The sellers of high-capacity gun magazines and other gun accessories have become an influential, if not always widely noticed, force in the National Rifle Association.
But their role, the Center for Public Integrity reports, could soon draw more scrutiny because of gun control legislation being proposed by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., and Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. The lawmakers — moving quickly after the shooting spree that killed six and wounded Rep. Gabrille Giffords, D-Ariz., along with 13 others — are pushing to ban the possession of new high-capacity magazines such as the one used in the Tucson rampage. The legislation would apply to magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The NRA already has issued a statement signaling its opposition, calling high-capacity magazines “standard equipment for self-defense handguns and other firearms owned by tens of millions of Americans.”
One of the factors behind the NRA’s stance, the Center for Public Integrity suggests, is fund-raising by magazine sellers such as Missouri-based MidwayUSA. The company is the developer of a fundraising tactic known as the “Round-up” that since 1992 has pulled in $5.7 million for the NRA’s lobbying operations. The tactic asks customers to round up the cost of their orders to the nearest dollar or higher and, in turn, the company donates the extra money to the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, a lobbying arm.
Other companies that sell magazines and other gun gear also have adopted the fund-raising technique.
In addition, magazine sellers and makers have worked their way into positions of influence. Brenda Potterfield, the wife of Midway Chief Executive Larry Potterfield and a co-owner of the firm, has served as vice president of the NRA Foundation’s board. The Center for Public Integrity also cited the leaders of two other companies that have profited from magazine sales who joined the NRA’s Board of Directors over the last two years: Ronnie Barrett, the head of Tennessee-based Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, and Pete Brownell, who runs Iowa-based Brownells Inc.
MidwayUSA is a shooting sports retailer who shows their support for the 2nd amendment by being involved in the fight to uphold our rights. I wish all the retailers that took my money would do their part to stand up for the second amendment.
I digress, It’s not MidwayUSA’s money, it’s mine. Thank you MidwayUSA for helping to support my rights.
Mr. Silverstein:
Your implication here is that gun control is opposed by the “powerful NRA” and that they in turn are influenced by retailers such as Midway USA?
Perhaps. But what you are missing is that NRA and Midway USA are supported by millions of American members and customers … it is we millions of members and customers who oppose gun control legislation. You can pit this as the “gun lobby” and the “gun industry” against your policy preferences all day long … but the truth is that millions of Americans make the NRA and MidwayUSA possible. It is OUR will they are carrying out.
Thanks for reminding me. I have a few firearms related items I’m going to buy. I believe I’ll buy each individually from MidwayUSA and make sure to round up on each purchase.
It’s not the company’s money going towards the NRA, it’s the customer’s.
And just to amplify the comments of Carl from Chicago, it is important to realize that it is the gun-owners with all the clout. The NRA doesn’t vote…we DO. Furthermore, there are millions of other gun owners who are NOT members of the NRA, but who add their clout to the mix. We are highly motivated, because unlike the gun grabbers, our rights, our lifestyles, and even the lives of our families are at risk by these continuing assaults from regulators.
Millions of dollars sent by millions of customers is the issue. Gun control has never been shown to save lives, prevent violent crimes, or keep the unwanted from having weapons. Show us one reputable study, just one. The so called assault weapons ban has not been shown to do anything helpful to prevent crime. So called assault weapons are typically not used in crime. That is around 1-2% of crimes are found to have these so called weapons. The question is “why, if these so called high cap magazines are designed to kill lots of people”, why do the police need them? Would that be to kill lots of people or self defense as in why all us citizens’ need them.