The Secret History of Gun Rights

<p>How did the National Rifle Association, America’s most influential gun-rights group, amass its power?</p><p>A New York Times investigation has revealed the secret history of how a fusty club of sportsmen became a lobbying juggernaut that would compel elected officials’ allegiance, derail legislation behind the scenes, and redefine the legal landscape.</p><p>Mike McIntire, an investigative reporter for The Times, sets out the story of the N.R.A.’s transformation — and the unseen role that members of Congress played in designing the group’s strategies. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/mike-mcintire">Mike McIntire</a>, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>Over decades, a small group of legislators led by a prominent Democrat<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/30/us/politics/nra-congress-firearms.html"> pushed the gun lobby</a> to help transform the law, the courts and views on the Second Amendment.</li><li>The potential Republican 2024 presidential candidates <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/14/us/politics/nra-guns-republicans-2024.html?searchResultPosition=4">showed strong support for gun owners’ rights</a> — a core issue for the party’s base, but one that can be a tougher sell in a general election.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>