Gun Industry Aims To Influence Voters Through Mailing
By GARY FIELDS
Staff Reporter of TILE WALL STREET JOURNAL
WASHINGTON—Nearly 2.5 million hunters and sports shooters in 11 states
will begin receiving letters this weekend from the gun industry imploring
them to go out and vote Nov. 7.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s mailing is the final phase of
its $6 million campaign to protect gun owners’ rights, and the firearms
industry group’s first direct sojourn into an election. The mailing is
directed at hunters and sports shooters in Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Washington. Those states account for 128 electoral votes, nearly half of
the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
In addition, states such as Virginia, Washington, Nevada and Michigan have
congressional races that could alter the balance of power on Capitol Hill.
“We felt that if we focused our efforts in a few key states ... we could
have a real impact,” said Robert Delfay, the Newton, Conn., group’s president.
The foundation’s decision to take an active role in the campaign comes
partly in response to lawsuits filed against the industry since October
1998 by 30 counties and cities and one state. “Prior to this year, the
Ifoundation] had never spent one red cent for political advertising or
campaigns,” said Vic Romano, a vice president of the group.
Funding for the campaign has come from about 50 manufacturers who pledged
about 1% of their revenue to cover the costs, Mr. Delfay said.
In the letters, Mr. Delfay writes that the next president could name three
or four Supreme Court justices. “Liberal Supreme Court justices could
easily restrict firearms rights,” the letters say. “And Supreme Court
Justic~s serve for life!”
Kristin Rand of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.,
gun-control advocacy group, says the letter campaign indicates “that they
feel very threatened, that they are fighting for their survival.”
So far, the foundation has spent the equivalent of about half the amount
doled out by the National Rifle Association, of Fairfax, Va., which it
represents gun owners and expects to spend about $20 million before the
campaign is finished. The NRA is involved in campaigns across the country,
from the presidential race to state ballot initiatives. Ms. Rand says the
foundat1on’s efforts, by contrast, mainly are focused on the lawsuits
against the industry.
Gun-control groups are undaunted by the efforts of gun proponents. “If
you’re on the wrong side and sending out the wrong message, it doesn't
matter how much money you spend,” said Joe Sudbay, political director of
Handgun Control Inc., of Washington, D.C., which has spent $4.5 million—a
record for the group—including $2.2 million for television advertisements.
..
By GARY FIELDS
Staff Reporter of TILE WALL STREET JOURNAL
WASHINGTON—Nearly 2.5 million hunters and sports shooters in 11 states
will begin receiving letters this weekend from the gun industry imploring
them to go out and vote Nov. 7.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s mailing is the final phase of
its $6 million campaign to protect gun owners’ rights, and the firearms
industry group’s first direct sojourn into an election. The mailing is
directed at hunters and sports shooters in Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
Washington. Those states account for 128 electoral votes, nearly half of
the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
In addition, states such as Virginia, Washington, Nevada and Michigan have
congressional races that could alter the balance of power on Capitol Hill.
“We felt that if we focused our efforts in a few key states ... we could
have a real impact,” said Robert Delfay, the Newton, Conn., group’s president.
The foundation’s decision to take an active role in the campaign comes
partly in response to lawsuits filed against the industry since October
1998 by 30 counties and cities and one state. “Prior to this year, the
Ifoundation] had never spent one red cent for political advertising or
campaigns,” said Vic Romano, a vice president of the group.
Funding for the campaign has come from about 50 manufacturers who pledged
about 1% of their revenue to cover the costs, Mr. Delfay said.
In the letters, Mr. Delfay writes that the next president could name three
or four Supreme Court justices. “Liberal Supreme Court justices could
easily restrict firearms rights,” the letters say. “And Supreme Court
Justic~s serve for life!”
Kristin Rand of the Violence Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.,
gun-control advocacy group, says the letter campaign indicates “that they
feel very threatened, that they are fighting for their survival.”
So far, the foundation has spent the equivalent of about half the amount
doled out by the National Rifle Association, of Fairfax, Va., which it
represents gun owners and expects to spend about $20 million before the
campaign is finished. The NRA is involved in campaigns across the country,
from the presidential race to state ballot initiatives. Ms. Rand says the
foundat1on’s efforts, by contrast, mainly are focused on the lawsuits
against the industry.
Gun-control groups are undaunted by the efforts of gun proponents. “If
you’re on the wrong side and sending out the wrong message, it doesn't
matter how much money you spend,” said Joe Sudbay, political director of
Handgun Control Inc., of Washington, D.C., which has spent $4.5 million—a
record for the group—including $2.2 million for television advertisements.
..