Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association, will speak at the Conservative Political Activities Council (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, on February 28, 2021.
Joe Skipper | Reuters
The National Rifle Association has free cash to influence the gun policy debate after the recent child slaughter in Texas, despite the financial stress and internal turmoil that narrowed the group. increase.
NRA held its annual convention in Houston this week. A few days later, shooters shot and killed 19 children and 2 adults in Yuvarde within five hours of driving.Former President, reflecting the group’s continued influence Donald TrumpSenator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and other National Republicans Advance the plan to speak At a forum hosted by the Lobbying Division of the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Friday afternoon.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott will not speak as planned as he returns to Uvalde. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also stopped speaking at the NRA meeting, saying he did not want to “bring more pain and sadness” to the victims’ families.
Gun security advocates seeking new restrictions in response to this month’s shootings in Buffalo, Texas and New York — including the president Joe Biden Senate leader Chuck Schumer — renewed NRA’s criticism of opposition to repeated efforts to tighten firearms regulations to curb genocide across the country. Although NRA’s power has been hit in recent years, financial reporting and lobbying disclosures show that the group still has the means to attempt to influence gun policy negotiations in the coming weeks — next year. With a midterm election to decide which party will rule the parliament.
NRA is likely to participate in policy discussions as follows: Senator resumes gun control negotiations And major mid-term races are being held nationwide.Congressman Deliberation Measures for a wide range of guns. The proposal includes a national “danger signal” law that may allow police or family members to petition courts to order the temporary removal of firearms from persons deemed dangerous, and gun background checks. Includes measures that may be strengthened.
A NRA spokesman did not return a request for comment.
Records show that NRA 501 (c) (4) organizations that can lobby by law entered 2021 with a net worth of approximately $ 50 million. In the first quarter of this year, nearly 12 NRA representatives, including Group CEO Wayne LaPierre, were involved with the federal government on gun-related bills. NRA spent more than $ 620,000 on lobbying during the quarter.
The organization spent the most lobbying ever in the last quarter. Then just a few months Announced in January He filed for bankruptcy in 2021 and planned to move his business from New York to Texas... According to a disclosure report, NRA spent more than $ 2 million lobbying Congress and the Biden administration on a gun control bill in the second quarter of 2021.
Another 501 (c) (3) of a gun group called the NRA Foundation is not lobbying, but holds events on topics such as gun safety and shooting, and according to the group’s 990 form, it has a net worth of 1. Entering 2021 over $ 140 million.Or Of the organization The sponsorship program allows supporters to donate money, and donors who donate more than $ 1,500 will receive a gun.
Gun control advocates remain vigilant outside the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters following a recent shooting at Robb Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 25, 2022. increase.
Kevin Deechu | Getty Images
According to Federal Election Commission filings, the NRA’s political action committee had more than $ 15 million in hand in May. Last month, PAC donated about $ 70,000 to Republicans running for the Republican Party in the 2022 midterm elections.
The NRA Commission donated $ 4,000 to a Republican candidate in Texas in April. Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Republican Rep. Ronnie Jackson each received $ 1,000 from NRA’s PAC. Wesley Hunt and Morgan Rutrell, who are candidates for the Texas Parliament, received the same amount.
Representatives of those candidates did not answer the question of whether their campaign would continue to accept funding from NRA.
When voters cast ballots in primaries nationwide, Senator started discussions this week Gun reform could pass through the Chamber of Commerce in a bipartisan vote.
New Politico / Morning Consult vote Taken the day after the Texas shooting, it shows broad support for some of the gun policy changes Congress has considered in the past. About three-quarters of respondents, or 73%, said they strongly supported all gun sales background checks, and another 15% said they supported the proposal to some extent.
More than half of the people surveyed, or 53%, say they strongly support the ban on assault-type weapons. Another 14% said they supported some of these firearms bans.
NRA said it was against Expanding It is a gun background check system, and there are often voices against measures such as banning offensive weapons.
This group has recently spread the message. According to the social media giant’s ad library, NRA’s Facebook ads launched last week are still active. One of the active NRA ads is a picture of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, which includes the message “Don’t let them steal your gun.”
It leads viewers to an online petition to Congress, “requiring Congress to vote on all bills, all treaties, all resolutions, and all amendments that somehow violate my right to second amendment. To do.”
With over 5 million members, the NRA has played a major role in shaping the country’s gun culture and policies for decades, but internal turmoil has weakened the country.
The announcement of NRA’s bankruptcy came after Letitia James, Attorney General of New York. Sued the organization, Aiming to completely melt it. Her office claimed that her current and former executives, including Lapierre, used NRA funds for their personal gain and the group lost more than $ 64 million in three years.
March 2021, Federal Judge Rejected NRA bid for bankruptcy protectionAdvance James’ proceedings.
The judge march This year, James’ proceedings could not completely close the NRA, but they could continue the proceedings.
This group will continue to receive the continued support of key advisors who have helped survive recent financial and legal issues. Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, a law firm that has long represented NRA, told CNBC that it has no plans to stop trading with gun lobbying groups.
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors is one of the companies that has represented NRA in a court battle with James’ office. NRA paid the company a total of more than $ 40 million in 2019 and 2020. Recently, 990 tax forms have been published.
In a statement reflecting NRA’s repeated proposals that mental illness leads to mass shootings rather than the availability of firearms, the company said, “To the association, its leadership, and millions of law-abiding members. We respect our commitment. ” The statement was emailed by the company’s spokesman Travis Karter.
“This was an incomprehensible tragedy. It is the act of a confused person. We pray and deeply sympathize with the victims, their families, and the entire community, and others to protect the school. Call with them to make them safe, and safe. “
