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NRA Names Virginia Lawmaker Defender of Freedom

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

NRA Names Virginia Lawmaker Defender of Freedom

Fairfax, Va.The National Rifle Association awarded Virginia Delegate Todd Gilbert the Defender of Freedom Award at the 146th National Rifle Association annual meeting in Atlanta on Friday, April 28. 

 “Todd Gilbert is a staunch defender of our Second Amendment freedoms,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). “He has consistently stood up to the gun control lobby and aggressively fought to promote our fundamental right to self-protection.”

The Defender of Freedom Award  is awarded to individuals who have distinguished themselves in preserving and protecting our Second Amendment rights.

“On behalf of the NRA’s five million members, I thank Delegate Gilbert for his unwavering commitment to freedom,” concluded Cox.. 

Gilbert most recently promoted the right to self-defense by working tirelessly on an NRA-backed domestic violence package. If signed into law, this important legislative initiative would allow petitioners of protective orders to concealed carry without a permit and create a firearms training fund for domestic violence victims. Gilbert has battled Virginia's anti-gun administration for over two years in an effort to enact this important and potentially life-saving legislation. He has pledged to continue the fight.

Gilbert, the incoming Republican Majority Leader, has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2005 and is a Lifetime Endowment member of the NRA.  


Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.

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Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Advance in Senate

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Virginia: Multiple Gun Control Bills Advance in Senate

On Monday, January 26th, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee advanced a slate of gun control bills targeting semi-automatic firearms, standard capacity magazines, carry rights, home storage, and more.

Virginia: More Gun Control Bills Filed Including Semi-Auto Ban and Tax on Suppressors!

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Virginia: More Gun Control Bills Filed Including Semi-Auto Ban and Tax on Suppressors!

Anti-gun legislators in Richmond have been busy ahead of the 2026 legislative session working on ways to burden your Second Amendment rights.

Virginia: More Gun Control Introduced in General Assembly

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Virginia: More Gun Control Introduced in General Assembly

The 2026 Virginia legislative session is underway, and lawmakers are continuing their assault on your Second Amendment rights.

The Stakes are High as U.S. Supreme Court Considers Anti-gun “Vampire Rule”

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

The Stakes are High as U.S. Supreme Court Considers Anti-gun “Vampire Rule”

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments in a Second Amendment case that asked whether handgun carry licensees could be presumptively banned from carrying their arms onto publicly accessible private property. 

Oregon: Gun Control Scheduled for Day One of Session!

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Oregon: Gun Control Scheduled for Day One of Session!

On Monday, February 2nd, the Oregon Legislature will convene for the 2026 session, and gun control is already queued up for the first day of session.

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Strike Down Firearm Prohibition for Marijuana Users

Friday, January 30, 2026

NRA Files Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Strike Down Firearm Prohibition for Marijuana Users

Today, the National Rifle Association, along with the Independence Institute and FPC Action Foundation, filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the federal prohibition on firearm possession by marijuana users.

Virginia Gun Owners Face Magazine Confiscation!

Monday, February 2, 2026

Virginia Gun Owners Face Magazine Confiscation!

Astute Virginia gun owners anticipated terrible gun control legislation from the 2026 General Assembly. Still, some may be shocked to learn that anti-rights zealots in the Virginia Senate have advanced a bill to CONFISCATE standard capacity firearm ...

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Veto Override Vote Postponed

Today, the North Carolina House of Representatives rescheduled this morning’s veto override on Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to February 9, 2026.

ATF Rewrites Rules for Addicts/Unlawful Drug Users as Supreme Court Case Looms

News  

Monday, January 26, 2026

ATF Rewrites Rules for Addicts/Unlawful Drug Users as Supreme Court Case Looms

On Jan. 22, ATF published an interim final rule (IFR) that revises the agency’s approach to determining who is an “unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” and therefore prohibited from owning or receiving firearms ...

New Mexico: Senate Committee to Hear Sweeping Gun Control Bill

Monday, February 2, 2026

New Mexico: Senate Committee to Hear Sweeping Gun Control Bill

Today at 1:30pm, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on an omnibus gun control package that would severely undermine the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Mexicans and threaten the viability of ...

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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.