Background
The Premise
Since its inception the United States has believed in the promotion of civilian gun ownership as a form of freedom and protection. The article, “What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer,” states that, “A New Yorker is just as likely to be robbed as a Londoner, for instance, but the New Yorker is 54 times more likely to be killed in the process.” This quote confirms that this belief has resulted in a culture where guns, and the violence that comes with them, have become extremely commonplace. In a country with rampant gun ownership, Americans have good reason to worry that they and their loved ones may one day fall victim to gun violence.
Gun Ownership in the U.S.
Over the years, the United States has seen many attempts at solid solutions including attempts to ban certain types of firearms and accessories such as bump stocks and extended magazines. Although, many support the idea that the issue is not the type of firearms but instead the number of firearms. The article, “America’s Passion for Guns: Ownership and Violence by the Numbers,” states that “With less than 5% of the world’s population, the United States is home to roughly 35–50% of the world’s civilian-owned guns.” This rate of gun ownership has been sponsored by the NRA-ILA, an organization formed in 1871 that fights for anti-gun control legislations and has been extremely successful on the state rather than federal court level. Which is easy to notice especially with the stark increase in number of states who do not support the banning of assault weapons or even legal carry licenses.
The Role of the NRA
The NRA-ILA influence is easy to fall under since most contributions come in the form of political favoritism or even lump sum cash transfers. The article, “The NRA Has Been Outstandingly Successful Where it Really Counts,” states that the NRA has “had at least 230 full legislative victories on the state level in the past ten years alone,” some of these victories have been the usual NRA right to carry laws, while others have been legislations that permit the sale of assault weapons or accessories such as extended magazines and silencers.
HEADLINES
Media Buzz
Gun Ownership By The Numbers
A summary of gun ownership and violence statistics
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"The US is home to 88 guns for every 100 people and sees mass shootings more than 11 times as often as any other developed country"
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-Tom McCarthy, Lois Beckett, and Jessica Glenza
Underground Firearms
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How is it that so many weapons are in the hands of criminals?
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"Ask a cop on the beat how criminals get guns and you're likely to hear this hard boiled response: "They steal them." But this street wisdom is wrong, according to one frustrated Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent"
-Dan Noyes
Treating Mass Shooting Victims
The effects of assault weapons.
"They weren’t the first mass-shooting victims the Florida radiologist saw—but their wounds were radically different."
-Heather Sher
