Who is behind the “arms lobby” in the US: The power of the NRA and the millions to influence MPs

The USA are shocked by another massacre at a Texas schoolwith the American president Joe Biden to openly accuses the famous “arms lobby”, for the fact that 18-year-old Salvador Ramos spread death.

At the same time, the Americans and the media on the other side of the Atlantic are calling for an end to the arms industry, which they claim has strong ties to the political elite.

But what is it? “Arms lobby” which enters the “target” of intense criticism, every time there is a massacre in the US, with many emphasizing that it consists of well-known names?

This is the NRA organization that means National Rifle Association and is founded in 1871 by two veterans of the Civil War as an entertainment team, as it is designed to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis”.

But as he notes bbc.comthe NRA in 1934 begins to turn to the political lobby, because it begins to register members who have information on future bills related to firearms. National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and Arms Control Act 1968 (GCA), while in 1975 he created the Institute of Legislative Action, in order to directly influence political life.

So, in 1977 forms its own Political Action Committee (PAC) and begins to directs funds to legislatorsas a result of which it gained a huge influence throughout the country, which it maintains to this day.

How strong is the NRA

The NRA not only has strong ties to the US political elite, but retains a large number of members, and each year officially spends huge sums to buy and test even long-range weapons, while also promoting political capital.

According to the BBC, analysts estimate that the organization has about 3 million members, but it claims that by 2020 had almost 5 million., with new registrations constantly increasing. In fact, he has boasted about some of its members, because they belong to the elite, such as the former president George W. Bush, former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and actor Tom Selek.

At the same time, based on official data, spends $ 250 million a year on weapons, a much larger amount than all U.S. arms control teams can afford together. Still, he spends about $ 3 million a year to influence arms policy.

However, it is difficult to determine the exact amount he spends annually on politicians, as he spends a lot of money and through independent contributions, funds that are difficult to identify.

The real power and the hidden “ace” up the sleeve

The “arms lobby” is constantly criticizing all the bodies and the relevant laws that ask for control of the weapons, using every means. Typically, when a law was passed in the United States that would allow the police to destroy the weapons it confiscates, the NRA put up strong resistance, claiming that the weapons were in “good condition”, resulting in a waste of their destruction.

It also exerts indirect influence through its politically committed members, many of whom will vote one way or another on this unique issue. So, publicly rates members of Congress from A to F. on their perceived friendliness to gun rights. These ratings can have a serious impact on poll results and could cost candidates in favor of gun control a seat on the political scene.

In fact, he has been accused of that for two years does not allow a law to be passed by Congresswho puts one standard ceiling in arms control. In particular, a law has been passed that forces them citizens who want to buy a gun for the first timeνα submit several documents, which prove that they are not dangerous and how they want the weapon for protection. In Congress, however, the majority belongs to Republicans rather than Democrats, with 60 people blocking the passage of the bill, which could have saved lives because, according to analysts, It is estimated that if implemented, gun ownership could be reduced by as much as 20%.