NRA's Role in Gun Control: Debunking the Myths
Understanding the NRA's Influence on Gun Laws in the USA
The National Rifle Association (NRA) is often hailed as the bastion of the Second Amendment, yet its history and actions suggest a more complex relationship with gun control laws in the United States. This article explores the NRA’s role in shaping gun laws and addresses common misconceptions surrounding its influence.
The NRA's Early Involvement in Gun Control
Contrary to popular belief, the NRA has a long and complicated history with gun control. In the early 20th century, NRA President Karl T. Frederick played a significant role in crafting some of the earliest gun control legislation.
According to his sworn congressional testimony in 1934, Frederick acknowledged his involvement in drafting the initial state gun control laws. These laws, which required concealed pistol licenses, background checks, and registration of pistols, were adopted by 9 states, with Michigan being the first to implement them in 1923.
Fredrick's Role and his Perspective
Frederick was not only the architect of these early gun control laws but was also a lawyer with a keen understanding of the legal landscape. Despite this, he did not express any concern about these laws potentially violating the Second Amendment:
"I do not want to say that I personally did it because I did not. I helped.”
While he claimed to have worked on the uniform code for the District of Columbia in 1922, the legislation adopted in 1934 included stringent measures such as the requirement for a license to carry, background checks, and a two-day waiting period.
Contemporary Stance and Recent Actions
Despite the NRA's early involvement, its current stance on gun control is often at odds with its historical influence. In 1967, after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the NRA supported the Mulford Act in California, which banned the carry of loaded weapons in response to Black Panther protests against gun control.
In recent years, the NRA has become increasingly vocal against further gun control measures. For instance, in 2017, the NRA supported MI S.B. 584, which aimed to increase firearms carry but inadvertently made it more difficult and expensive to do so. This bill included provisions to require requests for exemptions in no-carry zones, adding airport property to such zones, and banning open carry in public.
Controversial Actions and Current Debates
The NRA's actions have often been seen as contradictory, especially in light of their more recent opposition to bills that could regulate components like bump stocks. In 2018, following the Las Vegas shooting, the NRA asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate bump stocks, despite the ATF already having concluded that such regulation was beyond its powers under Obama.
The NRA's actions in the past and their current political activities indicate a complex relationship with gun control. While they can be credited with some early gun control legislation, their current efforts to prevent further restrictions are often met with skepticism. Accusations of self-interested actions and the defense of a purportedly unregulated Second Amendment highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the NRA's influence in the United States.
Keywords: NRA, gun laws, Second Amendment