Nra As An Interest Group Essay, Research Paper

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a pro-gun interest group that targets most anti-gun supporters. A very strong target for the NRA is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The BATF is a policy enforcement group, which is part of the executive branch of government. Congress authorizes the BATF to enforce certain laws.

The NRA claims to be the only group that fights for second amendment rights. This amendment under the Bill of Rights states the right of people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The NRA is strongly opposed to the BATF, which, in the NRA s opinion, is infringing upon this constitutional right of every citizen. The NRA feels the BATF often enforces the gun laws created by Congress wrongfully, and that these laws are sometimes falsely represented. Examples include the omitting of certain statements made in congressional laws. For instance, in 1996 Congress enacted a law banning gun possession by anyone who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (this being an offense against a family member or co-habitant)(18 USC Sec 922, g 9). After the enactment, the BATF sent an open letter to state and local law enforcement officials, which drastically misrepresented this new law. The BATF omitted the limitation that the misdemeanor must involve a spouse, child or co-habitant.

The NRA uses numerous resources such as monthly publications, websites, and celebrity endorsements in order to gain public support. These resources discuss the

importance of the second amendment to the American people. They also discuss other issues with the BATF and other anti-gun organizations. This information goes out to the NRA s current 2.8 million members and other non-members. It is the NRA s main goal to prevent the public from losing their constitutional rights. The group calls on both gun owners and non-owners to take a stand in American government, to prevent our livelihoods of being taken away from us.

Resources:

-www.nra.org

-An NRA solicitation