NRA-ILA was founded in 1975 as the legislative and political arm of the National Rifle Association (NRA), one of the largest and most influential gun rights advocacy organizations in the United States. The idea behind the creation of the NRA-ILA was to establish a dedicated entity within the NRA that would focus on legislative and political issues related to the Second Amendment and gun ownership rights. The NRA itself was founded in 1871 by a group of Union Army officers who were concerned about the poor marksmanship of Union soldiers during the Civil War. Today, the NRA and its various divisions, including the NRA-ILA, are owned and operated by the NRA's leadership and membership. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, the NRA-ILA is primarily focused on political issues related to gun rights, gun legislation, and the activities of government officials and lawmakers that impact the Second Amendment. While the organization does not cover sports, entertainment, or other general news topics, the NRA-ILA works to influence federal, state, and local policies through lobbying, public advocacy, and legal action. One interesting fact: A unique aspect of the NRA-ILA is its extensive grassroots network of supporters and activists. The organization has millions of members across the United States, and it relies heavily on these members to engage in letter-writing campaigns, contact their elected representatives, and participate in demonstrations and rallies to promote the NRA's pro-gun agenda. This strong connection to its membership base sets the NRA-ILA apart from many other advocacy organizations.