The 70,000 members of the National Rifle Association gathering this weekend in Nashville, Tenn. for the Second Amendment group’s annual membership meeting have more to cheer about than just shutting down the administration’s bid to ban bullets.
They will also be heralding what is seen as their best financial year, bringing $348 million in most from member dues, a 35.7 percent jump over the prior year.
The Virginia-based organization’s financial forms filed with the IRS show a $90.5 million jump from 2012 to 2013, a turbulent period for the lobbying and education group due to the Sandy Hook shootings and presidential election.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, shown here in 2010 shooting blanks, will speak to the NRA members.
The website Guns.com credited the growth to the “surge” in gun sales and probably NRA membership as many became concerned about the administration’s bid, which failed, to use the killings to implement gun control.
The NRA’s five million members paid about $183 million in dues and fees, and the gun lobby’s media and website pulled in $28 million in advertising and subscriptions.
Having a healthy bottom line is likely to lead to a strong 2016 campaign effort to defeat liberals, and is one of the reasons 11 likely Republican presidential candidates are in Nashville Friday to address the convention.
Starting at 1 p.m, the candidates will parade before the membership to woo their votes and organizing skills. Officials said that Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre will kick off the event being held at the Music City Center. The probably presidentials will speak in this order:
— Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
— Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
— Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
— Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
— Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
— Dr. Ben Carson.
— Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
— Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
— South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
— Businessman and TV celebrity Donald Trump.
— Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
