Two of the nation’s leading gun control groups are
sounding surprisingly upbeat in their ongoing political shootout with the NRA
over expanded back ground checks vs. broadening laws that allow carrying
weapons on the streets.
The main reason for this unlikely optimism? Money. With
the help of Super-PACs such as former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg’s
organization and groups operating at the grassroots level, the NRA opponents
believe they’ve created some momentum. Lobbying and campaign contributions are
the weapons of choice.
Newtown, Conn., was one catalyst and the mass shooting at the black church
Charleston, S.C., earlier this month was another.
president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and Ladd Everitt,
communications director of the grassroots Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, don’t
seem fazed by the NRA’s successes in extending open-carry laws and
establishing concealed-carry laws in six states that require no training or a
permit to carry a handgun.
“… Gross and other gun-control advocates say that, after
decades of uphill fights against the NRA – arguably the wealthiest, most
powerful political organization in America – their side has quickly reached
more level ground in a much longer war. Grassroots support is surging through
organization and fundraising …
“‘I wouldn’t argue we have totally loosened the [NRA’s]
grip,” he says, ‘but we have made progress. The NRA is not going to fold
their tent and go away. The NRA is an enormously powerful and influential organization.
This is going to be a slog. We’re not going to win the battle overnight.’”
partisan issue, with the NRA solidly in the Republican camp and the gun control
groups dependent on Democrats for success. With the exception of New Jersey
Gov. Chris Christie, all of the announced Republican presidential candidates
have NRA legislative ratings of A-plus or A-minus – its top two ratings. … At
the same time, a December 2014 Pew Research Center poll had
bad news for the gun-control movement: for the first time, a majority of
respondents favored gun rights over gun control, 52 percent to 49 percent.
U.S. News. “He says the opposition has battled the NRA to a virtual draw at the
state level, with expanded background checks on the books in 18 states, and ‘we’re
already on the ballot for a ballot initiative in Nevada.’ That push will
continue, Gross says, ‘in as many states as it takes for Congress to wake up
and get the message that this is something the people support.’”
