NRA Facing Most Formidable Opposition Yet, A Year After Parkland

For the National Rifle Association, the year since the Parkland shooting has led to a changing — and less favorable — political landscape. Democrats control the House of Representatives, public opinion polling shows [1]a majority of Americans support expanded background checks, and the NRA's political spending[2] is down. And for the first time ever, a growing and better funded movement now exists to counter the gun rights group. Fred Guttenberg is one of the people now part of that movement. After his daughter's death in Parkland, Fla., one year ago, he sat in his house grieving. "To me, I thought the first thing I need to do is to remove the grip of the gun lobby. And I walked around my house, kind of like in a daze, saying... we're going to go after their money," he told NPR. Parkland motivated people like Guttenberg to get active in politics, joining a growing campaign led by Everytown for Gun Safety — an adversary to the NRA founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "Parkland was certainly something that seemed to be the straw that broke the camel's back for so many Americans on this issue, but it is also so important to remember the daily gun violence that goes on in this country that gets people involved: suicides, homicides," said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense In America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety. This is the first sustained, well-funded opposition that the NRA has ever faced, and the gun rights group acknowledges this new dynamic. "What has changed is that for the first time the gun control groups are well-funded and have... efforts nationwide," said Jennifer Baker, a spokesperson for the NRA's lobbying arm. "They have an infinite amount of resources, as

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