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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Like Big Tobacco, the Big Guns of the NRA are about to fade - Only a matter of time before sensible gun laws are enacted

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Like Big Tobacco, the Big Guns of the NRA are about to fade - Only a matter of time before sensible gun laws are enacted

Posted on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 08:03 AM

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People once believed that Big Tobacco would never be defeated, that it had legislators in its pocket, and that it carried such power and influence those laws curtailing tobacco products would never work.

That proved not to be so once the clear link between smoking and cancer was established, and there is no doubt that the tobacco lobby has been greatly diminished as a result.

The gun lobby right now looks a lot like the tobacco lobby, all-powerful, all influencing but the link that has been established between the safety of our children and the product they peddle has finally been irredeemably established. (Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland has just written an excellent comparison of the two.)

The children of Newtown, Connecticut have made that connection real and vital for this generation of Americans in an utterly indelible way. After Newtown there can be no going back on gun control.

The NRA mantra that guns had nothing to do with the violence in America is clearly false based on all known evidence.

In countries where guns are not available the number of deaths from homicides is dramatically lower.

Here are the 2010 figures, adjusted for population differential.

Number of Murders by Firearms, US, 2010: 8,775
Number of Murders by firearms, Britain, 2010*: 58
(equivalent to 290 US murders)

You can go around any country in the world with strict gun control laws and the same reality hits home. The more guns are available the more people die.

Such reality has finally permeated the American consciousness after Newtown, which is why the NRA, still shuttered in their own little archipelago, is unable to see what the real world is experiencing.

Like Big Tobacco though their power will surely ebb now that the link between cause and effect has clearly been established.

This country has a magnificent constitution, one of the great documents in world history, starting with the immortal phrase “We the People,"

But we cannot be bound only by the thoughts and opinions of men from the 18th century who know nothing of what the deadly meaning of the term the “right to bear arms” nowadays means.

We need to have a living constitution as it is experienced by each generation with changing needs and priorities. After Newtown that has never been more obvious—and the people now see it.

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bonjouryall | Dec 28, 2012, 07:50 AM EST

Personally, I do favor some gun control over automatic weapons although there are so many of these already out there, I doubt it will make much difference. Ex.: I hear you can produce a weapon at home now. I'm also glad Obama has finally developed the courage to addresss this issue (how many have died during his reign?) but it's only part of the solution. More mental health availability is needed. But the entertainment industry's blood money from violence is a third important factor in creating a culture of violence. Hollywood has been quiet for this reason. And I doubt Obama will have the courage to attempt to tax violence in commercial products made by his consituents.

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Joe Glackin | Dec 24, 2012, 02:19 AM EST

There are good and bad arguments on both sides but tobacco is not a sporting activity. Its not a collection hobby or business whether antique or not. It cannot be used in self defense or warding off possible attacks. This is a cultural and rights issue. Some of the savage practices being carried out especially on women and young boys in foreign countries are well known. How do you think Western workers or US/European military feel when they are told to ignore these abuses.They are told that these animals have their culture and a right to do so to. This present gun issue is American culture and a right .It may not be cultural in other countries so you cannot compare homicides as a result due to culture. There may be plenty for improvement or not regarding gun laws.Rem its they who pull the trigger not the gun thats guilty The pro gun lobbyists are making less outrageous statements too on constitutional rights to defend etc. Gun enthusiasts from collectors to sporting activities respect and are responsible regarding guns.You would assume that guns are the problem. The laws need to address this fairly, without taking away culture and rights of law biding citizens.You have a right to support or hate gun culture. Then if your or family are threatened, make sure the Police officer you call, doesn't carry a gun or visa versa.

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seamus60 | Dec 23, 2012, 11:40 PM EST

TimothyC. Have to agree with the most of your last post. However with respect no politician has the right or authority to deny any American citizen the fifth amendment. We see it dumped on from a great height every day though because ordinary citizens are not prepared to challenge the status quo. Instead of cakking their bags about whether they missed a tick box on their tax returns and incurring the unnessacery fear and realistic chances of getting sent down for a non offence, they simply conform as opposed to demanding to see the actual law. Ruling by Fooling is not new to Ireland or even the States for that matter.

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aloistmartin | Dec 23, 2012, 10:20 PM EST

Pacifism is a Tool of the Rich and Influential, exploited upon the Working Classes ! That`s why see so many of them sniveling around the Unemployment and Picket Lines, while all the Good Republicans: Die with their Boots On !

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TimothyC | Dec 23, 2012, 01:31 PM EST

Gotta laugh at gun control advice coming from a country that has been occupied by a foreign power for centuries....how about look at the deaths from tyrannical governments...Cuba has gun control, and they risk crossing shark infested waters to escape on inner tubes...Our Founding Fathers primary concern was tyrannical government....coincidentally the same on that has Ireland undere it's thumb. Another conveniently ignored number is how many lives are saved every day by folks who have the protection of a gun....not to mention the ignored proof in the crime statistics of places like New York, and Chicago, where the highest murder and crime rates are....because the common citizens are not allowed to protect themselves....a right that does not require government permission...we have the right to defend ourselves and our families as humans....no government or politicians has the authority to take that away..even if they have the power. Oh, and a question...how many murders is an acceptable number???....58...do we choose 58 citizens and sacrifice them...hoping no more occur? I can say from experience after working for thirty years as a jail officer that you could remove every gun from the planet, and you would have plenty of murders...especially of weaker victims who aren't physically able to defend themselves, but could have if they had a gun...

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jerrydonovan | Dec 23, 2012, 11:43 AM EST

I cannot accept that the founding fathers in all their wisdom could have envisioned "arms"developing to the degree they have, else, I am confident they would have made provision to make changes to the constitution easier.Perhaps they overestimated common sense having any part in future generations decision making.

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NYCsheridan | Dec 23, 2012, 10:58 AM EST

This is the finest editorial O'Dowd has ever written. Now, let the lunatic comments begin. I often wonder what part of "well-regulated" militia these idiots can't comprehend.

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