The Brady Campaign Analysis

The use of advocacy groups in American politics is extremely prominent. So prominent that some organizations can be recognized in other nations purely from publicity. Gun control is one of the most fierce, partisan discussion our Country has. Combine this with the publicity of certain lobbying groups, gun control is an issue front and center. After recent shootings or attempts to pass gun control laws both groups make their voices heard. On one hand you have the National Rifle Association. This group was organized in 1871 and has been advocating for the citizens right to bear firearms. The Brady Campaign is one of the largest counterparts to the NRA. It was founded in 1974 and has been advocating for Gun control and safety measures as a means
There has been many questions about gun control and gun rights after the recent parkland shooting. With this fresh in people minds there will be many differing points on this issue. Gun control and Gun rights seem to only flair up during an event rather than persist in our thoughts. The large scale debates and action taken around this shooting makes it a prime time to talk and confront this issue. I picked the Brady Campaign specifically because they have helped craft many laws such as the 1994 Brady Assault Weapons ban as well the attempts to ban handgun, similar to the one Washington D.C had from the mid seventies to 2008. It is not a normal gun control group as it has helped forge laws and has been the basis for many other gun control laws proposed by Democrats and even very few Republicans (recently) in Congress. I also used the National Rifle Association because of their publicity. It is a very well known gun rights advocacy group with one of the largest followings. It also has a long history as it was founded 147 years ago and has been advocating through the times of multiple Supreme Court Cases. With this small introduction it is easy to see the motives of both advocacy
With such a tense subject these groups must pick a clear target audience. The NRA must reach its target audience by taking into account several factors. The most important people they target of course are gun owners. This can include hunters, military veterans, and a plethora of people who use firearms for self-defense or other occupations. These demographics are the people the NRA will target. The NRA does not go out and convince you to buy firearms but rather protect your right to purchase one. The natural polarization of this issue leads the NRA to focus on people who are already pro-gun and it would be hard for them to change someone’s mind. It is important to find who owns the guns for the NRA to target. There are plenty of ways to gather this information. 30 percent of adults own guns while 36 percent of Americans could see themselves owning a firearm. The NRA is truly focusing on that 30 percent of Americans however may try to persuade more than another third of the U.S adult population that leans pro-gun. 42 percent of households have fire arms within them while some may not personally have the firearm it is still within their household and would concern them. 39 percent of adult males in the United States personally own a firearm which is nearly 17 percentage points higher than females. This would lead the NRA to target males over females. Age groups are fairly even. Nearly 27 percent of