NRA: Protecting Guns Since 1871

The National Rifle Association, or the NRA, was formed in 1871 to protect the main aspect of the second Amendment to the United States Constitution: the freedom to bear arms.  In order to maintain certain rights, the NRA lobbies Congress to influence legislation on firearms at all levels of government.  The NRA grades government policy makers, namely congressional representatives, on an A-F scale, as a way to influence voters to support candidates that support the NRA agenda.^[1]  Those who seem to strongly support the principles upheld by the NRA are granted an A status, whereas those trying to expand gun control or other such negative gun laws will most likely receive a failing score.  Once a scale is created, the NRA uses money donated by individuals in order to support the cause.  Its focus is to protect the right for everyone to own weapons, and fight against strict regulation that would have any effect on that right, and they will do all in its power to protect that right.^[2]

In order to reach that goal, the NRA sends out lobbyists to communicate with members of Congress in order to persuade them, both factually and tactically, to vote one way or another.  In 1999, the NRA was considered to be the most powerful lobbying group in the United States.^[3]  Today a formidable force, despite recent events like the Tucson shooting.^[4]  This event rekindled many older issues the NRA fights about, such as regulation of semi-automatic weapons, stricter gun permit tests, and enlarged clip size.  They have become experts on engaging citizens and mobilizing a base in order to help show elected officials that the American people support their cause.

There is an excellent example of this in Tennessee, where a bill with an amendment that would ban guns from bars but allow them in restaurants which served alcohol was shot down.  NRA lobbyists told nine legislators who had previously voted in favor of the bill that the NRA opposed it, and they gained the necessary numbers to shoot the bill down.^[5] Although the bill was later amended yet again, the NRA successfully turned several voters' opinions in order to maintain good relationships with such a powerful interest group.  Another example would be Jim Matheson, a democratic congressman from Utah's 2nd District, as discussed in class; the NRA pressured him into being more conservative on his gun control in order to alleviate the stress they were placing on his campaigns.  The NRA has the capabilities and is willing to spend money to prevent candidates from getting elected in order to protect their rights.  According to a Fox News report, the NRA spent about $15.6 million from 2007-2009 in political campaigns (through its PAC).  The bulk of that money was used to fight those opposed to the NRA beliefs (namely Barack Obama), and smaller parts given to help out their allies.^[6]

Although their efforts against Barack Obama were a failure, they found a substantial amount of success, including pressuring Matheson in Utah, influencing the Tennessee state legislature, passing laws in Arizona and Iowa, and doing even more in 2010 alone.  They were able to change gun policy in several states, like the Arizona law passed to allow unrestricted handguns, and bring about the allowance of concealed guns into all but three of the National Parks.  Overall, the NRA is very effective at influencing public policy through its lobbyists and is willing to put forth the effort to really stand up for what it believes. 

[1] http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/nra-posts-grades-and-endorsements-angle-beats-reid
[2] http://home.nra.org/#/ila  (watch the video)
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rifle_Association#cite_ref-Timewarner.com_4-0 
[4] http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2041535,00.html
[5] http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/may/08/nra-lobbyists-visit-persuaded-9-to-flip-votes/
[6] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/30/nra-lobbyists-hold-strong-influence-policy-agenda/