Bob Barr

Robert Laurence Barr Jr. (born November 5, 1948) is an American attorney and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative from 1995 to 2003, representing Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican. He later became the Libertarian Party's nominee in the 2008 United States presidential election and served as president of the National Rifle Association (NRA) from 2024 to 2025.

Barr was born in Iowa and raised in a military family, spending much of his childhood overseas. He holds degrees from the University of Southern California, George Washington University and Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to entering politics he worked as a CIA analyst and attorney, before serving as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia from 1986 to 1990. Barr won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. During his time in the House of Representatives, he authored the Defense of Marriage Act, which was later overturned by the Supreme Court in 2013 and repealed by the 117th Congress through a bill supported by Barr. He also attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

After his congressional defeat in 2002, Barr joined the Libertarian Party in 2006. and served on its National Committee. He was the party's presidential nominee in 2008, running alongside Wayne Allyn Root. Barr announced his return to the Republican Party in 2011 and was defeated in a Republican primary for Georgia's 11th congressional district in 2014. He was named president of the NRA in 2024, serving for one year, and had previously served on the organisation's board from 2001 to 2007.