The N.R.A. Wins Again - TheNewYorker

[sarisataka]

50. I am confused...

I have repeatedly seen claims that the NRA is dead, a paper tiger, has no real power, lost every election they supported last cycle, will be spent into oblivion by authoritarian billionaires ...
Yet here they are getting credit for overcoming the will of the majority of the population. Can someone solve this corundum of how a toothless, nationally reviled special interest group that has no real power or support can force congress to act against the wishes of the majority of the population and the President?


IMO the damage was done by none other than a Democrat. When emotions were running at their peak and everyone was expecting the pendulum to swing the President did what I consider to have been the best move. Create a commission, headed by the VP, to build support and consensus. Seek information and opinion from both sides, determine a course of action and develop legislation that is well written, effective and already has majority support. Fringe elements would be left gnashing their teeth in the cold as their own supporters would walk away.
This did not come to pass as a certain Senator with her own agenda trotted out old legislation that was despised by one side and recognized by both as having so little effect as to be irrelevant. It included the one word, which the opposite fringe had been promoting and pounding, with zero basis in reality, for four years and had gone "all in" in the election with the meme. They failed. Now here comes the Senator, separate from her own leadership (?), who with one bill gave the fringe meme truth and justification of their propaganda. It revitalized their side, swelled the membership, boosted the lobbying power and poisoned the debate with claims that any effort at consensus was a sham.

Had Mr. Biden's team proposed similar legislation would it have had a better chance, likely; would there have been opposition, definitely; would it have passed, maybe. Would other legislation have also come out with broad support and had a positive effect on gun related crime, highly likely.

Twenty children died (how many can name one of Noah Pozner's classmates- I do not care what the killer was called but have committed one victim's name to memory, never to forget) and there was an opportunity to make a drastic change in this country. It was lost due to pride, ego and self-interest. Now even the smallest changes face incredible battles. Tragedy.