Gun Control & RKBA
Related: About this forumThe NRA Lobbies for Gunmakers, Not Gun Owners
Unsurprisingly, the manufacturers of those rifles play a massive role in helping the NRA set the terms of the debate. Because of a study carried out last year by the Violence Policy Center, we know that firearm makers - such as GLOCK, Smith & Wesson and Remington - have given the NRA between $14.7 million and $38.9 million since 2005.
But the amount actually given by gunmakers could be a lot more than that. In 2010 alone, IRS filings show that the NRA took in over $71 million in grants, donations, and gifts and made just under $21 million by selling advertising. It wouldn't be farfetched to assume that gunmakers and sellers were the primary sources of this revenue, which made up around 40 percent of the NRA's cash flow that year. In 2010, membership fees totaled around $100 million, but also constituted less than half of the organization's income.
What this means is that the NRA is more likely to pay heed to gunmakers at the expense of rank-and-file members, who actually tend to support gun control. According to a poll of 945 gun owners conducted by the pro-gun-control Mayors Against Illegal Guns, over seven in ten NRA members back stricter gun-control measures. Those rules include: mandated safety training as a prerequisite for concealed carry permits; forbidding those convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining concealed carry permits; criminal background checks for gun purchases, and stopping people on terrorist watch lists from obtaining guns. Six in ten NRA members also supported forcing gun owners to report stolen firearms to police. And more NRA members (87 percent) than non-NRA member gun owners (83 percent) agreed that "support for 2nd Amendment rights goes hand-in-hand with keeping illegal guns out of the hands of criminals."
http://truth-out.org/news/item/11360-the-nra-lobbies-for-gunmakers-not-gun-owners
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shadowrider
(4,941 posts)
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)...how many of these news plops actually belong in this group. I don't see how an article on lobbyists has any real relevance here.
Analogously, I would suggest that an article by an exceptionally vocal feminist about the environment belongs here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1127 and not here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1139
Just a thought. 
holdencaufield
(2,927 posts)... "NRA is more likely to pay heed to gunmakers at the expense of rank-and-file members... "
However, fails to mention a single instance where the NRA pushes legislation that is opposed by the majority of rank-and-file members. Of course firearms and firearms accessory makers support the NRA, the success of these business (many of which are small or medium-sized business) and the livelihood of their thousands of employees depends on the continuation of RKBA.
MercutioATC
(28,470 posts)While I don't agree with every single one of their moves and I'm not a member, the NRA generally benefits all gun owners.
Missycim
(950 posts)get the ACLU to support the 2nd as hard as they do the 1st. You will see many flock to their banner and a big chunk leave the NRA.
Euromutt
(6,506 posts)I'd give up my NRA membership like a shot, with a note telling LaPierre and Cox exactly where they can stick it.
GreenStormCloud
(12,072 posts)4.5 million members X $35 each =157.5 million, plus donations. About $160 million, plus some.
NRA policy is controlled by annual elections of board members. If the membership were to be unhappy they would change the direction of the NRA, just like they did in the Cincinnati revolt. That was when the member voted out the old leadership and elected the modern, politically active leadership.
There happens to be very little conflict between the views of the memberrship and that of the gun makers. Ruger advertised that it would donate $1 to the NRA for each gun sold. Ruger sales jumped and they sold over a million guns in one year.
The NRA is doing exactly what the membership wants. If they weren't, people would leave the NRA.
Euromutt
(6,506 posts)Under the current setup, 1/3 of the board is elected every year, so it's impossible to mount a sudden insurgency to unseat the current executive vice-president (i.e. LaPierre); it's going to take at least two consecutive annuals meetings, which would give LaPierre a year between annual meetings to mount a counter-offensive.
While I am an NRA member, I consider myself an increasingly reluctant one, and it's primarily because of the national leadership. I joined partly with the idea of "fighting from within the belly of the beast," to help to convince other members that "liberal Democrat" does not inherently mean "in favor of restricting private firearm ownership," but with the national leadership's "All In Against Obama" campaign, I'm seriously wondering whether there's any damn point, or whether I should just resign in disgust.
Reasonable_Argument
(881 posts)You could always sign up to be an NRA recruiter, it's free and you get a commission if choose to. Then find more liked minded democrats and get them signed up for the NRA.
http://www.nrahq.org/recruiters/become_an_nra_recruiter.asp
alabama_for_obama
(136 posts)And give $50 to obama's campaign to make up for it.
The obvious partisanship of the group is very troubling to me, especially since mittens is guilty of signing and calling his assault weapons ban the most important legislation that he had signed. How the NRA can support him is very telling. Obama had been good on the issue so far, but he, too has made past overtures at calling for gun bans, though he hasn't actually voted for any such legislation at the federal level (that I know of).
Oneka
(653 posts)National Rifle Association (NRA) and its massive $200 million-plus war chest, politicians are forced to treat assault rifle ownership like it's as sacrosanct as the First Amendment.
If all it takes is a donation to the NRA, to
force polititions, to respect my rights, i think i'll join.
WAY TO GO!!! Secular motion, MAIG, & VPC, your constant barrage of attacks against my 2A rights, has just gained your hated enemy the NRA, a brand new donating member.
Reasonable_Argument
(881 posts)Once you get your card with your membership number on it make sure you activate your free insurance policies.
ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)SecularMotion
(7,981 posts)ProgressiveProfessor
(22,144 posts)No need to thank me
SecularMotion
(7,981 posts)rl6214
(8,142 posts)You mention google dump, in multiple threads and he/she thanks you for the bump...I think Secular really has a crush on you.
SecularMotion
(7,981 posts) rl6214
(8,142 posts)or do you just have a crush on me?
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)But the amount actually given by gunmakers could be a lot more than that. In 2010 alone, IRS filings show that the NRA took in over $71 million in grants, donations, and gifts and made just under $21 million by selling advertising.
Could be the donations were from gun manufacturers, or members, or just people or organizations who support the civil liberty protected by the 2nd Amendment.
Atypical Liberal
(5,412 posts)Yeah, right. What a laugh.
4 million of us pay annual dues to the NRA because we all really just want more gun control.
The cause of firearm makers and myself are the same. If they are doing well, I am doing well, and vice versa.
DonP
(6,185 posts)Well, then you and your cohorts should have no problem gathering signatures on a petition to roll back CCW and ban "Assault Weapons".
Just go to the next NRA annual meeting and sit outside with a couple of folding tables and you'll undoubtedly have thousands of signatures, right? I have a few brave folks from this board that I'm sure will join you with pens and petitions in hand. You just need to show some personal initiative and get things started.
In fact, I'm just stunned that all those NRA members that agree with Bloomie aren't donating to Brady already.
But then again, you guys don't actually do anything in the real world to support your gun control policies. You specialty is to cut and paste other people's whining online, as if it will influence people.
In spite of all the cut and paste Ted Nugent pictures an rants, the NRA actually does things in the real world ... while you guys consider getting a troll banned on a website as a major gun control triumph.
Keep up the pathetic, I mean good, work.
discntnt_irny_srcsm
(18,482 posts)...even if sent them a $25 donation that they wouldn't send a couple guys to a $2k/plate dinner to lobby a Congressman or three on exactly what I to see accomplished???
That's damn disappointin' there bubba. 
GreenStormCloud
(12,072 posts)We who own guns - most of us anyway - are on the same side as the gun makers. We want to continue to have access to guns and they want us to continue to have access to their guns. Gun sales are at an all-time record. That is because Americans are voluntarily buying guns. Nobody is forcing us to. We are buying them because we want them.
Most of us gun owners are pleased that the gun makers are also donating to the NRA. Ruger announced this year that they would donate $1 to the NRA for each gun they sell, and their sales almost doubled. So you think their sales doubled because gun owners are unhappy with the NRA?
