The American population over the course of the last fifteen years has demonstrated some conspicuous shifts of opinion when it comes to gun control policies in a federate level. According to polls, protecting gun rights is now more important than controlling gun ownership, 52% to 46%. One might associate such change of opinion with gun rights being under federate regulatory threats, a government that poses controlling pressure under the House and the Senate could most certainly justify gun owners' alarms towards their 'intrinsic' rights.
That might have been a valid hypothetical thesis if the NRA, the National Riffle Association, one of the most publicly well-known lobbyist groups, has not interfered with the numerable amount of gun control bills that have been continuously rejected, especially once Obama became U.S. President.
The NRA association is the representation of all the defenders of gun possession and the extreme opposition on gun regulations, the voice of the segment of the population that understands the idea of protection behind bearing guns. The tight connections between NRA's lobbyists and government representatives, especially the Republican Party (also prone to have similar stands on gun policies), has been an undermining cause of the impasse on the countless bills that were sent to Congress. Under President Obama's administration an important set of bills was elaborated and sent to the Senate to combat some of the flaws in the gun regulation. The bill package included a universal background check on weapons, a renewal of the assault weapons ban, a ban on gun magazines that carry more than ten rounds of ammunition, and a more aggressive call on the prosecution laws. The universal background check on weapons is the perfect example of the dichotomy of power and influence of the NRA over gun control regulations and gun owners (among some of the 5 millions members of the association); although 95% of the Americans support a universal background check on all gun purchases, the amendment S.Amdt. 715 to S.649 (Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013) that states that has purpose "to protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process" was six votes short to be passed, needless to say that the NRA was involved.
Gun industries lobbyists, NRA included, have invested more than $81 million in the Congress and in presidential campaigns since 2000, according to federal disclosure and the Center of Public Integrity. Both political parties whatsoever have been receiving funds from such coalition in the past and candidates are well aware of the heavy advertisement used in its favor during elections. In comparison, the amount of money invested from the pro-gun side is 85% more than the capital invested from the gun control side ($3.9 million to $245,000).
Out of the 46 of the senators that voted against the criminal background check package in 2013, 43 of them have received either direct campaign contributions or independent expenditures from pro-gun interests since 2000; in aggregate about $8.5 million. It is also important to observe that 41 out of 46 'nays' were Republicans.
The American population will most certainly be taking interesting routes concerning their stands on gun rights, especially with an upcoming presidential election, but it is always important to keep in mind:
"It just shows what money can do for you." NRA President Keene on the 'victory' on the bill package's rejection.
Lucas Costa
- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/us/politics/congressional-sportsmens-foundation-promotes-gun-lobby-access.html
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/10/gun-control-advocates-are-seriously-losing-public-opinion/
- http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/17/despite-lower-crime-rates-support-for-gun-rights-increases/
- http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-first-gun-rights-top-gun-control-in-major-public-opinion-shift/article/2563304
- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/magazine/inside-the-power-of-the-nra.html?_r=0
That might have been a valid hypothetical thesis if the NRA, the National Riffle Association, one of the most publicly well-known lobbyist groups, has not interfered with the numerable amount of gun control bills that have been continuously rejected, especially once Obama became U.S. President.
The NRA association is the representation of all the defenders of gun possession and the extreme opposition on gun regulations, the voice of the segment of the population that understands the idea of protection behind bearing guns. The tight connections between NRA's lobbyists and government representatives, especially the Republican Party (also prone to have similar stands on gun policies), has been an undermining cause of the impasse on the countless bills that were sent to Congress. Under President Obama's administration an important set of bills was elaborated and sent to the Senate to combat some of the flaws in the gun regulation. The bill package included a universal background check on weapons, a renewal of the assault weapons ban, a ban on gun magazines that carry more than ten rounds of ammunition, and a more aggressive call on the prosecution laws. The universal background check on weapons is the perfect example of the dichotomy of power and influence of the NRA over gun control regulations and gun owners (among some of the 5 millions members of the association); although 95% of the Americans support a universal background check on all gun purchases, the amendment S.Amdt. 715 to S.649 (Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013) that states that has purpose "to protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process" was six votes short to be passed, needless to say that the NRA was involved.
Gun industries lobbyists, NRA included, have invested more than $81 million in the Congress and in presidential campaigns since 2000, according to federal disclosure and the Center of Public Integrity. Both political parties whatsoever have been receiving funds from such coalition in the past and candidates are well aware of the heavy advertisement used in its favor during elections. In comparison, the amount of money invested from the pro-gun side is 85% more than the capital invested from the gun control side ($3.9 million to $245,000).
Out of the 46 of the senators that voted against the criminal background check package in 2013, 43 of them have received either direct campaign contributions or independent expenditures from pro-gun interests since 2000; in aggregate about $8.5 million. It is also important to observe that 41 out of 46 'nays' were Republicans.
The American population will most certainly be taking interesting routes concerning their stands on gun rights, especially with an upcoming presidential election, but it is always important to keep in mind:
"It just shows what money can do for you." NRA President Keene on the 'victory' on the bill package's rejection.
Lucas Costa
- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/us/politics/congressional-sportsmens-foundation-promotes-gun-lobby-access.html
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/10/gun-control-advocates-are-seriously-losing-public-opinion/
- http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/17/despite-lower-crime-rates-support-for-gun-rights-increases/
- http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-first-gun-rights-top-gun-control-in-major-public-opinion-shift/article/2563304
- http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/magazine/inside-the-power-of-the-nra.html?_r=0