Final answer:
The NRA's focus on publicizing the failure of gun control laws is part of its advocacy and lobbying efforts to promote gun rights and influence public policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the National Rifle Association (NRA) focuses public attention on the failure of gun control legislation to reduce the number of felonies committed by persons using handguns and rifles, it is engaged in the function of advocacy and lobbying. The NRA has a long history of advocating for gun rights and opposing legislation restricting the sale or distribution of guns and ammunition.
The NRA also endorses candidates who support Second Amendment rights and attempts to sway public opinion through various communication strategies. It operates as a membership organization where members share a common goal of promoting gun rights. By highlighting the ineffectiveness of gun control laws, the NRA continues its agenda of advocating for the right to bear arms and, by extension, influencing public policy and legislation.