Explain how and when gun policy ended up in both the Republican and Democratic Party platforms in the U.S. When did the issue become salient? How/why did this happen? How did the parties end up on opposite sides of the issue? Why is it brought to the forefront directly after major acts of gun violence, then brushed to the side after gridlock? Please use some of the sources listed below. For the rest of the sources, please only use substantive sources such as academic and policy journals, books etc. Current GOP platform: https://www.gop.gov/defending-the-second-amendment/ Current Democrat platform: https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/the-issues/preventing-gun-violence/ Statistic showing the current divisiveness of gun policy: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in- the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/ Gun Control Act of 1968: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-82/pdf/STATUTE-82-Pg1213-2.pdf. 90th Congress, H.R. 17735, Enacted October 22, 1968 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (temporary assault weapons ban inside of this bill, potentially pushed Republicans further right on gun policy):Show more
