The debate of the carrying of arms in the United State and the role of the NRA (National Rifle Association)

Résumé du document

The question of the regulation of handguns is 'one of the most divisive social issues in American society' because 'firearms in general, and handguns in particular, are emblematic of individual autonomy and freedom from government intrusion' . This debate is actually centered on the Second Amendment to the Constitution which protects 'the rights of people to keep and bear arms'. Currently more than 250,000,000 firearms are owned by American individuals with a global population of 300,000,000 people. Thus, this right to keep and bear arms for ones own security seems to be really important in the eyes of the Americans. However, since several years, more Americans are favourable to an increased control concerning the selling of handguns. Moreover, after incidents such as the school-shooting of Littleton (Columbine) on April 1999, which resulted in the deaths of 14 students and a teacher and more recently in a shooting in Los Angeles, many states and cities are becoming aware of the dangers of the free movement of weapons. Nevertheless, we have to underline that, in spite of the guns control tendency, the government has never made strong a decision to increase it significantly.

Extraits

[...] The debate of the carrying of arms in the United State and the role of the NRA (National Rifle Association) The question of the regulation of handguns is of the most divisive social issues in American society” because “firearms in general, and handguns in particular, are emblematic of individual autonomy and freedom from government intrusion”[1]. This debate is actually centered on the Second Amendment to the Constitution which protects rights of people to keep and bear arms”. Currently more of firearms are hold by American individuals for a global population of people. [...]

[...] Moreover the NRA can rely on the support of many gun rights groups and also on this of the gun manufactures. For instance they criticize safety locks for placing an undue burden on gun manufacturers without a proven benefit to the public. Sometimes the NRA doesn't waffle to appeal to the justice to force the government to admit some of its mistake. It was the case in September 2005 after the event of the Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. In the mess that was predominant at this moment in the city, the authorities decided to confiscate all the personal weapons. [...]

[...] It poses a formidable challenge to the National Rifle Association in advocating for legislative solutions for gun control. They try to pass sensible gun laws on the federal level which could secure the use of the handguns especially concerning the danger with the kids. On their home page we can read that children are killed each day in America by guns”. That's why this group tries not only to fight against tragedies such as the school shootings but also to lead education and awareness campaigns for educating parents and other adults about the dangers of keeping firearms in the home. [...]

[...] II - A progressive change in the public opinion Several years ago many white, middle class Americans had the belief that gun deaths occur only in communities. They considered that handguns violence's happened mainly in “poor neighbourhoods, communities of colour, and neighbourhoods with high level of “street Nevertheless their perception of where violent deaths do occur changed rapidly in the late 1990s with the beginning of school shooting's phenomenon. Face to this new sort of violence which occurred even in white and neighbourhoods, Americans became aware that gun violence was an urgent problem which concerned each and every one. [...]

[...] The most important and influent of these lobbyists is the National Rifle Association. This non profit group has a sizeable influence among the government and especially with the Republicans. How did this pro-guns lobby react to these shootings and this shift in the public opinion, and how does the NRA continue to defend the right to bear arms? First of all I would like to present quickly the NRA, and to explain how it can influence the action of the government concerning gun laws. [...]