The National Rifle Association is in the process of educating the next generation of gun rights advocates, taking their message directly into the belly of liberal academia with their campus initiative, NRA University, or NRA U for short.
NRA U is a training class for students interested in learning more about gun safety, the NRA, the Second Amendment, methods for crime prevention and legislative threats to gun rights. It aims to arm — pun most definitely intended — students with the information they need to debate and become effective activists for gun rights.
Rachel Parsons, an NRA spokesperson told The Daily Caller, “NRA U was conceived to help pro-gun students have a voice in the often one-sided gun control debate on many college campuses.” She continued, “We wanted to offer students the opportunity to learn facts about the Second Amendment and educate them on ways to get involved.”
The program has been in existence for three years and is continuing to grow. To date, the NRA says they have held programs at 14 campuses throughout the country and have reached over 1,000 students.
Sarah Adler, a senior at Central Connecticut State University, went through the program this year. “It’s a great opportunity,” she told TheDC. “They teach you all about Second Amendment issues, history, legislation and how you can get involved. Everyone who came to the event at my school had a great time.”
While the event participants had a good time, Adler says the program was not without detractors. “I go to a school in Connecticut which is definitely a blue state. People who disagree don’t come to the event and voice their problems, they will just rip down our posters. It’s very passive aggressive,” she said.
In the face of such adversity, Parsons notes the manner in which the program can help. “Educating young people on the truth about the Second Amendment provides them with the proper tools to educate others, both on-and off-campus.”
To be sure, gun proliferation is a polarizing issue. In 2007, Seung-Hui Cho opened fire at Virginia Tech, murdering 32 people and wounding 25 others. Gun rights activists have argued that more lenient carry laws may have helped to prevent or end the massacre. Others disagree, however, saying the preponderance of guns is what lead to the tragedy.
Today, Virginia Tech remains a gun-free zone, but not one overtly hostile to discussing the issue of gun rights. “If a student organization wanted to bring a speaker to campus they have a right to do so. We don’t restrict anyone from discourse,” Mark Owczarcski, Virginia Tech spokesman, told TheDC. “It would not be a question of whether we welcome it, just so long as the group followed the rules and protocol, such speakers could come on campus.”
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a gun-advocacy group, is gung-ho about the NRA’s attempts to breed young gun advocates. “We fully support gun rights education efforts in universities,” Kurt Mueller, eastern director for the group, told TheDC. “We believe it is important for all adults to be educated about guns and gun safety…..We think its great.”
Parsons is very positive about the effects this program will have in the coming years. “NRA University helps students learn how to become effective grassroots activists working to preserve Second Amendment rights for their generation and for future generations,” she said. “College students today are our leaders tomorrow.”