How the NRA's Grading System Keeps Congress on Lockdown

[phantom power]

Putting aside for the moment all other questions relating to gun ownership, the 2nd amendment, public safety, etc, this is not a healthy situation:

I asked a Democratic legislative staffer for a first-person description of the NRA's power on the Hill. Here's the response I got, on the condition that I not provide any further identifying information. It's pretty breathtaking.

We do absolutely anything they ask and we NEVER cross them—which includes asking permission to cosponsor any bills endorsed by the Humane Society (the answer is usually no) and complying with their demand to oppose the DISCLOSE Act, neither of which have anything to do with guns. They've completely shut down the debate over gun control. It's really incredible. I'm not sure when we decided that a Democrat in a marginal district who loses his A rating from the NRA automatically loses reelection. Because it's not like we do everything other partisan organizations like the Chamber [of Commerce] or NAM [National Association of Manufacturers] tell us to...

Pandering to the NRA is the probably worst part of my job. I can justify the rest of it—not just to keep the seat, but because I believe most of the positions he takes are consistent with what his constituents want. But sucking up to the NRA when something like Colorado happens is hard to stomach.

Read More http://www.gq.com/news-politics/blogs/death-race/2012/07/nra-grades-and-congress.html#ixzz21jwL5fGR

[badtoworse]

1. The NRA can do that with only 4 million members - amazing!

I would say that many voters who are not members of the NRA agree with their positions on gun control. Could it be that a majority of the voters really don't want more gun control laws?

[phantom power]

2. This guy is saying it's specifically the NRA, not "voters"