Tucson, Ariz. (2011), and at Sandy Hook Elementary School and in Aurora, Colo., last year.

The Senate failed to pass a compromised background check bill in April despite a massive public relations and political campaign by the Obama administration. The gun control debate was re-energized and the NRA was brought to the forefront of national news since the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012.

Lerer was one of several top donors who vocally withheld contributions to Democrats who voted against gun control.

The NRA broke its silence a week after the tragedy in Newtown when Wayne LaPierre, the organization’s executive vice president, said the media’s celebration of violence and glorification of the killers “act as silent enablers.” He spoke at length about the need for firearms in schools,blaming everything from Hollywood and video games, to music videos in order to explain the school shooting.

Polling in March revealed that Americans overwhelmingly support universal background checks for gun sales. According to the Quinnipiac University poll, 88% of Americans nationwide support the measure while only 10% oppose it. Support dropped negligibly when among gun owners, who support universal checks 85% to 13%.

The group led by former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a former Arizona congresswoman who was shot and injured in Tucson two years ago, aired radio advertisements in April and May that held Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Mitch McConnell accountable for voting against the failed gun control legislation.

Following December’s school massacre, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and several House Democrats called on President Obama to enact stricter