The reason that conservative politicians are prepared to carry water for the NRA is that over time, the NRA’s efforts have ensured that they and Republicans speak with the same voice. “The NRA’s best trick has been establishing support for guns as an essential part of being a Republican”, says Cassino. And while their political donations help, their real strength has come from mobilizing their membership to keep politicians in line.
Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of the forthcoming book Loaded, on America’s gun culture, says progressives often misunderstand the NRA as a money-driven, top-down lobbying organization. “The secret of the NRA is that it is populist,” she says. “It is the best-organized grassroots organization in the country.” The NRA obsessively monitors legislation on Capitol Hill and in statehouses. When they see something they don’t like, they galvanize their members to bombard legislators with calls, letters, and emails. “What they spend on lobbying is peanuts compared to corporations,” Dunbar-Ortiz says. “Their strength lies in mobilizing their grassroots.”
Those grassroots efforts can and have unseated politicians – including Republicans – who didn’t toe the line.
As an aside: Vegas is already off the front page of BB.
