Posted on 03/30/2009 5:37:08 AM PDT by 300magnum
WASHINGTON When Democrats acted last month to give the District of Columbia long-denied voting rights in Congress, the powerful gun lobby saw a target too good not to take a shot at.
The National Rifle Association's lobbyists made it clear to lawmakers that they believed the bill should include a measure to overturn the capital's gun control laws. Left mostly unsaid, but well understood by all 535 members of the House and Senate, was that failure to do so would unleash a barrage of political pain on resisters.
The result showed the strong sway the NRA has even over a Congress dominated by liberal Democrats who mostly disagree with the organization's positions. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to add the gun-rights proposal. House Democratic leaders, fearing a tough vote on the issue, swiftly scrapped plans to consider the D.C. voting legislation.
The bill hasn't resurfaced because Democrats cannot figure out how to keep it from splitting their ranks. Moderates and conservatives don't want to buck the NRA. Liberals are reluctant to be blackmailed into loosening gun laws.
The 138-year-old group derives its influence from a large and motivated base of members, particularly in rural areas and the South.
Its much younger political arm, set up in 1975, wields a carefully honed system for grading lawmakers and candidates based on how often they side with the NRA's legislative priorities. Their lobbyists tell lawmakers that they will be "scoring" specific bills the equivalent of saying, "We're watching you, and if you vote the wrong way, there will be consequences."
That scoring system helps determine which candidates the group supports in campaigns. That decision can be an important factor in elections.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
thanks, bfl
Or the SAF (Second Amendment Foundation) or the CCRKBA (Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms) while you are at it. The more pro-gun organizations at the podium, the better!
I think you owe the goldfish an apology.
How presumptious of the NRA and its members to think that they have the right to influence policy when wiser liberal heads in the media, academia, and the republican and democratic parties should shape policy without any influence from the public - uppity public!
Agreed.
Agreed.
Hey, DNC-Associated Press...
I am the NRA.
Why not do both?
I’m a Life Member of the NRA and a gun owner...
“When Democrats acted last month to give the District of Columbia long-denied voting rights in Congress,”
Unconstitutional bill!!!
Thanks for those words of wisdom.
I didn’t see lines to help McCain/Palin at the Republican headquarters but I do see lines at the gunshows.
I don’t see people spending the money to join the NRA but they have money to spend on guns and ammunition at three times the price.
People who bitch about a few NRA letters in their mailbox won’t be the ones defending their freedoms when it gets bad.
And it’s going to be really, really bad.
Join the NRA, GOA, or any of the various pro gun lobby group (there is even a drag queen pro gun group!)
I am an NRAember, too. By the way, the Full Auto Ban Amendment to the 1986 Firearms Owners Protection Act never REALLY passed! And the BATF knows it. It was just on a voice vote, and the Nays WAY outweighed the Yeas on the Amendments adoption ballot! I heard it! Tip ONeal just PROCLAIMED that it passed, to the GASPS of many in attendence, and the minority Repubs could not challenge him because of the parlimentary rules in effect at the time! HONEST! History!
Got it, thanks for fleshing it out!
I agree with you, 100%!
Buy gold and ammo!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.