The gun lobby group spending TWICE as much as the NRA to protect the Second ... trends now
There's a new top gun advocate in town - and it's spending more than twice as much as the National Rifle Association to sway the US government on gun laws.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is an American national trade firm that forked out more than $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year.
Compare that to the NRA's $2.3million, and it's apparent there's been a shift in the firearms industry. The former first-place firearms advocate spent nearly $5million in 2021, and even more in previous years - but that money has since trailed off.
Meanwhile, the NSSF has upped its spending, reaching close to $5million each of the the past four years, after gaining a great deal of traction since its start in 1961.
As an organization, it helps write safety and instruction standards for lawmakers to protect the Second Amendment, and to '[keep] guns out of the wrong hands.'
The group has more than 8,000 members, after starting solely for hunting and recreational purposes. It has since surfaced as an entity unable to be ignored, after supplanting its longtime, currently embattled counterpart on Capitol Hill.
The association's CEO spoke about the group's increased spending at a trade event in January, flanked several Republican governors who support their cause.
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The association's CEO, Joe Bartozzi spoke about the group's increased spending at a trade event in January, flanked Republican governors from seven states who have passed laws as a result of their efforts
The NSSF- an American national trade firm that spent more than $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year - is seen at its annual trade event in January. Several Republican governors from states like Arkansas, Arkansas, and Georgia took the stage to support their cause
The group last year spent more than twice than the NRA to sway the government and protect the right to bear arms, as its counterpart continues to face waning membership and revenue
'I'm Joe Bartozzi, president and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation,' the exec told a crowded room in Vegas at the group's annual Governors' Forum at their now-famed SHOT Show.
The executive addressed governors from states like Arkansas, Georgia, and Wyoming, each of whom had to say about their efforts to fight for the Second Amendment and to protect and promote the firearm industry in each of their states.
For more than an hour, the governors - Nevada's Joe Lombardo, Montana's Greg Gianforte, Arkansas' Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Nebraska's Jim Pillen, Wyoming's Mark Gordon, Idaho's Brad Little and Georgia's Brian Kemp - spoke about the legislative climate in their states as the NRA continues to cut back to combat waning revenue.
They also discussed what they constituted as the Biden administration's continued attacks on the firearm industry - through executive overreach, punishment through 'lawfare,' and efforts to suffocate and bankrupt an already regulated industry.
Each had a lot to say, and the event was moderated by another senior NSSF staffer - and board member - in Senior Vice President & General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane.
Like events past, there were laughs and an audience Q&A that looked to be a huge success - indicative of the success the association has seen since its start decades ago as an authority on hunting and recreational shooting.
Previously attended by presidents like Jimmy Carter, the NSSF's celebrated shows have grown in size along with the firm - which allows buyers to peruse state-of-the-art firearms that are proudly put on display.
Designed to load retailers and range operators with such equipment, the expos also offer strategies and inspiration for participating proprietors 'essential for success', - all with a free, less confrontational, approach than the notoriously no-compromise NRA.
An attendee looks at Smith & Wesson M&P15 MOE Mid rifles at the Smith & Wesson booth at the National Shooting Sports Foundation's trade show in 2012
Shooting targets are also put on display at the group's trade shows, which are meant to load retailers and range operators with equipment, and offer strategies for participating proprietors that are 'essential for success'
This comes as part of a far less confrontational approach than that of the NRA, which notoriously never partners with federal agencies it may not necessarily agree with
Previously attended by presidents like Jimmy Carter (seen here at the groups trade show in Atlanta in 1984), the events have since grown in size along with the firm - which allows prospective buyers to peruse state-of-the-art firearms that are proudly put on display
Retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer William Cooper tries out an Aimpoint sight on a rifle at the NSSF's fair in 2011
Charles Brinton of Oregon looks at a SIG522 Commando rifle at the Sig Sauer booth at the same event, meant to represent gun manufacturers, retailers and other business interests, not necessarily gun owners
