The National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) is a firearms-rights advocacy group that claims to be the “largest African American firearm organization” in the country, with its website also claiming the group has about 45,000 members. 1 2 NAAGA also claims to have over 100 active chapters across the United States that provide firearms training and other gun-related activities for members. 3 4
NAAGA’s “core principle” is to enable every African American to be “introduced to firearm use for home protection, competitive shooting, and outdoor recreational activities.” 5
History
The National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) was founded in 2015 by Philip Smith, a former human-resources consultant. 6 According to an interview he gave in 2021, he first became involved in firearms after an outing with friends at a shooting range. He continued, “That’s when the lightbulb went on. I thought, you know what, as an African American male I had this much fun, and I know my people. If they had a bridge or a process where somebody could assist them to go from A to Z, from being a non-shooter to a shooter, they would love it just like I’m loving it. And that’s what I did. I went back home, put together some ideas, and then put together a website that spoke culturally to black folks.” 7 He also claimed that within the first 12 months of the group’s founding, it had gained roughly 8,000 members. 8
During a 2018 interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Smith claimed that NAAGA membership “spiked” following then-President Donald Trump‘s election in 2016, arguing the membership increase was due to a “political climate where people with racist views feel emboldened to talk about and act on those views.” 9 10
According to Smith, he hired four permanent employees in late 2020 after he had previously worked as the group’s lone employee since 2015. 11
Membership
As of October 2024, the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) claimed to have over 100 active chapters and 45,000 members, with 48% being women. 12 According to the group’s founder Philip Smith, roughly 70% of new members are estimated to be new gun owners while the group claims to have members in every U.S state and international members in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. 13
According to its website, NAAGA annual dues include individual members paying $39 per year, while couples pay $59 per year. Smith has stated that membership is open to “whoever you are: black, white, Asian, Latino – everyone’s welcome.” 14 15 In a 2021 interview, Smith claimed that the organization had “over 1,000 white members.” 16
Politics and Culture
According to its website, the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA) is a “pro- 2nd amendment organization focused on the preservation of our community through armed protection and community building.” 17
In 2019, NAAGA’s leadership began consideration of starting a Super PAC, claiming it would be more focused on finding, “solutions between black gun owners and the police.” 18 However, as of 2021, the group chose not to pursue politics, with group founder and president Philip Smith claiming during a 2021 interview with Outdoor Life magazine that, “politics is something we avoid. We will back policies and address policy, including social issues, but we will not address a politician who wants us to back them.” 19 20 21 In the same interview, Smith continued, “we have folks who are Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, socialists, and people who think, I just want to join, I don’t give a damn about politics.” 22 In a 2018 interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Smith expressed support for policies limiting firearm ownership rights for some if they are considered a, “violent person …[i]f you have a violent felony…[a]nd…if you’re on the no-fly list, you need to not have a gun for any shape, form or reason.” 23
In a 2021 interview with firearms manufacturer Daniel Defense, Smith claimed NAGGA was not trying to compete with the National Rifle Association (NRA), but rather focus more on the, “cultural connection with our folks…[w]e have to first establish to everyone that we have that right. Because we have an extra step to take because of the realities that are out there.” 24 He continued by claiming “If you look at our website, you will never, ever see anything “ghetto-ish,” in terms of a gang-banger or a guy with his pants hanging down, holding the gun sideways, doing gangster stuff. We intentionally make sure that every photo is something positive in a positive light of African Americans with guns.” 25
When asked if there was a lack of “gun culture” within the African American community, Smith claimed, “I think there’s a political and social element that’s in play here. A lot of our political leaders are Democrats in the black community, and they have a narrative that’s anti-gun. They think that firearms are bad.” 26
In a July 2020 interview with online publication Revolt, Smith claimed that “Black gun ownership” is important because, “the communities that have a lot of guns are probably the more secure ones.” 27
During his 2021 Outdoor Life interview, Smith stated that Black Americans would have been safer and better able to resist oppression historically if Black firearm ownership had been more widespread in the United States: “Having a gun doesn’t guarantee you anything, but at least we have a fighting chance. I’m a firm believer: If you have a gun, you have an opportunity to live, as opposed to being at the mercy of your oppressor.” 28
References
- Inman, Demicia. “NAAGA President Philip Smith wants more Black people to legally own guns and doesn’t care if white people get uncomfortable.” Revolt. July 13, 2020. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-07-13/73802/naaga-president-philip-smith-wants-more-black-people-to-legally-own-guns-and-doesnt-care-if-white-people-get-uncomfortable.
- “About Us.” National African American Gun Association, Accessed October 17, 2024. https://naaga.co/about-us/
- Inman, Demicia. “NAAGA President Philip Smith wants more Black people to legally own guns and doesn’t care if white people get uncomfortable.” Revolt. July 13, 2020. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-07-13/73802/naaga-president-philip-smith-wants-more-black-people-to-legally-own-guns-and-doesnt-care-if-white-people-get-uncomfortable.
- “About Us.” National African American Gun Association, Accessed October 17, 2024. https://naaga.co/about-us/
- “FAQ.” National African American Gun Association. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://naaga.co/faq/.
- Krebs, Natalie. “Philip Smith on African-American Gun Rights, History, and Having Nothing to Prove.” Out Door Life. April 7, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/african-american-gun-rights-history-naaga/.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- Booker, Brakkton. “With A Growing Membership Since Trump, Black Gun Group Considers Getting Political.” NPR. July 10, 2019. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2019/07/10/738493491/with-a-growing-membership-since-trump-black-gun-group-considers-getting-politica.
- Simon, Scott; Bowman, Emma. “African-American Gun Rights Group Grows In The Age Of Trump.” NPR. March 31, 2018. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2018/03/31/598503554/african-americans-guns-and-trump.
- Krebs, Natalie. “Philip Smith on African-American Gun Rights, History, and Having Nothing to Prove.” Out Door Life. April 7, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/african-american-gun-rights-history-naaga/.
- “About Us.” National African American Gun Association. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://naaga.co/about-us/.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “FAQ.” National African American Gun Association. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://naaga.co/faq/.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “About Us.” National African American Gun Association. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://naaga.co/about-us/.
- Booker, Brakkton. “With A Growing Membership Since Trump, Black Gun Group Considers Getting Political.” NPR. July 10, 2019. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2019/07/10/738493491/with-a-growing-membership-since-trump-black-gun-group-considers-getting-politica.
- “About Us.” National African American Gun Association. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://naaga.co/about-us/.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- Krebs, Natalie. “Philip Smith on African-American Gun Rights, History, and Having Nothing to Prove.” Out Door Life. April 7, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/african-american-gun-rights-history-naaga/.
- Krebs, Natalie. “Philip Smith on African-American Gun Rights, History, and Having Nothing to Prove.” Out Door Life. April 7, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/african-american-gun-rights-history-naaga/.
- Simon, Scott; Bowman, Emma. “African-American Gun Rights Group Grows In The Age Of Trump.” NPR. March 31, 2018. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2018/03/31/598503554/african-americans-guns-and-trump.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- “An Interview with Philip Smith – Founder & President of NAAGA.” Daniel Defense. July 2, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://danieldefense.com/wire/philip-smith.
- Inman, Demicia. “NAAGA President Philip Smith wants more Black people to legally own guns and doesn’t care if white people get uncomfortable.” Revolt. July 13, 2020. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.revolt.tv/article/2020-07-13/73802/naaga-president-philip-smith-wants-more-black-people-to-legally-own-guns-and-doesnt-care-if-white-people-get-uncomfortable.
- Krebs, Natalie. “Philip Smith on African-American Gun Rights, History, and Having Nothing to Prove.” OutDoor Life. April 7, 2021. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/african-american-gun-rights-history-naaga/.