Thursday, January 16, 2020

Federal Politicians, Money and the NRA

With mass shootings being a relatively common occurrence in the United States and with Congress seemingly unable to do anything about it, data from Open Secrets provides us with a glimpse into the interest group funding underbelly of Washington, particularly as it relates to campaign donations.  

Let's start by looking at the number of gun violence deaths and mass shootings in the United States from data supplied by the Gun Violence Archive (GVA) for 2019:


Here's a graphic showing the same data for 2020 (thus far):



For your information, GVA defines mass shootings as a situation where more than four people are killed or shot, excluding the shooter.

Here is a table showing the same data for the years between 2014 and 2018:


Now, with this data in mind, let's look at how America's federal politicians have benefitted from the pro-gun lobby, particularly the National Rifle Association.  

Here is a table showing the total donations made to federal political candidates by the NRA going back to 1990:


Over the nearly three decade period, the NRA donated a total of $22,927,297 to candidates of both parties with 84 percent of the total going to Republican candidates and 15 percent going to Democratic candidates.

Let's look at the last two election cycles as well as what has happened to the NRA's donations during the current 2020 presidential election cycle.  Here is a list of federal candidates that received more than $2500 from the NRA (either through their PACs or individual members) during the 2016 presidential election cycle from data provided by Open Secrets:



During the 2016 election cycle, the NRA made donations to 241 candidates running for seats in Congress; 218 who where running for seats in the House and 23 who were running for seats in the Senate or 45 percent of all seats available.  During the 2016 election, the NRA donated a total of $1,096,659 to federal political candidates with 99 percent of the total ($1,082,659) going to Republican candidates and 1 percent ($10,500) going to Democratic candidates as listed here:


Here is a list of federal candidates that received more than $2500 from the NRA during the 2018 election cycle:



During the 2018 election cycle, the NRA made donations to 204 candidates running for seats in Congress; 196 who were running for seats in the House and 8 who were running for seats in the Senate or 38 percent of all seats available.  Once again, Republican candidates were the winners when it came to campaign funding by the NRA with 98 percent of the organization's total donations of $880,521 going to the Republicans and only 2 percent or $19,504 going to Democratic candidates.

Finally, let's look at the current 2020 presidential election cycle.  Thus far, the NRA has donated $249,985 to candidates of both parties with Republican candidates receiving 99 percent of the total or $249,985and Democratic candidates receiving only 1 percent of the total or $2,675.  Here are the top recipients (donations totalling $2000 or more) from both Chambers of Congress:


Thus far, the NRA has donated to 128 candidates running for seats in Congress; 128 who are running for seats in the House and 13 who are running for seats in the Senate or 26 percent of all seats available.

When one looks at this data, it is quite clear why gun legislation in the United States is unlikely to change in any meaningful way, particularly with America being as politically polarized as it is.  The National Rifle Association knows that its financial assistance to the campaigns of roughly one-quarter to one-half of men and women running for seats in Congress are going to pay off for its membership, after all, Congress has long proven that it will not bite the hand that is feeding it.

3 comments:

  1. A large majority of all gun violence, gun killings, interracial hate violence, and general violence is committed by young black men in the black ghetto. Almost all the black gun violence is committed with automatic pistols.

    Yet gun control advocates ignore all that and insist on targeting white people with rifles, who commit virtually none of the crime. Moreover, the mass killings done by whites are done by crazy whites, often known to be crazy, and known by local authorities to be crazy. That was the case in the Colorado, Connecticut, and Florida school shooting.

    By the way, the trend for mass shootings over the 20th Century is down.

    So the NRA has no responsibility for any of the violence. It represents the nonviolent, responsible gun owners.

    In the US, there is a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. There is also a Constitutional right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to peacefully assemble to protest government actions... There are no such rights anywhere in Europe, Canada, Mexico, Central or South America, Africa, Asian.

    Countries like the UK and the EU are effectively fascist police states. A couple of months ago, a black clergyman from the West Indies was arrested on a London street corner for reading aloud from the King James Bible.

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  2. Moreover, the mass killings done by whites are done by crazy whites

    Lots of well-armed white crazies in the USA. It is a lot harder to do a mass murder with a meat cleaver.

    In the US, there is a Constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

    Maybe it is time to rewrite an 18th century document written by a bunch of rich white men interested in maintaining the status quo?

    There are no such rights anywhere in Europe, Canada, Mexico,...
    For which
    we are extremely thankful.

    Countries like the UK and the EU are effectively fascist police states.
    And when was the last time you were in any of those countries?

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  3. Hi Junkie,you are certainly living up to your name.
    Could I ask that you try and become a thinker instead of a junkie? I am not a good writer, if this comment comes across as arrogant or derogatory please forgive me that is not my intention.

    Imho qualified data doesn't give an accurate picture, no matter what the subject, it steers you in a certain direction that is usually off course.
    Most people are "captured" by organized government influenced "media". I don't watch it anymore,I have stepped back from the bombardment of controlled information. My friends ask why I don't want to keep informed of whats happening in the world. I tell them corporate media feeds you what they want you to know, which of course makes them wealthier, and keeps you addicted and fearful.Nice gig.

    The internet, if you look hard enough provides various perspectives of most issues from people throughout the world, because their behavioral patterns that they have absorbed from their upbringing and environment are usually different.
    For me, various ideas promote critical thinking.

    The media and government and hollywood promote so-called gun violence. They make the murderers famous for 15 minutes or more.If you follow in their example you might make the history books!

    You mention political polarization, that is a purposeful construct by the powers that be, limit the peoples choices and they are easier to sway or nudge or control. Dem/Rep, White/Black/
    Gun Violence/Gun Safety, ProLife/ProAbort,
    Coke/Pepsi, Att/Verizon, LegalImagrant/IllegalImmagrant, Women/Men etc...

    For me, stepping back and looking at bigger picture,
    I see the established status quo doing what it needs to do to keep the money flowing in, same as it ever was. History does repeat.
    Have you looked at the money flowing in from Big Pharma and the Medical industry?
    Do you see the numbers of people that die from Prescription meds every year?
    How about deaths from car accidents, or drunk drivers, or smokers?
    Why no call by the media or gov to ban:
    Prescription drugs
    Automobiles
    Alcohol
    Cigarettes?
    No, lets just keep that war on illegal drugs going after wasting over a trillion dollars and incarcerating 20%* of ghetto kids thru the years.
    Wonder how much money flows to DC from the corporate prison business?

    Anyhow none of this will change anytime soon,
    it is a slow process for people to awaken.
    Trump for all his faults is unknowingly causing people to see how awful the status quo is, with help from the media. The constant bombardment of anti-trumpness is tuning people out, that's a good thing imho.
    I am optimistic for the future of my children and grandchildren. Lots of changes ahead, and I for one find change exciting.
    Do you respond to any comments or is this just a venting platform for you?
    Either way, all the best to you and yours,
    Tim


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