An internal activist coup in 1977 transformed the NRA into a radical gun-rights lobby

Evidence

During the 1970s, the NRA decided to relocate its headquarters, considering Colorado more suitable to its mission than Washington, with its political climate. However, at the 1977 annual convention, dubbed the “Cincinnati Revolution,” activists defeated the incumbents, a victory that transformed the NRA from a moderate association into a radical one. Under its new leadership, the primary focus shifted from hunters, sportsmen, and target shooters to lobbying for gun rights. In its politicization, the NRA gained legislative influence through coalitions with conservative lawmakers. The fight for gun rights was elevated to a wider struggle for freedom from intrusive government. Even some libertarians joined their ranks. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 1017

Categorization

• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 1017