One year ago Thursday, the U.S. House voted to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act (BBCA) of 2019, which would enact universal background checks on gun purchases in the United States. However, over the last year, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) still refuses to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. Given that universal background checks are overwhelmingly supported by the American public, with several polls showing support surpassing 90%, why is McConnell holding up this bill?
It is no secret that the gun lobby is one of the most influential forces in Washington, primarily among Republican members of Congress, including McConnell. For the 2020 election cycle the gun rights advocacy groups that have contributed the most money to candidates for federal office are the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and Safari Club International (SCI). According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA has donated $4,950 in PAC money to McConnell, while a lobbyist for the group, Christopher W. Cox, gave the majority leader $3,100. Additionally, McConnell's campaign has received funding from PACs including Jobs, Opportunity & New Ideas ($10,000), Denali Leadership ($10,000), and Dirigo ($5,000). Fellow NRA lobbyist John Scofield has donated $400 to each of these three PACs. The NSSF and SCI have also respectively contributed $2,500 and $5,000 to McConnell in PAC money, while SCI lobbyist G. Stewart Hall gave the majority leader $1,000. Other PACs that have given to McConnell include Responsibility & Freedom Work ($10,000), Heartland Values ($10,000), the American Council of Engineering Companies ($5,000), and Defend America ($10,000). These PACs have received funding from Hall fellow SCI lobbyist John Green. Green contributed $1,500 and $500 to the former two PACs, respectively, while Hall donated $2,389 and $5,000 to the latter two.
Having taken money from these groups, indirectly or directly, through PACs and lobbyists, it is understandable as to why McConnell will not allow the Senate to vote on the BBCA. While Americans still widely support universal background checks, and many take to the streets to protest for them, as long as these groups have an influence on our politicians, we are unlikely to see these changes.
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