Gun Control: Divisive Issues In The United States

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Gun control is one of the most divisive issues in the United States. Every time there is a massacre, the arguments for and against inflame the national debate but without producing results. It is an ideological chasm separating the two camps. Some defend an eternal and intangible right, the others are alarmed at its social cost. For some, the responsibility is individual, and the State must be confined to a role of arbitrator while for the others it is collective and the State is entitled to put in place a preventive policy. In the chaos a lot of chatter also goes towards background checks as today they are considered one of the most basic and important parts of gun ownership. However,it is still a large looming dilemma in the fight …show more content…

The main problem is that when it comes to gun laws state laws take precedence over federal ones. Federal firearms laws in general regulate the sale, possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition, while other aspects related to the issue are dealt with by state laws. In spite of the specificities, there are gaps in the federal law for things pertaining to gun control such as a law that regulates the permits for the carrying either in a hidden way or in plain sight of firearms in public. State laws cover this gap and, in these cases, take precedence over federal ones. That is why, each of the 50 States that make up the country has its own laws on obtaining, holding, carrying weapons, etc. This provokes a total and absolute diversity of norms throughout the country, since what is valid in one state may not be allowed in another. Things like this also lead into a problem with selling guns privately. This is because federal law which requires a background check does not extend into unlicensed sellers. So according to Giffords Law Center, “ 22% of US gun owners acquired their most recent firearm without a background check.” This is where the problem is for the parties in the government and …show more content…

The NRA (The National Rifle Association) soon became a formidable fundraising apparatus for candidates at the state and federal levels. They continue to exercise that influence since then. The NRA worked hard to support Donald Trump during his presidential campaign. They greatly influenced their final victory. In total, the NRA spent 30.3 million dollars to support Trump. One of his most striking hypes was a television spot on gun control laws produced for 6.5 million dollars. So it's no coincidence that Trump appears as the first president in 34 years to hold meetings with the NRA. The NRA also disbursed 20 million dollars to develop the career of Republican candidates for the US Senate in 2016. Trump, unsurprisingly during the electoral campaign allied with those who oppose any limit to the possession of firearms in the United States. After many protest and mass shooting he did however made a slight concession to those who have cried out for greater control of the armament in the wake of the shooting that left 17 dead at a high school in Parkland, Florida. He did this by supporting a bill introduced in November by Republican Senator John Cornyn and Democrat Chris Murphy, which would have a limited scope because it would only try to increase the effectiveness of the national database on criminal records, to prevent people from there

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