Letter: What’s the difference between a ‘lobby’ and ‘advocacy group’ in gun debate?

Reading “Firearms law: ‘High risk’ measure could go to ballot” (TCH, Feb. 19), I got to wondering.

Why are Alliance for Gun Responsibility — bankrolled in part by one NYC billionaire to promote his vision of a society in which the Second Amendment applies only to the politically connected — and similar groups (Mayors against Illegal Guns, Million Moms, Every Town for Gun Safety, etc.), referred to as “gun safety” groups, while the National Rifle Association (with approximately 5 million dues-paying members) and like-minded groups advocating in favor of Second Amendment rights for all responsible citizens are referred to as the “gun lobby?”

What distinguishes between a lobby (unfavorable connotation) and an advocacy group (neutral or favorable connotation)?

Similarly, I’ve long wondered why political views favoring ever-larger and more intrusive government are called progressive (implying progress or advancement) while views favoring smaller government with less control are called radical (implying extreme or undesirable).

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 5:07 PM with the headline "Letter: What’s the difference between a ‘lobby’ and ‘advocacy group’ in gun debate?."