Stop crying over the NRA money monster that doesn’t exist

By Matt Rooney

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Let’s correct a popular myth, Save Jerseyans, especially in light of last week’s school shooting and a renewed effort by manipulate jerks like Phil Murphy to bash legal gun owners:

The NRA’s power isn’t related to money.

In fact, it’s a comparatively tiny political donor when measured against other special interest groups (like unions).

Between 1998 and 2016, the much-maligned National Rifle Association (NRA) spent a little over $200 million, in total, on political activities.

American labor unions spent $1.7 BILLION, with a “B”… in 2016 alone. One year!

The NRA hasn’t even cracked the top 20 for lobbying, a list populated by other well-known groups like the Chamber of Commerce and AARP.

The real number behind the NRA’s influence? 30% of Americans own a gun

That’s 100 million people.

42% live in a household with a gun.

On the other hand, only about 11% of Americans presently belong to a union.

If anything? The NRA is extremely under-powered in the campaign finance department relative to the huge constituent group it represents and the muscle exercised by other organizations, like Labor, with shrinking constituencies.

So believe whatever you want regarding gun control , folks; all I ask is that we stop making up our own facts! And the NRA isn’t disproportionately running around buying politicians. It’s the sheer number of Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights — and vote/campaign/volunteer accordingly — who add volume to the NRA and other pro-Second Amendment groups’ collective voice in Washington, D.C., and state capitals around the country. 

#MakeAmericaThinkAgain

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.