One way the National Rifle Association projects its power is through the image of tens of thousands of members in a convention center, in front of the politicians who back the powerful gun rights organization.

But this weekend, for the second year in a row, the NRA's chosen convention center will stand empty, after the group was forced to cancel its annual meeting due to the COVID pandemic.

The National Rifle Association planned to hold its 150th anniversary celebration during the convention, and even more importantly, the second cancellation in as many years has cost the organization money.

"It has a very real impact on their finances, specifically because the NRA annual meeting is the largest fundraising event of the year for this group," said Steve Gutowski, the founder of The Reload, a pro-Second Amendment gun issue publication. "It usually features over 80,000 attendees. It's also a big rallying point for their membership."