The Strength of the Arms Lobby

The crossfire between gunmen and police in New York left two dead and nine wounded. The night before, in Chicago, a shooting left two dozen wounded. Both incidents are in addition to the slaughter in the cinema in Aurora, Colorado, where 12 people died and 50 were hit by bullets. Later, in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, six individuals were killed and three were injured by an attacker. The number of incidents in such a short period of time suggests that the issue of gun control would enter the presidential election debate.

Both President Barack Obama, who aspires to a second term, and Mitt Romney, who is running for the Republicans, limited themselves to sending their condolences to the victims but avoided addressing the issue. Both fear the reaction of the National Rifle Association (NRA). This non-profit NGO with limitless funds is considered the best lobbyist in politics. With 4.3 million members, it can count on generous funds to spend on campaigns.

There is, of course, a close relationship between gun manufacturers and the NRA. Each new buyer is a potential member. In total, firearms manufacturers, importers and gun shops employ nearly 100,000 people and turn-over about $32 billion annually. Between 2007 and 2011, sales of handguns increased by 104 percent. In 2010, the NRA had $244 million to play with.

The NRA sets its sights on members of congress who promote legislation to restrict the free acquisition of arms by the public. In the realm of ideas, they invoke the constitutional right of every person to bear arms. In fact, the NRA, founded in 1871, claims to be the oldest civil rights organization in the country.

Its effectiveness lies in clever targeting — beating its opponents in congress at their most vulnerable point: their election and, in many cases, re-election. Politicians are rated on a scale from A to F according to their adherence to the principles of the NRA. It has been said that this system played a key role in the defeat of Democratic presidential candidates Al Gore (2000) and John Kerry (2004). Now, Obama is drawing fire from the organization that in its journal headlined an article, “Our America or Obama’s.” Although the president has kept a low profile on the issue, the NRA labels him as an in-your-face enemy of weapons in private hands.

Everything indicates that whoever wins the presidential and congressional elections, little will change in terms of gun control in America.