Le débat sur le port d'armes aux Etats-Unis et le rôle de la NRA (National Rifle Association)

The question of the regulation of handguns is "one of the most divisive social issues in American society" because "firearms in general, and handguns in particular, are emblematic of individual autonomy and freedom from government intrusion" . This debate is actually centered on the Second Amendment to the Constitution which protects "the rights of people to keep and bear arms". Currently more of 250 000 000 firearms are hold by American individuals for a global population of 300 000 000 people.
Thus this right to keep and bear arms for his own security seems to be really important in the eyes of the Americans. However, since several years, more and more Americans are favourable to an increased control concerning the selling of handguns.
Moreover after incidents such as the school-shooting of Littleton (Columbine) in April 1999 which resulted in the deaths of 14 students and a teacher and more recently in a shooting in Los Angeles, many states and cities are becoming aware of the dangers of the free movement of weapons. That's why each of them attempts to adopt solutions to this problem. Nevertheless we have to underline that in spite of this guns control tendency, the government has never made strong decision to increase it significantly. Indeed, there are an improbable number of active national Pro-Firearms organizations which look after the respect of the second amendment. The most important and influent of these lobbyists is the national rifle association. This non profit group has a sizeable influence among the government and especially with the Republicans.
How did this pro-guns lobby react to these shootings and this shift in the public opinion, and how does the nra continue to defend the right to bear arms?

First of all I would like to present quickly the nra, and to explain how it can influence the action of the government concerning gun laws.
Then I would like to try to explain some reasons of the change of the public opinion and how does the nra react in the face of this shift and of the criticism of other groups which advocate gun control.