The NRA was built on the problem of poor marksmanship of Union troops during the War of Secession. They organized to train people on how to shoot, gun safety and all that.
little date problem here. The NRA was founded in 1871 by Northern Republicans to lobby Congress to pass the 14th and 15th Amendments. I might add by Northern Republicans to counter the Southern Democrats and their KKK. It might also amuse you the MLK and Malcom X were registered Republicans.