Obama to present gun agenda; all but one Alabama representative supported by NRA 
By Challen Stephens | AL.com | January 15, 2013

With President Obama scheduled tomorrow to announce controversial plans for gun control, the National Rifle Assication announced that membership has risen a quarter of a million since the Newtown shooting. That group now lists 4.25 million members.

Obama is expected to announce a package of gun-control proposals that could include a ban on assault weapons, which Democrats have already begun to suggest would not earn support from House Republicans. The brewing legislative and political battle places the NRA in the spotlight.

And there is little doubt as to Alabama’s political allegiance. Alabama’s entire congressional delegation, save Birmingham Democrat Terri Sewell, received financial support from the NRA.

But the NRA does not appear to have singled out any Alabama representative as a political favorite. Unlike many lobbying groups, which find and fund certain political champions, the NRA spreads its support wide and keeps the contributions relatively small.

The NRA during the last election cycle gave $2,000 each to U.S Rep. Mo Brooks, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, U.S. Rep. Martha Roby and U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner. The group, through its Political Victory Fund PAC, gave $3,000 to U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus and just $1,000 to U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Many lobbying organizations give much larger amounts to individual candidates. For instance, the conservative Club for Growth gave more than a half million each to two candidates in Texas and Arizona, while the pro-choice Emily’s List gave more than $300,000 to Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

But, according to a database at opensecrets.org, the NRA gave its largest single contributions to U.S. Rep. Steve Fincher, R-Tenn, and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio. Each received just $9,900 during the recent election.

The NRA in the past has also supported Alabama’s two senators. Richard Shelby accepted $8,450 in the 2010 cycle and Jeff Sessions accepted $4,950 in the 2008 election cycle.

While Sewell is currently the only Alabama Democrat in Congress, the NRA does have a history of reaching across the aisle in this state. The group has given to recent Democrats including U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, U.S. Rep. Bobby Bright and U.S Rep. Artur Davis.

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