Gun Lobby Targets Clinton

By Marc Watts/CNN

DALLAS (April 19) -- In suburban Dallas, members of the NRA practice the shooting sport known as IPSIC. They shoot at different targets from different positions as quickly and accurately as possible. But politically their sights are locked in on President Bill Clinton.

"It becomes very clear he does not know the respect for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights that one would hope that any president would have," says Marion Hammer (149K WAV sound), president of the NRA.

Hammer is the new top gun and first female president of the NRA. She and Bill Clinton have tangled from the day he became president. He won the first couple rounds in 1994, with passage of the Brady law, requiring a waiting period on the purchase of a handgun, and a ban on assault weapons.

But the NRA struck back, spending $3 million in PAC money to defeat several Democratic congressmen, including House Speaker Tom Foley. The public debate over gun control remains bitter, and the NRA remains committed to defeating anyone who opposes them.

Says NRA member Tom McLure: "There are a number of people in the Congress who are enemies of our right to keep and bear arms, and I would expect they will be targets."

The NRA isn't as heavy caliber as it's been in years past. But it's still powerful, with an annual lobbying budget of $35 million.

"We're interested in looking at a lot of open seats, as well as keeping our friends in Congress who have demonstrated how effective they can be when called upon," says Tanya Metaksa, an NRA lobbyist (116K WAV sound).

The NRA's political fight is to save its image as well. As the doors opened this April 19 to the group's Dallas convention, people also gathered in Oklahoma City to commemorate the bombing there exactly one year ago.

After that tragedy, the NRA was accused of promoting the anti-government sentiment that may have spurred the bombing. Critics accused the NRA of thumbing its nose at tragedy and called upon the group to reschedule its convention. But the group's president says financial commitments made that impossible.

"It's not responsible to try to change a date because your adversaries are once again shamelessly trying to make a political point on a tragedy," says Hammer.

At the same time, the Democratic National Committee is calling on likely GOP nominee Robert Dole (R-Kan.) to reject financial support from the NRA.

Meanwhile, two gun control groups demonstrated outside the Dallas convention center. Declares Jim Guest of Handgun Control Incorporated: "They are representing an extreme pro-gun position that is out of touch with efforts that could really have an impact on reducing gun violence (132K WAV sound)."

One prominent Texan who won't be attending the NRA convention this year is former President George Bush. He quit the organization last year after the Oklahoma City bombing, saying he was angry at the NRA's anti-government rhetoric. The organization said it was a misunderstanding and denies any involvement in the blast.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

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