this post was submitted on 08 Jun 2026
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It was a gun education and safety group, primarily involved in running shooting events. It's political involvement really began in 1977 when extremists took over the organization. You can look up "The NRA Revolt at Cincinnati (May 1977)" for more info. From there it became a right wing money funnel, eventually gaining the attention of international interests, most notably Russia.
There are various conspiracy theories that may or may not hold water about it being tied to roll over in the CIA during Jimmy Carter's administration. It's an entire rabbit hole tying in George H. W. Bush, Iran Contra, and the CIA rolling governments in central America. There is most definitely some truth, and a lot of out right fabrication involved.