The National Rifle Association (NRA) is regarded as one of the most powerful interest groups and lobbying organizations when it comes to promoting gun rights. In 2013, an article in Business Insider expanded upon the NRA's success at advancing legislation that reinforces the rights of gun owners and pushing for representatives who advocate for gun rights as opposed to gun control. Specifically, from 2003-2013, the NRA "has had at least 230 full legislative victories on the state level." The NRA is not only powerful in terms of promoting legislation favorable toward gun-owners, but is also has a considerable number of members. Although disputed by the Washington Post, it is believed that the NRA has about 4 million members - thus making it both a powerful and populated interest group.
The NRA stands in contrast to Olson's argument in Chapter 1 of The Logic of Collective Action. Olson argues that in large groups, members have a harder time organizing, benefits are dispersed across more people, and the free rider problem increases, all in comparison to smaller groups. Olson writes that the "larger a group is, the farther it
will fall short of obtaining an optimal supply of any collective good,
and the less likely that it will act to obtain even a minimal amount
of such a good. In short, the larger the group, the less it will further
its common interests" (33). According to Olson, smaller interest groups tend to be more effective than larger ones. Although the NRA has experienced legislative success, perhaps NRA's members are catching on that the large group size is less effective. After all, in 2014, the NRA's revenue from member dues declined by over $47 million from the previous year.
2 comments:
While Olson does mention in chapter one that small groups are generally more effective than large groups, he brings up an important point in chapter six that big groups thrive with "selective incentives" that only yield a benefit to those who are members. This is precisely why the NRA remains powerful at gathering members, generating revenue, and lobbying the government as one of the biggest special interest groups. Yes, pro gun-rights advocates can free ride on the lobbying efforts of the group, but to combat this strategy the NRA has special benefits. These selective benefits include but are not limited to, firearm insurance(covering loss, damage, fire, and theft), subscriptions to different gun magazines, special invitations to NRA shows and banquets, and more.
In no way are "NRA's members catching on that the large group size is less effective," they are simply responding to incentives created by the group, and enjoying the perks of being a member of said group. Although there are incentives to pay to be a member, there are also incentives to donate for lobbying efforts -- especially in times of threat to gun ownership. As mentioned above, there was a major drop in NRA revenue from 2013 to 2014. However, 2013 was an outlier year, reaping in tons of donations as a result of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012. NRA revenue from 2014 was higher than it was every year from 2009-2012 (07 and 08 were very high due to Va Tech shooting). NRA donations and gun sales are highest during years of mass shootings, when people are most fearful that their gun rights will be taken away. The NRA is a powerful interest group because it creates selective incentives that entice members to join regardless of the lobbying efforts alone. During periods after mass shootings, the 2nd amendment is under the most scrutiny, and the NRA generates even more donations from its dedicated members -- the NRA will remain a powerful, large, special interest group.
https://www.thetrace.org/2016/01/new-nra-tax-filing-shows-membership-revenues-dropped-by-47-million-following-sandy-hook-surge/
https://thinkprogress.org/nras-revenue-has-skyrocketed-since-the-sandy-hook-massacre-f617c714a766#.ktlcg2hil
http://money.cnn.com/news/cnnmoney-investigates/nra-funding-donors/
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