#justanothersale?

My mind works in unique ways.  I'm on my way to visit my Aunt on one of my days off work, and the Diane Rehm show is on the local NPR affiliate.  The segment of the program I get to listen to is an interview with the author of a book on alcoholism among women.  During the interview, the author mentions the efforts the industry, especially the spirits industry, has made to to reach and entice women.  

The beer, wine, and spirits industry and the companies that make it up are no different from many other industries.  To varying degrees, they aren't concerned about the consequences of their products.  Now the alcohol industry does show more concern about the effects of its products than say the tobacco or even the fossil fuels; oil, coal and natural gas, but they may still see little a person as little more than a sale  

Of course, groups have sprouted up to counter all of these as well.  Mothers Against Drunk Driving, various anti-tobacco campaigns and efforts like 350.org are devoted to countering the influence of industry lobbies.  

One group that may be matched only by the tobacco industry in it's denial of the damage their product causes is the firearms industry.  As the Violence Policy Center has pointed out, the National Rifle Association is heavily funded by manufacturers.  It's understandable, the NRA's insurrectionist rhetoric guarantees a steady stream of sales.  

A further thing that the NRA guarantees for manufacturers is that sales be made with little question.  Straw purchases, where a person who can legally purchase firearms purchases multiple weapons, potentially to sell on the streets to criminals, are unable to be stopped.  The opposition to universal background checks, and gun show loopholes, all mean manufacturers can reap the profits without any price, since the manufacturers are virtually immune from liability and are not subject to many of the regulations that other industries are subject to. 

But much like MADD a group has sprung up to counter the NRA.  Mom's Demand Action, a group inspired by MADD has come from the tragedy of Newtown.  They have already won a small victory in getting Starbucks to change it's policy towards guns in its stores.  Staples is their next target, and I could see business by business, firearms ownership having the same social stigma as smoking.  Perhaps people will be less likely to "pick up the habit".  

And that would spell a problem for firearms manufacturers, who could see their business threatened.  But what about the threats their products pose.  One thing I have seen from various sources with October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month is how often the gun that kills a woman is owned by the abusive partner.  To the manufacturer, that abuser, and eventual killer, was #justanother sale.