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National Rifle Association (NRA): Interest Group Analysis

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While choosing electing official with common values and philosophies is a great way to get representation on social issues, interest groups are also helpful in keeping an open line of communication with elected officials on what is most important to the affected group. Interest groups use tactics to protect policies by focusing on the unknown consequences and keeping close relationships with government officials whose values are similar (Baumgartner, Jeffery, & Hojnacki (2009). One interest group who has knowledgeable lobbyists to affect public policy is the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is a single issue group who advocates their position by using both the direct and indirect approach to rally support on issues in Congress. As we all know, the Obama administration is advocating for stricter gun control. Every time there is a crime involving a shooting in the news, gun control advocates and the president use the media to persuade the public that America needs stricter gun laws. Seeing how the President does not have to do much to get publicity in the …show more content…

The NRA used the direct approach when the director of the NRA traveled to Huntsville, Alabama to meet with and endorse Senator Richard Shelby for re-election, and to tour the new Remington Plant (Bradley, 2016). The director of the NRA used the opportunity to meet with Senator Richard Shelby to form a relationship and advocate his position on the current gun control issues. According to Baumgartner, Jeffery, and Hojnacki (2009), elected official are often active advocates themselves who use their influence to lobby others in support of the issue. Also, the opening of the Remington Plant and photo opportunity with the senator provided the NRA media attention to get their message out to the mainstream public to influence

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