How did the NRA become so powerful? Gore's 2000 defeat in Tennessee. [View all]

[Junkdrawer]

You see, the NRA has owned the Republican Party for a long time. That would make them a powerful player, but it was always balanced somewhat by a strong pro gun control faction in the Democratic Party.

Then the 2000 selection occurred. And not only was Wayne Lapierre's brag that they would then "operate right out of the Oval Office" made true, but many in the Democratic Party leadership came to blame Gore's loss of his home state on his support of modest gun control. The NRA saw this and knew they could neutralize their opposition if rank-and-file Democrats came to see gun control as a BIG liability.

And so, in every forum they could, died in the wool Republican gunners put on their best "I'm a Democratic and I support the Right to Keep and Bare Arms" suits and began their lobby. Sadly, it worked and we're all paying the price.