<p><pre><code>  It seems to me that the NRA positions itself to the
  government as a representative of all gun owners.
</code></pre>
Rather, the <i>media</i> position the NRA as the representative of all gun <i>usage</i>.<p>Blaming existing law and the NRA after a highly-reported shooting is common, even when the gun was obtained illegally and the shooter not legally eligible to own one.  An analog would be blaming Planned Parenthood when a newborn is abandoned to die.