Premium Essay

Gun Owners Of America Research Paper

Submitted By
Words 1137
Pages 5
Gun Owners of America was founded in 1975 by H.L. Richardson who was a NRA board member and California state senator. Richardson decided to form the GOA when legislation to ban all handguns was introduced in California. Gun Owners of America is a non-profit lobbying organization formed to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. The GOA’s main slogan is “never compromise,” the GOA likes the second amendment the way it is and wants absolutely no change to it. GOA spent over $1.75 million lobbying Congress in 2004, and over $18 million between 1998 and 2004. The goal of Gun Owners of America is too protect the second amendment rights that citizens are guaranteed. GOA’s stance …show more content…
Their first victory was on June 6, 1995, the GOA helped in lobbying the House of Representatives to vote against the Moran Amendment. Thanks to the help of the GOA the amendment was not passed. This was a victory for the GOA because the amendment would have banned .50 caliber weapons from being licensed for export. The second victory for GOA was on July 13, 2006, Senator David Vitter saw an 84 to 16 vote for his amendment prohibiting the use of federal money for federal agents to confiscate weapons during a declared state of emergency. The third victory was on June 27, 2007, the Pence Amendment passes. The bill, was passed by a vote of 309 to 115. According to GOA the amendment blocked the Federal Communications Commission’s ability to use the Fairness Doctrine in order to limit the free speech allowed by organizations like GOA over the airwaves. The fourth victory was on August 9, 2007, GOA supported Vitter’s work in pushing through the Consolidated Appropriations Act stating that no U.S. funds can be used by the United Nations or any group affiliated with the United Nations to restrict or tax Second Amendment rights. If they attempt to do so, the U.S. can withdraw their funds from the organization. This bill was passes by an 81-10 vote. The fifth victory was on February 25, 2008, Senator Jim DeMint amended bill S-1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. The act stated that the funds were to be used for “violence prevention”. Once the funds were attempted to be used for gun buybacks and other such anti-gun policies, DeMint pushed through an amendment to the act stating that the money cannot be used for any anti-gun programs. The bill passed by a margin of 78 to 11. Although these were the GOA’s main victories there were other such as “GOA fought for and won, the right of gun owners to sue and recover damages from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) for harassment an

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

En1320 Unit 10 Research Paper Part 6 Final Draft

...EN1320 Research Paper Final Draft Gun Control In America Today In the United States there is a need for better gun control legislature, but some Activists are beginning to intrude on United States citizen’s second amendment rights. John Paul Stevens a former member of the U.S. Supreme Court believes we should change the second amendment. Then people who feel that all guns should only be in the hands of law enforcement and military personnel. Some feel that there is only a need for simple back ground checks and a wait time until the person can be properly cleared to own a firearm. A new form of gun control are a new gun manufactures that believe the future of the industry and gun safety is in smart weapons which can only be fired by the registered owner. This is a issue that has been debated on for many years for one reason or another while the gun control law has made few changes its a issue that needs attention and change. I feel the current laws do need changing but do not need to be pushed so far that the rights of the citizens should take a back seat to the Gun Control issue. Former U.S. Supreme Court member John Paul Stevens feels that the only way to have gun control is to change the second amendment. His feelings are that most pro gun Activists misunderstands the second amendment. The second amendment states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a...

Words: 1205 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Term Paper

...Persuasive Research Paper ENG 102 August 11, 2013 Karen Halusek Persuasive Research Paper In America, guns have been a part of the country’s society since its birth. Throughout history, citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, and to hunt for food. In the United States, gun control is an issue that has both sides firmly imbedded in their beliefs. The parties in favor of gun ownership and the right to keep and bear arms rely on the fact that provisions for such rights are protected by the Constitution. No legitimate study in the US has ever shown that gun control has any positive impact on crime. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. In this time of turmoil and growing violence, gun advocates feel more than ever that their position is justified. The issue of gun control continues to remain a controversy. A large number of citizens believe that if gun acts are strictly enforced, that violence and the threat of crime will reduce everywhere. On the other hand, a large amount of society feels that they deserve the right to bear arms and will stop at nothing to protect their second amendment. The challenging issue of gun control takes a harmonizing act of extreme measures. Weighing the rights and liberties for each individual against the welfare and safety of the public is a risky balancing act. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. People believe that the banning...

Words: 2321 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Gun Control

...Gun Control Concealed Weapons Laws in Arizona Vernon Daniels Jr. Com 220 Jewel Jackson “Gun Control” Concealed Weapons Laws in Arizona Arizona has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation. It also has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the country. But, how closely are guns and violence connected? The answer, like much involving guns in America, is complicated. Even though there is a right to bear arms, gun control laws in Arizona are in need of some work. There have been various shootings that have attributed to this need, adding the fact that carrying a concealed weapon is open to just about anyone only intensifies this need. “Arizona Fired Up Over Year-Old Weapons Law” is an article from 1995 in the Christian Science Monitor that discusses the stance that Tiffany Williams took regarding concealed weapons. Tiffany Williams is one of some 31,000 Arizonans who had decided that their safety hinged on toting guns, and thus had completed a 16-hour firearm-safety course required at that time to carry a concealed gun. Non-supporters of concealed weapons laws worried that as guns continue to show up in more hands, the greater the chance of violent incidents while supporters of concealed weapons laws argued that allowing people to carry firearms - openly or not - is a basic right, and gives people a greater sense of security. Tiffany...

Words: 2462 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Gun Control

...Gun Control – Does it reduce Crime? There are so many sides to gun control that covering all of them in one paper would kill far too many trees to consider. For that reason, I have decided to cover only how gun control affects crime rates and if it increases or decreases victims’ injuries and/or deaths. I will look at the effect an armed victim has on an offender and how gun control affects only the law abiding citizen. One small town in Georgia went to extremes to reduce its crime rate. That town is Kennesaw, GA. In 1982 a city ordinance was passed that requires all heads of household to keep at least one firearm, with ammunition, in the home (Baldwin). After the law went into effect, crime against persons plummeted 74 percent compared to 1981, and fell another 45 percent in 1983 compared to 1982. Admittedly, the crime rate in Kennesaw was not very high to begin with. Robert Jones, Kennesaw Historical Society president says, “[The crime rate] was eleven burglaries per 1,000 residents in 1981." According to the Kennesaw Police Department, the city's most recent crime statistics show 243 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 1998, or .243 per 1,000. A similar Georgia city, Decatur, recorded 4,049 property crimes per 100,000 residents, or just over 4 per 1000. Kennesaw’s crime rate continues to be below all other metro Atlanta city with similar populations. One can’t help but think that this has something to do with the fact that “all” of the residents are armed. Obviously...

Words: 1820 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Gun Control Debate

...Gun Control Debate Paper Today in the United States gun control is a topic of immense debate, because of the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary located in Newtown, Connecticut. This most recent tragic event ended the lives of 20 students and six adults. Similar events have occurred across the United States at a movie theater in Colorado, on college campuses in Texas and Virginia, or at the grocery store in Arizona each destroying families in many communities. The questions deserving consideration is have the American people had enough lives destroyed by these horrible events and are Americans ready for the federal government to impose stricter gun control laws. Learning Team C is for stricter gun control laws and will outline their thoughts in this debate paper. Current Gun Laws For numerous Americans, bearing arms is one of the important inalienable rights that each individual possess. This association originated during the period of American frontier history, where guns were vital in the expansion of the society moving westward. These settlers relied on guns to guard themselves from others that would cause them harm, vicious animal attacks as well as hunting for food. In rural states, developing shooting and survival skills is a ‘rite of passage’ before entering manhood. Currently, in metropolitan cities young men still use firearms as a means to gain acceptance, respect, and to prove their manhood. During the past few decades several gun control...

Words: 2121 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Debate Paper

...Gun Control Team Debate Paper BCOM/275 May 7, 2013   Gun Control Gun control is a hot topic in the United States with primarily two sides of the conversation advocating for either more control of guns or more freedom of guns. The current laws on gun control or gun rights are disagreed upon by these individuals essentially based on the interpretation of such gun control laws. Firearms and the effects of gun rights has many cases that call for the strictest form of gun control. Some of these instances involve elementary school shootings, shootings at theaters, and even shootings on military installations by military members. The 2nd Amendment in the constitution has long been the proof of rights for citizens to bear arms to defend themselves from tyranny. Gun rights supporters say firearms should be unrestricted as it allows for self-defense in the case of another individual holding a weapon. Gun control supporters state that less regulation on gun control does not allow the government to provide its role of security because of it. The statistics for gun ownership in America are interesting to look at. For example, in the United States the average gun ownership per 100 people is 88.8, the highest of all other countries. Both sides of the argument have valid points, however it is important to dive deeper into each argument to analyze the logic and statistics involved in each argument. Major Gun Control Arguments Every day there are a countless instances that show that...

Words: 2155 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Business Law

...The Restrictions on Gun Ownership Twaina Claar PHI103: Informal Logic (GSJ1228B) Instructor: Jennifer Schneider August 13, 2012 Are there any legitimate restrictions on gun ownership? The answer to this question may vary by the people you ask some people may say yes but others will say either the restrictions need to be increased or they need dropped. I will explain to you exactly what the second amendment says. I will also explain the negative side of gun control and the restrictions that come along with ownership. I want you to realize just how true this statement is, “Guns don’t kill people, People kill people.” I have been raised around guns and I have been taught about gun safety. I want for you to see that as United States Citizens, we have the right to protect ourselves and our homes from criminals. If the government continues to take away our right to keep and bear arms, we will be defenseless against those that wish to harm us. What would happen if the military lost their fire arms? They would not be able to defend our country and how much sense does that make? Do you think that our president lives in a home that is not protected? I don’t consider a security system true protection and I am sure that he doesn’t either. I do find that the rules to the Carry...

Words: 1611 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Guns Should Not Be Banned in the Us

...Lanza decided to take the guns of his mother and take the life of 20 children and 8 adults, including his mother's and his own. This atrocity hasn't been the first one. In the weeks since the massacre, gun control supporters have called for a new federal ban on assault weapons and for reductions in the number of concealed-carry permits issued to private citizens. However, to blame assault weapons for this tragedy makes sense like blaming airplanes for the 9-11 attacks. The problem lies with the perpetrator, not the tool used to commit the crime. It is an illusion that further gun control will protect the public since no law, no matter how restrictive, can protect us from people who decide to commit violent crimes. Guns should never be banned in the United States, because the possession of guns ultimately helps improve public safety. Embodied in the Second Amendment to the Constitution is the truth that self-governing individuals should bear the responsibility for defending themselves. The Amendment states, 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. Cramer and Joseph examined the history of pistols in early America that tells us the Framers' original intent in protecting the right of the people to keep and bear arms with no apparent limitations concerning handguns. Many pro gun control supporters adhere to the belief that the availability of guns make violent crime happen...

Words: 699 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Gun Control

...Jump to main content Jump to navigation the WHITE HOUSEPRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA Contact UsGet Email Updates Home BRIEFING ROOM ISSUES THE ADMINISTRATION PARTICIPATE 1600 PENN Search form Search Search You are here HOMEBRIEFING ROOMSPEECHES & REMARKS Briefing Room Your Weekly Address Speeches & Remarks Press Briefings Statements & Releases White House Schedule Presidential Actions Executive Orders Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Legislation Pending Legislation Signed Legislation Vetoed Legislation Nominations & Appointments Disclosures The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate ReleaseJanuary 05, 2016 Remarks by the President on Common-Sense Gun Safety Reform East Room 11:43 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Please have a seat. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Mark, I want to thank you for your introduction. I still remember the first time we met, the time we spent together, and the conversation we had about Daniel. And that changed me that day. And my hope, earnestly, has been that it would change the country. Five years ago this week, a sitting member of Congress and 18 others were shot at, at a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona. It wasn’t the first time I had to talk to the nation in response to a mass shooting, nor would it be the last. Fort Hood. Binghamton. Aurora. Oak Creek. Newtown. The Navy Yard. Santa Barbara. Charleston. San...

Words: 4196 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Gun Control

...Limit the buying and selling of guns Limit the buying and selling of guns Limit ammunition magazine sizes Limit ammunition magazine sizes Stronger Gun Control Laws in the United States Stronger Gun Control Laws in the United States Understand the psychology of the killer Understand the psychology of the killer Reinstate the Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 Reinstate the Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 1. Narrowed Topic Stricter Gun Control Laws in the United States I chose this topic because it is something that interests me a lot. I believe that it is absolutely absurd how many mass shooting occur in the United States each year. We are supposed to be the best country on Earth, yet so many innocent people are killed each year. When I go out to public places, I am always extra careful of my surroundings and what is going on around me because you never know what can happen at any place and anytime. You cannot trust anyone and you never know who can turn on you in just minutes. My dad and my other my family members work in law enforcement and it sickens me every time I hear about a scary job that they were apart of or even when you hear on the news that another police officer was shot and killed by a criminal. We are the United States, we have a solution to pretty much every problem out there, I strongly believe that something can and must be done to stop all of this unnecessary gun violence in our country. 2. Preliminary Claim: The United States...

Words: 2357 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Guns in America

...Hashim-Ali Research Paper The Effect of Gun Control in the United States With gun violence being so difficult to understand, what can be the overall solution? The issue with gun violence in America is one of the most highly debated topics of all time. A variety of government regulations such as background checks, and firearm restrictions left many wondering whether or not the laws of the government are in the best interest of the people. Although this topic is very controversial, there is a high supply of guns flowing in and out of America and a solution to the increase of gun violence is very much needed. These new laws not only affect people who oppose firearms, but it can especially hurt the people who rely on it for protection. Gun violence isn’t an issue that can be easily eradicated however, by informing people of new ideas and options pertaining to guns, America will realize that it can prevent many of these violent events from actually happening. With that being said many people are thinking more radical and some even blame certain mass shootings on mental illness, which in some cases may be true however, its often a cop out to receive a reduced sentence. Although many countries have implemented strict gun control laws, they have proven to not be as effective as lawmakers thought they would be in reducing crime. According to an article, “there is some common ground in the gun-control debate; many on both sides agree that there is a clear distinction between those...

Words: 2749 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Gun Control

...Student’s name Professor’s name Course number Date Gun Control: Stricter Gun Control Laws The United States has fallen victim of crimes that heavily involves firearms and ammunitions. As a result, firearm control in the United States of America has happened to be a disputable issue over recent years, particularly in light of the late occasions of the Sandy Hook Elementary school, Northern Arizona University, Texas Southern University, and other numerous shooting incidents in American institutions. Gun control policies consist of laws and regulations that prevent citizens from owning illegal firearms (Carroll, 86). Also, the policies and regulations presented in the Gun Control Laws spreads it effects to the American citizens that manufacture, transport, possess, modify, and use any firearm. Some of the laws have very strict boundaries and limits on gun usage and possession. Some oppositions debate that the gun control policies do not provide protection to innocent civilians or the public. The pervasive gun ownership only increases the number of gun-related incidents in the United States of America. Opponents of the gun control law maintain an argument that the policies and regulations present in the gun control laws do not reduce crimes such as murder, suicide, and injuries that are related to illegal ownership of guns and ammunitions. Additionally, other oppositions argue that the regulations and policies in the gun control laws have a tendency to violate rights of individuals...

Words: 1587 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Second Amendment

...Second Amendment In this research paper, I will argue for the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment deals with the rights of United States citizens to bear, and keep arms. Many people are against the Second Amendment and want to abolish it, and have guns removed from United States citizens. The Constitution was written to protect the rights of the people in the United States, and by taking away guns would infringe on our constitutional rights. How would citizens defend themselves in a life or death situation if guns were to be taken away? The Fourteenth Amendment "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; ... " (Taylor; par. 21) was integrated with the Second Amendment right, to keep and bear arms for the purpose of self-defense. Self-defense includes, protecting your-self and family from imminent harm, and being able to protect one’s personal property. The use of deadly force maybe necessary to help in defending your-self from an intruder entering your home, or to prevent a kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, robbery, or domestic violence. Regulations have been implemented through-out state and local governments to help aid in gun ownership. Reasonable restrictions have been executed to control, that who can possess a gun. To name a few gun control restrictions for gun ownership are people who have...

Words: 1377 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Argumentative Essay: The Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act

...Gun violence is not a new issue, nor is gun control a new argument. The “war on guns” dates all the way back to the infancy of the United States of America; the right to bear arms was guaranteed in the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, and has been seen, in the more than two centuries since, as a cornerstone of American liberty. However, in the last few years, repeated mass killings have placed the gun control debate at the eye of the American political storm. In an effort to balance beliefs from both ends of the political spectrum - that gun ownership needs to be protected, while restricted enough to keep guns out of the hands of those who may do deadly harm with them - has come a lack of serious, effective legislation on the matter. The Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act - seen at its enactment as a milestone in the gun control movement - has proven itself ineffective at preventing the type of mass shooting that is, unfortunately, all too common today. These killings, and the high rates of gun violence overall, challenge the core values of social work practice, and the short- and long-term economic impact of this violence is, at best, counter-productive. Based on the research outlined in this document, it is necessary as social workers to create a culture of safety, and as a country to enact sensible gun...

Words: 1428 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Is the Right to Bear Arms Ethical

...Senior Research Project: Is the right to bear arms ethical? Lucas Van Duyn Senior Seminar: Business Ethics Dr. Jewe July 31, 2012 Introduction to the Project: In the United States, research into firearms and violent crime is fraught with difficulties, associated with limited data on gun ownership and use, firearms markets, and aggregation of crime data. Research studies into gun violence have primarily taken one of two approaches: case-control studies and social ecology. Gun ownership is usually determined through surveys, proxy variables, and sometimes with production and import figures. In statistical analysis of homicides and other types of crime, which are rare events, these data tend to have poison distributions, which also presents methodological challenges to researchers. (Just Facts, 2010) Americans own an estimated 270 million firearms, approximately 90 guns for every 100 people. In 2009, guns took the lives of 31,347 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. 66,769 Americans were treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2009. Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2009, following poisoning and motor vehicle accidents. Between 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers – less than the number of civilians killed with guns in the U.S. in an average...

Words: 10549 - Pages: 43