The tragic capturing of 20 kids and 6 lecturers at an elementary college in Newtown, Connecticut surprised folks on each side of the border. By some means it appeared worse than different latest mass shootings – maybe due to the age of the kids, or the favored military-style assault rifle used, the AR-15.
Many hoped it might be an opportunity to search out frequent floor in a nation bitterly divided over gun rights and gun management. As an alternative, the gross sales of firearms soared and the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s membership swelled. the fifth property’s Bob McKeown tracks how essentially the most highly effective gun rights group on this planet has influenced the talk round firearms – and why the NRA refuses to just accept compromise.
What does all of the furor over weapons south of the border imply for Canadians? NRA members see themselves as staunch defenders of freedom – and depict nations with powerful gun legal guidelines like Canada as unjustly proscribing the liberty of its residents. Although the NRA’s lobbying cannot immediately have an effect on legal guidelines right here, the relaxed laws in some southern states do have penalties north of the border. About 70 per cent of Canadian crime weapons are smuggled from america into Canada. the fifth property traces their route alongside the so-called “Blue Metal Freeway” from states the place they’re obtainable nearly on demand.
Unique airdate : February eighth, 2013
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