How the NRA won

Most Americans support tougher gun control measures. Too bad the gun lobby has so many politicians in its pocket

Wayne LaPierre
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

There's no denying it: The National Rifle Association has won — again. Even though more than 3,000 Americans have died via gun violence since 20 children and six adults were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in December, the NRA has somehow managed to triumph. The victims' families and gun-control advocates have lost. Forget an assault weapons ban — or any other serious gun regulation. It's not happening.

The Washington Post notes that not only have the NRA's tactics cowed politicians and beaten back substantive national gun-control efforts, but in some instances, they've actually led to moves to make guns easier to get. Meanwhile, at least a dozen GOP senators have signed on to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's call to filibuster any gun-control measure.

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Joe Gandelman is a syndicated columnist for Cagle Cartoons and is the editor of The Moderate Voice blog.