Lastly, the NRA also maintains a large, deep-pocketed lobbying arm in Washington that’s involved in pressuring members of Congress to resist any legislation that might be construed as even mildly anti-gun. Even the threat of that challenge is often enough to intimidate many politicians from defying the NRA’s agenda. If Republicans (or moderate Democrats) waver on the gun issue, the NRA will – particularly in the primaries – pour money and resources into the campaigns of opponents who back more lax gun mandates. Perhaps most importantly, the NRA also flexes its muscles by unseating incumbent politicians directly at the ballot box. For Republicans from conservative districts, where guns are embedded deeply into the culture, any grade below a perfect A+ can hobble a politician’s electoral prospects. The formula is simple: supporting looser gun regulations earns a higher grade, whereas making it harder to access guns earns a lower grade. The NRA publishes an A-F rating of lawmakers that grades elected officials on their voting records with respect to the second amendment, which guarantees the rights of Americans to bear arms. So, instead of the recent spate of shootings causing the NRA to back way from its uncompromising positions, it has instead doubled down. Although not entirely new, many GOP lawmakers are leveraging gun ownership as part of a “package deal” – along with what they portray as leftist issues such as trans rights and critical race theory – to animate conservative voters. These recommendations align with the NRA’s longstanding message: tightening gun laws would do nothing to prevent mass shootings in schools.Īll of this is occurring as the NRA feels more emboldened with the renewed “culture war” focus sweeping America. The NRA, meanwhile, has continued to advance proposals such as improving mental health responses, “hardening” schools with increased security, and potentially even arming teachers, which leaders claim (without evidence and against educators’ wishes) can serve as a deterrent. Unsurprisingly, opponents of gun reform have accused the media and Democrats of “politicising” Uvalde to press an ideological agenda.
Several speeches – including one by Biden’s predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump – expressly addressed the incident.īut the NRA has vigorously rejected any charge that its policies contribute to America’s gun problem. The National Rifle Association promised to “reflect on” the tragedy at its national conference in Houston, Texas, the weekend after the May 24 shooting.
Yet many experts believe prospects for reform remain bleak, a reality attributed to the overwhelming influence of the gun lobby. In the wake of the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 children and two teachers, Democrats in the US – led by the president, Joe Biden – have once again called for stricter national gun laws. Writing in The Conversation, Dr Thomas Gift (UCL Political Science) delves into why the National Rifle Association is such a powerful force in American politics and has been so successful at blocking gun regulation.
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