epeal the assault weapons ban, she was able to raise over $600,000 for her campaign and defeat her opponent. Formerly, McCarthy had no political experience aside from the PTA and was a republican. Amazingly though, this one issue carried enough weight to win her the election. McCarthy received national attention for criticizing corporations for being the secret beneficiaries of gun violence in America and strongly attacks the NRA on such premises. Lastly there is a question as to whether or not all these recent tragedies have even effected public opinion at all giving impetus to the politicians actions. A Gallup Poll in 1999 found that 66 percent of people wanted to see stricter gun control and 25 percent saying no change is needed. In a 1991 Gallup Poll it was 68 percent to 25 percent, which is hardly different at all. It would appear that these recent issues are so important that our representatives are making up their own minds to pursue gun control issues and acting as trustees on the citizens behalf. As McMillion states politicians are clearly voting based on values and motivations other than simple poll results (106). However, it also seems apparent that when confronted with the possibility of losing financial backing or votes, gun control advocates quickly slow their momentum.In conclusion, the process of creating new gun control legislation is a slow moving and complicated process with which Congressmen must take many things into consideration. It is a contradictory issue comprised of people with very different motivations. People long for solutions that would prevent such tragedies as the Columbine and Oklahoma shootings, but at the same time gun control proponents exploit these shootings to gain support for their issues. It is the opinion of LaPierre that these kinds of circumstances cant actually be addressed by legislation and that vigorous prosecution of criminals is what is needed (Birnbuam, 216). On the othe...
