Pro-Gun Lobby Outspends Gun Control by a Large Margin

In the aftermath of the El Paso and Dayton shootings in the U.S. states of Texas and Ohio, fighting along partisan lines has once more broken out. While many Republicans do not want to discuss gun control measures, many Democrats agree that the influence of the pro-gun lobby in the U.S. should be curtailed and stricter gun laws should be passed.

In fact, pro-gun lobbying organizations have outspent gun control advocates by a large margin in the past. NRA spending accounted for approximately half of all gun rights lobby spending in 2018. In 2013, NRA spending increasing rapidly was also largely responsible for pro-gun lobby expenditures skyrocketing. The spending increase coincided with the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn, in December 2012.

At the moment, very few U.S. states limit the sale of assault-style weapons or high-capacity magazines that have been used in many deadly mass shootings.

Meanwhile, President Trump is reportedly open to certain reforms to gun laws, including more extensive background checks. In turn, chief executive of the NRA, Wane LaPierre has warned Trump that he would be upsetting his base if he touched gun laws.