The NRA is the Biggest and Baddest Controller of Politics in the USA

The NRA was founded in 1871.  They were not always against restricting gun control.  But 40 years ago, the NRA changed its format and shifted its political direction.  In 1980, the first presidential candidate endorsed by the NRA was Ronald Reagan.  When Ronald Reagan won, the NRAs power really shifted.  They began donating to other politicians and with their backing, these politicians were winning.  And with all that winning, it became clear that they had control of the political landscape.  They are feared by the players in Washington and in the 50 state capitals where they lobby and raise money for political campaigns.

The NRA spent $11.4 million dollars to support Donald Trump and they spent $19.7 million dollars to oppose Hillary Clinton.  With that kind of money on the table, Clinton fought an uphill battle all the way and, in the end, the NRA won. 

Texas lawyer Harlon Carter who headed the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) coined the phrase, now mantra “You don’t stop crime by attacking guns, you stop crime by stopping criminals.”  So, every time there is a gun-related massacre, you hear those words from politicians and staunch Republicans and gun owners.  It seems that the rabid gun owners don’t care if their children or someone else’s child is killed behind a deranged murderer if they can legally purchase and own a gun or guns.  They certainly believed Charlton Heston when he said in his speech, “From my cold dead hands!” first uttered in 2000 at an NRA convention.

The NRA believes in the Constitution that reads as follows:

1.  The Second Amendment guarantees the right to "keep and bear arms," and the Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed that this right applies to private individuals and not just to organized militias but also to private individual citizens.

2. The organization lays the blame for gun violence on criminals and the producers of Hollywood movies and video games and the failures of the mental health system.

3. It reminds that it is not possible to legislate away the evil in the world.

If you remember, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was seriously wounded by a gunman when he opened fire in June 2017 at a congressional baseball team practice.  After recovery from his injuries and rehabilitation, while on Meet the Press, Scalise said, “Our Founding Fathers believed strongly in gun rights for citizens.  Don’t try to put new laws in place that don’t fix these problems.”  He continued, “they only make it harder for law-abiding citizens to own a gun.” 

If you've ever wondered what would a politician do if he experienced the wrath of a gunman and maybe, just maybe, he would change his mind about gun laws, you don't have to wonder any more.  Steve Scalise did not change his mind.  He is all for the gun laws as it stands today.  But then Scalise has an A+ rating from the NRA and he certainly would not give up all the money he receives from them. 

There are so many politicians who are the beneficiaries of funding from the NRA.  And with that much money being shoved into their pockets, I guess you can surmise that no way in hell would they turn down that kind of money.  So, after every mass murder by a murderer carrying a gun, politicians will continue to say, “this is not the time to talk about gun laws.”  They refuse to do anything to avoid the next massacre.

The top 10 career recipients of NRA funding through donations or spending to benefit their candidacy are as follows:

Top 5 Senators with the Most Contributions From the NRA

John McCain (R, AZ) – $7.74 million

Richard Burr (R, NC) – $6.99 million

Roy Blunt (R, MO) – $4.55 million

Thom Tillis (R, NC) – $4.42 million

Cory Gardner (R, CO) – $3.88 million

Top 5 Representatives with the Most Contributions From the NRA

French Hill (R, AR) – $1.09 million

Ken Buck (R, CO) – $800,544

David Young (R, IA) – $707,662

Mike Simpson, (R, ID) – $385,731

Greg Gianforte (R, MT) – $344,630