NRA Considered Most Influential
Lobbying Group
|
"...[M]issing from the 'Power 25' are all anti-gun
organizations..." |
|
Since 1997, NRA has been steadily ascending Fortune magazine's
"Power 25," its listing of the most influential lobbying groups
in America. This year, we reached the number one spot, displacing
the AARP, which had held the top spot for years.
Compiled by
Fortune's senior writer and Washington bureau chief Jeffrey H. Birnbaum,
the 2001
"Power 25" rankings are based on responses to
a survey sent to more than 2,900 individuals, including every
member of Congress, Hill staffers, senior White House aides,
professional lobbyists, and top-ranking officers of lobbying
organizations and companies.
In 1997, NRA was ranked sixth on the
list, in 1998 we moved up to fourth, and in 1999, our position
improved two more spots again, moving us into a tie for second
most influential, just behind the AARP. Fortune chose to skip
compiling its ranking in 2000, as it "decided to wait for the
results of the election and give the new President time to settle
in before (testing) to see which...lobbying groups rose or fell
in the new Washington."
Once again missing from the "Power 25" are all anti-gun
organizations. In fact, if you go to Fortune's website, at
www.fortune.com, you will find its complete list of 87 "Top
Lobbying Groups" for 2001, but you will not find two particular
anti-gun organizations. Neither HCI - the gun-ban lobby that touts
itself as "the nation's largest citizens' gun control lobbying
organization" - nor Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) - the newest
member of the anti-gun community, founded and funded with
millions of dollars from Internet billionaire and former HCI
Board Member Andrew McKelvey - have been able to crack through to
the list.
Related Stories...
HCI Changes It's Name
Schism Between Gun-Control Groups
Poll Indicates NRA Influence Exceeds It's Membership
MMM Lays Off Nearly 86% Of Employees
1998 - NRA rises in the ranks of the infuential
1999 - NRA rated No. 1 by lawmakers and Hill staffers
2000 - George W. Bush Elected 43rd President
Bill Clinton acknowledges NRA's effectiveness
|
|
