Our Views: Court decision could hurt NRA
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gun ownership is a personal right ironically could weaken the National Rifle Association’s political strength.
The court’s ruling came in a 5-4 decision that overturned a handgun ownership ban in Washington, D.C.
Although Justice Antonin Scalia made clear that the court’s decision leaves room for reasonable restrictions on firearms, the ruling has been hailed as a major victory by NRA leader Wayne LaPierre and other pro-gun advocates. And it is a big win for them.
The long-term effect of the ruling, however, could be to weaken the NRA’s political clout by allaying anxiety among gun owners.
Many gun owners have long feared massive government confiscation of firearms, however politically unlikely that is in a democracy where millions of voters own guns for protection, hunting, target shooting and as collectors.
That widely held concern for years has helped the NRA to increase its membership rolls, fill its coffers and build its political potency.
The NRA’s success was instrumental in making pro-gun voters a powerful force at the nation’s polls. The political strength of pro-gun voters has led the national Democratic Party, in the words of conservative columnist George Will, to drop the subject of gun control as a political issue in recent years.
The court’s recent decision on gun ownership shows no sign of reviving the political issue and thus should further assuage gun owners’ fears about government confiscation of firearms.
Over time that could weaken the ability of LaPierre and company to recruit members and collect donations from them.
That will be even more likely if U.S. Sen. John McCain wins the presidency and gets the chance to fill the next vacancy or two on the nation’s highest court.
The court’s ruling came in a 5-4 decision that overturned a handgun ownership ban in Washington, D.C.
Although Justice Antonin Scalia made clear that the court’s decision leaves room for reasonable restrictions on firearms, the ruling has been hailed as a major victory by NRA leader Wayne LaPierre and other pro-gun advocates. And it is a big win for them.
The long-term effect of the ruling, however, could be to weaken the NRA’s political clout by allaying anxiety among gun owners.
Many gun owners have long feared massive government confiscation of firearms, however politically unlikely that is in a democracy where millions of voters own guns for protection, hunting, target shooting and as collectors.
That widely held concern for years has helped the NRA to increase its membership rolls, fill its coffers and build its political potency.
The NRA’s success was instrumental in making pro-gun voters a powerful force at the nation’s polls. The political strength of pro-gun voters has led the national Democratic Party, in the words of conservative columnist George Will, to drop the subject of gun control as a political issue in recent years.
The court’s recent decision on gun ownership shows no sign of reviving the political issue and thus should further assuage gun owners’ fears about government confiscation of firearms.
Over time that could weaken the ability of LaPierre and company to recruit members and collect donations from them.
That will be even more likely if U.S. Sen. John McCain wins the presidency and gets the chance to fill the next vacancy or two on the nation’s highest court.
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