The NRA is doomed. It has only itself to blame.

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/08/nra-is-doomed-it-has-only-itself-blame/

The warning signs of the group’s collapse were there before New York’s lawsuit.


Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and chief executive of the National Rifle Association, speaks at the group's 2019 annual meeting in Indianapolis. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

By Robert J. Spitzer

Robert J. Spitzer is distinguished service professor of political science at SUNY Cortland. The eighth edition of his book, “The Politics of Gun Control,” will be published this fall.

August 8, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. EDT

The lawsuit that New York Attorney General Letitia James filed on Thursday calling for the dissolution of the National Rifle Association and the removal of NRA head Wayne LaPierre came as shocking political news, even in these tumultuous times. Yet the warning signs of the NRA’s collapse were there for all to see, after a decade of damage to the organization that it largely inflicted upon itself.

The 2016 elections seem light-years ago for the NRA. Its early and enthusiastic embrace of GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump represented a long-shot bet that hit the jackpot on Election Day. And the NRA was all in, pouring over $70 million into the 2016 campaign, including $31 million for Trump — triple its spending for 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Yet two years later, the NRA’s open money spigot slowed to a trickle, which in retrospect signaled its money problems. In the 2018 midterm election cycle, the NRA found itself outspent by gun safety groups — the first time ever in a national campaign. And its cause took a political drubbing.

Spurred in part by the shocking Parkland High School shooting in early 2018 and by the school’s vocal students, who helped mobilize national opinion, the movement for stronger gun laws found electoral traction. For example, among swing district congressional races in 2018, 38 of 59 candidates embraced gun regulation, compared to only 4 of 36 in 2016.

</snip>

C Ya NRA!

[SheltieLover]

1. Perhaps his assets should be seized

And distributed to all the mass shooting survivors & families. 🤬

[lastlib]

8. I agree in principle, but I think you should drop the second syllable.

(nix on distributing that to victims tho......)

[Kaleva]

2. Interestingly, many pro-gunners are not upset about this.

Very little blowback from gun nuts about NY AG's action against NRA

[Amishman]

4. The NRA has been to mild and moderate for the hardcore gunners

They alienated a lot of gun nuts by supporting the bump stock ban

[PCIntern]

5. Yeah

I Was telling this gun guy who I know that I’m about to purchase a bazooka and a tank and consider myself protected by the Second Amendment. He gave me that long look, not sure if I was being funny or not.

[Hangingon]

15. When someone says that to me they get a long look too...

How can I get away from this looney tune. I don’t want to be around them

[Fyrefox]

3. Good riddance!

Hopefully the days of the NRA as the fourth branch of government will be over when we get Trump removed from the White House. Meaningful gun control has long been on the back burner in this country due to the NRA bankrolling any Republican obstructionist candidate as the massacres continue...

[mnmoderatedem]

6. that's the sweet part

all their own doing, all their own corruption, all their own self destruction

[SharonClark]

7. Only to be replaced by Gun Owners of America.

NRA’s drunk and loaded up little brother.

[Tom Traubert]

9. I think NYAG's lawsuit is dumb.

The NRA already was imploding, and the lawsuit smacks of piling on so a state politician can make a name for herself on a national stage. Do we really care that the NRA membership was defrauded and fleeced? I’m not losing any sleep over it. And she just gave the national Republicans something to campaign and fundraise with: what’s going to happen if Dems are elected — they are going to come for your guns and threaten gun owners’ right to associate. This may not matter in NY, where state-wide elections are won in NYC and the Republicans have no chance. But it will play in some states that we might need. In upstate NY, I see an NRA sticker on almost every third car that I pass. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the NRA and am glad to see it’s demise. But IMO, AG Jame’s lawsuit is unnecessary grandstanding that is not going to help anyone but her.

[Dennis Donovan]

10. They're chartered in New York State and they broke NYS laws

She's the New York State Attorney General.

So, rule of law is something you're adverse to?

[Dennis Donovan]

14. So, Tom... who are you?

...and this is my Dad:



YOU are new here, apparently, and your "opinion" sucks, dude.

Skulk off now...

[fescuerescue]

11. the NRA is privately hoping for a Biden win

Because they will get flooded with donations and new membership.

Happens everytime a Republican loses.

[aikoaiko]

16. Yep. One gun away from new life

[beachbumbob]

12. the real doom would be if russian money to NRA can be proven