Gun advocates are among the most powerful and best funded lobbyists in our country. The National Rifle Association claims to have more than 4 million members. With an annual fee of $35, that's about $140 million per year, before it receives a dime from the gun industry. The NRA also effectively mobilizes members to contact their elected officials over any legislation that it does not like.
Compare this to the Brady Center, this nation's largest lobby for gun law reform. It has an annual budget of about $6 million and 30,000 members. For those of us who believe we need more reasonable laws to protect us from semiautomatic weapons, our voices are not being heard.
It is time for us to provide a counterweight to gun-promoting lobbyists. We can mobilize ourselves by becoming members of groups like The Brady Center (www.thebradycenter.org), or One Million Moms for Gun Control (www.1mm4gc.org). We can have a voice.
NRA members are willing to spend $35 per year in order to advance their interests. What are we willing to spend to protect our families from military-style weapons?
Lisa Ribeiro
Albany
