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Essay about Gun Controls Do Not Control Criminals

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Gun Control Does Not Control Criminals

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" (Bill of Rights, Article II).

This seemingly simple phrase is probably the source of more debate and argument than any other single sentence in American history. The argument is not black and white, rather, it encompasses many shades of gray. At the one end of the spectrum you have the National Rifle Association (NRA) which currently views any type of gun control as an infraction against the Second Amendment of the Constitution ("What is the NRA" 1). At the other end of the spectrum you have groups like the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) …show more content…

This did not last long.

Following the assassination of President Kennedy the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed. The act banned the mail-order sale of guns and ammunition. This act was even supported by the NRA's leaders. Within the NRA however, there was a growing faction that opposed gun control in any form. This faction was set up as the subordinate committee, Institute for Legislative Action (ILA). This faction gained support and power and in 1977 gained control of the NRA. They have held that power ever since.

Today's NRA works to foster support for the shooting sports, to promote firearms safety, responsibility, and freedom, and to protect Second Amendment rights from infringement ("What is the NRA" 1). They take a very hard line in their protection of Second Amendment rights. They believe that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right and work to oppose any legislation that will infringe that right.

The AFA was founded in 1993. It seeks to protect the constitutional right to bear arms while supporting fair and reasonable gun controls. They seek to preserve the sportsman's arms, rifles and shotguns, at the cost of the recreational shooters arms, handguns (Lissabet, "Return" 3). This approach is presented as a compromise to safeguard Second Amendment rights. They espouse to support the Second Amendment, they also support the implementation of stricter gun controls (Lissabet, "Anti-Federalism" 4).

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