2020 SHOT Show

Long a bane of anti-gun politicians, Democrats (typically one and the same) and the mainstream media, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has been often blamed as well as credited, depending on which side of the issue a person falls on, with effectively stopping much of the legislation in Congress that would whittle away citizens’ Second Amendment rights. But with ongoing troubles with its longtime leadership, legal challenges in court, lawsuits and even constituent anger over the organization’s spending and direction on certain issues, NRA is no longer the largest, most powerful gun lobby in Washington, DC.

That title is now held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which NBC News reports spent over $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year, more than any other year in its history, and significantly more than the NRA. The NSSF, with a 60-year history of promoting hunting and recreational shooting, has emerged as the country’s largest firearms trade association amid the NRA’s struggles with declining membership, revenue and internal scandals, including a corruption ruling against its leader Wayne LaPierre.

Unlike the NRA, which focuses on individual gun owners as members, the NSSF represents gun manufacturers, retailers and business interests, focusing more on regulatory issues and maintaining partnerships with federal agencies, despite holding similar stances against universal background checks, red flag laws and mandatory safe storage of firearms among other anti-gun proposals. Some believe the NSSF’s success is due to their ability to present a more pragmatic and less confrontational image than what NRA has come to be known for, yet still shares the NRA’s hard-line positions on gun control. However, the NSSF emphasizes its commitment to safety and dialogue on firearms, distinguishing its approach from the NRA’s.

“The product is firearms, and there’s no divorcing the politics from the product,” Larry Keane, NSSF’s general counsel and chief lobbyist, said in a recent interview with NBC News.

NBC News notes that the group remains a “staunch defender of the Second Amendment,” while at the same time striving to take a more pragmatic approach to dealing with issues “similar to business groups representing less controversial industries.”

The NSSF’s growth and increased lobbying efforts come as the NRA faces significant cutbacks and internal turmoil. And while NRA’s overall revenue and membership still dwarf the trade association, NSSF’s expansion is notable amidst booming gun sales and a membership exceeding 10,000. Under the Biden administration, the NSSF has prioritized issues such as opposing the creation of a new merchant code for firearms purchases, which it argues could infringe on gun buyers’ privacy and be misused for political purposes.

Despite the NRA’s challenges, it remains influential in electoral politics, bolstered by a vast membership and supporters across the country.

“The NRA’s influence has never stemmed from the salaries or expenditures,” NRA spokesman McLaughlin said in a statement to NBC. “It comes from the millions of NRA members and supporters across the country who stand and fight, take action, and vote.”

Meanwhile, the NSSF, as the growing face of the firearms industry, continues to strengthen its connections within the industry and government, evident in its annual SHOT Show, which continues to grow and is regularly attended by key Republican figures and federal officials, emphasizing its emerging role in shaping gun policy and advocacy in the United States.

And while “who” is the top gun-rights lobbyist in Washington could teeter back and forth in the coming years depending on how NRA emerges from its current woes, one thing is certain, both organizations will continue to play pivotal roles in the rights of millions of Americans who care about the Second Amendment.

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42 COMMENTS

  1. RE: “And while “who” is the top gun-rights lobbyist in Washington could teeter back and forth in the coming years depending on how NRA emerges from its current woes, one thing is certain, both organizations will continue to play pivotal roles in the rights of millions of Americans who care about the Second Amendment.”

    Teeter back and forth at least until the NRA proves itself worthy of donations…not even close to being there yet.

  2. Imagine having a nearly half a billion dollar budget and do nothing but negotiate rights away and hold a tent youth shoot three times a year. Welcome to the NRA.

  3. Gosh darn that NRA! The only thing they did for us lately was the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case, the biggest gun rights case in front of the Supreme Court ever that made the whole country “shall issue”. That’s all.

    • Did they really? I wasn’t aware of any contribution by them of anything besides a me-too amicus brief.

    • NRA not to be found.

      After the licensing officer’s decision, Nash, Koch, and the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association—of which Nash and Koch were members—filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York for violation of their constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The district court dismissed the suit, holding it was bound by the 2nd Circuit’s ruling in the 2012 case of Kachalsky v. County of Westchester, which found that requiring applicants to demonstrate proper cause in order to obtain a firearms license did not violate the Second Amendment.[2] On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirmed.[3

    • Sorry Boog….but….those 12,000,000 illegal immigrants will be deputized, armed and sent to round up the Nation’s Firearms. Read the History of the Russian Revolution……prison inmates were freed & sent to Military Armories for weapons to use against the Middle Class & Counter Revolutionaries. Google “Cartel Violence” to see how vicious our guests are.

  6. As they say, as the leadership goes, so does the rest of the organization. Thus, I have no faith in the NRA even though I signed up as a lifetime member some years ago. When they are courageous to open up all their books for all to see, implement safeguards to prevent the likes of WLP and company to ride roughshod over the rest of the organization, including its members, amend their purpose statement to fully respect the rights of all of its members, then and only then will I throw in my support. Until then GOA, and GOA of Kalifornia, will be receiving my full endorsement to protect our 2A rights.

  8. Now that WLP is gone I’ll see what happens with the NRA. Maybe I’ll give them some money. Until then, and even after, it’s going to the 2AF and GOA.

  9. The NRA had one job and “f”ed it up.
    JUST SAY NO to politicians. Instead they became part of problem.

  11. My favorite thing about all of this is that while the left was aiming all their big guns at the NRA, other gun right orgs were forming up and marching right on by. Now the NRA is wounded, but very much capable of returning to their purpose, but they’re not the only one any more. Following the cold war, the US went from one main enemy, the USSR, to many, many smaller ones, which are a whole lot harder to keep track of, and we’re having a hard time defeating them all.

  12. “…the NSSF represents gun manufacturers, retailers and business interests, focusing more on regulatory issues and maintaining partnerships with federal agencies…”

    Ipso facto, QED.

    More interested in big money interests, rather than individual rights.

    Send your money to activist orgs defending against 2A attacks on “we the people”

  16. Bloomberg, Brady and Biden say
    Don’t support the NRA
    They’re always in 2A fights
    And only got you Bruen rights
    So do it all Joe Biden’s way

  17. I was amused that the article implies the NRA has been a hardcore defender of 2A rights. They helped write the 1968 Gun Control Act which now gives the Federal Government the means to close down every gun dealer in the US. On other cases, NRA fights a bill until close to the end, then caves, so “We can retain our place at the table.” The brag they make gun laws less onerous. As we see now, that is a losinig strategy. IMO, the worse a gun law is the easier it is to beat in court. By cooperating with the antis, the anties can then say, “See even the NRA agrees this is a good law.”

    NRA is going to have to do a lot more than fire some people. They need to change their attitude about the 2A, and defend it with the same furver that others protect the 1A. And using the same arguments. I am still a member of the NRA, but I suppor the organization that really get the job done and do not compromise. “Compromise” with the 2A means we give up half of what we have and the antis get half of what they want.

    • “Compromise” with the 2A means we give up half of what we have and the antis get half of what they want.”

      BAU for most legislation, all the time.

      • Seems like we always loose something they gain something. In a real compromise neither side it happy because they both loose something. Anti gunners never give up anything

        • “Seems like we always loose something they gain something.”

          It is the price we pay to find common ground with evil.

  18. Firearm related PAC money is a rounding error and a pittance compared to numerous other PACs.

  20. I used to be a Member,
    but
    I have to say:
    Until there is “Enemas til Clear” in the Hierarchy of the NRA,
    I have no use for them.
    I’m with GOA and NAGR now

  21. nssf has supported bad legislation in the past and supports the big lie that people arbitrarily designated “felons” who may not have even committed any crime, no longer have part of the bill of rights

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