Lobbying Weapons industry in USA Culture and History

Lobbying – Weapons industry in USA

Culture and History • Historically in USA’s states, the weapons are allowed in function of their own cultural behavior. • This culture of weapons is coming from the 2 nd amendement (1791) and independance war has made a tradition. • In the USA, almost every person (300 millions) has a gun or other weapons to feel in security. http: //www. lemonde. fr /ameriques/etats-unis 300 -millions-d-armes-afeu. html

Weapons reasons • However, it is an industry very important because it represented 410 billion of US dollars in 2011. To illustrate this, in 2010 we can give the example of a truck manufacturer which offered a Kalachnikov for each car bought. • Moreover the weapons industry represent 180 000 employees in America and this kind of investment is realized to the detriment of other activities. • The lobbying of weapons is realized in part with the partisan of NRA who is approximately 4 million and they influence on American politician. • This lobbying objectives is to keep their market because it represent a lot of economic power, American employment, major stakes to stay a leader in the weapon industry in a worldwild level. This lobbying allow United States of America to be the first nation army which permit the political pressure in Middle -East country.

Mission - Stakes • The main mission of the lobbyist is to continue to sell a product inside United States of America. • To manage this mission, the lobbyist tries to persuade citizens and politicians to vote for pros weapons laws.

Insiders Lobbying Map Stakeholders « Glockers Mom’s » Public Pressure Opposition

Form of Lobbying • • Advertisment : “Guns don't kill people, people do”. 2 nd amendment (US constitution) Politic pressure (Power) Citizens have the right to self protection against gangster.

Cons Gun • Too many criminals purchase guns legally. • There are too many accidents involving children playing with guns or accidental discharges. • The key to protecting our democracy is not in having armed citizens. • Moms Demand Action for gun sense in America (Gloceries Not Guns campaign and Gun Sense Summer).

Financial dependence of Political leaders on the gun lobby • One of the richest lobbies in the states, the Gun Lobby invested over USD 3 Mn in 2011 in political advertising. In 2012 elections, this lobby spent more than USD 25 Mn in advertisements supporting Republicans or opposing democrats. According to the Sunlight Foundation, 88 percent of Republicans and 11 per cent of Democrats in The two houses of Congress, at some point, had received a contribution from the NRA This has led to elected senators feeling the pressure to abide by the mandates set out by the gun lobby. To the extent that they do not even bring up the debate on guns fearing major repercussions from the gun lobby.

Public Opinion and Voting Base • With more than 4. 5 Mn members, the NRA (National Rifle Association) claims to influence a major chunk of the vote base. It grades politicians between A and F. Through this, they endorse certain candidates which leads to the public forming a favorable image of the candidate, thereby influencing votes to a great extent. However, their grading is primarily based on the candidate's stand on the gun control movement.

The Background: • Analysis of a Lobbying campaign - Ousting the Democrats in Colorado • 4 Colorado Democrat senators: John Morse, Angela Giron, Mike Mc. Lachlan and Evie Hudak, have taken up the cause of anti-gun campaign post the aftermath of the mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut. They decide to push for a bill to control and track the distribution of guns and ammunition. However, the gun lobby is not appreciative of this and decide to take action • The bills being pushed by the senators were • 1. Magazines with more than 15 rounds of ammunition will be banned in the state of Colorado - With the campaign of "Terrorists need more than 15 rounds", the anti-gun lobby along with these senators tried to push this bill into becoming a law. • 2. Expanded Universal Background Checks - Besides certain special exceptions, such as transfers between family members, spouses, etc, all transfers will be registered and background checks will be conducted on arms owners.

The Objective of Gun Lobby: • 1. To prevent these bills from being passed • 2. To send a message (or teach a lesson) to the anti-gun political community

The Target: • 1. Primary - The 4 senators • 2. Secondary - The larger anti-gun lobby and politicians

The Tool & The Process: • Recall of Elected Senators • The recall drive was driven by different member organizations of the gun lobby. They mobilized their financial and nonfinancial resources to influence the public opinion.

The Tool & The Process: Recall of Elected Senators The recall drive was driven by different member organizations of the gun lobby. They mobilized their financial and non-financial resources to influence the public opinion. The gun lobby generated total contributions worth $500, 000. This was a very small amount as raised by the support team of the senators. Even though the senators were leveraging a total contribution of $3, 000 they failed to generate enough votes in their favor. This feat was achieved by the gun lobby on the basis of their Door-to-Door persuasion, basing this on the right to self defence. They also brought in pertinent issues concerning the senators: Ethical misconduct for Morse, and Women rights & abortion for Giron. The collective effort yielded the following results 1. Recalled Morse with over 16, 000 signatures (minimum requirement: 7, 178) 2. Recalled Giron with over 13, 000 signatures (minimum requirement: 11, 285) 3. Could not manage to get the required 10, 587 signatures against Mc. Lachlan 4. Could not manage to get the required 18, 962 signatures against Hudak

The Result: • The recall of the 2 senators may seem like the main result but its impact was much greater. This made clear the fact that the gun lobby and its supporters are not to be taken lightly and there influence was re-established in the state and in other democrat regions.

Conclusion of political influence • Political influence was used to prevent following bills from being voted into laws: - Stricter background check before sale of firearm - Ban on assault-style rifles - Ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines