Profile of Charlton Heston, Gun Rights Movement Icon

As an actor, Charlton Heston appeared in some of the most notable films of his time. But he may best be remembered as the most visible president in the National Rifle Association’s history, guiding the gun lobbying group through a five-year period that saw gun rights take center stage in Washington, D.C. Along the way, his statements were responsible for igniting a phrase that would become a rallying cry for gun owners: â€Å"You can have my guns when you take them from my cold, dead hands.† Surprisingly, the man who hoisted a rifle above his head at the 2000 NRA Convention in defiance of the perceived anti-gun policies of Democrat presidential nominee Al Gore was once a staunch supporter of gun control legislation. Heston’s Support for Gun Control By the time President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Charlton Heston had become a household name, starring as Moses in the 1956 film The Ten Commandments and as Judah Ben Hur in 1959’s Ben Hur. Heston campaigned for Kennedy in the 1960 presidential election and became critical of lax gun laws in the aftermath of Kennedy’s assassination. He joined fellow Hollywood stars Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, and James Stewart in support of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the most restrictive piece of gun legislation in more than 30 years. Appearing on ABC’s The Joey Bishop Show two weeks after U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, Heston read from a prepared statement: â€Å"This bill is no mystery. Let’s be clear about it. Its purpose is simple and direct. It is not to deprive the sportsman of his hunting gun, the marksman of his target rifle, nor would it deny to any responsible citizen his constitutional right to own a firearm. It is to prevent the murder of Americans.† Later that year, actor-producer Tom Laughlin, chairman of the anti-gun group Ten Thousand Americans for Responsible Gun Control lamented in an edition of Film Television Daily that Hollywood stars had fallen from the gun control bandwagon, but listed Heston among a handful of diehard supporters who he said would stand by his side. Heston Changes Teams in the Gun Rights Debate Exactly when Heston changed his views on gun ownership is hard to pin down. In interviews after being elected president of the NRA, he was vague about his support of the 1968 Gun Control Act, saying only that he had made some â€Å"political mistakes.† Heston’s support for Republican politicians can be dated back as far as the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. The two men shared many broad similarities: Hollywood A-Listers who supported Democrat Party policies early in their careers only to become stalwarts of the conservative movement. Reagan would later appoint Heston to co-chair a task force on arts and humanities. Over the next two decades, Heston became increasingly vocal in his support of conservative policies, in general, and on the Second Amendment, in particular. In 1997, Heston was elected to the NRA’s Board of Directors. One year later, he was elected president of the organization. Heston was vocally opposed to virtually any proposed measure of restricting gun ownership, from a mandatory five-day waiting period on handgun purchases to a limit of one gun purchase a month to mandatory trigger locks and the 1994 ban on assault weapons. â€Å"Teddy Roosevelt hunted in the last century with a semiautomatic rifle,† Heston once said in regards to proposals to ban semiautomatic firearms. â€Å"Most deer guns are semi-automatic. It’s become a demonized phrase. The media distorts that and the public ill understands it.† In 1997, he lambasted the National Press Club for the media’s role in the Assault Weapons Ban, saying reporters need to do their homework on semiautomatic weapons. In a speech to the club, he said: â€Å"For too long, you have swallowed manufactured statistics and fabricated technical support from anti-gun organizations that wouldnt know a semi-auto from a sharp stick. And it shows. You fall for it every time.† ‘From My Cold, Dead Hands’ During the height of the 2000 election season, Heston delivered a rousing speech at the NRA Convention in which he closed by invoking an old Second Amendment battle cry as he raised a vintage 1874 buffalo rifle over his head: â€Å"So, as we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away, I want to say those fighting words for everyone within the sound of my voice to hear and to heed, and especially for you, (presidential candidate) Mr. (Al) Gore: From my cold, dead hands.’† The â€Å"cold, dead hands† saying did not originate with Heston. It had been around since the 1970s  when it was used as a slogan for literature and bumper stickers by gun rights activists. The slogan didn’t even originate with the NRA; it was first used by the Washington-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. But Heston’s usage of those five words in 2000 made them iconic. Gun owners across the nation began using the slogan as a rallying cry, saying, â€Å"You can have my guns when you take them from my cold, dead hands.† Heston is often incorrectly attributed with coining the phrase. When he resigned from the NRA presidency in 2003 due to his declining health, he again raised the rifle over his head and repeated, â€Å"From my cold, dead hands.† The Death of an Icon Heston was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998, an illness he defeated. But a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in 2003 would prove too much to overcome. He stepped down from his position as president of the NRA and died five years later, at the age of 84. At his death, he had appeared in more than 100 films. He and his wife, Lydia Clark, had been married 64 years. But Heston’s lasting legacy might be his five-year stint as president of the NRA. With the peak of his Hollywood career well behind him, Heston’s work with the NRA and his fierce pro-gun rights rhetoric earned him legendary status with a whole new generation.

The Advocacy Of Women s Rights - 2735 Words

Submission, Strife, Inequality, and a life lived without the prospect of dreams, when given this description most would think of slavery or civil rights, but this is the picture of women’s suffrage. The advocacy of women’s rights has been an important and influential issue in societies for centuries. Across all religions and cultures, women have always been considered inferior to men, but around the 18th century women began to speak out regarding inequality. This sparked the feminist revolution, and the leading author was Mary Wollstonecraft. Her voice was not heard orally through a conversation or a speech but written in her work A vindication of the rights of woman in 1792. Along with the help of other feminist authors, her work has systematically helped to alleviate the superiority of the male sex. Thanks to writers like Wollstonecraft societies have improved women’s rights drastically, but women still struggle to gain equality among men. Feminism is the belief that women and men should hold equal positions within a social hierarchy. It is defined as ‘organized activities on behalf of women’s rights and interests’ that would evidentially cause women to ascend their positions on the social stratification ladder (â€Å"Feminism†). The classification of gender that society deems male or female, by definition, is associated to the personal traits and social positions that members of society attach to being masculine or feminine (Macionis 54). The term gender puts anShow MoreRelatedFeminism : The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Basis Of Equality1645 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Feminism - the advocacy of women s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes.† Throughout history women have been perceived as these docile,fragile,and inferior type of people. Men were supposed to be the ones in charge and women were meant to follow along. These women back in the day were conditioned to believe that thei r place was at home being a good little housewife to their husbands. Women’s thoughts and opinions did not hold the same value as that of a man. There were women that were justRead MoreFeminism, The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Basis Of Equality1141 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism Feminism is defined as the advocacy of women s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Throughout the hundreds of years women have been around there have always been those that fought for more. From fighting for the right to vote to marching down Capitol Hill women have been fighting for equality. Although the fight may have changed over the years these individuals have always fought for the better for people around the world. Now more than ever women are critiqued for contributionRead MoreFeminism, The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Ground Of The Equality1654 Words   |  7 Pageschronological movements and ideologies aimed at altering the patriarchal system to be equalitarian, so women can uphold the same opportunities and rights as men. Feminism, by definition, is ‘the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes’ (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2015). Therefore, feminism is still relevant within Western society because there is still significant evidence that shows women are still not yet equal with men. Thus, this essay will focus on the corporate and politicalRead MoreFeminism : The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Basis Of Equality1934 Words   |  8 PagesFeminism: the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Even with a topic this controversial you can discover many great works surrounding the feminist movement. Influential women are Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of The Rights of Women, Susan B. Anthony wrote The Revolution, Benazir Bhutto, the first Muslim woman to become Prime Minister, Malala Yousafzai who fought for the education of girls, Beyonce who preaches the gospel of strong women in and out ofRead MoreFeminism Is The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Basis Of Equality1826 Words   |  8 PagesFeminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. To further break that down, feminism is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. It is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities in this world we live in. Basically feminism is a constant fight for the equality of both men and women. Not the sameness of men and women. A famous argument people like to use against feminism is women are not the â€Å"same† asRead MoreFeminism: The Advocacy of Women ´s Right Essay example1300 Words   |  6 PagesFeminism, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Persepolis Feminism: the advocacy of womens rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Feminism is both a human rights movement and an ideal that has been gaining steady momentum for centuries, and a major theme throughout Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis, in which her coming-of-age occurs during one of the most oppressive historical moments in modern history for women: the Iranian Revolution. The protagonist, Marjane, experiencesRead MoreThe Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Grounds Of Political, Social, And Economic Equality Essay1202 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism. The advocacy of women s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Why are some people so angry or offended when they hear this word? Why does the idea of women being equal to men annoy and infuriate them? Do they not believe that women should have the same rights as men? Should women have to cover up to avoid being cat called by disgusting men? Should women have to cover up to avoid being molested or raped? Should women have to stay quiet when they are rapedRead MoreFeminism : The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Grounds Of Political, Social, And Economic Equality1694 Words   |  7 Pages English 2 2/29/16 Jane Eyre and Feminism Feminism is defined as the â€Å"advocacy of women s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men† (Oxford Dictionary). In the past century, the standards of what is considered feminism have changed. At the time Jane Eyre was published, feminism per se did not exist yet. In the Victorian Era any actions done by women that went against the norms for women for that time period were likely considered atrocious more than rebelliousRead MoreFeminism, The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On The Grounds Of Political, Social, And Economic Equality1391 Words   |  6 PagesFeminism, a word defined as, â€Å"the advocacy of women s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men,† a word that provokes strong feelings of either support or strong hate. (Webster) The people who do agree with feminism claim that it has helped them with their experiences of oppression because they are female, while others argue that it is against men a nd promotes hostility. While many argue over what feminism really means, the reputation feminism receives from peopleRead MoreFeminism Is The Advocacy Of Women s Rights On Grounds Of Political, Social, And Economic Equality Essay1068 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an advocate for women’s rights. She was involved in Progressive Era reform culture. Gilman, author of â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, illustrates in the short story that women can overcome the weight patriarchy puts on them mentally. The narrator’s husband, John, displayed paternal behavior towards her which was belittling. Gilman uses metaphors, specifically personification

Development of a PSYOPS Plan Free Essays

Human beings are social beings and are involved in a lot of activities to either sustain them or perform them for their own interests and image. Some of these activities need a lot preparation for them to be accomplished without a hitch. Preparation of future activities may involve equipment, psychological and all other resources that may be vital in the successful accomplishment of the planned activities. We will write a custom essay sample on Development of a PSYOPS Plan or any similar topic only for you Order Now The most important is the mind set of each and every person who is present in the activity which is usually called the psychological operations plan (PYSOPS). This plan has been widely utilized by the armed forces and religious groups to influence a group of people’s way of reasoning or their emotions. This plan is also utilized by intelligence groups and the main objective of the plan is to induce immediate response to the target group. This may also involve conveying information that has psychological effect to the community. The main objective of this plan is to create conditions for the well being of the human body by reducing stress and hardening or teaching people on how to cope with certain situations. Community survey in development of PYSOPS plan For the purpose of reducing insecurity in a society there is need to establish community based organizations or programs with the aim of protecting the individuals within that society. As a result, highly specialized security personnel protect the society from crimes by obtaining information on the possible criminal activities in the future there by enhancing security in the society. Private security personnel are the ones with the responsibility of collecting all the necessary information to protect the community from future criminal activities. Private security is increasingly becoming popular in many societies because it has enhanced reduction in criminal activities. Private policing is advantageous over public policing in that the former is not influenced by constitution principles thus independent. There are limitations to the PYSOPS plan which has limited the delivery of the PYSOPS mission and objectives for instance there is a limitation of the funds required to pass information to a large mass of people. This is because the PYSOPS plan projects are greatly underfunded thus unable to afford the funds needed for advertisements thus unable to reach many people. Lack of sufficient funds means that the PYSOPS is unable to provide the relevant information and there fore the organization is unable to protect the community from future criminal activities since the private security will not have enough personnel to cope up with the crime rates. PYSOPS is lack modern equipments and therefore will be unable to meet the objectives that ought to be accomplished. This is because of the fact that there is under funding of psychological operation plan. There are also cases of equipment failures because the PYSOPS personnel is not adequately trained on the equipments that they should utilize and therefore unable to operate these equipments effectively. This factor is attributed by the fact that the personnel to be recruited to PYSOPS barely cover half of the course they are supposed to cover and therefore naà ¯ve in the way they should operate. The plan is therefore unable to pass the influential information to the target groups. PYSOPS management is poorly planned as the executives are less trained and therefore translates to their inability to strategically plan on how to meet the demands of the community and the nation at large. Planning is a vital aspect in all organizations and there fore poor planning will mean that even the laid down missions are poorly planned and there is no way poorly planned projects will prosper or be accomplished. Conclusion P YSOPS is a plan that requires a lot of attention from the government and should be funded accordingly with the necessary equipments. The personnel working in these plans should be adequately trained to ensure that they come up with viable planning strategies to ensure that the demands of the community are accomplished effectively. How to cite Development of a PSYOPS Plan, Papers