Guns and Money

   "The fact is that the NRA does not represent gun owners anymore. This is not your father’s NRA. It represents gun manufacturers." -- Sen Christopher Murphy, D CT.

   "The NRA appears to have evolved into the lobby for gun ammunition manufacturers rather than gun owners." --  Adolphus Busch IV.

   The National Rifle Association claims to represent gun owners. This is true as far as it goes. But it doesn't really go very far.
   Consider: The NRA claims to have nearly 4.5 million -- perhaps as many as 5 million -- members, and has a total budget of more than $300 million. During the most recent election cycle, the group spent nearly $20 million to influence voters and politicians. With individual member dues starting at $35, that makes a total of $140 million. Other categories of membership are higher, and the NRA admits that about half of its budget comes from membership dues. How likely is it, then, that individual membership dues can support $20 million in lobbying activity in a single election cycle?   Not likely.

   It's not at all likely that the average individual gun owner has that much money to spare. So where does the rest of the money come from? More likely, therefore, the bulk of the money comes from other sources, and that means gun manufacturers.
   The Smith & Wesson company recently became a member of the NRA's "Golden Ring of Freedom" -- an honor bestowed on those who give more than $1 million. Four years ago, the Beretta Group, another gun maker, gave more than $2 million. And a year ago, gun maker Sturm, Ruger & Co. said it had raised some $1.25 million for the NRA through a program in which it donated $1 for each gun it sold. Where do these numbers come from? Published sources, company press releases and the NRA's own web site.
   As for a membership of more than 4.5 million, Mother Jones magazine reports that the group habitually inflates its rolls, and that a more accurate number is closer to 3 million. And with average membership dues of $50, that brings the total revenue from dues to $150 million, still half the total budget.
   So if that money comes from other sources than individual membership dues, it follows that the NRA is the political lobbying arm of firearms manufacturers, not individual gun owners. And Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, is the group's chief publicity agent.
   His knee-jerk reaction to any effort to intervene in a totally free-market industry is common among PR agents and corporate spokesmen. But resorting to name-calling and insults -- for example, labeling government investigators "jack-booted thugs" after the Oklahoma City bombing -- only hurts his credibility and his cause.
  
   That incident led to former President George Bush Sr. canceling his life membership in the NRA.
   And this week, brewery magnate Adolphus Busch IV canceled his NRA membership, protesting the group's influence in getting Congress to vote down stricter gun control laws.
   "Your current strategic focus places a priority on the needs of gun and ammunition manufacturers while disregarding the opinions of your 4 million individual members," Busch wrote.
   "One only has to look at the makeup of the 75-member board of directors, dominated by manufacturing interests, to confirm my point. The NRA appears to have evolved into the lobby for gun ammunition manufacturers rather than gun owners," Busch said.

   The NRA claims to represent responsible gun owners. No doubt that's true. Many, if not most, gun owners are indeed responsible, law abiding citizens. As for the NRA accusation that government wants these "law abiding citizens" to give up their gun ownership rights, nobody asked them to. The legislation is aimed at those who are not law abiding citizens. Laws in general, and gun control laws in particular, are aimed at those who are irresponsible. Criminals, assassins and mass murderers are not likely to be card-carrying members of the National Rifle Association.

   As for assault weapons, they are just that -- weapons to be used for assault. They are of no value as a defense against Bambi.
   And when the NRA claims the proper response to gun violence in America is "more guns," an equally valid response is "fewer guns."