(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Gun control groups are investing heavily on ad campaigns and lobbying as gun control legislation moves forward with bipartisan support in Congress. With the traditional powerhouse National Rifle Association appearing to lack its usual influence, other gun rights groups are stepping in to fill the vacuum.

In the wake of multiple mass shootings that shook the nation this summer, most Americans are calling for tighter gun laws. Gun control legislation such as expanded background checks has long stalled in Congress as lawmakers split along party lines.

The tides are now turning as lawmakers from both parties support expanding the background check system and enacting “red flag” laws, which would allow courts to temporarily bar someone from acquiring guns if the person poses an imminent danger to others or themselves.

In February, the House swiftly passed H.R.8, which would require a background check on every gun sale, including private sales. In the Senate, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) proposed a plan to establish a federal grant encouraging states to join the 17 states that have already adopted “red flag” laws of some kind.

Urged by colleagues from both parties, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he’s willing to bring up for debate any gun control laws endorsed by President Donald Trump, who previously announced support for “red flag” laws and is said to be close to a decision on background checks.

Gun rights groups have spent $5.5 million on lobbying this year, almost four times what the gun control groups collectively spent. However, the first-half figure represents a downturn from the $15 million pro-gun groups spent in 2013 to defeat a similar gun control measure.

Without the NRA’s strong presence, pro-gun organizations are also falling short in digital ad-buying compared to their rivals, and the messages they send via political ads seem rather split.

The NRA, long opponent of any gun control legislation, appears reticent faced with a bipartisan push for tighter gun laws. Mired in internal shakeups, the group spent less than $250,000 in the past 90 days on Facebook ads. That compares with a million-dollar ad campaign calling for stricter gun laws from Everytown for Gun Safety, a prominent gun control group backed by Michael Bloomberg.

Giffords, another group backed by former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), spent $750,000 on ad campaigns pressuring the Senate to pass the universal background check bill.

Help us keep government accountable by making a donation today.

The top-spending pro-gun group ⁠— the National Shooting Sports Foundation ⁠— spent $2.4 million on lobbying this year, eclipsing the NRA’s lobbying expenditure of $1.7 million. The California-based Firearms Policy Coalition, which started lobbying the federal government this year, spent $7,500. The group hired lobbyist Russell Laird, a former Trump transition team member and Trump administration official.

The National Association for Gun Rights, founded in 2001 and now touting a membership of 4.5 million, has spent more than $63,000 on Facebook ads since last May. The group started releasing ads earlier this year attacking McConnell and other Republican senators from West Virginia, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina and Arizona for supporting gun control laws, stating that such legislations would lead to “national ‘Red Flag’ Gun Confiscation.”

The tailor-made ads attach the same content onto different senators’ names to target audiences in various states, with most aimed at males between 25 and 34 years old and those over 65. The ads urged outright opposition to any sort of gun control bills.

Like the National Association for Gun Rights, the National Shooting Sports Foundation also takes issue with “red flag” laws and universal background checks, but for different reasons.

The firearms industry trade group has spent almost $450,000 on Facebook ads since last May, and is planning on another ad buy of $250,000 across multiple platforms, The Daily Beast reported.

Most of the ads, however, emphasize the industry’s commitment to gun safety and improvement of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, instead of outright advocating for gun rights freedom. The group said the firearms industry was the first to conceive the idea of a background check system.

In a 2018 report, the group argues that the system must be “fixed” before a universal background check, because records submitted to the states on those who are prohibited to own guns are “incomplete” and expanding the system would result in more “inaccurate records.”

Expanding the background check system to cover private sales would hurt licensed retailers and force them to violate the current ATF regulations, said Mark Oliva, the group’s director of public affairs. It would also burden an already backlogged national background check system, he said.



For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: [email protected]





Support Accountability Journalism At OpenSecrets.org we offer in-depth, money-in-politics stories in the public interest. Whether you’re reading about 2020 presidential fundraising, conflicts of interest or “dark money” influence, we produce this content with a small, but dedicated team. Every donation we receive from users like you goes directly into promoting high-quality data analysis and investigative journalism that you can trust.Please support our work and keep this resource free. Thank you. Support OpenSecrets ➜