Washington Bulletin: National Review’s Internet Update for
Thursday,
September 7, 2000

http://www.nationalreview.com

By John J. Miller and Ramesh Ponnuru

GUNNING FOR GORE: NRA MEMBERSHIP THROUGH ROOF

Being demonized has never felt so good. The National Rifle
Association’s membership is shooting through the roof,
thanks to the continual potshots at the organization from Al
Gore and the media.

Membership in the gun group, which will be a crucial part of
George W. Bush’s base in November, has hit more than 4
million–an all-time high.

A formal announcement is two weeks away, but executive vice
president Wayne LaPierre confirmed the figure on Thursday.
“And we’re headed to 5 million,” he says.

The gun group has gained more than 1 million new members in
the last 12 months. “Americans have heard Al Gore say he
wants every gun registered, every gun owner licensed, and
federal testing,” says LaPierre. “That will only hit the
honest people.”

NRA membership generally rises during election years and
dips during off years, but this year seems different.
“Everything is up, up, up–programs, membership,
contributions,” says LaPierre. “Every rally we go to around
the country has 1,000 people. I’ve never seen that before.”

The group’s previous high point came in 1994, according to
LaPierre, when the NRA had 3.1 million members. Many
commentators credited the NRA with making the difference for
the GOP that year.

“The gateway to the presidency is made up of hunters and
firearm owners in the key states. That’s why Gore had Tommy
Lee Jones at the Democratic convention talking about how the
two of them used to go shooting,” says LaPierre.

“We support a lot of Democrats,” says LaPierre. “But we sure
don’t support Al Gore.”