Ultra-conservative gun group outspends NRA on lobbying
Source: USA Today
WASHINGTON — Gun rights groups pumped $3.8 million in federal lobbying this year — a 122% spike in spending over the final months of 2012 — as they fought to roll back gun-control measures advocated by President Obama and Democrats in Congress in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., tragedy, a new analysis shows.
Gun-control groups also increased their lobbying activity dramatically, but their spending, totaling nearly $276,000 in the first quarter of 2013, represents a tiny fraction of what gun rights groups are investing in the legislative fight, according to the tally by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political money.
A newcomer by federal lobbying — the National Association for Gun Rights or NAGR — spent nearly $1.9 million during the first three months of the year — exceeding the $700,000 reported by powerful National Rifle Association.
NAGR, which casts itself as the conservative alternative to the NRA on Second Amendment issues, added its first federal lobbyist this year, federal records show. The group drew attention recently for running ads targeting Republicans, including House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a Tea Party favorite who is weighing a 2016 presidential bid, has helped NAGR raise money, angering Republicans targeted by the group's attack ads.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/05/02/lobbying-nra-national-association-for-gun-rights/2130047/
That's right. The biggest spender in the pro-gun lobby field is the one that sells itself on BEING MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE NRA.
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