...“Public Interest” In this article, the special interest group, known as the National Riffle Associates (NRA) is regarded by its critics as a lobbying force. “NRA and bad law block a way to catch killers.” (Amitai) The criticism the NRA receives in the article is warranted. The special interests group was known to have been vitally involved with activities that could have immediate impacts on universal “public interest” for the safety of our family and children. The platform the NRA takes for its activities is most alarming. Technology historically has been largely credited to changing our way of life. ”. As outlined by the article, “micro stamping” is a technology that would identify a single bullet or gun at the point of sale. (Amitai) Technology is a familiar game changer; this would certainly be a step in the direction of suppressing gun crime. However, this would change the landscape of the arms industry; NRA represents the special interest of a certain people, and that people is not “public Interest”. Technology has a strong presence today. Businesses are more efficient, operating with more capital, and expanding internationally. As individuals, we are enjoying a greater quality of life, and almost limitless in our pursuits to happiness. Technological innovation in the realm of gun control can bring confidence to societies, and legitimacy to the industry. (Zandi) As a result, today, there is a confidence gap between “public interest” and special interest groups such...
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...mass shootings like the massacre at Virginia Tech, the debate over gun control is at the forefront of American politics. This debate is extremely controversial, as it calls to question some deeply rooted American traditions. In general terms, on one side of the debate are those who support looser regulation of guns in the United States. These people firmly believe in their second amendment right to bear arms. Opposing them on the other side are Americans who support the tightening of gun restrictions in the United States. These people believe that several laws must be passed to make access to firearms limited. The debate over gun control in the United States is both a social and economic issue. This is apparent through the role interest groups, as well as public opinion in the debate over firearm regulations. Through these two political linkage mechanisms, we can see how well democratic principles like popular sovereignty and political equality are maintained through this debate. Public opinion remains one of the most powerful influences on public policy in the United States. This is why politicians are constantly referencing the enormous volume of public opinion polling conducted in the United States. These polls allow representatives to see what their constituents think about certain issues and tailor their agenda accordingly. However, as we will see, this is not always what occurs. In a Gallup pole conducted between October third and October sixth of this year (See Figure...
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...it is apparent common conventional wisdom that interest groups buy politicians. The ultimate goal of interest groups, is to influence the politicians in power in some way. But is there much truth in how these interest groups “buy” politicians and just how big an impact they make on their decisions? To answer this question, one must understand the services these interest groups provide and how these interest groups enter Washington influence, what exactly do politicians gain from interest groups, and their impact on the media. Understanding these, is crucial to answering the question of whether interest groups buy politicians, or if their impact is insignificant. First, it is important to understand what exactly an interest group does. According to James Morone and Rogan Kersh, an interest group is defined as: An Organization whose goal is to influence government. The very existence of interest groups is to influence government in their favor. There are many types of interest groups that patrol through Washington, but their primary functions are relatively consistent. They regularly inform members on political developments, they communicate their member views to congress, and they mobilize the public...
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...“Public Interest” In this article, the special interest group, known as the National Riffle Associates (NRA) is regarded by its critics as a lobbying force. “NRA and bad law block a way to catch killers.” (Amitai) The criticism the NRA receives in the article is warranted. The special interests group was known to have been vitally involved with activities that could have immediate impacts on universal “public interest” for the safety of our family and children. The platform the NRA takes for its activities is most alarming. Technology historically has been largely credited to changing our way of life. ”. As outlined by the article, “micro stamping” is a technology that would identify a single bullet or gun at the point of sale. (Amitai) Technology is a familiar game changer; this would certainly be a step in the direction of suppressing gun crime. However, this would change the landscape of the arms industry; NRA represents the special interest of a certain people, and that people is not “public Interest”. Technology has a strong presence today. Businesses are more efficient, operating with more capital, and expanding internationally. As individuals, we are enjoying a greater quality of life, and almost limitless in our pursuits to happiness. Technological innovation in the realm of gun control can bring confidence to societies, and legitimacy to the industry. (Zandi) As a result, today, there is a confidence gap between “public interest” and special interest groups such...
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...An interest group is an assembly of people who share similar views regarding a subject or subjects that gather together in order to promote these ideas and/or oppose those which do not coincide with their particular belief(s). An interest group becomes a political interest group when they seek to change public policy (Gable 85). These political interest groups seek to gain leverage in governmental policy through contributions to campaigns of congress members. These political interest groups are unique because they allow citizens of the United States to voice their opinions to those in the American government. Interest groups exist in a wide variety of differentiating views and goals. Some of these interest groups include, but are not exclusive...
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...Pressure groups Proper roles/functions 1. Representation. Representation for specific stuff that may not be reflected by the party you vote for. Eg. US: NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) or in the UK Countryside Alliance which defends fox hunting. 2. Participation. Increase participation outside elections and also in specific policy area. Eg. US: NRA (National Rifle Association) or in the UK Fathers4Justice 3. Education. Provide education on issues that the government decides to not directly address. Eg. Branches of US or UK Greenpeace 4. Agenda setting. Influence policy discussed by legislatures or the executive. Eg. UK: 38 Degrees rejection of 2012 NHS Bill. US providing voting cues for party members eg. Democracts may adhere to voting cues from ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) 5. Scrutiny. Scrutiny of government action and Supreme Court decisions (mainly in the US). Eg. US: ACLU & NRA court cases to monitor the affects of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act 2002. UK: UK Uncut protests in Oct 2011 against the NHS Bill. Pressure group methods 1. Influence politicians. Eg. US: lobbying members of Congress, providing voting cues. UK: BMA and Royal College of Physicians urge PM to scrap NHS Bill. 2. Endorsement. Eg. US Mitt Romney attended NRA 2011 National convention. National Right to Life endorsed McCain in 2008. Also through donations to PACs. UK: 2010 Unite donated £1m to Labour party to support...
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...fake news? I find that the generation or age group who are most likely to believe fake news would be those who are now in their sixties to early seventies. These people grew up in a time that news stories and journalism were all about telling the truth. Back when things like Watergate happened, the real reporters were all about telling all of the facts in the case. They took time to verify sources and print a majority of truth. At that same time, the majority of other events of the nation and the world were reported truthfully. I feel that this leads the people of this age-group to believe the things reported today, no matter...
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...National Rifle Association or NRA was founded and granted a charter on November 17th, 1871. The NRA was originally founded by Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis (nra.org).” The original intent and purpose of the association was to set up a rifle range and to have annual competitions. The founders hoped that the competitions would promote marksmanship among soldiers. Another facet of the organization branched out into was the creation youth programs and sporting events. New firing ranges were opened and more competitions added over the years. The NRA created and published a magazine, The American Rifleman for members and became more politically involved. In 1934, the NRA established the Legislative Affairs Division that disseminated information to members and asked them to get involved with local and national government. The NRA was specifically interested in laws that included gun rights and the Second Amendment. The NRA established the Institute for Legislative Action, or ILA in 1975, citing a need to defend the Second Amendment from political attacks. The NRA publishes multiple magazines; the most recent addition is named America's 1st Freedom. It was created to “cater to a more mainstream audience, with less emphasis on the technicalities of firearms and a more general focus on self-defense and recreational use of firearms(nra.org).” In 1990, the NRA established the NRA Foundation. It is a tax exempt...
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...CNN’s article entitled ‘This is how the NRA Loses’ by John Blake touches on the part that the Anti-Saloon league played in American politics, comparing it to the all-powerful NRA in current times. The article gives four total examples of conglomerate special interest groups which eventually fell out of power but certainly left a mark in public policy. The Anti-Saloon league, according to Blake, was the first real “political pressure” group (a term coined Wayne Wheeler, the ASL president himself). It used money through a vast network of connections throughout the country in order to dole out campaign contributions to those who were aligned to their interests. It was interested in one focal point: making America alcohol-free. Thus, the ASL was able to allocate all of its funds, time, and influence to that one particular issue making it an extremely effective and efficient group (much like the NRA is today). Blake notes that "Wheeler donated so much to campaigns that for decades he was the largest single campaign supporter in the United...
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...Interest groups are used throughout American politics and can be used to influence American politics. Franklin D. Roosevelt states, “We must especially beware of that small groups of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nests” (Whye). Interest groups are groups of people who come together to increase their common interest or to change the minds of people in politics. Additionally, interest groups are also called lobbyist. The majority of interest groups represent corporations or businesses and other types of interest groups represent labor unions, occupations or social groups. There are special interests groups such as the American Bar Association (the associations of lawyers) and the American...
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...Communicate the Value: Smith and Wesson IMC Brief Shilpi Suman and Brian Fells Keller School of Management Abstract Throughout this paper we will discuss the Smith and Wesson brand, its problems and objectives. This paper will explore target customers in relation to how Smith and Wesson is perceived and would like to be perceived by the industry as well as communication efforts and cost. Smith & Wesson Background Smith & Wesson is known for manufacturing and designing quality firearms and any related products that go with the arms. The company is also known as a "leader" in firearm, provides training to the global military, law enforcement, and consumer markets. Smith & Wesson have many facilities and are located in Massachusetts and Maine. "Smith & Wesson was an industry leader in 1852 when it was first founded and continues to lead the world today with innovations into the 21st century."(Smith-Wesson.com) New IMC Campaign The problem that I'm addressing today in this campaign is that Smith and Wesson were tarnished for allegedly making a deal with government in regards to gun control. First of all, we all know how big of a problem gun control has been and it has been hard for any company to really keep up because it is such a sensitive and rigid topic in just about anywhere from society to politics. So, Smith & Wesson tried to stay in business by making the deal with the federal government but it nearly killed the company! Now as to what...
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...controversial topic. Many interest groups and politicans have tried to use these incidents to further their advocacy of their organization. These two groups the NRA and the brady campagin have differing views and voices when it comes to gun control and violence. The NRA really advocates for the protection of the amendment rights of citizens to bear arms. They further allocate gun use for sport of shooting. They also encourage eduacation and training on multiple levels. They further work with members of the government to make sure that their rights are to bear arms are not taken away or jepordize in anyway. The brady campaign is different in that it works to create, pass, enforce, and protect laws and public policy that address gun violence at both federal and state level. They are advocates for awareness of gun awareness. Addressing the issue for the NRA is simple, gun violence is the result of no education and training of guns. Where the Brady Campaign differs is that gun violence is the result of not enough public awareness and gun laws to protect our citizens. After reading material from both websites, the NRA is very strong on their point that it is a citizens right to carry a firearm where as the Brady Campaign feels that there should be laws that help control gun ownership to prevent gun violence. Both organizations feel that govenrment can help raise awareness of gun education. They both agree that politics can help their causes. The NRA turns to the governemt and...
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...Analysis of Amending Gun Laws in America Written By: Merri C. Eder Intro to American Government Instructor: Curtis Ankeny April 26, 2013 Analysis of Amending Gun Laws in America Amending gun laws, more specifically background checks and gun registration laws, is perhaps one of the most widespread debates currently occurring in America. The United States experiences tragic levels of gun violence, claiming over 30,000 lives annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention( CDC, 2013). For every one person who dies from a gunshot wound, two others are wounded. Every year, approximately 100,000 people are victims of gun violence in America( CDC, 2013). In addition to those who are killed or injured, there are countless others whose lives are forever changed by the deaths of and injuries to their loved ones. Gun violence touches every branch of our society in which we live. Gun violence increases the probability of deaths in incidents of domestic violence, raises the chances of fatalities by those who intend to injure others and also among those who attempt suicide, places children and young people at risk, and disproportionately affects communities of color. Mass shooting tragedies like the school shootings at Sandy Hook, at Virginia Tech in April 2007 and Northern Illinois University in February 2008 – or the 1993 office shooting in San Francisco that led to the formation of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence – receive strong...
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...their own beliefs and set of rules they believe is right or wrong. When we look at the use of ethics and moral code in relation to business and organizations around the world there is allot to be said. In a world that has evolved beyond the imagination of our earliest settlers, ethics and business have allot in common as every business, for or not for-profit, strives to hold the highest reputation to acquire and retain as much public interest and business as possible. While there are many famous not- for profit organizations and even more for-profit business’s, they are not all as favorable and ethically inclined as they might seem on the surface, leaving the research of these organizations in the hands of the consumer and also the determining of whether a particular organization does good by their own ethical and moral code. We will attempt to analyze the profile, inner workings, problems and ethical concerns of two companies, one for-profit and one not-for-profit, in the paper to follow. The National Rifle Association, or better known as the NRA, was founded in 1871 by William C. Church and George Windgate who founded the organization after being disgusted with the marksmanship of the US military....
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...The experts who are Pro-Gun Control focused mainly through pathos and the well-being of the general public. They would describe how the progressive reformers would ride the wave of shooting tragedies in order to garner public interest and support. They would advocate their bills on the premise of public safety, and that for the common good individuals rights have to be suppress. The experts who advocates Anti-Gun Control laws focus on addressing their point of view through special interest groups, such as the NRA. In total Anti-Gun Control supporters stand in the millions so that allows these special interests group to accomplish their...
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