Performance of the National Rifle Association - Essay Example

of Your THE NATIONAL RIFFLE ASSOCIATION: An of Gun Safety and Human ProtectionIntroduction The National Riffle Association (NRA) is a nationwide recognized non profit organization that works to continuously spread and implement the idea of responsible gun handling ever since the 19th century. Since establishment in 1871, the organization's prime goal when it became a charter was to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," as stated by one its founders Col. William C. Church (NRA website). Firearms today are no longer viewed as they used to (dangerous). During the time of establishment the NRA stood strong as an organization that believed in responsible gun handling. It is important to consider how this has transitioned over time, since guns of the time were mainly used for war purposes and protections against oppressive acts. The NRA in modern civil society receives much scrutiny for its stance on guns and people's right to maintain them but the NRA merely advocates correct gun usage as opposed to the implementation of guns in the world as they are perceived by many people to do (Helmut 2004). However, it must be stated that this stance is not one of promoting violence, but one promoting their basic foundation, the implementation of knowledge. Research question Is gun possession for protection a civil liberty Well many people in the current civil society believe that there is enough independence in choice of human conduct. People are increasingly creating awareness that it's the person behind the weapon that commits a crime and not the weapon itself! The founders of national rifle Association believed that people in modern society were responsible enough to control their character even when in possession of a dangerous weapon like a gun (Kant, 2003 p. 33). Although NRA was faced with so much criticisms of controversy, it was one of the most influential lobby groups in the United States. The History of NRA There was growing need to support the second amendment which encouraged responsible gun ownership in the name of self defense. As a result of this, the NRA was formed from the views of two retired army officers who primarily wanted to make the entire human society more knowledgeable about the handling of firearms. Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate started NRA in 1871 to be able to promote a sense of scientific process among all individuals whenever they handle firearms (Anderson p. 186). After the US charter in the State of New York approved the existence of the NRA the First President of the organization, US Senator Gen. Ambrose Burnside, took responsibility of this position (NRA HQ website). Ambrose Burnside as the first president, he tried his best to establish the organization's reputation in the society that they were most involved with. The aim of this body was make the society more responsible in the way of handling guns for self-protection grounds. It is indeed from the primary aims of the founders of the organization that NRA actually started out to affect the modern civil society as a whole. George Washington once said, "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself." (Wilson 2002) I think that is a simple approach the NRA is taking on the consideration of the Second Amendment and trying to instruct the proper safety of handling a firearm. Hence, through the financial support provided by the Long Island and Creed Farm, the organization was able to establish a practice range that would train numerous individuals, with their own guns, for the purpose of self defense. The Credmor, NRA's first training grounds, was established in 1872. (Anderson p. 203) It was the initial venue for the first ever annual shooting matches that happened during those years. Up to this day, the organization aims to educate everyone in the society about the need to be responsible and knowledgeable about the right usage of guns and firearms. In an aim to educate everyone, the NRA launched the Police Firearms Instructor Certification Program in 1960; the association holds a record of having 50,000 certified instructors who handle different courses of responsible gun handling. From this particular program, 750,000 gun owners are given certification every year and the rightful knowledge that they need to handle their firearms. (NRA website) This includes the responsibility and alertness to what is right and what is wrong in terms of using their gun appropriately. There are actually six major courses of responsible gun-handling that the association hosts for their students and clients. The said six courses include (a) basic rifle handling; (b) pistol handling; (c) shotgun handling; (d) muzzle loading firearms; (e) personal protection; and (f) ammunition reloading (Boyer, 2000, 32). Within these courses, the association makes sure that they instill in their students the need to be carefully aware of their possessions and the ways by which they should handle them under their care. Guns are recognizably dangerous. Therefore, it is observed that the educational understanding of owners is a needed measure for the responsibility of taking serious concern about the matter of guns. Besides all these courses, the organization is also trying to educate everyone else in the society about their responsibility in handling a seen gun accident. Through the implementation of the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program which was launched in 1988, there have been at least 12 million pre-kindergarten to sixth graders who have been educated to deal with the situation when they see a gun. They were ordered by the program to "STOP. Don't touch. Leave the area. Tell and adult," in the event of seeing a gun (Brennan, et, al. 1993). These particular commands were expected to make the young ones rather responsible in handling guns that they might be seen in their homes or in other places as well. Also, 15,000 men and women have developed their own personal safety plan using common sense strategies. (Lukas, 2007, 89) The relationship between NRA and NRA foundation The NRA performs its duties just like any other non governmental organization in giving direction where the government appears to be failing. The foundation has been addressing the second amendment as it's famously referred, with respect to self defense argument, a person owning a gun can defend and protect himself/herself from impending crime (Ferguson, 2003.p 56). This is usually tricky since the body is supposedly meant to manage gun control. The issue of gun control is very technical and it has even been on presidential campaign platforms as some critics say that it was a controversial rule (second Amendment). In the present day, the NRA is ready to defend the 2nd Amendment if it's challenged by the new administration of President-elect Barrack Obama. "NRA executive vice president and CEO, Wayne LaPierre, made that pledge during a speech Monday at Ashland University. The address was part of the John M. Ash brook Center's Fall 2008 Major Issues Lecture Series". (Al Lawrence) "If the founders and framers of our Constitution were sitting here today, they would say we have made progress toward equality, justice and freedom for all people but would they also see storm clouds where other Americans see only change" LaPierre said. (Al Lawrence). Bearing in mind that legal gun possession was a complicated topic of discussion, NRA Foundation has undertaken to support safe handing of guns by providing trainings on handling and shooting sports. It's believed that this would help in ensuring that guns are properly handled plus the fact that people would only use the fire arms in the event of self defense. The NRA foundation also regulates the use of guns by providing licenses to qualified trainees. The Impact of NRA to the Realization of Civil Society Theory Every year, there is at least an increase of 13% of annual rate of death among humans from irresponsible gun handling continuing to affect the entire human society. For this reason, the role of NRA in the society of human population actually means a lot. The civil society theory naturally entices everyone to an understanding of the fact that people have rights.(Hodgkinson, 2003, 31) Along with all these rights is the capability to protect themselves from the social oppressors. Likely, it could be noted that with the rate of gun-based crimes growing, people are now more than ever, interested in having their own guns to protect themselves from any possible attack from criminals. (Kant, 2003, p 35) Today, it is not only the law authorities that are given the certification to handle guns but also regular individuals simply wanting to defense themselves from crime. These situations naturally bring in the need for organizations such as NRA to make their programs and philosophies known. It is because of this that the association is able to become a vital part of the growth of the human society. NRA today remains as a major organization that is able to handle the needs of protecting the human society from unmannered handling of firearms (Ferguson, 2003, p 59). Helping everyone who owns a gun realize the responsibility with its ownership is imperative. Considerably, the courses offered by the organization to handle such responsibilities help everyone make fine decisions as to when they are supposed to use their owned firearms. Making this particular effect on the human society is naturally recognized as it is a major role of the NRA in the community of gun owners around the world. (Ferguson, 2003, p 56) Recognizing their role naturally saves a lot of people from being a victim as well as an accidental criminal simply because of irresponsible handling of guns among owners and unknowledgeable individuals. It should also be noted that the NRA foundation exists as a branch of the NRA organization. The NRA foundation is one of the most important functioning branches of the organization that mainly involves the support of the NRA group to the veterans of the American society (Dave 2000). At least 37% of the total funds collected by the organization from the major fundraisers performed result to the funding of the said generation. It is through this that NRA becomes socially sourced out in terms of functioning as a group of people simply wanting to make a huge difference in the face of the human society. Conclusion Learning from the history and background point to the major reasons for the existence of NRA, it is indeed undeniable that people ought to take responsible measures into consideration when they own or even when they simply see a gun. This gives great measures of safety for those who do and do not own a gun protection form possible threats, not to mention the ability to defend themselves against any impending crime. The future, the NRA is seen to remain as an organization that would be able to retain its reputation of making a great impact on the recognition that humans have towards their right for protection and defense. Having received a lot of criticism both against and that for, the NRA has been strong in pursuing its objectives and was even planning to open up NRA sport blast for training and shooting games. Since the modern society is encouraging civilization and has embraced the fact that people should be responsible for their actions, the legal possession of gun will be welcomed by the society. References Anderson. J (1996). Inside the NRA: Armed and Dangerous. Beverly Hills, Calif.: Dove. Brennan, et.al. (1993).Guns, Southernness, and Gun Control". Journal of Quantitative Criminology 9, no. 3 289-307. Bruce J. M & Wilcox C. (Eds) (1998). The Changing Politics of Gun Control. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, Dave B. (2000). "NRA aims gun range at heart of New York," Washington Times, May, 2000 Ferguson A (2003) Article in The Civil Society Reader (Civil Society: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives). Tufts; 1st edition. Helmut A (2004).Civil Society measurement, evaluation, policy.Earthscan Kant I. (2003) Article in the Civil Society Reader (Civil Society: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives). Tufts; 1st edition Lawrence, Al (2008) "NRA: Ready to defend 2nd amendment". www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com. 17 November 2008. Lukas, Scott A. (2007) "A Politics of Reverence and Irreverence: Social Discourse on Theming Controversies," pp. 271-293 in the Themed Space: Locating Culture, Nation, and Self. Lanham, MD, Lexington Books Wilson E. (2002). "Second Amendment right to bear arms shall not be infringed". www.ntdaily.com. 16 April 2002 Read More