NRA represents gun manufacturers, not gun owners.

[deminks]

Whatever they profess to be, they are not for the little man with a gun; they couldn't care less. But gun sales, now that is different story.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/171776/does-nra-represent-gun-manufacturers-or-gun-owners

Over the last four years, Congress and the Obama administration have only enacted laws that have deregulated gun use in America. It’s no secret why. As pundits love to note, the gun lobby is incredibly influential. But as we consider the potential for reform in the wake of the tragedy today, one of the first questions we should ask this time is: who does the gun lobby really represent?

The National Rifle Association portrays itself as an organization that represents “4 million members” who simply love the Second Amendment. The truth is much more murky.

(snip)

The Violence Policy Center has estimated that since 2005, gun manufacturers have contributed up to $38.9 million to the NRA. Those numbers, however, are based on publicly listed “sponsorship” levels on NRA fundraising pamphlets. The real figures could be much bigger. Like Crossroads GPS or Americans for Prosperity, or the Sierra Club for that matter, the NRA does not disclose any donor information even though it spends millions on federal elections.

(end snip)


So, it really isn't about the second amendment, it isn't about individual rights, it isn't about people with guns killing people. It is about money. Corporate money. Follow the money.

[Travis_0004]

1. The NRA's annual budget is 220 million.

In 7 years, that means the NRA spent about 1.4 billion. So 40 million is a drop in a bucket. Sure it may be more, but who knows how much it really is.

[phantom power]

2. The NRA and the gun manufacturers have a good racket going on

Every time a Democrat gets elected, and/or anybody even utters the words "gun control", they've got their membership trained to freak out and rush to gun retailers and gun shows and empty the shelves of guns and ammo.

Firearms manufacturers must break out the champaign every time this happens.

[dairydog91]

3. This sounds more like an article of faith than a statement of fact.

The Violence Policy Center has estimated that since 2005, gun manufacturers have contributed up to $38.9 million to the NRA.

Which comes to approximately $5.5 million per year. The NRA, according to the last data I could get, pulled in $227 million in 2010 alone. Over $100 million came from membership fees, around $47 million from subscriptions, ad sales, and other business-like income, and $71 million from contributions.

Even if you want to pretend that every contribution was from "big corporations," the NRA would still be raking in almost $150 million annually.That's a big organization, and thinking of it as a mere astroturfing front sounds like wishful thinking.

Whatever they profess to be, they are not for the little man with a gun; they couldn't care less.

Considering the massive spike in gun sales, and the NRA's claimed 100,000 new members since the Sandy Hook shooting, they may very well be representing their members' beliefs.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. a massive spike in gun sales...

benefits the gun industry. The paranoia, the 24/7 "they're coming for your guns" message from the NRA is nothing more than a marketing campaign for the gun industry. The fact that the NRA uses the hard-earned money from a lot of suckers in the form of "dues" does not alter the organization's true mission

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. The NSSA is the manufacturers group

The NRA tried to bring the manufacturers in to an NRA lead alternative and failed.

Its in the media, no requirement in accuracy in the least

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. And the NRA is their whore.

[randr]

6. Facts are facts

There are 70 mil gun owners in America and only 4 mil NRA members. Every pol on gun regulation has the public, including NRA members, on the side of increased back ground checks, limiting size of clips, and closing gun show loop holes.
The VAST majority of gun owners have nothing to do with the NRA.

[Fresh_Start]

7. I'm thinking that the NRA is in the same league as the Islamic Imam's

convincing their followers that a great reward awaits them for attacking the great devil.
Imam's promise 72 virgins
NRA promises you live out your fantasy to save America