Gun Control & Special Interest Groups

Special interest groups, by definition, are organized groups of individuals working together to shape public policy, usually for a specific or exclusive benefit for its members. The National Rifle Association (NRA) (2005), for example, has an "Institute for Legislative Action (ILA), which is the 'lobbying' arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution" (NRA).

Opposing the NRA is the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center, combined, is a national non-profit special interest group seeking to increase gun control. "The Brady Campaign works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies through grassroots activism, electing pro-gun control public officials and increasing public awareness of gun violence. The Brady Center (2005) works to reform the gun industry and educate the public about gun violence through litigation and grassroots mobilization, and works to enact and enforce sensible regulations to reduce gun violence including regulations governing the gun industry" (Brady Center). Both the NRA and the Brady Campaign have very different policy goals both relating to guns in America and they seek to shape public opinion, federal and state legislation to realize their goals.

Special interest groups are often organized much like businesses, with much

Related Essays

Interest Groups and Their Influence .... initial and thus fluid stage, special interest groups can play a .... major .... and education lobby groups rely on .... on handguns along with other gun control rules in .... (2563 10 )

Politics, Guns, and Immigration .... Typically, most special interest groups, including those named above with regard to the gun control and immigration lobbies, operate similarly - they try to .... (1003 4 )

Demosclerosis .... of the biggest reasons that special interest groups have gained so .... Groups are good at using many different .... for their causes, ie, think abortion or gun control. .... (2128 9 )

National Rifle Association's Relationship with Congress .... the Congressman who had previously supported the special interest group faithfully .... whatsoever which deals with the control of any .... The Issue of Gun Control. .... (2185 9 )

Pluralism vs. Elitism .... as Republicans in supporting special interest groups that favor .... policy that does support the general interest. .... From gun control and abortion to gay marriage .... (1194 5 )

Category: Government - G