are wasting no time in aggressively laying out their agenda. 

SCOTUS Bruen Decision (Unsurprisingly) Popular with American People

News  

Monday, November 20, 2023

SCOTUS Bruen Decision (Unsurprisingly) Popular with American People

When the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released its decision last year in the landmark New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen case, anti-gun extremist organizations had a collective conniption ...

Federal Legislation Introduced to Ban “Gas Operated Semiautomatic” Firearms

Friday, December 1, 2023

Federal Legislation Introduced to Ban “Gas Operated Semiautomatic” Firearms

Joe Biden has long insisted he would ban what he calls “assault weapons” and has enlisted a motley succession of extreme anti-gun legislators to aid in that effort. Now, Senators Angus King (IND-ME) and Martin ...

Nebraska: Kearney City Council Rescinds Gun-Free Zone Ordinance

Take Action  

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Nebraska: Kearney City Council Rescinds Gun-Free Zone Ordinance

On Tuesday, November 28th, the Kearney City Council voted 3-2 to rescind the recent gun-free zone ordinance Resolution 2023-149. 

Canadians on Canada’s Gun Control Measures: Expensive, Ineffective, Political Posturing

News  

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Canadians on Canada’s Gun Control Measures: Expensive, Ineffective, Political Posturing

More than three years have passed since Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban and mandatory confiscation (“buyback”) of what he called “military grade assault weapons,” which was followed by a national handgun “freeze” ...

Massachusetts: Sunday Hunting Hearing Wednesday

Hunting  

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Massachusetts: Sunday Hunting Hearing Wednesday

Tomorrow, the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will be holding a hearing on a number of hunting-related bills, including bills pertaining to Sunday Hunting. 

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

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.