2nd Amendment

17 Pages 4126 Words

the maintenance's of the democratic process. From their point of view, people who advocate gun control are ready to disregard a constitutional right. They believe that, if the Second Amendment is abridged, the First Amendment will be the next to go.



The Executive Branch of the Federal Government is in a high-profile position on the issue of gun control. During this current Presidential election season, much rhetoric is being exchanged on the issue. It would almost appear that one must play to either camp in order to receive the desired endorsement of the strong political lobby groups. In the case of Bob Dole, the Republican Presidential candidate, his platform on gun control at times are contradictory, but his pattern of voting on gun-related issues in the senate seem to follow the characteristic Republican-NRA view on gun control.

President Clinton takes a very different stand on gun control. His current re-election platform calls for further restrictions on guns and on people who buy guns. This characteristic "Democrat" attitude on gun control closely follows the view of Handgun Control, Inc., a political lobby group dedicated to governmental control and regulation of guns in the United States. Gun control and drug control are usually associated with opposite ends of the political spectrum. Presidents Reagan and Bush were eager to pursue the war on drugs but generally wary of gun control. However, President Clinton has made gun control a major goal, while his drug strategy is almost invisible.

During President Clinton's administration, the Brady Bill on gun control was passed. This bill was gridlocked in the House for seven years. The Brady Bill (named for James Brady, press secretary to President Ronald Reagan, who was seriously injured when he was shot during a 1981 assassination attempt against Reagan) was signed by President Clinton, on November 30, 1993, and took effect in March 1994. This measure imposes a 5-day ...