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Why has the NRA been cozying up to Russia?. Page 10) of 13 to ban so-called assault weapons." Weeks later, The Right to Bear Arms amnwuneed it would soon host another NRA representative in. Moseow, "life member' Paul Eriekson,for an "open meeting. Inaos,Butina traveled around country following Repubican presidential candidates.She attended Cov. Seott Walker's (R-wl) amnouncement specch in Waukesha, Wisconsin. As an audience member a Trump campaign event in Las Vegas, she asked the saodidate about sanetons and his commitment to lift them if elected. Hosh Horwitz,exeeutive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violenee, told ThinkFrogress that U.s.-Russian economie ties, rather than gun rights, could be the real aim ofThe Right to Bear Arns. *I think the inportant thing is all those involved with this are close. with Putin. If Putir wanted nore guns in Russia.he doesn't need ta What are the NRA officials doing cavorting around with people close to Putin? The NRA says they're the nation's oldest civil rights group I could see them txeing in line with dissidents in Russia, who are out of power, diseriminated against, and subjugated by the Russian government." be continued. "But the idea that the NRA is running around with someone who is basicaly a dietator -- the question is why. The ponle ho's running around with are al about removing sanctions on drilling and other things. I think this is nore about. getting out to the American Right the views about lifting the sanctions than anything abont gun rights.". Josh Sugarmann,executive director ofthe Violeoce Policy Center, added that thre sanetions could be of key interest to the NRA's finaneial backers as well. *The NRA is a gun industry trade assoeiation masquerading as a shooting sports foundation," he observed. *The organization has received tens of millions of dollars in gun industry financial support fron around the globe and has partnered with gunnakers on a wide range of marketing efforts.The NRA's reasoning in working to establish a Russian beochhead coald range from working to end Obama Administration sanetions that ban the import of Russian-made AK-47s and assault shotguns to 12FI18q2107)-31 https:/thinkprogress.org/nra-and-russian-cousin-1818o7d40240