Gun Control Research Paper

SCCC - Narrow Focus and Specific Goals
Throughout the long and storied history of the United States of America, the right to own, bear and keep firearms, along with the right to defend oneself, is as central to the American identity as apple pie. However, unlike American cuisine, the issue of “gun politics” (as many academics and pundits call the issue) or gun control in the United States is extremely polarizing. During the last couple decades, the debate over gun control has been characterized by a stalemate between the individual's right to own firearms protected by the Constitution and the duty of government to prevent crime and maintain order. Stated differently, the current debate surrounding the right to bear and keep firearms within
Called the Students for Concealed and Carry on Campus, this pro-gun rights group struck me for a couple of reasons. The first reason that I was attracted to this group was because I personally side with and subscribe to the overall philosophy and arguments of the pro-gun rights movement. The second reason that I was attracted to this particular interest group was the specific and very focused nature of their overall goals and objectives. As it states on their website, the SCCC is, “a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization composed of more than 43,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else.” After the tragedy of Virginia Tech and the University of Texas-Austin, their common sense message of self-defense and the right to bear arms on college campuses appealed to me as an individual. Lastly, the groups successful adoption of Facebook and Twitter to broadcast (or in some senses, narrowcast) their message also made them appealing and interesting. Personally, I first came to learn about this movement after a friend of mine from Virginia Tech invited me to join the SCCC’s
Other names for this issue are Second Amendment Rights, Gun Control, etc. For the purposes of this blog, I will stick with the term Gun Control
[ 2 ]. Specifically, the author’s state: "For many years this policy arena has been characterized by stalemate between an organized outspoken minority and an ambivalent majority.” See The changing politics of gun control by Clyde Wilcox and John W. Bruce (1998 – p4).
[ 3 ]. Specifically, the author’s state: "For many years this policy arena has been characterized by stalemate between an organized outspoken minority and an ambivalent majority.” See The changing politics of gun control by Clyde Wilcox and John W. Bruce (1998 – p4).
[ 4 ]. See Who We Are and What We Do at the NRA’s website. URL: http://www.nraila.org/About/
[ 5 ]. See Mission Statement on the Brady Campaigns website. URL