Guns and Money
An investigation into political financial contributions from one of the most powerful advocacy groups in America
Part One: Financial Contributions
Who has the loudest voice?
In 2010, the Supreme Court reached a narrow 5-4 decision in a case with far-reaching consequences. The court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations and other outside groups can spend unlimited money on elections.
In the wake of Citizens United, Political Action Committees (PACs) and wealthy donors have had an outsized influence on our political discourse and outcomes. Flexing their financial power, these individuals and institutions sway our elected officials, even when their policy positions contradict the will of the average American citizen. In the 2020 election cycle, PACs and large donors represented more than 75% of political contributions to both Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives.
Part Two: Gun Rights Lobbying
The Power of the NRA and Pro-Gun Groups
America is an exceptionally violent nation. The U.S. has more firearms per 100 residents than any other country in the world. In 2019, gun-related killings accounted for nearly three quarters of all homicides in the U.S. that year.
Despite the abundance of guns, violence, and mass shootings in this country, politicians repeatedly fail to pass measures to restrict gun use and availability. This is in large part due to the financial influence of gun rights organizations such as the NRA.
The NRA (National Rifle Association) is the most powerful gun rights advocacy group in the country. The association has a lobbying arm, The Institute for Legislative Action, and several PACs. The lobbying arm aims to shape gun policy by encouraging expansion of gun rights and open-carry laws, while the PACs make financial contributions to gun-friendly candidates. For example, the NRA website features a report card for all members of Congress, awarding A's to gun-friendly candidates and F's to those seeking to increase gun regulation.
The NRA's financial contributions skew sharply along party lines.
Featured below are some of the representatives that the NRA has supported most through direct and indirect financial contributions.
Part Three: Shifting Tides
The Rise of Gun Control Organizations
Despite the NRA's long stranglehold over Republican politicians and discourse surrounding gun control, the tides are shifting. The public overwhelmingly supports stricter gun laws.
Gun control organizations are catching up to gun rights organizations. For the first time ever in 2018, political contributions from gun control organizations outpaced those of gun rights organizations
Join the Fight
How to Support Election Reform Efforts and Gun Control Legislation
Support Gun Control Efforts
Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the U.S. In the 2020 election cycle, contributed $21 million to pro gun-control candidates, outspending the NRA's Victory Fund. In addition to contributing to pro gun-control candidates, Everytown issues evidence-based policy solutions that can reduce gun violence and save lives.
Support Campaign Finance Reform
Current campaign finance laws allow Super PACs and organizations like the NRA to unfairly influence elections. Campaign finance reform is necessary to reduce the influence of big money in politics and put power back in the hands of the people. The Brennan Center for Justice releases policy proposals to fix our campaign finance system.
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