Gun lobbying in America is partly automatic: when the Democrats are in power, gun sales always skyrocket, for fear of stricter gun laws. Ten years ago, after 20 children were killed at Sandy Hook High School, the same happened to the membership of the NRA. That climbed to five million, it had never been this high.
In addition, the NRA annually donates about three million dollars to politicians, almost exclusively Republicans. In return, they block new laws restricting gun ownership. Senator Cruz, for example, received more than three tons from pro-gun groups in his last campaign. In total, the NRA has an annual budget of 250 million, which is largely spent on political influence through other routes.
Tens of millions of that money come from the arms industry. Well-known names such as Smith&Wesson and Baretta are on the NRA’s list of largest donors. The organization is thus an important link between industry and politics.
And it’s not just money that does the work. The NRA and other lobby groups also exercise a lot of power through their politically motivated members. In Republican primary elections, they often make a difference in favor of pro-gun-owning candidates. For example, the specter of the gun lobby is always lurking in the minds of conservative politicians.
Dead hands
The NRA was founded in 1871 by hobbyists. The organization’s first time getting involved in politics was to support legislation that properly regulated gun ownership. From the 1970s that turned around and the fiercer campaigns came across gun control.
Meanwhile, the NRA defends a very strict interpretation of the constitution: citizens have the right to carry a weapon without any interference from the government. Perhaps most sharply articulated in NRA leader Charlton Heston’s famous speech.
Heston said proponents of stricter gun laws should come and get his gun: ‘from my cold, dead hands’:
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