Post-Newtown, NRA coffers keep growing

Last month, President Obama in his State of the Union address forcefully called for new gun control measures. At the same time, National Rifle Association's political action committee was having a blockbuster fundraising month.

The NRA's Political Victory Fund yesterday reported raising nearly $1.6 million in February. The month before, the NRA raised $1.1 million, leaving the group with $4 million in cash on hand by the end of February.

By comparison, the group raised $14.4 million in 2011 and 2012 combined.

In its Federal Election Commission report filed yesterday, the NRA reported giving $30,500 to federal candidates and political committees last month. The group gave $1,000 to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who will oversee the development of gun legislation in the House, and $2,500 to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

• NRA raises $1.1 million in January
• Assault weapons ban dropped, gun control supporters move on
• NRA's LaPierre: I'm not the crazy one

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre hasn't been shy about the group's efforts to push back against the gun control measures making their way through Congress. He called Mr. Obama's State of the Union remarks, which stressed keeping children safe in schools, a "charade," and told the Conservative Political Action Committee this month that "the NRA's nearly five million members, and America's 100 million gun owners, will not back down, not ever."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to bring legislation on reducing gun violence to the Senate floor soon, but he said this week that for now, he's putting aside a bill to ban assault weapons -- one of the measures opposed by the NRA.

[tsafa1]

The purpose of the Second Amendment is to arm people in order to prevent future tyranny. They need the tools to do this.

The term "Well Regulated" in the Second Amendment meant "Well Manned and Equipped " in 1791 as was determined in the 1939 United States v. Miller case after referencing the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. The concept of Government Regulation, as we understand it today, did not exist at the time.

United States v. Miller also determined that the term "Arms" refers to "Ordinary Military Weapons" (not crew operated). American Citizens have the right to Keep and Bear, which means Own and Carry, any weapons that a soldier carries into battle. That includes past, present and future weapons. A Militia consisted of armed volunteers willing to fight with their personal arms and not under government control.

The 2008 Heller v. Washington DC decision reaffirmed that the Right to Bear Arms was an Individual right. The 2010 McDonald v. Chicago decision reaffirmed it yet again and made it clear that it applies to every state, every city and every town in the United States.

To limit the Second Amendment to muskets would be the equivalent of limiting the First Amendment to writings in quill pens.

Liberty is worth the risk of death!

[DanielDonigner]

Just because a piece of legislation is supported by the "majority of Americans" doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. In science there's a saying, "Truth is not democratic." The movement to abolish slavery was once a minority voice and unpopular. How wide-spread an opinion is has no relation to it's moral or factual truth. The framers of the Constitution spoke at length about preventing "the tyranny of the majority."

[smv55]

Which is why the US is a Republic, not a Democracy. One can trot out many scenarios to show the ignorance of many vs few, which have over time been shown to be. The tyranny of the majority has been corrupted in our own Supreme Court. Probably not as the "Founders" intended.

[Krowster]

Kind of reminds me of that old Roman saying, "Lions 10, Christians 0". In this case, however, we have "Killers 10, Innocents 0"...

[rsgardner]

How many of you are willing to die to force relinquishment of our Second Amendment rights? We are willing to die in defence of our Constitution. We will never, never surrender our Second Amendment rights.

[littleredtop]

This is a link yo a seven minute film which everyone in America should be required to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5ELyG9V1SY&feature=youtu.be

[Dallastx123]

thanks for reminding me, need to send some more money to the nra this week....

[RCcheckitout]

I just sent my life membership with an additional $1000 bucks and there will be more. I have also started recruting and got 6 in the past week to join.

[BuckeyeChuck]

Target all politicians with and NRA rating of A or B in 2014, for these gutless wonders to say that we can't stop the mass killing of children because of the Constitution is just exceptionable.

[HT295pilot]

"Those who would trade freedom for security neither deserve or shall have either" People like you will never get it! Punish criminals! and identify and treat the mentally ill, problem solved.

[GreedyOldPartee]

The nra (puppet master) has deep pockets and the congress in their back pockets. Time to vote all out.

[fishguru00]

Obama's campaign released a list of 770 top donors on Saturday who brought in between $186.6 million and $268 million. The president's re-election campaign raised nearly $1 billion to defeat Republican Mitt Romney.

now these are deep pockets... get a grip...

[Solarrays247]

Being that the majority of Americans originally supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003 until the lies of the Bush/Cheney administration were exposed, the NRA and their arms manufacturer supporters are also on borrowed time.

[excop1949]

I renewed my membership for an extra year last week...

[you_MAY_be_right]

I renewed my membership to EPL Life membership. now I am a "Proud card-carrying member of the NRA".

D@MN, it feels good to say that!

[buckn]

With all due respect, it isn't "Post Newtown" that has helped the NRA coffer to grow. It's the incessant liberal attack on the second amendment that has helped to mobilize those who know that attacking the Bill of Rights is not an answer to Newtown.
To outlaw guns because of a few crazies is tantamount to outlawing cars because of drunk drivers. And, to use Newtown as an excuse to attack the rights of free men is inexcusable and down-right sick.

[donottrustdems]

@BUCKN - you sir are 100% correct.

[dodinyc]

To not see this tragedy as a time to think about sensible gun laws is inexcusable and down-right sick. Gun control is NOT gun prohibition.