As NRA Hides from Public After Newtown, ALEC Ties Reveal Extensive Lobbying Behind U.S. Gun Laws

[Jefferson23]

From Democracy Now

Since Friday’s mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 27 dead — 20 children and seven adults — the National Rifle Association has been silent. The powerful lobbying organization has long pressured lawmakers to maintain easy access to firearms in the United States, prompting many to say the NRA is standing in the way of reform. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA has spent more than $2.2 million lobbying Congress this year alone. By comparison, the gun control lobby spent just $180,000. We’re joined by Lisa Graves, who has extensively tracked how the NRA’s power and wealth has long thwarted gun control proposals. Graves documents how one of the key avenues used to exert its influence is the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the secretive group that helps corporate America propose and draft legislation for states across the country. Graves formerly served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Clinton administration’s Justice Department, where she handled national gun policy. [includes rush transcript]


Guest:

Lisa Graves, executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy. She formerly served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Clinton administration’s Justice Department, where she handled national gun policy, and was the managing editor of the National Integrated Firearms Violence Reduction Strategy. Her most recent article for PR Watch is called "Backgrounder: The History of the NRA/ALEC Gun Agenda."


Transcript

AMY GOODMAN: Since Friday’s mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 27 dead—20 children, six women who tried to protect them, the principal, the psychologist, the teachers, as well as the shooter’s mother, and seven adults—the National Rifle Association has been silent. Its Facebook page has gone dark. The NRA has refused to give interviews. On Monday, more than 150 gun control advocates marched to the NRA’s Capitol Hill headquarters to call on the group to support enacting laws they say could save lives. Among them were people directly impacted by gun violence.

SNIP* AMY GOODMAN: According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent more than $2.2 million lobbying Congress this year alone. By comparison, the gun control lobby spent just $180,000.

in full: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/18/as_nra_hides_from_public_after

[Berlum]

1. NRA (R) goes AWOL

Typical Repuglicans. They never, ever ever accept responsibility for the shit they bring down upon the world.

[bongbong]

2. According to some in the gungeon....

... gun control is a republican plot, and having lots of Preciouses (guns) is a strong Progressive goal.

Since Newtown that particular Talking Point has been kept muffled, because so many of the Delicate Flowers and their agenda have been exposed to the light of day.

Strange what the Gun Religion does to your brains. Scrambles 'em.