Question
The paper will be turn in, turnitin.com . plz be care ful with plagarism. Select a controversial topic, such as gun control, climate change, reproductive rights, or animal rights, and go online to find two organizations representing different sides of the debate (for example, the NRA at http://www.nra.org and the Brady Campaign at http://www.BradyCampaign.org). Summarize the information you found at the respective websites. What do the two sides have to say about the issues and about one another? The paper should proceed in this order: (1) essay title (please write your own title), (2) student name (last name, first name), (3) total number of words, (4) essay text, and (5) reference list
Answer
The NRA and Brady Campaign on Gun Control
Gun control has become one of the most controversial topics with much of the debate and action being experienced in the United States. It concerns the laws that regulate the production, sale, ownership, and transport of firearms. The basic argument is that gun ownership increases the risk of gun violence. The NRA supports gun rights while the Brady Campaign advocates for gun ownership under strict legal regulation.
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To begin with, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is a non-profit organization which advocates for the rights to possess and legally have ownership of firearms. It supports their use primarily for self-defense. Founded in 1871, the organization’s main goal was to promote rifle marksmanship which is precision shooting at long range targets using rifles (Brady Campaign). It has grown to become one of the biggest voices in gun control. Today, the organization publishes magazines, internet content, and holds events to teach its members on firearm safety.
The NRA established the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) as its lobbying body in the political arena since gun control has become a widely politicized issue. In the United States, the issue has caused differences of opinion primarily between Republican and Democrats. Traditionally, the NRA has primarily been more aligned to the Republican Party. The ILA uses both direct and indirect strategies in lobbying for gun rights. Firstly, it relies on direct empowerment of members and active participants, and secondly, by making efforts to prevent any gun legislation at state and federal levels. The NRA has become very effective at lobbying for its cause, and it has successfully averted the passing of many gun control bills introduced following instances of gun violence. In addition, it has a great amount of financial support that has proved very essential in promoting its objectives. Most importantly, the NRA has skillfully linked the issue to freedom and safety, and in this way, it continued to gain massive support.
On the other hand, the Brady Campaign is an affiliation of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and it is one of the most recognized advocators for gun control as a way of preventing gun violence. The non-profit organization was named after Jim Brady, President Ronald Reagan’s press secretary who was shot and wounded during the attempted assassination of the latter on March 30, 1981 (National Rifle Association). The campaign lobbied successfully for the adoption of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that involved a seven-year debate and a ban on the manufacture and importation of assault weapons.
One of the Brady Campaign’s primary beliefs is that it should be impossible for convicted persons especially those with mental illness to get possession of any type of firearm. In addition, they strongly advocate for the regulation of the amount of firearms that one should be allowed to purchase and own at one time. It does not promote the complete ownership of guns; instead, it expresses the view that guns should only be used for self-defense. Thus, it aligns itself with political stakeholders who support the need for gun control legislation. In particular, the Brady campaign has been inclined towards a movement within the Democratic Party that proposes policies and reforms to enhance more gun control. The organization has gained ground on this issue shootings have been on the rise and which are being blamed on the ease of firearm purchase and possession.
The issue of gun control continues to weigh heavily on both sides of the debate. On one hand, guns are useful for personal safety and self-defense. On the other hand, it cannot be ignored that the number of mass shootings has been on the rise primarily due to the ease with which citizens can access guns. The need for self-defense may be said to reflect on the ineffectiveness of the security system. Gun violence also sheds more light on the deteriorating level of security in America today. The gun control debate is a long-term controversy that should be taken up by more global participants in order for an amicable solution to be realized.
Works Cited
Brady Campaign. Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Retrieved on 17 April 2016 from www.bradycampaign.org. Web.
National Rifle Association. (2016). National Rifle Association. Retrieved on 17 April 2016 from www.nra.org. Web.
