Gun lobbyists spent decades building a database of gun owners in the United States.
Itslatest investigationconnects the dots between purchases made decades ago, lobbying firms, and political consultants.
The analytics firm cross-referenced the customer database from the NSSF with other information it had gathered on U.S. voters.
An attendee looks at Smith & Wesson M&P15 MOE Mid rifles at the Smith & Wesson booth at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s 34th annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center January 17, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.© Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
It sorted those people into categories and began to micro-target them with ads online.
Many were shocked to find out they were on a list and felt their privacy had been violated.
Joseph LeForge, a self-described privacy nut, struggled to understand how it couldve happened.
The 74-year-old contractor has no Facebook account or email address and spoke to ProPublica on a flip phone.
He wondered if he tripped a wire when he bought shotgun shells over a decade ago.
Its less well-known than the National Rifle Association, but perhaps better at its job.
Its been in trouble with U.S. politicians and regulators several times since its creation.
If an NSSF member steps out of line, theyre punished.
In 2000, gun maker Smith & Wesson agreed to work with the Clinton Administration on safer handguns.
The NSSF called Smith & Wesson to task over the agreement and stores across the country boycotted the company.
The FTC investigated NSSF for organizing the boycott butdropped the caseafter a three-year investigation.
Lately, lawmakers have gone after NSSF for its abuse of customer information and connections to Cambridge Analytica.
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