AARP does not endorse the NRA or take a formal stance supporting it
AARP is a membership organization focused on issues affecting people 50 and older, including healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement security. The organization does not have an official partnership with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and does not publicly support or oppose the NRA as an organization.
AARP's policy positions center on issues directly tied to aging — prescription drug costs, long-term care, caregiver support, and financial security in retirement. Gun policy is not a primary focus of AARP's advocacy work, though the organization has taken positions on specific gun-related issues that affect older adults, such as firearm safety and suicide prevention among seniors.
Some AARP members are gun owners, and some are not. AARP does not require members to hold any particular view on gun rights or gun control to join or remain members. The organization's stance is that it represents the diverse views of its membership base.
Key Takeaways
- AARP does not have an official endorsement of or partnership with the NRA.
- AARP's main advocacy focuses on healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, and retirement issues rather than gun policy.
- AARP members hold different views on gun rights, and the organization does not require a single position on this issue.
- AARP has addressed gun-related topics only when they connect to aging, such as firearm safety and senior suicide prevention.
What AARP actually advocates for
AARP's legislative priorities are built around the concerns of its 38 million members. The organization tracks and takes positions on bills related to Medicare coverage, prescription drug pricing, Social Security benefits, long-term care, caregiver support, and age discrimination in employment.
On gun-related matters, AARP has published information about firearm safety for older adults — including find storage to prevent accidents and unintended access — and has supported research into suicide prevention among seniors, which includes firearm safety as one component. These positions reflect concern for the safety and wellbeing of older people, not a broader gun policy stance.
AARP's board and leadership do not use the organization's platform to promote or oppose the NRA. Members who want to know AARP's position on a specific bill or policy can find that information on AARP's official website or by contacting their state AARP office directly.
Why people sometimes think AARP supports the NRA
Confusion sometimes arises because both AARP and the NRA are large membership organizations with significant political influence. Some people assume that any large advocacy group must take a position on every major political issue, or that silence on a topic means agreement.
In reality, AARP straightforward does not make gun rights or gun control a central part of its mission. The organization's resources and staff focus on the issues its members report caring about most: healthcare access, prescription drug costs, and retirement security. This is not the same as supporting the NRA or its positions.
Additionally, AARP's membership is politically diverse. Some members are conservative, some are liberal, and many hold views that don't fit neatly into either category. AARP's leadership tries to avoid taking positions that would alienate large portions of its base on issues outside its core mission.
How AARP's positions differ from the NRA
The NRA's primary mission is to advocate for gun ownership rights and oppose gun restrictions. AARP's primary mission is to advocate for the interests of people 50 and older across a range of issues. These are fundamentally different organizational goals.
On the specific issue of firearm safety for seniors, AARP and the NRA have different emphases. AARP focuses on preventing accidents, unintended access by family members, and suicide — issues that disproportionately affect older adults. The NRA's focus is broader and centers on Second Amendment rights and opposition to gun regulations.
This does not mean AARP opposes gun ownership. It means AARP's work on gun-related topics is narrower and tied specifically to aging and senior safety, not to gun policy as a whole.
Where to find AARP's actual positions
AARP publishes its official positions on legislation and policy issues on its website at aarp.org. You can search for specific bills or topics to see whether AARP has taken a stance and what that stance is based on.
AARP also publishes issue briefs and fact sheets on topics relevant to older adults. If you want to know AARP's view on a gun-related issue, the most reliable source is AARP's own publications, not assumptions based on what other organizations do or don't do.
Your state AARP office can also answer questions about the organization's positions on state-level legislation. Contact information for state offices is available on AARP's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AARP take a position on gun control?
AARP does not have a broad gun control or gun rights platform. The organization has addressed specific gun-related topics when they affect older adults — such as firearm safety, accident prevention, and suicide prevention — but does not take a stance on gun control policy as a whole.
Can I be an AARP member if I own guns or support gun rights?
Yes. AARP membership is open to anyone 50 and older regardless of their views on gun ownership or gun policy. The organization does not screen members based on their positions on gun rights or any other political issue outside AARP's core mission.
Has AARP ever worked with the NRA?
AARP and the NRA are separate organizations with different missions. There is no formal partnership between them. Both organizations may occasionally address overlapping topics — such as senior safety — but they do so independently and from different angles.
Where can I find what AARP actually supports?
AARP publishes its official positions on legislation and policy at aarp.org. You can search by topic or bill number to see AARP's stance. Your state AARP office can also provide information about positions on state-level issues.