The US gun policy: domestic and external dimensions
DOI: 10.17721/2521-1706.2020.10.4
Marharyta Lymar
Ph.D. (Political Sciences)
Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, Mykolaiv, Ukraine
ORCID: 0000-0001-9902-2709
Iryna Tykhonenko
Ph.D. (Political Sciences)
Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, Mykolaiv, Ukraine
ORCID: 0000-0002-7716-085X
Abstract.
The purpose of the article is to explore proliferation of firearms in the United States due to social problems (mass shootings) and public demand for increasing gun control. Primary challenges cover exploring the U.S. firearms history, which provides a key to understanding the causes of the current situation in this area; reviewing of Americans’ attitudes toward gun ownership; studying the U.S. foreign policy in the context of arms exports from Ukraine to the United States. Moreover, attention is paid to exploring the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) on Donald Trump’s decision on arms control and a comparative analysis of his gun policy with the policy of his predecessors.
The methodological basis of the study includes a set of general and special research methods. Systematic approach is used to consider the U.S. gun policy as a complex system with the determinism of domestic and foreign policy levels. A significant role is played by descriptive-historical and chronological methods that allow to examine the evolution of the U.S. legal framework for firearms and small-arms control. The comparative method makes it possible to compare the approaches of George W. Bush’s, Barack Obama’s and Donald Trump’s administrations to the gun policy. The statistical method allows to consider the peculiarities of the U.S. exports of small arms and Ukraine’s exports of such type of weapons to the USA.
The scientific novelty lies in one of the first attempts among Ukrainian authors to make a comprehensive analysis of the interdependence of internal and external aspects of firearms trafficking among the U.S. civilians. In this context, the paper examines the U.S.–Ukrainian relations. The study concludes that the U.S. gun traditions are the main stumbling block for tightening firearms legislation. On the gun issue, the U.S. domestic policy, which is heavily influenced by the NRA, determines the state’s foreign policy. At the same time, society is demanding reforms aimed at restricting the possession of firearms by the civilian population, which may increase the level of domestic security.
Key words: gun control, small arms, U.S., Ukraine, National Rifle Association, NRA, Trump.
Full text
References:
1. Holubov, (2019, April 26). Tramp vidklykaie pidpys pid mizhnarodnym dohovorom pro torhivliu zbroieiu. Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/uk/трамп-відкликає-підпис-під-міжнародним-договором-про-торгівлю-зброєю/a-48507411. [In Ukrainian].
2. Za ostanni 5 rokiv Ukraina eksportuvala ponad 75 tysiach odynyts striletskoi (2019, July 3). Defense Express. https://old.defence-ua.com/index.php/home-page/7788-za-ostanni-pyat-rokiv-ukrayina-eksportuvala-ponad-75-tys-odynyts-striletskoyi-zbroyi. [In Ukrainian].
3. Lymar, M. (2017). Viiskovo-oboronna dopomoha SShA Ukraini za prezydentstva B. Obamy: Do dyskursu shchodo nadannia letalnoi zbroi. Naukovi Pratsi: Naukovo-Metodychnyi Z Politolohiia, 285(297), 93-98. [In Ukrainian].
4. Lytvynenko, M. (2019). Informatsiia pro eksport okremykh katehorii ozbroien, zdiisnenykh Ukrainoiu u 2019 rotsi. State Service of Export Control of Ukraine. http://www.dsecu.gov.ua/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=59577&cat_id=59555. [In Ukrainian].
5. Saakov, V. (2019, April 27). FRN zhalkuie cherez vykhid SShA z dohovoru pro torhivliu zbroieiu. Deutsche Welle. https://www.dw.com/uk/фрн-жалкує-через-вихід-сша-з-договору-про-торгівлю-зброєю/a-48515830. [In Ukrainian].
6. Ukroboronservis prodav do SShA novu partiiu Mosinok. (2019, March 15). Ukrainian Military Pages. https://www.ukrmilitary.com/2019/03/postavka-mosinok-do-ssha. [In Ukrainian].
7. United Nations. (2014). Arms Trade Treaty. https://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/arms-trade-treaty-2/. [In English].
8. Bondi, L. (2006). U.S. Policy on small arms and light weapons. Naval War College Review, 59(1), 119-140. [In English].
9. Drew, E. (2019, August 13). What’s behind America’s mass shootings? Project Syndicate. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/america-gun-control-mass-shootings-by-elizabeth-drew-2019-08?barrier=accesspaylog. [In English].
10. Gramlich, J. (2019, October 22). 7 facts about guns in the U.S. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/22/facts-about-guns-in-united-states/. [In English].
11. Jenzen-Jones, N.R., & Schroeder, M. (Eds.). (2018). An introductory guide to the identification of small arms, light weapons, and associated ammunition. Geneva: Small Arms Survey. http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/Q-Handbooks/HB-06-Weapons-ID/SAS-HB-06-Weapons-ID-ch1.pdf. [In English].
12. Lund, N., & Winkler, A. (n. d.). The Second Amendment. National Constitution Center: Interactive Constitution. https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/amendment-ii/interps/99. [In English].
13. McKelvey, T. (2019, November 11). What happened to Trump’s promise on gun control? BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50338937. [In English].
14. Musa, S. (2016). The impact of NRA on the American policy. Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs, 4(4). https://www.longdom.org/open-access/the-impact-of-nra-on-the-american-policy-2332-0761-1000222.pdf. Doi: 10.4172/2332-0761.1000222 [In English].
15. New Trump arms rules loosen oversight of foreign gun sales. (2020, March 10). The Trace. https://www.thetrace.org/rounds/new-trump-arms-rules-loosen-oversight-of-foreign-gun-sales/. [In English].
16. Report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. United Nations Report of the Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms. (1997). NY: United Nations, General Assembly. [In English].
17. Rushe, D. (2018, May 4). Why is the National Rifle Association so powerful? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/17/nra-gun-lobby-gun-control-congress. [In English].
18. Should more gun control laws be enacted? (2019, August 4). org. https://gun-control.procon.org. [In English].
19. Treisman, R. (2019, October 20). Poll: Number of Americans who favor stricter gun laws continues to grow. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/20/771278167/poll-number-of-americans-who-favor-stricter-gun-laws-continues-to-grow. [In English].
20. UNODA kicks-off global programme promoting a gendered approach to small arms control. (2019, April 8). United Nations. https://www.un.org/disarmament/ru/update/unoda-kicks-off-global-programme-promoting-a-gendered-approach-to-small-arms-control/. [In English].
21. Vazquez, M. (2019, September 19). Trump says he’s moving ‘very slowly’ on gun control to get it right. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/19/politics/donald-trump-gun-legislation-very-slowly/index.html. [In English].