Some of the gun lobby’s strongest allies are breaking with the National Rifle Association to support proposals that would expand background checks for private firearm sales.
In behind-the-scenes talks with congressional staff members and others, gunmakers, dealers and other Second Amendment advocates have offered support for more instant criminal background checks, buoying the hopes of gun-control supporters, including President Obama, who has put a top priority on extending criminal checks to private sales.
The trade group for the nation’s leading firearm manufacturers said it will not actively oppose the expansion of background checks, which are designed to prevent guns from reaching criminals or the seriously mentally ill. ...WaPo
A public break with the NRA is very welcome. Finally, pressure is being felt.
The Post reports that mayors of major cities are also using their pressure , including economic pressure, on the industry. Since big cities are major buyers of guns -- for their police forces -- those efforts should be a pretty effective.
The NRA has tried to look less sleazy with its discount offer for hotels and car rentals. Some corporations are being pressured to drop the affiliation.
The program has dozens of participating companies, and as the debate over gun control continues to heat up on Capitol Hill, advocacy organizations are putting pressure on these corporations to end their involvement with the NRA.
SumOfUs, an organization that says its mission is to ensure corporate accountability and responsibility, is one of these groups and has already garnered over 70,000 online signatures asking the participating corporations to quit the NRA's discount program.
"These corporations make the NRA look like they are AAA," SumOfUs campaign manager Kaytee Riek told The Huffington Post. "They legitimize the NRA. They make it look like [the NRA is] no big deal. The reality is that the NRA is out there lobbying against the interest of everyday people." ...HuffPo
