Big Money for Big Guns? We Have the Right to Know
How can the bloodied notion of rule of law prevail when the U.S. Congress puts the rights of pretty much anyone to bear assault weapons over the right to attend church, school, a movie theater or a nightclub without fear of being shot to death?
The scale of human pain and suffering in Orlando topped that of the 330 mass shootings last year, but still was not enough to move the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives majority to act on bills that have overwhelming popular support.
The reason for the lack of action is the political power of the NRA – a membership organization whose policy positions are out of step with its members, and which relies as much on corporate funding as member dues.
That the NRA has given millions to its Senate favorites is well known, but the NRA continues to act as if its grassroots base dictates its agenda, when significant evidence suggests otherwise.[1] A 2014 Business Insider article found that “The bulk of the [NRA’s] money now comes in the form of contributions, grants, royalty income, and advertising, much of it originating from gun industry sources.”[2]
The NRA also is a major recipient of funds from other nonprofit organizations – inclusive of both social welfare groups and trade associations – that do not disclose their donors. It has taken in at least $32 million from these sources over the past five years.[3]
President Barack Obama could take a major step toward revealing many of these secret sources of income, without Congressional approval. An executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose their political spending would cover many of the large gun manufactures that sell arms to the U.S. government, as well as 70 of the Fortune 100 companies. This would let the American people track whether contracts are given to companies that provide the best, most cost-effective products or services, rather than those best able to play the political money game. And it may just offer some interesting information about exactly where the NRA’s money is coming from.
Next Wednesday, June 29, at 2 p.m. EDT, actress and activist Shailene Woodley (“Divergent,” “The Fault In Our Stars,” “Secret Life of the American Teenager”) will moderate a Twitter town hall about the need for President Obama to put pen to paper and shine a light on federal contractor spending – spending that impacts not just our safety, but also our economy, our infrastructure and our planet.
Follow #NoSecretMoney at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PDT) to join the conversation. RSVP here for a reminder email the morning of the Twitter town hall.
Aquene Freechild and Courtney Fuller fight big money politics for Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People campaign.
[1] Thom Hartmann. “How NRA Dark Money Impedes Gun Control Reform.” (June 21, 2016)
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/36521-how-nra-dark-money-impedes-gun-control-reform
[3] Open Secrets. “Political Nonprofits & Affiliates: Top Grant Recipients.”
www.opensecrets.org/.... Last accessed June 22, 2016.