This has been cited as a primary cause for the readily available guns in nearby New York City, and despite the fact that most Virginians are in favor of closing this loophole and enforcing stricter gun control, the National Rifle Association has been instrumental, through lobbying efforts and campaign contributions, to have officials elected that agree with their constituents in most instances but side with the NRA in keeping the sale of guns through gun shows legal (NY Times 2009). This instance also helps to illustrate the mechanisms at work in the government that allow the NRA's continued benefit at public expense. The National Rifle Association is not some all=powerful organization that is able to install leaders into office simply based on its own preferences and purse strings. Research has shown that the National Rifle Association can be extremely effective in hotly contested races for congressional and state-level seats, however, and thus in the overall shaping of gun control policies (Kenny et al. 2004; NY Times 2009). The NRA is not especially effective at having legislative measures introduced and passed, then, as it is in having legislation that might impose stricter gun controls blocked; its ability to place leaders in office is too limited for proactive efforts, but is definitely substantial enough to slow down or stall efforts made against the National Rifle Association's interests (Kenny et al. 2004). It is in this manner that the National Rifle Association manages...

This was written at a time when guns took over a minute to reload between shots, however, and was expressly for the purpose of maintaining a militia of the people. The sale of weapons through gun shows, the continued legality of handguns and rapid-fire assault rifles, and the many other issues that the National Rifle Association lobbies for no more promote the precepts of the second amendment than the guns they promote are used for home protection.
Works Cited

Kennedy, E. "Should Congress Enact Administration Proposals For Increased Federal Controls Over Firearms? PRO." Congressional digest 46(8/9) (1967), pp. 218.

Kenny, C.; McBurnett, M. & Bordua, D. "The Impact of Political Interests in the 1994 and 1996 Congressional Elections: The Role of the National Rifle Association." British Journal of Political Science 34(2) (2004), pp. 331.

Medlock, S. "NRA = NO RATIONAL ARGUMENT? HOW THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION EXPLOITS PUBLIC IRRATIONALITY. Texas forum on civil liberties & civil rights 11(1), 2005-6, pp. 39.

NY Times.…