pro-gun control or anti-gun control?

In 1991, in Littleton, two 18 year old senior high school boys killed 12 fellow students, 1 teacher and injured 24 other students. They did this by illegally buying 2 shot guns, due to them being underage at the time. Only days after these innocent school children had been killed the NRA led by Charlton Heston arrived in Littleton where the shootings had taken place. I have chosen two website, 1 by the family of Daniel Mauser one of the victims on the day and The NRA website who only 10 days after the massacre came to the area for a rally. Both have contrasting views to gun control, the memorial website wants gun control so that guns aren't so available to people, whereas the NRA are in support the people should be allowed to have guns for 'protection.'

http://www.danielmauser.com/

This website details and celebrates the life of Daniel, explores the violence in America and their view on guns and how they should be controlled. They write about how we should get involved as the first step to raise awareness and make real change.

What is really interesting is that they explain how they have previously written letter and made phone calls to Charlton Heston and the NRA, however received no response. My view on this suggest guilt, that he wouldn't know quite what to say to the family, or explain how his views can be linked to their feelings and emotions about gun crime. The family also say how they were arrested when protesting outside the NRA headquarters for 'trespassing.' All these factors made me side with them as it's clear the NRA don't know how to react to the events that occurred.

http://home.nra.org/#/home

The first thing i noticed about the NRA website is the news broadcast headed 'Outrage of the week.' It goes on to say that Alex Wagner from the MSNBC was asked 'what would you change in the constitution?' She responded by saying '"I think get rid of the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms.' This quickly sums up the views of the NRA and how they find this a 'naive' and 'ridiculous' statement. Every time you click on a topic it sends you straight to another website. This may be done to increase the knowledge and teach people more widely how guns can be positive and how many people support guns and the NRA. They say they are 'America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights' and that they are an 'educational organisation.' I find that shocking as although they do do training for firearms, they aren't educating people on the effects of gun crime and how they are a dangerous weapon. They could be teaching people to protect themselves in safer ways, after all if America is a this land of freedom, opportunity and hope surely guns aren't necessary!!

Over all i think the memorial website has a deeper impact and more convincing views as although it does badmouth the NRA it does have good reason too. It also explores the gun culture in America fairly, compared to the NRA who only see their view and will not be open minded, even though every year hundreds of people are killed by guns.