Who is the 'powerful gun lobby'?

January 8, 6:11 AMCleveland Gun Rights ExaminerDaniel White

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Whether it is the updating of the rules for firearms in National Parks, passage of castle doctrine, adoption of shall issue ccw licensing laws, or any other legislative change that removes a gun control law or expands gun rights we immediately hear that the problem is the "powerful gun lobby".

Those three words are spat from the lips of the anti-gun crowd like a hated pestilence. They make it sound like the “gun lobby” is only a couple of extremists with deep pockets who are able to cajole legislators or purchase their support. In fact, Toby Hoover, Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence once labeled Ohioans For Concealed Carry a “fringe group” while complaining about one of our many successes.

But is this really the case? How exactly are organizations like OFCC, the NRA, Second Amendment Sisters, etc. so successful?

Unlike the anti-gun organizations who receive funding from gun hating billionaire George Soros, the Joyce Foundation, the International Action Network on Small Arms and other worldwide organizations with the goal of a global gun ban, most pro gun organizations draw their influence not from a few rich individuals, but from the people themselves.

If you’re a person who believes in gun rights and freedoms and you’ve ever sent in your membership dues to a pro-gun group, contacted your legislature, or taken part in any pro-gun activism, YOU are the powerful gun lobby.

The reason why the pro-gun crowd has so much clout is that we have the support of The People. Grassroots activism is far more powerful than someone sitting in a cold office writing a check to try to buy their beliefs into law. Sure, legislators tend to like campaign donations, but what really gets their attention is when thousands of phone calls, emails, and letters from their constituents flood their offices.

So, whenever the gun grabbers denigrate the "powerful gun lobby", it is really ordinary citizens they are insulting. Citizens who have chosen to speak up for what they think is right and refuse to remain silent. Our very nature is what makes us different, and what makes us strong. We choose to take responsibility for our own safety by owning and carrying firearms and we choose to take responsibility for ensuring our rights are protected by being politically active. We think for ourselves, and that makes us mighty.

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A challenge was issued yesterday regarding the D.C. v. Heller SCOTUS case by fellow Examiner Jim Stillman: “I would urge any seriously interested gun control, proponent or opponent, to read and savor the ideas and arguments in all of the opinions.”

I think that is an excellent idea, and invite you to read these three articles I wrote after the decision, which also link to the Opinions in question:

Breaking Down the SCOTUS Ruling - Part I

Breaking Down the SCOTUS Ruling - Part II

Breaking Down the SCOTUS Ruling - Part III