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Grassroots Spotlight: Meet Jay M. Littlefield Award Winners Rick Coufal and Dennis Barthenheier

Monday, February 13, 2023

Grassroots Spotlight: Meet Jay M. Littlefield Award Winners Rick Coufal and Dennis Barthenheier

The annual NRA-ILA Jay M. Littlefield Award recognizes individual NRA members for their meritorious defense of the Second Amendment. Late last year, awards were presented to two individuals for their selfless commitment to upholding and supporting the Second Amendment.

Dennis Barthenheier, owner of Wisconsin Firearms Training Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin, received the award for his invaluable work with the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division over the past five years. Combining his passion for the Second Amendment, with his business, Wisconsin Firearms Training Center, he continually serves as a beacon for pro-Second Amendment activities in Wisconsin.

Dennis is always willing to generously let NRA, local volunteers, and pro-2A activists use his business and resources for so many important grassroots events focused on educating and engaging many in Wisconsin in support of our rights. He additionally lends his own personal time to the cause and has assisted NRA-ILA with other endeavors outside his business, such as NRA State Conferences and other events.

Rick Coufal has been volunteering directly with the NRA-ILA in Oregon for just a few short years, but has made a huge impact!  He has been instrumental in important grassroots outreach in Oregon as a Frontlines Activist Leader, as well as the Legislative Director for the NRA affiliated State Association. Rick went above and beyond the call by not only helping the new NRA-ILA PNW Grassroots Coordinator get acclimated to the region, but also helped to staff numerous gun shows and legislative events that contributed to his accumulation of more than 120+ volunteer hours in a single year. Most recently he was an integral part of the Oregonians for Freedom Committee, which was instrumental in fighting the atrocious Oregon gun control ballot initiative. A U.S. Army Veteran, he has always been a wealth of knowledge and commitment and one day aspires to serve the NRA in a greater capacity on the Board of Directors.

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Virginia: Gun Bill Updates As Crossover Deadline Arrives

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Virginia: Gun Bill Updates As Crossover Deadline Arrives

Today, February 17th is the legislative crossover deadline in Virginia, and any bills that have not left their chamber of origin by the end of the day are considered dead for the session.

New Mexico Legislature Adjourns!

Thursday, February 19, 2026

New Mexico Legislature Adjourns!

Today at noon, the New Mexico legislature adjourned sine die from the 2026 legislative session. Despite efforts by anti-gun advocates, Second Amendment supporters were able to engage and help prevent two radical anti-gun proposals from ...

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 ...

Minnesota: Hearing on Semi-Auto and Magazine Bans Next Week

Friday, February 20, 2026

Minnesota: Hearing on Semi-Auto and Magazine Bans Next Week

On Tuesday, February 24th, the House Public Safety Finance and Policy committee will hold a hearing on two all-encompassing ban bills, House File 3433 and House File 3402

VA Announces End To Policy that Strips the Second Amendment Rights of Veterans

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

VA Announces End To Policy that Strips the Second Amendment Rights of Veterans

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the VA will no longer report veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they have been assigned a fiduciary to assist them ...

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.

Oregon: Legal and Policy Concerns Ignored as Ballot Measure 114 Implementation Bill Advances

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Oregon: Legal and Policy Concerns Ignored as Ballot Measure 114 Implementation Bill Advances

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee held a work session to “fix” the extremely flawed gun control Ballot Measure 114, where it was advanced out of the committee. 

“Violence Interrupters” Demonstrate Wishful Thinking is Not Crime Control

News  

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

“Violence Interrupters” Demonstrate Wishful Thinking is Not Crime Control

Not too long ago, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker dismissed President Donald Trump’s assessment of over-the-top violent crime in Chicago as being rooted in “lies,” saying that “civilian law enforcement is how you fight crime,” and “[w]e’ve got ...

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.

Connecticut: Draconian Pistol Ban Introduced in Hartford

Friday, February 6, 2026

Connecticut: Draconian Pistol Ban Introduced in Hartford

As a new legislative session begins in Connecticut, it certainly feels like Groundhog Day again as Gov. Ned Lamont unveiled his latest swipe at law-abiding gun owners.  The state’s Chief Executive came out of the ...

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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.