Gun Control Unit 2 Part 2 - Research Paper Example

Gun Control Debate in the public domain with regard to gun control can amicably be resolved through legal goodwill paving way for the relevant legislation. In the United States, gun control issues have been a center of interest and debate by the stakeholders torn in between gun ownership legalization or completely banning guns. Several years of debate seemed futile in many instances but with political will, it is likely to end in a reliable solution.Senator John Chaffee got a major boost to introduce a bill that would ban possession of hand guns when retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger echoed his support.

This could have been a much needed move to woo supporters into his unpopular camp. Apparently, only four senators had publicly declared their support for the bill. However, President Bush’s personal physician, Dr. Burton Lee, was quoted saying that the bill would get support from the White House. A turn of events was what Senator Chaffee prayed for as he sought support from the reluctant public as well as the Congress (Mulligan, 1992). According to Hutcheson (1994), gun control was winning the debate in a 216-214 majority support of lawmakers.

It appeared that the NRA constitutional interpretation and hence gun possession proposal was losing approval of the legislature. Rises in death toll by way of drive-by shootings as well as criminal mass killings prompted the decision of the lawmakers. Hutcheson further observes that NRA crackdown on possession of guns would go in line with the new law established by the lawmakers.Runkle and Rock, in the York Daily Record (2001) recorded that more than any anti-crime campaigners, including anti gun campaigners, safety and responsibility agenda was its top agenda.

Media portrayal of the National Rifle Association (NRA) as shooters was a major deception that continued to thrive among the public. On the contrary, no other association had attempted to educate the media on safety and gun possession responsibilities than NRA did yet condemnation was in the giving. The Washington Post recorded a series of attacks in protest to the unfair media bias to issues on anti-gun lobbying against the NRA attempts to campaign for education on safe and responsible gun possession.

There was a heated debate as to whether the public should continue to be misguided on the issue of gun possession which is legal in the first place. Guns or no guns in the public possession as member argued, giving of wrong information was the cause of all the squabbles in the debate. Apparently, NRA members were angered by the public ignorance of provisions of law as far as gun possession is concerned.According to the Christian Science Monitor (2007), a showdown was looming after a US appeals court ruled against gun ban in District of Columbia.

The ruling seemed to depart from a 1939 Supreme Court ruling, even if precedents might not tie a judge. The panel stated in its ruling that owning a gun was a constitutional right. The provisions of the Second Amendment on which the Supreme Court based its ruling go to the extent of allowing a well regulated militia to maintain security of a Free State. The Christian Science Monitor pointed out that the security of the public goes further than allowing militia possess guns legally. Self defense and not mere constitutional right to possess a gun was the key argument in the judgment.

Since the law in the District of Columbia stated that guns should be disassembled or trigger locked, it was argued that safety would be enhanced. It is therefore evident that gun control measures must involve inclusive consultations where all stakeholders feel to have won their battle in issues of security and safety. ReferencesGun Laws as a Right to Safety (2007). The Christian Science Monitor, p.8.  Christian Science Monitor, on September 3, 2010. (Document ID: 1233701881).Hutcheson R., (1994).

End of an Era: is the NRA Running out of Political Bullets?: [CITY Edition]. Dayton Daily News, p.11.  Retrieved from: ProQuest Newsstand on September 3, 2010. (Document ID: 235437831).Letters, (2001). York Daily Record, p.10.  Retrieved from: ProQuest Newsstand, on September 3, 2010. (Document ID: 71778956).Mulligan J. E., (1992). “Former Chief Justice Supports Chafees Gun-Control Legislation”,  Providence Journal, 1(1):10.  Retrieved from: ProQuest Newsstand, on September 3, 2010.

(Document ID: 577848631).The NRAs Members Protest: [FINAL Edition]. (1998, May 16). The Washington Post, p.14.  Retrieved from: Washington Post on September 3, 2010 (Document ID: 29498163).