Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   People misunderstand why the NRA has influence Date:   2/22/2018 2:29:01 PM (updated 2/22/2018 2:32:44 PM)

I keep hearing all this talk about the GOP politicians being in the hip pocket of the NRA as a result of campaign donations.  They are sadly mistaken.  The NRA donated a grand total of $3.8M to all current members of Congress.  Over a six year period unions donated $1.1 billion to politicians.  That amounts to $183 million per year!! 

Where the NRA derives their influence is through its membership, all of which are worried about the erosion of their right to legally possess firearms.  It's their millions of members (and millions of others that don't belong but share that concern) that give them their influence, not the piddly amount of cash they donate to Republicans and Democrats.  Unlike unions, which have lots of members that don't appreciate where they focus their campaign donations (almost exclusively to Democrats), all the NRA members and like-minded Americans are supportive of their mission.  Don't be surprised to see their membership roles expand with this latest push for gun control.