The National Rifle Association

What makes the National Rifle Association so powerful? Its membership of about five million is larger than many interest groups, but is far less than other key players in Washington, such as the AARP or labor unions. The financial resources of the NRA are also relatively modest, which suggests that its success in American politics is as much a result of passion, loyalty, and effective organization as financial clout and sheer numbers. This book explores the influence of the NRA on politics and legislation regarding guns in the United States, examining how the group has demonstrated the ability to leverage modest resources into outsized and often uncontested influence and made decisions to shift from insider politics to "going public" at the right moments.

In "The National Rifle Association: Guns and Power in Interest Group Politics," NRA and political interest group experts Karen Callaghan and Frauke Schnell look at the elements of the group's concentrated power--a loyal membership of "single-issue" voters who hold guns in high regard, almost as a sacred right, and have a personal stake in gun rights. The book examines how the NRA evolved from a Civil War shooting club to a political powerhouse, provides a complete analysis of the modern NRA, and identifies the NRA's spheres of influence and vocal opposition. It also considers how the group manages media coverage and public opinion, even benefiting from consistently negative news coverage. The final section predicts how the NRA will thrive going forward regarding its recruitment strategies, facing concerns from Constitutionalists on topics such as open carry laws, and other gun rights challenges yet to surface.