Domains of gun politics
Encyclopedia
Various domains of gun politics
exist and can be classified into; international, national, state, community, individual, group, religious and corporate domains. There are highly complex political issues when domains intersect such as when a civil jurisdiction has different rights or restrictions than the national government, or if an interest group or secular organization tries to influence local government.
National gun politics usually focus on the rights, responsibilities and restrictions on the use of guns by nationally sponsored groups; the police, military, etc. Gun politics may also involve special cases, such as politics regarding the use of guns during cases of national emergency or need, civil unrest, internal wars, and rebellions. For example, an article on East Timor
asserts in its headline, "Timor needs to disarm population for security" and within the article states "seizing weapons that have fallen into civilian hands is the key to lasting peace." Regardless of whether one agrees with or disagrees with that assertion, this is an issue addressing guns at the national political level.
within their nation. They decide on the appropriate rights, restrictions, and responsibilities for civilians and civilian groups. For example, in 1707, "an early South Carolina law required militia captains 'to enlist, traine [sic] up and bring into the field for each white, one able slave armed with a gun or lance.'" Whether one agrees with the law or not, the state in this case gave a clear requirement and responsibility to those wishing to properly fulfill the role of captain of the state militia.
s to turn in weapons is another example of gun politics at the community level.
, ethics, philosophies, and personal expressions. Individuals may have their own widely diverging, personal, and sometimes contentious political thoughts on guns.
coach Larry Coker
made a policy for the team banning the ownership of guns by his players.
's representative to the UN, Archbishop
Celestina Miglore, faced a protest by a group known as the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, opposing the Papal endorsement for the promotion of disarmament.
by a gun manufacturer is very different than a corporation considering liability of its employees actions in the case of firearms possession or use while on the job, and likewise might result in two very different political stances. Corporations might even have varying politics within consortia, blocs and sectors of industry. As a simple example of corporate gun politics, it is against the visitor code of conduct to bring a firearm onto the premises of the Seattle Times, or even have one in a vehicle, unless you are a member of law enforcement. This is a very different class of gun politics, than a lobbyist for a gun manufacturer attempting to change liability laws, win a government weapons procurement contract or gain approval for overseas sale or manufacturer of their products.
Gun politics
Gun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
exist and can be classified into; international, national, state, community, individual, group, religious and corporate domains. There are highly complex political issues when domains intersect such as when a civil jurisdiction has different rights or restrictions than the national government, or if an interest group or secular organization tries to influence local government.
National gun politics usually focus on the rights, responsibilities and restrictions on the use of guns by nationally sponsored groups; the police, military, etc. Gun politics may also involve special cases, such as politics regarding the use of guns during cases of national emergency or need, civil unrest, internal wars, and rebellions. For example, an article on East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
asserts in its headline, "Timor needs to disarm population for security" and within the article states "seizing weapons that have fallen into civilian hands is the key to lasting peace." Regardless of whether one agrees with or disagrees with that assertion, this is an issue addressing guns at the national political level.
State
State (for purpose of this discussion, any high-level internal divisions of a nation, such as a state, province, domain, region, district, etc.) gun politics involve the rights and restrictions on the armament and use of guns by their military or paramilitary armed forces, state police or other civil services. States may have differing gun politics as a reflection of their own sovereigntySovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
within their nation. They decide on the appropriate rights, restrictions, and responsibilities for civilians and civilian groups. For example, in 1707, "an early South Carolina law required militia captains 'to enlist, traine [sic] up and bring into the field for each white, one able slave armed with a gun or lance.'" Whether one agrees with the law or not, the state in this case gave a clear requirement and responsibility to those wishing to properly fulfill the role of captain of the state militia.
Community
Community gun politics (generally lower levels of civil government, such as a village, borough, town, city, or county) generally do not address standing armies, but may have political issues over the use of guns by paramilitary and police forces, as well as civil militias. They may also place rights, restrictions, and responsibilities on their civil populations separate from their state or nation. They may even have standards regarding products that are not guns but related to them, such as ammunition and accessories, or are similar to guns or depict gun violence, such as replicas, toys or games. As an example of local gun politics, in March 1982, Kennesaw, Georgia passed a law making it a requirement for all eligible residents to own a gun. Note the town council needed to ensure its local ordinance complied with other potentially conflicting political domains ("With exceptions duly made for convicted felons, the disabled, and those with religious objections..."). A local police program for gangGang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
s to turn in weapons is another example of gun politics at the community level.
Individual
Individual gun politics are generally a complex relation of an individual or private family's rights, responsibilities and restrictions within the overlapping domains of their nation, internal state and local community, plus international considerations. Individual gun politics are often philosophically contrasted with group or collective rights (see next). In a 2004 Memorandum, it was an opinion stated by the US Attorney General, "The Second Amendment secures a right of individuals generally, not a right of States or a right restricted to persons serving in militia." Individual gun politics are not limited to laws alone, but also extends to practices and customsNorm (sociology)
Social norms are the accepted behaviors within a society or group. This sociological and social psychological term has been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. These rules may be explicit or implicit...
, ethics, philosophies, and personal expressions. Individuals may have their own widely diverging, personal, and sometimes contentious political thoughts on guns.
Group
Groups may also have their own aspects of gun politics. Ethnic groups, clans, political parties, private clubs, independent (non-state-sanctioned) militias, gangs, and other forms of group affiliations may have politics towards guns, both in favor or against their presence or use. Groups may have special legal cases separate from those of the individual, or may have their own collective political positions, ethics and practices towards guns. For example, after a shooting incident, in July 2006, Miami HurricanesMiami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
coach Larry Coker
Larry Coker
Larry Edward Coker is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio, whose Roadrunners football team begins play in 2011. From 2001 to 2006, Coker served as the head coach at the University of Miami...
made a policy for the team banning the ownership of guns by his players.
Religious
Religions and religious organizations are a particular domain of gun politics. They may have official policies, doctrines, dogma, philosophies and interpretations which impact their political views towards guns, either in favor or against. Their gun politics might or might not be focused at legal changes but may focus more on ethical or social behavioral changes and beliefs. The basis for their arguments may be based on dogma and philosophy specific to their belief system. For instance, the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
's representative to the UN, Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Celestina Miglore, faced a protest by a group known as the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, opposing the Papal endorsement for the promotion of disarmament.
Corporate
Corporate gun politics break down into the rights, responsibilities and restrictions of a) corporations participating in the manufacture and commerce of gun, b) corporations employing guns for security services, either internally for safeguarding corporate personnel and property, or offered as a commercial security service to other parties, or c) employee, customer and visitor policies. Therefore, gun politics of corporations cover myriad classes. LobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
by a gun manufacturer is very different than a corporation considering liability of its employees actions in the case of firearms possession or use while on the job, and likewise might result in two very different political stances. Corporations might even have varying politics within consortia, blocs and sectors of industry. As a simple example of corporate gun politics, it is against the visitor code of conduct to bring a firearm onto the premises of the Seattle Times, or even have one in a vehicle, unless you are a member of law enforcement. This is a very different class of gun politics, than a lobbyist for a gun manufacturer attempting to change liability laws, win a government weapons procurement contract or gain approval for overseas sale or manufacturer of their products.