Friday, January 14, 2011

In the wake of the Tucson shootings, many people are again calling for measures to slow the rate of gun violence. As in the past, such calls will meet stiff opposition from one of the best funded and most powerful special interests in America: the National Rifle Association. The NRA spent about $18 million on “independent” ads to elect friendly lawmakers in 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. It also deploys a squadron of lobbyists to crush any federal legislation it deems objectionable. For every $1 spent on lobbying by groups promoting gun control in 2010, the pro-gun lobby spent more than $20. The Center has a variety of data about the gun lobby spread across its website, including an item in its January 13 blog that describes how the NRA has reduced direct contributions to federal candidates while increasing its independent expenditures. It ranked number 11 on the chart of “outside spenders” during the 2010 cycle, with $8 million spent. The top four on that list, led by the Chamber of Commerce, spent $98 million in 2010, nearly all to help Republican candidates.