National Journal
Congressional Insiders Poll
By Shane Goldmacher and Peter Bell, July 26, 2012
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no influence and 10 being extremely influential), how much influence does the National Rifle Association have on the gun-control debate in Congress?
Democrats (23 Votes)
Average: 8.9
1-3: 4%
4-6: 0%
7-10: 96%
8. “The NRA has been effective in ensuring that there has been relatively little gun-control debate in recent years.”
8. “I suspect the influence is based in part on fear—that the feared effect of a negative NRA rating is much greater than the actual effect on voters.”
9. “It’s sad to say, but it’s true.”
9. “The NRA has a hold on a small but intense minority of voters. This has become a key cultural issue (versus the ‘liberal elite’), and the supposed ‘lessons’ of the 1994 election are endlessly repeated.”
9. “They’re actually moderate compared to most state gun lobbies.”
9. “Given the NRA largely ignores many of the nation’s urban centers, their influence is concentrated and significant. Apparently, we can’t even discuss the reasonableness of creating better regulatory controls for weapons that could cause substantial harm without the NRA and its supporters decrying that our individual liberties are being obliterated by haters of freedom and liberty.”
10. “Only because—unlike the amp in Spinal Tap, this one doesn’t go to 11.”
10. “It is Darth Vader and Jack the Ripper rolled into one.”
10. “They ‘own’ Congress.”
10. “And that’s 10 too high!”
10. “Thanks to the NRA, you can’t even discuss the issue in a rational way, let alone pass commonsense gun-control measures, like restricting the number of bullets in a clip.”
10. “They are the single most dominant group in America. Their members vote and are vocal about it.”
10. “The NRA owns the Republican Party.”
10. “The NRA, unfortunately, owns Congress.”
10. “They have a great amount of say in how members see this issue. Right now, a very large number of members are afraid to upset the NRA.”
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no influence and 10 being extremely influential), how much influence does the National Rifle Association have on the gun-control debate in Congress?
