the nra is deeply underwater. in other words, at least in this race, at least in this state right now, the nra is poison. you do not want to be associated with the nra, right? in american politics, it is worth asking in how many other elections is that going to be the case as well. this massachusetts senate race is not going to be the first election that we have after the presidential. this is one that is happening even sooner. it's in illinois in the second district there. jesse jackson jr. quit his seat there, holding a special election to replace him. the primary happens a week from tuesday. this is a heavily, heavily, heavily democratic district. so it is pretty well accepted that whoever wins the democratic party is going to win this seat in congress. that's why we had 17 democrats announce that they were going to run for this seat when it first became open. in a field that crowded and in a race that is this short, name recognition and perceived status is everything. right? whoever seems like the obvious choi

the nra is deeply underwater. in other words, at least in this race, at least in this state right now, the nra is poison. you do not want to be associated with the nra, right? in american politics, it is worth asking in how many other election series that going to be the case as well. this massachusetts senate race is not going to be the first election that we have after the presidential. this is one that is happening even sooner. it's in illinois in the second district there. jesse jackson jr. quit his seat there, holding a special election to replace him. the primary happens a week from tuesday. this is a heavily, heavily, heavily democratic district. so it is pretty well accepted that whoever wins the democratic party is going to win this seat in congress. that's why we had 17 democrats announce that they were going to run for this seat when it first became open. in a field that crowded and in a race that is this short, name recognition and perceived status is everything. right? whoever seems like the obvious c

the nra do not support. it is being used now to lobby against background checks for gun sales, something that most nra members actually support. the ama theater chain is on the nra's list, which only makes me want to see movies at amac's now. and ben and jerry's names are on the list, which makes me want to get even fatter. the kansas city chiefs and royals are on the nra's list, so if you're a baseball fan in kansas city and an nra member, you had better find a chicago team to follow. because don't think the nearby st. louis rams are the answer. because they, too, are on the nra's enemy's list. stoney field farm's yogurt has just become my yogurt of choice by getting itself on the enemy list. how crazy are wayne lapierre and the other blood-drenched lobbyists for murders, it describes just how crazy they are. and i'm just giving you the tip of the iceberg, the tip of the crazy, the national association of chain drug stores is on the list. the national association of secondary school principals is on the lis

who got an f from the nra. this illinois special election, the first congressional contest since what happened at sandy hook elementary last month happens just a week from tuesday. joining us now is chris hayes, the host of up with chris hayes, weekend mornings at eighths 8:00. great to see you as always. >> always great to see you. >> did you ever think you would live to see the day when an a rating from the nra would ban albatross? >> the weird thing is i saw that day when it i was 13 years old or 14-year-old, the million mom march, the assault weapons ban, when this kind of thing was good politics for democrats and the democratic party leaned into it. and then there was this longs period of exile. there was a backlash. there was a story that was told i think implausible about how al gore lost his somalia home state of tennessee because of support for the assault weapons ban in 2000. and basically, democrats completely gave up on the issue, and they allowed this mythology to take hold that the way that your m

this is not where nra members are. 74% or more of nra members think everybody should get a background check. so i hope that the members of that organization will at some point start asking the leadership in washington what exactly it is they're lobbying for. >> professor dyson, what did you think of that statement that the president was waiting for an opportunity? >> i mean, this is balderdash. this is, again, you're talking about somebody who is being opportunistic. to take the, you know, the horror that happened to these children as an excuse to deflect attention from their own complicity in the whole matter and to put it onto president obama's back is nothing less than a disingenuous act from a dishonest people who are intent on telling a lie, and we have to expose the truth of it. you're wrong, mendacious, you're outright un-american because you refuse to love the best of what america is, our children. until you can be brought to bear before the bar of justice on that, what you're doing is harmful to the american people and to our kids' future. >> mark, as a bare minimum and final

the nra has blood on its hands. shame on the nra. >> everyone agrees america needs to be a safer place, a place where children can go to school without fear of being shot. the question is, how do we get to that point? and that is the question we hope to get a little closer to answering tonight, or at least understanding tonight. to help us, we have 310 million, an estimate of how many guns there are in the united states right now. also 30,000, that's roughly how many americans will be killed by guns each year. and finally, 27 words that you probably recognize, a well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. that's the second amendment. 27 words, very much at the core of this debate for many in the united states. i want to introduce some of our guests on the podium today. joining me is dan gross, president of the brady campaign to prevent gun violence. also joining us, charles ramsey, philadelphia's police commissioner,

the nra and doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no. and i think if you talk to most americans what they will say is the problem is not law-abiding gun owners, the problem is criminal. you're wasting your time, your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law abiding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate the behavior of criminals, it's useless. we need to arrest those people, prosecute them and put them away where they can't hurt anybody. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying a gun, how do you know who is a criminal and who is not? >> well, we had 72,000 people who were denied nics checks and only 44 of those people were prosecuted by the federal government. >> you think those people should be prosecuted for lying on the background checks. how do you know all of the other people who lied when they did a so-called private sale? >> the problem is, when you're not enforcing that law now, all you're going to do is burden an overburdened system. it's

of the nra also doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no, and i think if you talk to most americans, what they'll say is the problem is not law abiding gun owners. it's criminals. you're wasting your toom, you're wasting your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law abiding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate criminals, it's useless. what we need to do is arrest those people, prosecute them. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying guns, who do anyhow know who is a criminal and who is not? >> we had 72,000 people who were denied checks and only 44 of those people were prosecuted. >> you agree those people should be prosecuted for lying. but again, how do you know if all of the other people who may have lied when they did a so-called pre

but the nra is pushing a fantasy. the head of the nra was pedaling misstatements on fox when he got called out for it, including his tv ad criticizing security for the president's daughters. >> mr. lapierre, do you regret putting up that ad? >> the point of that ad is this. it wasn't picking on the president's kids -- >> it mentions them. >> the president's kids are safe and we're all thankful for it. >> they also face a threat that most people do not face. >> tell that to the people in newtown. >> do you really think the president's children are the same kind of target as every school child in america? that's ridiculous, and you know it, sir. >> we learned this weekend the nra created a kind of enemy's list. all the people they think are out to get them. so who's on the list? the nra is scared of mcgyver, richard dean anderson, the na y nanny, fran dresher and the fonz, yep, the fonz is going to gut the second amendment. there are lots of singers on the nra's enemy list including brittany spears and the entire line u

of the nra also doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no, and i think if you talk to most americans, what they'll say is the problem is not law abiding gun owners. it's criminals. you're wasting your toom, you're wasting your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law abiding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate criminals, it's useless. what we need to do is arrest those people, prosecute them. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying guns, who do anyhow know who is a criminal and who is not? >> we had 72,000 people who were denied checks and only 44 of those people were prosecuted. >> you agree those people should be prosecuted for lying. but again, how do you know if all of the other people who may have lied when they did a so-called private sale. >> my point is if you're not enforcing that law now, how is adding more braackground checks going to make anything easier. you're going to overburden an overburdened system. >> the brady bill, now the brad

found a venue and an outlet to push back. >> the nra, it is worth noting as we talk about the nra on its heels, this has also been in terms of making it rain and cash coming into the nra coughers, it has been a banner month. they raised $1.1 million in january, which was the best fundraising month since august of 2012, which was, of course, after the aurora shooting. when these tragedies happen, the nra -- i mean, they -- i think internally they think we're going to do better. people are scared that the president is going to come in with his swat teams and take guns away and may raise a lot of funds from it, and, unfortunately, money does confer some amount of power in terms of the national dialogue. >> i think in terms of the national dialogue, it had become so sclerotic. there was no opposition against the nra. organizing for action reminds me of the way the obama campaign, via vi the republican party, that dynamic where they cut out the middle man and emphasize direct engagement. they're still really entrenched powers. when you mention this state legislation situation, you suddenl

the nra and doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no. and i think if you talk to most americans what they will say is the problem is not law-abiding gun owners, the problem is criminal. you're wasting your time, your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law eye biding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate the behavior of criminals, it's useless. we need to arrest those people, prosecute them and put them away where they can't hurt anybody. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying a gun, how do you know who is a criminal and who is not? >> well, we had 72,000 people who were denied nix checks and only 44 of those people were prosecuted by the federal government. >> you think those people should be prosecuted for lying on the background checks. how do you know all of the other people who lied when they did a so-called private sale? >> the problem is, when you're not enforcing that law now, all you're going to do is burden an overburdened system. it

the nra and doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no. and i think if you talk to most americans what they will say is the problem is not law-abiding gun owners, the problem is criminal. you're wasting your time, your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law eye biding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate the behavior of criminals, it's useless. we need to arrest those people, prosecute them and put them away where they can't hurt anybody. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying a gun, how do you know who is a criminal and who is not? >> well, we had 72,000 people who were denied nix checks and only 44 of those pe

the nra and doesn't agree with the members of the nra. >> is that true? >> no. and i think if you talk to most americans what they will say is the problem is not law-abiding gun owners, the problem is criminal. you're wasting your time, your energy. one more gun control law is just going to be obeyed by the law abiding. it's not going to be obeyed by criminals. every time you try to regulate the behavior of criminals, it's useless. we need to arrest those people, prosecute them and put them away where they can't hurt anybody. >> if you're not doing background checks on everybody buying a gun, how do you know who is a criminal and who is not? >> well, we had 72,000 people who were denied nics checks and only 44 of those people were prosecuted by the federal government. >> you think those people should be prosecuted for lying on the background checks. how do you know all of the other people who lied when they did a so-called private sale? >> the problem is, when you're not enforcing that law now, all you're going to do is burden an

it's not that it's just the nra. there are other serious elements of the republican party that believe this. that if you put this list together of law-abiding people, the mechanics thing you're going to do -- first they came for the nra, and, you know. >> you have a great piece in new york magazine talking about the -- you use -- the adam lanza used at newtown to sort of tell the story about american gun culture, and i thought this was an interesting sort of insight from the piece. you write "the harvard law professor edward glaeser once wrote a paper explaining that people tended buy the most guns in places where the power of the state and its ability to protect its citizens seemed most distant. rural america and the poorest sections of the inner city. one way of viewing the vogue for assault weapons is that those geographic distinctions have now become states of mind." >> you know, if we're talking about the shift in the nra's politics from a decade ago until now, there's also this really interesting shift in the k

and the author of "the nra vs vs.america." gentlemen, it's great to have both of you here this evening. benjamin, i want to start with you. your story in part is how america's gun culture evolved in recent years. why are gun owners, as you write, doubling down on buying semi auto rifles are they afraid they won't be able to follow their hobby any longer, or is it something deeper here. >> that's a really good question. what has happened over the last ten years is the kind of guns that gun owners are buying has changed. ten years ago there was twice as many rifles sold as. pistols. rifles you use for hunting broadly, and pistols for self defense. now that balance has shifted and people are buying more pistols than rifles. when we talk about whether this is a reasonable thing for people to buy for their hobby i think what we have to remember is that the kind of use that buyers are imagining has visited very dramatically. where ten years ago you could say possibly the gun owners in america are still thinking about going out and h

>> the instant check is is the nra proposal. we offered it as an amendment to the brady bill and i have been in this fight for 0 years. we supported it and put it on the books. i have finally become convinced after fighting to get the mental records computerized for 20 years around watching the mental health lobby, the hppa laws and ama oppose it, i don't think it is going to happen. i mean the fact is the check now these people are not -- >> chris: worked enough that 1.7 million people were denied. i completely agree with you. as captain kelly pointed out, jared loffner was able to pass the test so there are holes in it. because it is not perfect doesn't mean that it doesn't work. >> the hole in it is the fact that we have been fighting for 20 years to get the records computerized and i know what goes on behind the scenes in this town, they won't do it. the mental health lobby won't do it and hppa won't do it. >> chris: you are for a universal background check. >> universal. that is what president obama is now putting forward.

it pointed out that the nra once supported closing the so-called gun show loophole. >> the nra once supported background checks. >> we think it's reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. no loopholes anywhere for anyone. >> let me bring in our political panel. radio talk show host and ms nns contributor michael smerkonish, mar gi o may ra and republican strategist hogan gitley. i should point out the president already arrived in minneapolis. he is at the police department special ops and there's a panel roundtable taking place. those there, attorney general holder, the governor of minnesota as well as the mayor. we heard from him. al sharpton and congressman keith ellie son. michael, let's start with you here. this ad seen in the super bowl by millions of people showing the contradiction that then and now from the nra leadership. can they continue to back this stance or if it is even a stance at this point or gamesmanship regarding universal background checks? >> i think universal background checks holds the greatest prospect of actu

the nra this weekend with george stephanopoulos. take look. >> i have been supported by the nra on occasion. i know wayne lapierre. he has always been extremely pleasant to me. we have a good relationship. so i am not here to demean the organization. >> not there to demean the organization. he has been a benefactor of campaign contributions from them. the nra spending in 2012, just to show everybody, $1 million in direct contributions to elected leaders, $25 million in outside spending, $6 million in federal lobbying, a total of $32 million. is harry reid one of the bigger obstacles in getting this to the floor on the senate? >> i wouldn't say he's the biggest obstacle. i think harry reid is a difficult position. he wants obviously something to move forward that helps address part of the problem and i think if you look at 2014 and you look at the midterm elections, look at key states where democrats have to defend, red states, alaska, west virginia is an open seat, arkansas, these are rural states where the democrats have a differen

we'll talk with wayne lapierre, head of the nra in a moment. but, first, mark kelly, retired astronaut, navy captain and husband of former congresswoman gabrielle giffords who was shot two years ago. he and his wife launched a new group, "americans for responsible solutions." captain, let's start with your wife's dramatic testimony before a senate committee this week. >> you must act. be bold. be courageous, americans are counting on you. >> chris: how is gabby doing? >> she's doing great, chris. you know, she enjoyed being there. in front of the senate. it was a little bit of having her former job back, in a sense. being on capitol hill. >> chris: let's get to this debate. because your wife's shooting raises some of the questions at the core of the gun control controversy. jared loughner had been suspended from college because of concerns that he posed a danger to others and yet he was able to go to a store in tucson, pass the background check and buy the gun he used to shoot your wife. so, the question is, what good does it do to make more pe

he makes the nra look terrifying. >> he makes the nra look terrifying. but you know what? the message that he has been spreading since newtown has been working for him and for the nra. it is frightening for the american people to hear what he has to say. the fear-mongering since newtown. but the flip side, we hear the next day or week, the best fundraising numbers they have had for a long time. and gun sales going through the roof. if he didn't exist we would have to make him up. he is this lightning rod for both sides. i mean, both sides get benefit from it. >> but is that actually working for the nra, this is what i always wonder, you have groups in american life who manage to fundraise off the american extreme. and there it always the deal of pushing it through congress. he created a lot of enemies who may have wanted to drop it at a certain point. but now they're more dedicated of the cause. >> i am always skeptical when groups or candidates say they're fundraising. i mean, herman cain said he had his best week ever after the scandal. but i do think the nra, which is e

is that going to be the way to counter the nra? >> our goal is not to be the counter to the nra. gabby and i both are supporters of the second amendment, we're both gun owners, i want to protect the rights. we want to have that right to protect your family and property. but that only extends so far. i think part of being a responsible gun owner is to have a responsible background check. i recently bought a hunting rifle at walmart and went through a background check. it didn't take that long to do that. >> at one point i saw you shaking hands with wayne lapierre, did you exchange words? >> yeah, i think i said nice to meet you and enjoyed testifying with you today. >> let's see where this situation moves on. mark kelly, please pass along our best wishes to gabby, wish her only, only the best, we've all been impressed with her progress over the past two years. >> thank you very much. >>> as tensions rise with north korea, for the first time you can see a google map of the country, and trace the area and hidden prison camps, and more. helps you be ready anytime the moment's right.

the nra believed that. the nra should agree with that. and the nra should not be in charge of this debate. >> thank you so much, mayor. again, president obama visiting your city today. appreciate your time. we'll be right back. have diabe. i felt like my feet were going to sleep. it was like pins and needles sticking in your toes and in your feet. it progressed from there to burning like i was walking on hot coals. at that point, i knew i had to do something. when i went to see my doctor, she chose lyrica. once i started taking the lyrica, the pain started subsiding. [ female announcer ] it's known that diabetes damages nerves. lyrica is fda approved to treat diabetic nerve pain. lyrica is not for everyone. it may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. or swelling, trouble breathing, rash, hives, blisters, changes in eye sight including blurry vision, muscle pain with fever, tired feeling, or skin

if the nra says yes, we should say no. but the bloomberg pac ad onslaught making the nra and guns a big issue in this race, one of the formally pro nra candidates decided that she would drop out. state senator toi hutchinson left the race 48 hours after the bloomberg pac started advertising against her by name as well. gun reform was not all that big an issue at the beginning. but now that mike bloomberg has spent more than $2 million on this race, being seen as once an ally of the nra is apparently enough to get you to quit the race. and now tonight on the eve of the election, whether that all is enough to determine the winner of the primary, we do not know. and the hints about what is going to happen tomorrow are all wobbly, and therefore very interesting. one poll shows debbie halvorson with a four-point lead even after all that bloomberg spending against her. now this poll i should tell you is the work of a local radio host and republican strategist, who was convicted a few years ago for falsifying signatures. he told

if the nra says yes, we should say no. but the bloomberg pac ad onslaught making the nra and guns a big issue in this race, one of the formally pro nra candidates decided that she would drop out. state senator toi hutchinson left the race 48 hours after the bloomberg pac started advertising against her by name as well. gun reform was not all that big an issue at the beginning. but now that mike bloomberg has spent more than $2 million on this race, being seen as once an ally of the nra is apparently enough to get you to quit the race. and now tonight on the eve of the election, whether that all is enough to determine the winner of the primary, we do not know. and the hints about what is going to happen tomorrow are all wobbly, and therefore very interesting. one poll shows debbie haverson with a four-point lead even after all that bloomberg spending against her. now this poll i should tell you is the work of a local radio host and republican strategist, who was convicted a few years ago for falsifying signatures. he told u

luckily the nra stepped up. in 1994 the nra successfully lobbied congress to keep this restriction in the budget. >> stephen: the nra made the government stop studying effects of guns and in the 17 years since we've remained perfectly safe, as far as we know. [ laughter ] unfortunately, folks, years of hard not work may soon be undone because with the stroke of a pen obama just directed the cdc to resume scientific studies on gun violence saying he wants to protect people from guns. [laughter] now, once again we're facing old our enemy from the 90s. [ laughter ] folks, we are facing the threat -- [ applause ] brsh the threat of information. thankfully patriots like david bartne rerks fighting back with positive stories of guns in our schools. >> great example in the 1850's, a school teacher teaching a guy in the west. a guy from new england wants to kill him and find him. he comes into the school with his gun to shoot the teacher. he decided not to shoot her because the kids pulled out their guns and said you ki