Article 14
Topic: Connecticut Massacre and Science
Author: Gary Gutting
Date: December 20,2012
The author informs the reader that the National Rifle Association continues to win against gun control because it blocks any scientific research related to guns. It hasn't been winning because it's persistent to the point of fanaticism or because it has a powerful political organization. It wins because it has a strong argumentative advantage in the political debate about gun control. As of right now, there is no current scientific consensus about guns and violence. The N.R.A. has blocked most efforts at serious gun research, going so far as to restrict access to the highly informative data available from Justice Department traces of guns used in crimes. As The Times reported, "Scientists in the field and former officials with the government agency that used to finance the great bulk of this research say the influence of the National Rife Association has all but choked off money for such work." There is no scientific consensus on the best approach to limiting gun violence, and the N.R.A. is blocking work that might well lead to such a consensus.This gives the N.R.A. a strong advantage because America is a gun culture.Because a solid majority of Americans accept the gun culture (and almost half say they have a gun at home), the N.R.A. has no need to defend its highly questionable assumption that guns of almost every sort should be widely available. This is why there is little chance - even at this moment of moral pain and outrage - of our passing legislation that will significantly stem gun violence.
I decided to choose this article because I wanted to know more about gun control when I heard about the Massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. We talked about how the NRA are able to win against gun control in Economics but I never realized that one of the reason it wins is because of its blockade on scientific research. I believe that if the NRA does not block any research, there will be a higher chance of passing a law concerning gun control. Assault weapons should be banned and only hand gun should be allowed for self defense.