Monday, November 17, 2008

Happy 137th Birthday, NRA!

As though you need an excuse to eat birthday cake!
Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871. The primary goal of the association would be to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," according to a magazine editorial written by Church.

After being granted a charter by the state of New York on November 17, 1871, the NRA was founded. Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside, who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. Senator, became the fledgling NRA's first president.

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1 comment:

Travis J. Hankins said...

I'm glad to know it's the NRA's Birthday. I just called out there this morning. Keep up the great work Danielle. Take care and God Bless!