Sen. Murphy: NRA is ‘out of step’ with gun owners

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Monday that the National Riffle Association’s (NRA) leadership is “out of step” with gun owners.

Murphy’s comment came after his office released a report on U.S. gun owners’ views. Murphy said the data showed that NRA members and American gun owners support measures to reduce gun violence, such as background checks.

“The NRA’s leadership continues to demonstrate just how out of step they are with the American public, their own membership, and reality in general,” Murphy said. “NRA members and responsible gun owners across the country want to ensure the safety of our children and our communities, and support common sense measures to reduce gun violence.”

Murphy’s report found that 74 percent of NRA members support a requirement for a criminal background check on anyone purchasing a gun. Yet, Murphy said NRA leaders in Washington, D.C., have opposed any additional background checks for gun purchases, proving that the NRA is lobbying for the gun industry rather than gun owners.

“I hope more and more gun owners realize that the NRA’s leadership has become unhinged from the responsible gun owners across America the NRA claims to represent,” Murphy said.

Democratic lawmakers have increased their calls for more gun-control measures since the December shooting in Newtown, Conn., where a gunman killed 20 children at their elementary school, Sandy Hook.

“Universal background checks — which the overwhelming majority of NRA members support — will make our city streets safer, and a ban on military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines will prevent future mass shootings,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he would continue his series of reports on the NRA. His previous reports have said that the NRA gets most of its funds from gun manufacturers and that the NRA was ineffective in 2012 political races.

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