Clarified: Which lawmakers benefit the most from NRA funding?
The NRA has spent tens of millions of dollars in support of gun rights political candidates for decades
The NRA has spent tens of millions of dollars in support of gun rights political candidates for decades
The NRA has spent tens of millions of dollars in support of gun rights political candidates for decades
Watch the video in the player above for a list of politicians who receive the most funding from the NRA.
Mass shootings are at a record high – most recently, eight people were killed at a mall in Texas after authorities say the shooter used an AR-15-style weapon.
Roughly half of Americans (53%) favor stricter gun laws, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, and yet Congress has been slow to pass any major changes to gun laws.
The most recent effort Congress made was passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in June 2022 – in response to mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. The law provides a $750 million incentive for states to voluntarily adopt “red flag” laws that would remove firearms from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. The law was backed by Democrats and 15 Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
However, the law fails to address restrictions on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, a topic that is divisive between Democrats and Republicans.
The National Rifle Association, known to be the top most influential gun rights group, has spent tens of millions of dollars in lobbying and supporting gun rights politicians.
Since 2012, the NRA has reportedly spent an average of $3.6 million each year to oppose gun control bills like the Protect America’s School Act and the Keep Americans Safe Act, which called for limiting access to devices that allow guns to rapidly discharge many rounds of ammunition, according to Open Secrets, a nonprofit organization that tracks money in politics.
Open Secrets has also compiled a database of current members in the 118th Congress who have received the most funding from the NRA.
The report reveals the NRA has funded tens of millions of dollars to support gun rights politicians – including Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell. The report also shows the NRA spent millions of dollars against gun control politicians, including Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Does the NRA still hold the same influence?
While the NRA has poured millions into gun rights lobbying, the organization’s influence has been waning in the past few years.
The NRA has also reportedly lost over 1 million members since 2018. The organization reported they had 6 million members in 2018, but the NRA’s CEO, Wayne LaPierre, reported membership was around 4.9 million members in a 2021 deposition.
Experts say its shrinking membership is caused by several reasons – including coming under the spotlight for its leadership turmoil.
In 2020, the New York Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the NRA and its senior management for allegedly failing to manage the organization’s funds, violating state and federal laws and the organization’s own rules.
Court proceedings revealed LaPierre and others spent tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips and no-show contracts for associates, among other incidents. The NRA tried to file for bankruptcy in 2021, but the Texas judge dismissed the case, ruling it was not filed in “good faith.”
According to Open Secrets, the NRA reported its largest-ever year-to-year decline in federal lobbying spending – from $4.9 million in 2021 to $2.6 million in 2022.
There was also a dip in NRA spending during recent federal elections – from $54.5 million in the 2016 election to $29.1 million in the 2020 election.
Further-right gun groups, like Gun Owners of America, have also risen in popularity during this time.
Gun control funding
There’s also been a notable increase in funding for gun control in recent years. According to Open Secrets, donations to gun control nonprofits and PACs, including Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords PAC, have “increased consistently.”
In 2018, gun control groups outspent the NRA for the first time by a $2.6 million margin, according to Open Secrets. However, in the 2020 election, gun control groups spent a total of $23.5 million – which dwarfed in comparison to the NRA’s spending.
Gun control groups have also increased outside spending since the 2018 election cycle. Gun control advocates poured $16.6 million in outside spending in 2020 in comparison to $14,000 in 2016.
Despite the NRA’s controversies, the organization still brings top Republicans to speak at their annual conventions, including former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence attending the NRA’s 2023 convention.