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The Role of Interest Groups and Group Interests on Gun Legislation in the U.S. House*
Author(s) -
Richards Robert
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/ssqu.12424
Subject(s) - legislature , legislation , house of representatives , politics , political science , ideology , interest group , differential (mechanical device) , rifle , gun violence , public administration , law , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , geography , engineering , environmental health , archaeology , aerospace engineering
Objective I examine the differential effects on legislative behavior of organized and unorganized subgroups related to gun policy. Methods Using various data sources on campaign contributions, voter characteristics, and legislative behaviors, I estimate logit models of the decision to co‐sponsor or vote for gun bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. Results Both interest group contributions and the percentage of hunters in a district are independently predictive of legislative behavior, above and beyond district ideology and party affiliation. These findings are robust and substantively meaningful. Conclusions Those involved in the politics surrounding gun policy should take into account the difference between the influence of organized interests like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the unorganized interests of voter subgroups.