Here in New Mexico, the NRA generally gets outspent by the gun control organizations by something like 10:1 or more. Basically, the GOP is outnumbers almost 2:1 in the legislature, so there are fewer key politicians to lavish campaign contributions on. We did manage to kill some bad bills this session, in no small part due to the fact that we are a true grassroots organization and can mobilize members.
Thanks for another good article. This is an example of an illusory truth effect. Looking at the financials, the NRA is barely a blip on the lobby money radar:
The goal of the association as stated by the original founders was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Current leadership should make that a higher priority.
Thanks for pointing out your post, which I will keep handy. I totally agree that the education (broadly understood) and training missions of the organization should be a higher — IMO the highest — priority of the organization.
Here in New Mexico, the NRA generally gets outspent by the gun control organizations by something like 10:1 or more. Basically, the GOP is outnumbers almost 2:1 in the legislature, so there are fewer key politicians to lavish campaign contributions on. We did manage to kill some bad bills this session, in no small part due to the fact that we are a true grassroots organization and can mobilize members.
I would tend to think up till the current Trump administration it would be the Teachers union.
Would be interested to see what the research says on unions vs. big business.
Thanks for another good article. This is an example of an illusory truth effect. Looking at the financials, the NRA is barely a blip on the lobby money radar:
https://funshoot.substack.com/p/lobbying-and-nra-blood-money
The goal of the association as stated by the original founders was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Current leadership should make that a higher priority.
Thanks for pointing out your post, which I will keep handy. I totally agree that the education (broadly understood) and training missions of the organization should be a higher — IMO the highest — priority of the organization.
Agreed! Guns are normal and normal people use guns. An Overton window shift in that direction would reduce the need to lobby in the first place.
Especially if the anti-gun lobbies stop trying to ban rifles!