Seth Meyers tries to explain why the NRA keeps winning on gun control

On Monday, the Senate considered four gun control measures — two from Republicans and two from Democrats — and blocked all of them. That's just fine with the NRA, Seth Meyers said on Tuesday's Late Night. The Democratic measure, including universal background checks and banning gun sales for people on terrorist watch lists, are broadly popular with voters, but Republicans keep blocking them.

Now, "the NRA has given more than $36 million to the 56 Republican senators who blocked the gun control measures on Monday," Meyers said. "The money may be a factor, but it's not the only — or even the main — reason the NRA is so powerful. It's that the gun owners are passionate and mobilized, and often vote on this one issue alone — which is why, every election cycle, politicians have to go through the ritual of professing their love of guns, even if they have to fake it." (He's looking at you, Mitt Romney.)

"But now there are fortunately some signs that the politics of gun control may be slowly changing," Meyers added, noting that Hillary Clinton has made it a centerpiece of her campaign and two vulnerable Republican senators voted for Democratic-backed measures. "Hopefully that means there will be a political price to be paid for lawmakers who oppose gun control at the behest of the NRA, because that's the only way we'll make progress on this issue, if gun control advocates out-organize the NRA and voters hold pro-gun politicians accountable at the ballot box." For Meyers' analysis, and his appreciation of President Obama's standup comedy skills (starting with Clinton and guns), watch below. Peter Weber

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up