-Caveat Lector- GOP Takes Aim at NRA Gun Group Criticized Over Lobbying Tactics By Jim VandeHei ROLL CALL The National Rifle Association is under fire for its lobbying tactics, but, this time, the shots are coming from Republicans and other pro-gun activists. The NRA, easily the largest and most influential gun-rights lobby in America, has been too quick to compromise and too slow to mobilize its troops to defeat anti-gun legislation in the House and the Senate, GOP leadership sources and gun activists say. As a result, several sources warned that the NRA has presented anti-gun Democrats with the perfect opportunity to score a major political victory next month when key Members of the House and the Senate convene to put the finishing touches on the juvenile justice bill, which is expected to include the first new collection of gun laws since 1994. The NRA plans to focus most -- if not all -- of its attention on killing a 72-hour waiting period for purchases at gun shows. But the group, which Democrats claim is the major obstacle to gun restrictions, is willing to allow several provisions, such as the so- called Juvenile Brady proposal, to sail through, according to its top lobbyist, James Baker. Baker's strategy, which reflects a belief inside the NRA that some gun control measures will pass in the wake of recent shooting sprees, has ticked off many pro-gun Members and activists who deplore any talk of a compromise. "They are not effective at all," said a senior GOP leadership source. "Their efforts have been disorganized and mis-targeted and when they actually fire up their grass roots, it's an effort that [has been] less than impressive." Another senior GOP leadership source added: "They have told us all along that it would be fine to support Juvenile Brady and other proposals and their membership would not care. But they did [care], and [Republican leaders] are not happy about that." Larry Pratt, executive director for Gun Owners of America, said he and many other pro-gun activists are unhappy with the NRA as well. "People want a more proactive position [from the NRA]. That's why our membership has increased" since the June debate over gun control, said Pratt, who estimated that thousands of former NRA members have defected to his organization. Gun Owners of America, he said, opposes any new gun control measures. Baker defended the NRA's performance as reasonable and effective. "If we had opposed everything, we would have lost everything," he said. "We had a responsible position." "It's easy to second-guess when you don't have three million members and gun owners nationally you are trying to protect." The NRA, duplicating the approach it employed during the gun debates in June, will not oppose new trigger locks or a ban on the possession of assault weapons by most people under the age of 18. It vehemently opposes the 72-hour waiting period idea proposed by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and the Senate version of the ban on the importation of ammunition clips. While several GOP leadership sources said the NRA's position virtually ensures that some new control measures will be enacted, Baker says a more reasonable approach is needed in today's political climate. It's unclear which provisions will be written into the final compromise version of the juvenile justice conference report, which is slated for floor action in September, but the aforementioned items are on the table. The House-Senate conference team includes the highest-ranking members of the Judiciary committees from both chambers. While the juvenile justice bill is the logical home for gun control measures, Democrats and Republicans alike also predicted a new round of gun debates when the House and Senate conferees sit down to hammer out the final details on spending bills. Appropriations bills, Baker said, "have become the Christmas tree of choice" for anti-gun forces. Ignoring the criticism, the NRA is preparing a media and lobbying strategy to target conferees and several Democrats, such as Reps. Bart Stupak (Mich.) and Chet Edwards (Texas), on the 72-hour waiting period proposal. One leadership source said, "The NRA failed by not going after Stupak and Edwards and others who voted wrong the first time," but one NRA official said their time will come. The short-term lobbying plan, according to Baker, will include direct mail, radio ads and one-on-one pressure from the group's lobbying team when Members return from the August recess. Baker refused to say how much money the NRA is willing to spend on its new campaign. It will focus on conferees initially, but the NRA also has its eyes trained on Members like Stupak who they feel voted the wrong way on gun control the first time around. In 1998, according to records filed under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, the NRA spent $2.25 million on lobbying. The NRA has 10 in- house lobbyists working Members on Capitol Hill and has six lobbying firms on retainer. Lobbyist Mark Barnes, whom the NRA paid $360,000 in 1998, and the firm Timmons and Company, Inc. ($300,000) do most of the outside work for the organization. Other pro-gun groups plan to lobby as well, but they lack the clout and resources the NRA can bring to the table. Pratt's group, which spent less than $150,000 on lobbying last year, is considered the most aggressive pro-gun lobbying organization. "Gun Owners [of America] is much smaller, but much more active. They moved quickly and we heard from their people," said one leadership source close to the issue. John Snyder of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms says his organization spends nominal money directly lobbying Members, but he insisted its network of members can exert pressure from the outside far more effectively. "The real power of the gun lobby is so many ... people own guns. That's the most significant respect of the gun lobby per se," he said. "So we're informing our members and supporters around the country and encouraging them to visit their Congressmen." **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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