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The True Source of the N.R.A.’s Clout: Mobilization, Not Donations
New York Times ^ | February 24, 2018 | ERIC LIPTON and ALEXANDER BURNS

Posted on 02/24/2018 11:42:44 AM PST by reaganaut1

WASHINGTON — Few places have seen the National Rifle Association wield its might more effectively than Florida, where it has advanced a sweeping agenda that has made it easier to carry concealed weapons, given gun owners greater leeway to shoot in self-defense and even briefly barred doctors from asking patients about their firearms.

To many of its opponents, that decades-long string of victories is proof that the N.R.A. has bought its political support. But the numbers tell a more complicated story: The organization’s political action committee over the last decade has not made a single direct contribution to any current member of the Florida House or Senate, according to campaign finance records.

In Florida and other states across the country, as well as on Capitol Hill, the N.R.A. derives its political influence instead from a muscular electioneering machine, fueled by tens of millions of dollars’ worth of campaign ads and voter-guide mailings, that scrutinizes candidates for their views on guns and propels members to the polls.

“It’s really not the contributions,” said Cleta Mitchell, a former N.R.A. board member. “It’s the ability of the N.R.A. to tell its members: Here’s who’s good on the Second Amendment.”

Far more than any check the N.R.A. could write, it is this mobilization operation that has made the organization such a challenging adversary for Democrats and gun control advocates — one that, after the massacre at a school in Parkland, Fla., is struggling to confront an emotional student-led push for new restrictions.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: 2a; 2ndamendment; banglist; cruz; fakenews; guncontrol; gungrabbers; guns; liberalagenda; newyorkslimes; nikolascruz; nra; nyslimes; parkview; rkba; russianpropagandists; russianpuppets; russianstooges; russiasucks; secondamendment
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1 posted on 02/24/2018 11:42:44 AM PST by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

Leftest attack plan for NRA - bump for later.....


2 posted on 02/24/2018 11:45:14 AM PST by indthkr
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To: reaganaut1

I suspect that all this vitriol against the NRA will act a great membership enhancement tool.


3 posted on 02/24/2018 11:45:51 AM PST by Captain Compassion (I'm just sayin')
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To: reaganaut1

Those limp wrists in Washington know that the followers of the 2A, vote and they vote in mass. To attack the 2A is giving up your seat in Washington. Like the Browder County deputies hiding from the shooter, Washington hides from the 2A voters. They will do nothing.


4 posted on 02/24/2018 11:46:32 AM PST by Kozy (new age haruspex; "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.")
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To: indthkr

I’d sign on to the plan to stop the left wing propaganda. Where’s the list.


5 posted on 02/24/2018 11:47:28 AM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (Proudly casting a heavy carbon footprint as I clean my guns ---)
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To: reaganaut1

They have millions of members who vote.

And politicians know that high intensity voters determine who can stay in office.

That’s the reason why they rarely cross the NRA.


6 posted on 02/24/2018 11:49:35 AM PST by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Forever))
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To: reaganaut1

Dear New York Slimes:

There are democrat members too.

5.56mm


7 posted on 02/24/2018 11:49:49 AM PST by M Kehoe
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To: reaganaut1

It’s like light verses darkness. Darkness only wins where the light is blocked. Blocking the NRA has been a leftist goal who knows how long.


8 posted on 02/24/2018 11:54:11 AM PST by Nateman (If the left is not screaming, you are doing it wrong.)
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To: All

I am a Life member of NRA. I am pretty upset with them right now for opening up the attack on banning bump stocks.

The anti gunners are using this as a way to get after semi-autos. The language they are using against bump stocks is “rate increasing” devices. This will ultimately affect all semi autos based on government mandated “rate” of fire.

All members of NRA should be supporting Gun Owners of America, who will not compromise our rights.


9 posted on 02/24/2018 11:57:08 AM PST by Freedom_2_ADM
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To: Captain Compassion

I paid for a three year membership just this morning.


10 posted on 02/24/2018 12:00:15 PM PST by semaj (U\)
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To: Captain Compassion

Yup! Just joined an hour ago. Good feeling!


11 posted on 02/24/2018 12:04:34 PM PST by berry65
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To: Captain Compassion

“I suspect that all this vitriol against the NRA will act a great membership enhancement tool.”


I was a member for 19 years, before resigning in 2008 because they were caving in on everything. I may rejoin, but only if they do not cave in over this latest massacre and the pressure being brought to restrict gun rights as a result. If they fight, people will flock to them, but if they cave in like a bunch of pussies, they will lose membership.


12 posted on 02/24/2018 12:05:43 PM PST by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: semaj

Beat ya! I did 5 just an hour ago! Smile!


13 posted on 02/24/2018 12:06:06 PM PST by berry65
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To: berry65

Had a small argument last night with a lib friends wife. She wanted guns to be outlawed. I said, “Ok, let’s outlaw abortion.” Her retort was, “abortion is constitutionally legal, guns aren’t.”

Ever see when someone is so dumbfounded by another’s statement that they can’t reply? Well, that was me. It took a second to gather my thoughts because all I could think about was my poor friend and how he managed to marry someone as dumb as a bag of hammers. So I asked her, “are you pro abortion or pro choice?” knowing full well that she had no idea what I just said. She said she was pro choice. I said, “so am I and I choose to own a weapon as part of my constitutional rights. My friend looked over at us, muttered “oh $hit” and rescued his wife.

My friend called me late last night. After the, “please never do that again” he said before hanging up, “she really is as dumb as a box of rocks” but I love her.


14 posted on 02/24/2018 12:29:34 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (What is a Blue City? First world cities run by third world politicians.)
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To: Captain Compassion

I did with me, I joined for 5 years yesterday.


15 posted on 02/24/2018 12:34:27 PM PST by Ann de IL
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To: reaganaut1

So, after a week of accusing politicians of being “bought” by the NRA, it turns out that little money goes directly to candidates? So now THAT is being made to look sinister.


16 posted on 02/24/2018 12:38:23 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: reaganaut1

That’s exactly correct. Members, like me, don’t care about discounts or boycotts.


17 posted on 02/24/2018 12:39:43 PM PST by Rusty0604
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To: reaganaut1

That’s exactly correct. Members, like me, don’t care about discounts or boycotts.


18 posted on 02/24/2018 12:39:44 PM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Rusty0604

The discounts benefitted the companies. Those companies dropping the discounts are industrial strength stupid.


19 posted on 02/24/2018 12:46:08 PM PST by Cold Heart
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To: EQAndyBuzz
"My friend called me late last night. After the, “please never do that again” he said before hanging up, “she really is as dumb as a box of rocks” but I love her."

She might not be dumb, just uninformed, and thinks that the impression she gets from news media is an accurate one. There are probably a lot of people who think that the right to bear arms was an invention of the NRA, not a specific, enumerated constitutional right.
20 posted on 02/24/2018 12:48:42 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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