As the NRA struggles, the gun lobby has a new leader in D.C. 

The NSSF, formerly the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is the gun industry's leading lobbyist. It's on the rise as the NRA's membership declines.

WASHINGTON — The top advocate for the gun industry in Washington is spending more than ever to influence the federal government. The group accuses President Joe Biden of waging war on the Second Amendment. It resists any effort to create universal background checks and argues that attempts to crack down on untraceable “ghost guns” are unnecessary. 

And it’s not the National Rifle Association. 

The NSSF, founded more than 60 years ago to promote hunting and recreational shooting, has grown into the country’s largest firearms trade association. The organization spent more than $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year, more than in any other year in its history and more than twice as much as the NRA, according to federal records.

The NRA — long seen as synonymous with the gun-rights movement — has struggled with declining membership and revenue, as well as internal scandals. The latest blow came when its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, was found liable for corruption in a New York court last month. 

As the NRA cuts back on federal lobbying, its troubles have created an opportunity for other gun-rights advocates to expand — especially the NSSF. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nra-struggles-gun-lobby-new-leader-nssf-rcna140547

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