Gun control advocacy groups have been gaining political influence over the years, buoyed by the public outrage that follows mass shootings at schools and other public spaces, as well as the ongoing issue of gun violence in the country.
Gun control advocates and Democrats are taking advantage of the hard-line stances of the gun lobby and its top advocate, former President Donald Trump. The controversies surrounding the National Rifle Association, which has experienced leadership changes and a decrease in membership after a former executive was discovered to have expensed private jet flights and accepted vacations from group vendors, are also being highlighted.
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During a speech in Maryland, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the issue of gun violence and emphasized that supporting the Second Amendment does not automatically mean advocating for unrestricted access to firearms. She asserted that it is a false choice to believe that one has to be in favor of the Second Amendment or support taking everyone’s guns away. This statement came as part of a series of White House and campaign events focused on addressing gun violence in the United States. President Joe Biden is also scheduled to speak on the topic at a conference hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund on Tuesday.
According to Biden’s campaign, gun control could be a significant factor in motivating suburban college-educated women, who could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the upcoming election. The Democratic campaign and its supporters have shared videos of President Trump, a Republican, making controversial comments about gun control, such as stating “We have to get over it” following a school shooting in Iowa earlier this year, and admitting that he “did nothing” about guns while in office during his speech to NRA members in May.
According to The Associated Press’ data tracking, 15 mass killings have occurred in 2024. A mass killing is identified as an attack where four or more individuals, excluding the perpetrator, have passed away within 24 hours.
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When questioned about the issue, the Trump campaign referred to the former president’s past remarks, assuring that there will be no additional regulations on firearms if he were to be re-elected.
At NRA events earlier this year, Trump addressed the audience twice and received an endorsement from the organization in May. He accused Biden of having a 40-year history of attempting to disarm law-abiding citizens. In addition to this, his campaign and the Republican National Committee have launched a new coalition called “Gun Owners for Trump,” which includes gun rights advocates and individuals who are involved in the firearms industry.
According to the results of a comprehensive voter survey conducted by AP VoteCast, approximately 70% of college-educated women residing in suburban areas who cast their ballots in the 2022 midterm elections favored stricter gun control laws. Surprisingly, only 10% of these women identified the issue of gun control as the most pressing problem facing the country.
According to a recent AP-NORC poll conducted in August 2023, the majority of independent voters, approximately 60%, expressed a desire for stricter gun laws. On the other hand, only around one-third of Republicans supported the idea of more expansive gun legislation, while an overwhelming 90% of Democrats were in favor of it.
Biden White House gets high marks from gun-control advocates
In their efforts to tackle gun violence, Biden and Harris have emphasized their action on gun policy, specifically pointing to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022. This compromise was reached following a tragic mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The law itself has been instrumental in expanding background checks for young gun buyers, making it more difficult for domestic abusers to obtain weapons, and allocating billions of dollars towards programs aimed at curbing gun violence.
The signing of the 1994 ban on certain semi-automatic weapons marked a significant moment in federal gun legislation. However, the current legislation being proposed is even more far-reaching and comprehensive than that historic ban.
Biden’s anti-crime message includes implementing stricter gun laws. During his speech on Tuesday, the president highlighted the success of the 2022 law, which has resulted in over 500 individuals being charged for federal gun trafficking and straw purchasing crimes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been given a new lease of life under President Biden’s administration. Additionally, he has established a dedicated White House office that aims to prevent gun violence. It is worth noting that Biden is the first president to implement such a measure.
According to Angela Ferrell-Zabala, the executive director of Moms Demand Action, the Biden White House is the most robust administration ever witnessed concerning this matter.
An August 2023 AP-NORC poll revealed that there is bipartisan support for the notion of implementing background checks on all potential gun buyers, going beyond the 2022 law. Roughly 9 out of 10 Democrats and around 7 out of 10 Republicans are in favor of this idea. Additionally, a majority of U.S. adults desire a nationwide ban on the sale of AR-15-style rifles, which are frequently used in mass shootings due to their ability to fire numerous rounds rapidly.
Harris played a leading role last Thursday in a meeting of healthcare leaders, which was highlighted by West Wing aides as the first-ever White House summit to address the issue of guns as a public health crisis. In keeping with the theme of her recent speeches on college campuses across the country, she also engaged in a discussion about guns with Students for Biden on Friday.
According to those in favor of gun control, this issue could have a significant impact on various groups within the Democratic coalition in recent elections. This includes parents of schoolchildren, younger voters who have grown up in a time of school shootings and safety drills, as well as Black and Hispanic voters. Unfortunately, President Biden’s approval rating among some of these groups has declined during his time in office.
According to John Feinblatt, the president of Everytown for Gun Safety, the political landscape regarding guns has undergone a dramatic shift in a relatively short amount of time. He notes that legislating on this issue was once something that elected officials would avoid, but now they are actively pursuing it. Feinblatt observes that the calculus has changed, and politicians are no longer running away from the topic but are instead running towards it.
According to Feinblatt, Everytown’s political arm has strategized to launch advertising and voter outreach campaigns in the presidential battleground states, commencing this summer.
Everytown’s approach in Virginia’s 2023 legislative races, which resulted in Democratic majorities, is being emulated by the organization. The strategy involved running ads in suburban and exurban districts that portrayed Republicans as a danger to “public health and public safety.”
A still-powerful NRA
The request for comment made to the NRA went unanswered. Despite a series of challenges, the organization remains a significant force in Republican politics. Wayne LaPierre, who was once a powerful lobbyist, was found guilty in a New York court of using NRA funds for his personal use, which led to his resignation. The NRA experienced a decline in both membership and income.
According to Ferrell-Zabala from Moms Demand Action, the group in question is currently in a state of disarray and has been labeled as “flailing.” As a result, some of the more conservative activists have started to turn to other groups such as Gun Owners of America, which is known for being the only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington and opposing any form of restriction on gun ownership and possession.
According to Matthew Lacombe, a professor at Case Western Reserve University who specializes in gun politics, the NRA played a significant role in Donald Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Lacombe also mentioned that the NRA still holds considerable influence and serves as a loyal support base for Trump.
According to him, the significance of this cultural identity goes beyond just firearms. He did acknowledge that there have been changes in the overall electorate dynamics.
According to Lacombe, there was a period when the NRA was able to label gun-control supporters as the radical faction in the discussion. However, she believes that nowadays, most Americans don’t perceive the concept of gun control as extreme anymore. In fact, they view the opposing side as being more extreme.
