Unit2Sucks said:
The problem is that the gun lobby has purchased the fealty of our government for a rather paltry sum. You would think we are talking about billions or hundreds of millions being spent to control our politicians, but it's actually more like $10 million per year.
To me it's less about the gun lobby purchasing politicians. It's more that they have successfully convinced large swaths of VOTERS that they need to have the right to purchase military-grade weapons, as many as they want and whenever they want, and anything else is a grave infringement on their freedom. Until very recently, those have been the loudest voices in the gun debate.
I understand why there is a push to reveal how much the NRA has donated to particular political candidates, because it can be an effective shaming strategy. But really, politicians (as a group, not always individually) will go whichever way they think will win them elections. The real work is to convince more average people that the need for public safety now outweighs personal freedom, and that's why it's time for gun control. If people are willing to vote on that issue, then you'll see the change happen at the top.