Political spending by gun rights groups far outweighs that by gun control groups. Here, we break down just how wide the discrepancy is.
We define gun rights groups as non-profit organizations that lobby Congress and advocate on behalf of the ownership and use of firearms, and we define gun control groups as non-profit organizations that lobby Congress and advocate for gun control legislation. (Where relevant, we've also included donations from super PACs where gun control policy is a major focus.)
We've honed in on the largest and most prominent of these special interest groups. See how their spending breaks down
Federal Campaign Contributions
Total amount of top campaign contributions by gun rights interest groups in 2012
Percent of the above figure donated to Republicans
Total campaign contributions by the National Rifle Association, the nation's largest gun rights group, in 2012
Percent of the above figure donated to Republicans
Total campaign contributions by gun control interest groups in 2012
Percent of the above figure donated to Democrats
Largest-ever total of campaign contributions from the gun control lobby (in 2000)
Independent Expenditures
(defined by the Federal Election Commission as an advertisement "expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate")
NRA's reported independent expenditures in the 2012 election cycle
How much the NRA spent against all Democratic candidates in 2012
How much the NRA spent against President Obama in 2012
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Reported independent expenditures in the 2012 election cycle by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to gun control measures
Amount spent by Independence USA PAC, a super PAC founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2012 that focuses on issues of gun control, school reform and marriage equality, to help unseat former U.S. Rep. Joe Baca, R-Calif., known to be pro-gun rights
Amount spent by Independence USA PAC this election to help unseat former U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-N.Y., known to oppose restrictions on gun ownership
Lobbying
Amount that gun rights groups on a whole spent lobbying Congress in 2012
Amount that the NRA spent lobbying Congress in 2012
Number of congressional bills NRA lobbied on behalf of in 2012
Number of U.S. House members to whom NRA has given an "A" rating
Number of U.S. House members to whom NRA has given a "D" or "F" rating
Number of U.S. senators to whom NRA has given an "A" rating
Number of U.S. senators to whom NRA has given a "D" or "F" rating
Amount that gun control groups on a whole spent lobbying Congress in 2012
Percent of the above figure spent solely by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a coalition of mayors founded in 2006 dedicated to promoting gun control initiatives
Largest-ever amount the Brady Campaign spent on lobbying (in 2004)
Amount the Brady Campaign spent lobbying Congress in 2012
Number of congressional bills the Brady Campaign lobbied on behalf of in 2012
Largest-ever amount gun control groups on a whole spent lobbying Congress (in 2001)
Revenue
NRA's total revenue in 2010 (most recent year available)
Total amount NRA collected from membership dues and fees in 2010
Number of NRA employees in 2010
Number of NRA volunteers in 2010
Current estimated number of NRA members
Estimated membership of Gun Owners of America, another gun rights lobbying group
Total compensation for NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre in 2010
Total compensation for NRA Executive Director of General Operations Kayne Robinson in 2010
Estimated contribution range to NRA from outside corporations since 2005 through a corporate-giving program, per a report by the Violence Policy Center, a non-profit organization that advocates for stricter gun control
Percent of the above amount contributed by the firearms industry (manufacturers and sellers of guns and gun products)
Estimated revenue in 2012 by the gun and ammunitions industry
Brady Campaign's total revenue in 2010 (most recent year available)
Number of Brady Campaign employees in 2010
Number of Brady campaign volunteers in 2010
Total compensation for Brady Campaign's then-president Paul Helmke in 2010
Total revenue drawn by Mayors Against Illegal Guns Action Fund in 2010
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