Does gun money influence votes in Louisiana?
Last weekend, Gov. Bobby Jindall (R-La.) was scheduled to appear at the “3rd Annual Second Amendment Rally” in Iowa, co-sponsored by the Iowa Firearms Coalition and the National Rifle Association.
It’s no surprise, the NRA loves Bobby Jindal. It’s lead national lobbyist, Chris Cox has said, “There’s no stronger pro-Second Amendment Governor in the country than Governor Bobby Jindal and NRA is truly grateful for his leadership.”
During his time in Congress, Jindal received $4,902 from the NRA, according to analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics.
But Gov. Jindal isn’t the only recipient of gun industry cash.
Over the years, Louisiana lawmakers have received $53,643 in gun industry contributions, according to Public Campaign analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics and Louisiana Secretary of State’s office. Eighty-eight percent of that, or just over $47,000, came directly from the NRA.
In 2006, the state passed legislation similar to Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground,” law. Cosponsors of that legislation have received $9,550 in contributions from pro-gun interests.
| Legislators | 1999 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2011 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scalise, Stephen J. | $500 | $1,500 | $2,000 | |||
| Alario Jr., John A. | $750 | $500 | $1,250 | |||
| Blanco, Kathleen | $1,000 | $1,000 | ||||
| Lafleur, Eric | $500 | $500 | $1,000 | |||
| Crowe, A. G. | $250 | $500 | $750 | |||
| Smith, John R. | $500 | $500 | ||||
| Thompson, Francis | $500 | $500 | ||||
| White Jr, Mack (Bodi) | $250 | $250 | $0 | $500 | ||
| Crane, Carl | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Fannin, James R (Jim) | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Farrar, Rick L. | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Mcvea, Thomas H (Tom) | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Smith Jr, Gary L. | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Smith, Jane H. | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Trahan, Donald M (Don) | $250 | $250 | ||||
| Bruneau, Emile (Peppi) | $150 | $150 | ||||
| Thompson, Francis C. | $150 | $150 | ||||
| Total | $1,550 | $750 | $1,250 | $5,000 | $1,000 | $9,550 |
Last May, after the state approved a ballot measure to add a pro-gun amendment to the state constitution, Cox said “No other state has passed a right to keep and bear arms constitutional amendment as strong as Louisiana’s.”
It’s unclear how much the NRA will spend on this initiative, if any, but it likely won’t have any opposition either.
And that’s why an amount like $50,000 is bigger than it looks. Those donations get NRA lobbyists access and influence with politicians and they know they can be rewarded—or punished—for voting the wrong way. Those who are most often the victims of gun violence don’t have that kind of money or influence.