Which spent more money in 2022: gun rights groups or gun control groups?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, your big brain, the information provided and any links below:
Companies, labor unions, trade associations and other influential organizations spend billions of dollars each year to lobby Congress and federal agencies to try to achieve their organizations’ goals. In 2022 how much more did gun rights groups spend lobbying (trying to persuade) politicians than gun control groups spent?
Between 1998 and 2022, in how many years did gun rights groups outspend gun control groups in spending on lobbying? (Include gun manufacturing spending - as shown in the final column- as money for gun rights).
In your lifetime, approximately how much money has been spent on lobbying on both sides of the gun argument.
Describe the overall trend in spending on gun lobbying.
Explain the cause of that trend.
Make a claim about whether gun manufacturing spending (as shown in the final column) was spent for the gun rights side or for the gun control side.
81% of Americans told Pew Research Center in 2021 that they support gun control measures such as expanding background checks to include private firearm sales and purchases at gun shows, including a majority of Republican respondents. Preventing individuals with mental illnesses from purchasing guns is also supported by the vast majority of people on both sides of the political spectrum. Based on the fact that 81% of Americans support stricter gun laws, do you believe they will get stricter gun laws?
In a 5 to 4 ruling in McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that because the right to self-defense is a "fundamental" and "deeply rooted" right, strict gun control measures (such as a Chicago handgun ban) violate an individual's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. How will this ruling limit the impact of lobbying for stricter gun control.
Passing legislation is hard to do and the law making process contains many veto points (places where a bill can be stopped). Identify two places in the legislative process where proposed gun legislation could potentially be stopped.
Explain how party affiliation (as shown in the two visuals directly below*) impacts the gun funds received by politicians.
Visual Extension*
Learning Extension
Read this Open Secrets report on money in gun policy.
Action Extension
Imagine you were a citizen who had strong opinions about gun laws. Make a list of three things political actions you could take regarding guns and gun laws and rank them in order of political efficacy (effectiveness). Take one action this week and share your action with class.
