I want to discuss the problem of lobbying with you. I am perfectly OK with it and understand that without lobbying our political landscape would probably look different. To my mind the problem is a resources asymmetry.
2nd Amendment is a constant point of clashes between liberal and conservative public. What is really interesting to me is tremendous difference in resources between NRA and their opponents.
With profits over $250 million NRA is able to shape national politics. Guns revenue in the US equals to $15 bln. and is still growing. Everytown for Gun Safety is 5 times smaller in terms of money. People wanting to get rid of arms are not backed by huge and powerful companies. And therefore have no chances of pushing back pro-arms activists
First, Lobbyists are corrupting, and have corrupted our political system. Secondly, politicians are even more corrupt by accepting what Lobbyists have to offer. In other words, Lobbyists have more say-so in our political system than John Q. Public will ever have. Our voice in politics is basically silenced by Lobbyists and corrupt politicians. When you have a self-serving, greedy, egotistical, power hungry, and corrupt political system, you end up with legislation and policies dictated by the wealthy, the powerful, and the influential. This same scenario applies to everything considered by politicians, including guns, ammo, health care, taxes, bailouts, subsidies, pork spending, government contracts, the EPA and environmental issues, campaign financing, immigration, infrastructure, grants, government sponsored research, and foreign policy.
In my opinion, guns are not the problem, and never have been a problem. The problem has always been PEOPLE. When someone wants to do harm to someone else, they'll find a away to do it. Also, guns will always be available to those that want them. Many guns are bought and sold on the black market. People buy and sell guns on the internet, and many have been sold out of the truck of cars. I bought a Mauser rifle last year from a person that had it for sale on a web site. Regardless of laws and legislation, the people that want guns, will find and get guns. The "bad guys" couldn't care less about laws, especially gun laws. And, how would the government ever collect all of the guns, or even know who has them and who doesn't?
People are quick to blame guns for mass murder, crimes such as robbery, and children accidentally shooting themselves or someone else. But, it's never the gun or the guns, it's always the PEOPLE. We do not have a way to test every single person for mental disorders, anxiety, hatred, disassociation, drug and alcohol addiction, family problems, thoughts of suicide, work place disputes, lack of anger management, socioeconomic issues causing frustrations that lead to hopelessness, deep depression, and uncontrollable personalities. We also have a population of those with Bi-polar disorders, and some that stop taking anti-depressants. How do we test everyone, and what would we do with them once tested? Could they use knives if they couldn't get their hands on a gun? Could they make bombs, use baseball bats, use their vehicle to run down a dozen people at a time? Could they poison their whole family? What about arson?
The point is, we're never going to stop bad people from doing bad things. We're not going to stop the killings by removing guns from everyone, nor by even limiting who can legally own a gun. In addition, there are way more people killed in hospitals each year due to carelessness than those killed by guns. More people die in vehicle wrecks each year than by guns. So, why do guns become such an all-important issue? Why take away, or limit, the right to own and bear arms? And, does anyone honestly think that everyone would follow laws that restrict gun ownership? Yes, Lobbyists do influence and control Congress. Yes, legislation and policies are greatly influenced by Lobbyists. But, there are many issues that are more important than fighting a losing battle against gun ownership and ammo. There's not enough money to convince people to give up their guns, or to allow the government to restrict gun ownership.
