As gun rights activists await the upcoming decision in the McDonald vs. Chicago Supreme Court case, new evidence emerges that, in this post-Heller decision world, the public has soured on the bitter taste of gun control.
The latest evidence of the declining public support for restrictions on gun rights is in the data released today by the Federal Election Commission on the private donations and expenditures of the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence - Voter Education PAC (Link goes to actual FEC reports).
The Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence is the flagship group for the gun control effort. The Brady Campaign absorbed the Million Mom March in 2001 when that organization's membership dropped so low as to be no longer self-sustaining.
Information provided by the Center for Responsive Politics , and derived from the FEC reports, shows that the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence - Voter Education PAC, raised an all-time high of over $1.7 million in the 2000 election cycle and distributed over $1.6 million of those funds.
Contrast this to the more recent 2008 election cycle where the PAC raised just over $15,000 and spent just over $54,000.
The 2010 election cycle is still ongoing, but the numbers look no better: So far only $2,500 has been raised and just $4,545 spent.
Browsing through the charts and information at the Center for Responsive Politics shows fewer gun control advocates willing to spend their own money on that agenda. In the 2000 election year cycle 320 individual donors gave a total of $329,996. Contrast that to 2008 where three donors donated a total of $15,000.
So far, for the 2010 election cycle, only one donor has made a single contribution of $2,500.
As the Brady Campaign goes, so does public support for gun control. That's why the huge drop in funds raised, money spent, and individual donors is so telling.
The conclusion is clear: The public no longer believes the gun control lies. Now is the time to work to get that message to the government by redoubling efforts to elect pro-gun candidates and kick out those politicians who would deny us our basic human rights.
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Comments
If all of this is true then when the new pro-gun era is ushered in it needs to be done in a responsible and proper manner so we do not give anyone like the Brady campaign grounds for a resurgence in the future. The key words for gun owners is responsibility and proper training. I have and do see too many people buying guns who have never fired one, have never been on a range, and do not truly understand the destructive power in their hands until it is too late. We need to be responsible as gun owners. We need to demonstrate a good knowledge of the laws of when to use a gun and when not to. The general public needs to have confidence in us as gun owners.
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I have and do see too many people buying guns who have never fired one, have never been on a range, and do not truly understand the destructive power in their hands until it is too late.
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Show us some proof of this. I see new gun owners frequently. They sign up for the basic pistol classes. They are eager to learn, and most are VERY aware of the awesome power of the gun.
There will always be some who are irresponsible and do stupid things. "WE" can't do much about that except to reach out to others and attempt to teach them.
But, ultimately, we are EACH responsible for our own actions. And only the individual can be made responsible for the consequences of those choices and actions.
Is the Brady campaign truly
withering away?
Or is it morphing into another
form of collectivist hit and
run attacks on the Second Ammendment
and Constitution?
I'm sorry that I won't be able to live out my retirement in peace. The statists will not rest, Rob. The crap will continue.
This will not end nicely. A respite in their numbers means nothing. This is a LONG term plan.
Let the games begin. I'm getting old...
I personally broke the back of the Million Mom March in 2000 by exposing its misuse of 501(c)(3) tax exempt money to promote House candidates on its "Apple Pie Award" page. I sent the information to columnist J.R. Labbe whose column circulates nationally, and the MMM crumpled up visibly. Google on "Million Mom March" and "Form 990" for more information; they filed what looks like a REALLY creative Form 990 tax return for 2000, in which they told the IRS they engaged in no lobbying or similar efforts to influence legislation!
Clint Eastwood's Harry Callahan said dog waste could dry up and blow away, and appears that the Brady Campaign is about to do exactly that. Good riddance, and I am glad to have played a role in making it happen.
Speaking an an NRA certified Firearms Instructor for the last 20+ years, it has been my experience that many many formerly antigun folks have approached me rather contritely and somewhat timidly asking me to teach them to safely handle a firearm. Most of these have not only gone on to join the NRA but to join IDPA as well and participate eagerly in local competitions! In turn they bring many of their (formerly) antigun friends and the cycle continues. My fulltime job brings me into contact with a lot of antigun folks, since I teach in the public schools. These are all responsible citizens, not idiotic yahoos. In turn these former sheep morph into true sheepdogs and spread the word. It is truly a wonderful thing to watch.
Rob,
A good article.
You touched on McDonald v City of Chicago. I know everyone expects some sort of shattering opinion, but based on Heller, I just don’t see it happening.
McDonald will have no effect on the vast majority of states. It won’t address “shall issue”, “May Issue”, or “No Issue”. All it will address is the right to have a gun IN YOUR HOME for self defense. So, in keeping with the history of the SC, the “keep” will be addressed, and the “bear” will be addressed WITHIN THE HOME. While this will smack down Chicago, and surrounding suburbs on actually having a gun, as far as carrying outside the home, nothing will change. Also look for Daly and his mob to attempt the same stunts as in DC (Heller).
I sincerely hope I’m wrong and will gladly eat humble pie if I am.
Nice piece. It's about time reason began to prevail in this country. Prohibition of anything simply does not work. However, especially in regards to the right to defense of life, liberty, family.
The Anti-gunners ARE falling by the wayside. However like any organization, it will attempt to survive. Setting up new coalitions and adopting varying tactics. Bob Orren, the fight is never over. Evil exist and must always be confronted. To the end of time.
Bill Levinson,
Would you please contact me via e-mail? My e-mail is in my Bio by my picture. I have a couple questions for you for a different article.
Thanks,
Rob Reed - Detroit GRE
A friend and I had wonderful luck with Handguncontrol.net, which the Bradys forgot to reserve. He created a massive parody site, that became the search engine first hit. They even threatened to sue him.
That's why they changed their name to The Brady Campaign, after securing every domain variation, and lost visibility thereby.
I'm proud to have done my small part, with "It's Amazing What One Has To Believe To Believe In Gun Control," to smack them with the glove of reason.
I should point out that this is the Brady PAC that doesn't have any money, not the renamed HCI, Inc.
I'm more interested in seeing who put up the 1.7 mil ten years ago. Was it Barack Obama and the rest of the Joyce Foundation directors?
Collins has it right. The Brady bunch will hit up the Joyce Foundation to at least get them through this election cycle. Then, they'll cry about all the money the "gun lobby" gets from manufactures!
They are so clueless
Terrific story!
www.LongIslandFirearms.com
Stop by :)
Great photo of the blonde. Do you have her number? I want to marry her.
With the downturn in the economy and loss of jobs,( engineered by the bankers, wall street and their criminal cronies in congress ) thousands upon thousands of people purchased firearms, ammunition and many went to the trouble and expense of acquiring permits to ‘legally’ carry concealed. Could be after all that, they just didn’t have any money left to donate.
As cut, copied and pasted from various comments:
What is the Brady Campaign? “The unarmed teaching the uninformed to do the irrational.”
“Once a cause, morphed into a business, now just a racket.”
Remember: “Sensible Criminal Control Saves Lives”
BTW. Isn't that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence? And, Anyone know how much money the BC’s legal leech dep’t gets from lawsuits against citizens and their insurers who used a GUN in righteous defense, or from taxpayers while on retainer from municipalities in suits against legitimate business owners and manufacturers? Just asking.
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