Leisure and tourism operations management Essay

Leisure and tourism operations management - Essay Example The Service Concept Service quality is the method to manage the business processes to ensure customer satisfaction at all levels. Hospitality sector was identified by the atrium concept designs, service and the hotel industry has seen many developments in past few years. In the hotel industry, the customer chooses to buy service depending on its quality (Panda, 2006). The Service Package (The mixture of goods and services that make up the service) The service provided by hotel is based on guests / customers. The service package includes providing online room / air ticket reservations and chuffer driven car to pick up guests from airport. The hotel provides facilities such as elevators , central heating , in room radio , bar , electric elevator, centralized computer, electric cash register, free in room movies, video conferencing features, swimming pools, separate swimming pool for children, golf ground, sports activities, gym, beauty parlors and in-house restaurants and shops. Servic e Processes According to Sampson service processes are where the customer provides most of the inputs to the production process (Sampson, 2000). Service is interaction of customer and producers. The service process in the hotel includes booking airline tickets and hotel rooms through internet and on reaching the city, the guests are picked up by the vehicle of the hotel. The customers can even make direct call to the hotel to book tickets and there are other means by which you can book rooms at the hotel. The complete information related to the hotel is provided through its website and local marketing means. Service Processes (Type): Runners, Repeaters & Strangers The hotel provides free introductory scuba diving lessons for strangers and also a hotel run kid clubs for family travelers. The hotel is a leader in its business model due to the high class service. Since, Turkey is a popular tourist destination every year many visitors come to the hotel. Fitzgerald Typology (Volume/Varie ty) To design a service system the importance of variability should be determined (Kannan and Proenca, 2010) .The hotel has 200 rooms which includes standard rooms, suits and deluxe rooms and during the peak seasons from October to March the demand for rooms is very high. It provides many different type of entertaining and engaging activities to guests such as dance parties, music evenings etc) to enable convenient and enjoyable stay at the hotel. Visitors from different parts of world come to the place and the hotel staffs have to meet the variability in demands. Capability and Commodity Processes The hotel has the capability to accommodate more than 100 guests at one time but sometimes in peak season it becomes difficult to handle varieties of customers. The service is handled by the front desk employees. Schmenner Typology (1995) Schmenner typology identifies four different types of service processes which include service factory, service shops, mass service and professional serv ice. The hotel provides professional service where the staff immediately responds in professional manner to every call and provides the desired service. Though professional services it is easy to handle variability in customer call. Service Processes (Location and Mapping) Internet provides complete informat

The Role of IMF(International Monetary Fund) and its impact on Poblic PowerPoint Presentation

The Role of IMF(International Monetary Fund) and its impact on Poblic Policy in China and South Korea - PowerPoint Presentation Example This necessitates the need to establish the role played by the IMF in promoting these countries development. IMF is an international organization that was established in the post world war II period. The aim of its establishment was to enhance the stability of foreign exchange. It was also meant to create a channel through which international payment systems would be reconstructed. This followed the disruption of the payment systems during the World War II. Initially, it had a membership of 44 countries. However, its membership stands at 188 in present day. The member countries contribute towards a common pool, from where countries with deficits can borrow. The roles of the IMF have also changed, to include financial and technical assistance to affected member countries. The effects of IMF in East Asia are innumerable. However, the most significant is the assistance of these countries during the financial crisis of East Asia in 1997. Nevertheless, the critics of this role argue that the IMF did not save the situation. They argue that that the higher interest rates charged, the tight monetary policies issued and the forced cut in government budget worsened the situation. However, it is apparent that the financial bailouts given to these countries by the IMF helped them to recover from the crisis. The IMF has influenced China’s public policy in various ways. It maintains and engages in policy dialogue with the Chinese authorities. It helps the Chinese government refine its economic and structural refer issues. The IMF identifies and monitors economic development in China. It helps the Chinese government and authorities undertake developmental and policy implementations. It achieves this through exchanging views regarding these issues. The economic situation of China has changed since it joined IMF. China has grown immensely both economically and socially since joining the IMF. It has

Cask of Amontialldo - Character Traits Essay Example for Free

Cask of Amontialldo Character Traits Essay The character of Montresor in, â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† is one who can only be defined with words along the lines of evil, or wicked. He vows to avenge the bold and childish Fortunato, whom Montresor swears did him wrong. Montresor could be described with many bold words, one being guilty. Though he is guilty, he is determined not to get caught. For instance, Montresor declares, â€Å"I must not only punish, but punish with impunity† (Poe, 1). Essentially, he is saying he will seek revenge on Fortunato, but he will get away with the vicious crime. Another obvious character trait for the devious Montresor, is dishonest. He claims to have obtained a cask of Amontillado, when the reader can tell through situational irony this is not true. He claims, â€Å" I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, but I have my doubts† (Poe 1). Fortunato unknowingly follows the fiend, and in theory, seals his own fate. Montresor is also quite sneaky. He slyly gets Fortunato into a small inlet in his wine cellar also a home for skeletal remains. He hastily chains him up before the poor Fortunato can even realize what’s happening. Explaining the situation, Montresor says, â€Å" inding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered a moment more and i fettered him to the granite† (Poe 4). Lastly, Montresor is just plain mysterious. Readers never know exactly why he decided to go after Fortunato, but it is hinted he offended the killer in some way. When asked about his coat of arms, Montresor blatantly states, â€Å"A human foot the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel† (Poe 3). The motto underneath is â€Å"nemo me impune lacessit† (Poe 3). To conclude, Montresor plays not only a degrading character, but one of many evils.

Theoretical Framework for Research Study

Theoretical Framework for Research Study Chapter 3 Research Methodology 3.0 Overview As chapter 1 had discussed about the introduction to the research and chapter 2 had provided an insight into the literature review, chapter 3 would be focusing on the research methodology that would be carried out during the course of the research. In essence, it is the foundation of how data would be collected and analyzed. Chapter 3 would begin by discussing on the theoretical framework designed specifically for this paper, encompassing and providing an overview and relationships of all the variables present in this research. From then on, 3.2 would discuss about the different forms of hypotheses development and the chosen method for the researchers hypotheses. Proceeding through, 3.3 would discuss about the sampling design, or in other words, how the researcher intends to represent the target population. This section also gives detailed steps on the researchers planned implementation of a pilot test, the sampling design method used and the sampling procedures that would be initiated. Section 3.4 would then touch base on the data collection methods that would be used by the researcher, both secondary and primary sources. The data analysis section would be under 3.5, where techniques regarding the methods of data analysis and hypotheses testing would be discussed. Chapter 3 would then conclude with a chapter summary at 3.6. 3.1 Theoretical Framework The theoretical framework has been created to be a â€Å"conceptual framework of how one theorizes or makes logical sense of the relationships among the factors that have been identified as important to the problem† (Sekaran, 2003). It is developed to have an insight into the inter-relationships among the variables that exist in this research. Throughout this research, there are three set of variables have been identified to be of utmost importance to the researcher and can be categorized as the dependent and independent, and moderating variable. The dependent variable is the variable of primary interest to the researcher, in order to predict its variability. This variable is often known as the outcome variable. In this research, the dependent variable refers to the purchase of luxury goods by Generation Y. The independent variables on the other hand, are the factors that influence the dependent variable in a positive or negative way or in this context, the factors that influence the purchase of luxury goods. Figure 3.1 provides an insight into the relationship between both set of variables. 3.2 Hypotheses Development A hypothesis can be defined as â€Å"a supposition made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation† (www.askoxford.com). Generally, reference group influence is a group of people influences the individuals behaviour. They give the information and provide the awareness to specific brands or products. The reference groups influence can be affected through peer, families, celebrities and others are the key that etermine the purchase decision of Generation Y. â€Å"People tend to behave in accordance with a frame of reference produced by the groups to which they belong† (Bearden and Etzel 1982). Therefore, this study believes that the association exits between reference groups influence and purchase of luxury goods. To empirically proven this association, the first hypothesis of this study is formed as followed: H1: There is a significant relationship between reference groups influence and purchase of luxury goods. The conspicuous consumption is used to display wealth, power and status. Veblenian consumers attach a greater importance to price as an indicator of prestige because they wan to impress others. Price of the products determine the quality of the products which used by the consumers to judge the products. The researches show that â€Å"conspicuousness of a product was positively related to its susceptibility to reference group influence† (Vigneron and Johnson, 1999). Besides that, identity or self concept also has been display from the consumers to show the status and wealth. The conspicuous consumption had dominated in numerous researches, and it can be stated that conspicuous is important to be identify as perceived value (Vigneron and Johnson, 1999). Thus, the following hypothesis is formed for the association between perceived conspicuous vale and purchase of luxury goods. H2: There is a significant relationship between perceived conspicuous value and purchase of luxury goods. The perfectionist effect exists when â€Å"consumers purchase luxury items and expects superior products and performance as well as quality† (Vigneron and Johnson, 1999). The research conducted by Barnier, Rodina, Florence (2005) found that quality is the main criteria lead to luxury purchase. According to Luong Thi Bich Thuy (2008), â€Å"the consumers quality perception would play a positive role over his or her perception of prestige over the same brand if the consumer perceived the brand as having an excellent level of quality†. Thus, the following hypothesis is formed for the association between perceived quality vale and purchase of luxury goods. H3: There is a significant relationship between perceived quality value and purchase of luxury goods. Brand image can be defines as â€Å"perceptions about a brand as reflected by the brand associations held in consumer memory† (Keller, 1993; Cheng, 2006; Rio, Varques, Iglesias, 2001). It influences consumer perception and crucial to purchase choice. Consumers able to evaluate the products, lower the purchase risk, obtain experience and recognize the product differentiation through brand image. According to Grewal, Krishnan, Baker, and Borin (1998), â€Å"the better a brand image is, the more recognition consumers give to its product quality†. Thus, the fourth hypothesis of study is as follow: H4: There is a significant relationship between brand image and purchase of luxury goods. Aesthetics have strong influence on purchase of luxury good and it should always be the case according to Dubois, Laurent, Czellar (2001). Aesthetics reflects a sensory response in an audience such as satisfaction, pleasure or affect. â€Å"The aesthetics dimension is composed of design, colour and style that create beauty, they are of primary importance† (Barnier, Rodina, Florence, 2005). The research also proved that French, Russian and UK consumers have a hedonic approach for luxury derived from aesthetics which Aesthetics dimension in France earned the highest position, 29%, in comparison to Russia, 19% and the UK, 15%. Hence, the fifth hypothesis is formed for the association between aesthetics and purchase of luxury goods. H5: There is a significant relationship between aesthetics and purchase of luxury goods. 3.3 Population and Sampling 3.3.1 Population â€Å"Population can be defined as total number of inhabitants constituting a particular race, class, or group in a specified area.† (http://www.answers.com/topic/population, no date). With reference to the topic at hand, the researcher has set that the target population for this research would be the Generation Y in Malaysia. Even the generation Y has been defined as born in between 1977 and 1994 by Horovitz (2002) and Sriviroj 2007, the study would survey specifically generation Y who are aged between 20 and 29 which focus on the college students, university students and young working adults. 3.3.2 Pilot Test for Questionnaire â€Å"Pilot test is a smaller version of a larger study that is conducted to prepare for that study to ensure that the ideas or methods behind a research idea are sound, as well as to â€Å"work out the kinks† in a study protocol before launching a larger study.† (http://ms.about.com/od/newsresearch/g/pilot_study.htm, no date). In this research, the researcher intends to conduct a pilot study containing 10 questionnaires to university students in Multimedia University Melaka in order to justify the content and reliability of the questionnaire. This is done as the researcher feels that the students in the University campus serve as a just representation of the intended target population. The feedback from the respondents will be corrected before distributing to the targeted respondent. 3.3.3 Sampling Design Method A sample of the population can be drawn from one of two ways, either in the form of probability sampling or non probability sampling. Sekaran (2003) described that â€Å"when elements in a population have a known chance of being chosen as subjects in the sample, we resort to probability sampling design†. There are several forms of probability sampling. The first is simple random sampling which also known as unrestricted sampling. In a simple random sample (SRS) of a given size, all such subsets of the frame are given an equal probability. Each element of the frame thus has an equal probability of selection. Simple random sampling is also known as unrestricted sampling. The other form is known as restricted or complex probability sampling. â€Å"The main difference between the two is that efficiency is improved in that more information can be obtained for a given sample size using some of the complex probability sampling procedures† (Sekaran, 2003). Example of this form of sampling is the stratified random sampling method where the population is divided into subgroups and subsequently sub samples. On the flipside, Sekaran (2003) stated that non probability sampling designs are those where â€Å"elements in the population do not have any probabilities attached to being chosen as sample subjects†. One popular mode in this kind on sampling is the convenience or accidental sampling method. It is one â€Å"that is simply available to the researcher by virtue of its accessibility† (Bryman and Bell, 2003). The selection of units from the population is based on easy availability and/or accessibility in convenience sampling. The researcher intended to proceed with the convenience sampling method based on two reasons. First of all, the data can be collected easily which is the main advantage and another advantage is that it is much cheaper to implement than probability sampling (Jankowicz, 2005). 3.3.4 Sample Size The question of how many people should be in ones sample depends on the form of sampling adopted. â€Å"Convenience sampling, sometimes called grab or opportunity sampling, is the method of choosing items arbitrarily and in an unstructured manner from the frame†. (www.wikipedia.com, no date). A total of 200 Generation Y would be surveyed in Malaysia. 3.3.5 Sampling Procedure The sampling procedure would start once the feedback from the pilot study and the questionnaires for the survey is finalized. The questionnaires would be by printed handouts of by the researcher to the general public who fall under the age range of 20 to 29 years of age. This would typically be done in the State of Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and Pulau Pinang. A total of 500 printed questionnaires would be given out in the process. 3.4 Data Collection method 3.4.1 Secondary Data Through this research, secondary data is collected from mainly journals especially in those area concerning consumer behavior and luxury goods, informational website, articles, and books. Previous researches from a variety of authors were found from databases that include Emerald, Google Scholar and others. These sources of data provided useful background information on the luxury goods market, as well as indicating investigations that had already been taken place. 3.4.2 Primary Data Sakaran (2003) stated â€Å"data gathered for research from the actual site of occurrence of events are called primary data†. The questionnaire will be used as the primary method to collect primary data on the factors that influence Generation Y on purchase of luxury goods. 3.5 Data Analysis There are 3 objectives in the usage of data analysis. â€Å"Getting a feel for the data, testing the goodness of the data and testing the hypotheses developed for the research† (Sekaran, 2003). The first objective of getting a feel for the data is to get an idea of how the respondents reacted to the questionnaires and how they are answered. The second objective of testing the goodness of the data is to test the reliability of the data gathered. Lastly, is to test the hypotheses of the research with various research tools. 3.5.1 Descriptive Analysis Descriptive analysis will be conducted to examine the background of the respondent and the pattern of their responses. Frequency analysis will be carried out to study the background of the respondents that contribute in this study. The mean, range, standard deviation and variance would also be calculated using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) to show the variability of the data and gauge the pattern of the questions answered. 3.5.2 Hypotheses Testing After the data is ready to be analyzed, the testing of the hypotheses would be the next logical step. There are many frequent hypothesis testing modules used by researchers to test their hypotheses. The researcher has decided to use the ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and Reliability Analysis for this research. 3.6 Chapter Summary In this study, the framework has been developed to meet the objectives of the study. Hypotheses have been developed from the framework and questionnaire has been designed to collect the primary data for the study. Next, the sampling design and methods to obtain data were considered and discussed for this study. The results of the primary data will be analyzed by using SPSS. Results of the analysis and interpretation of the results are presented in the next chapter.

LVMH?s Diversification :: essays research papers

LVMH’s Diversification Strategy into Luxury Goods The problem After the case and readings the problems of LVMH there are several problems such as the declining demand for luxury goods because it is linked to political events, situation and social trends. (After the attacks of 9/11 an impact on luxury goods has dropped and had automatically an impact on LVMH sales) Secondly luxury products are easy to counterfeit, some countries such as china, turkey, and other still have to improve their IPR policies And finally LVMH diversification strategy (Bernard Arnault) is making acquisitions outside the company’s sector. In sector where they don’t have the â€Å"know-how† and don’t match the company Image. The current CEO (Arnault Bernard) is also the major shareholder which makes him easier to make decisions on new acquisitions The swot analysis Strength: †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Name recognition which makes them the largest product marketplace †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their experience during the time †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leading position †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quality provider †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Distribution †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Public Relation Weaknesses †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their Diversification †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conflict of interest (fashion vs. wine and spirits) †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Forward and backward integration †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Luxury goods are easy to imitate. (Perfumes, Louis Vuitton bags†¦) †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finance problems: net sales decreased by nearly 6% in 2003 †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Declining shares Opportunities †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Merger and acquisition †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Consumer trends †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Current increase in wealth †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Emerging market †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Improvement of way of selling their large product line (distribution channels) †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Expansion to other markets Threats †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Change in consumer taste †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic recession †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Competitor in smaller markets †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Counterfeit Recommendation Focus on core business To expand the current existing brands geographically. Alliances with new creators Gain access to distribution channels as a different proposition Sell the acquisition which don’t fit the company image Implementation Choose several countries to enter that is suitable for the luxury market and in order to develop the strategy of the company

Comments on Society in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman :: Death Salesman essays

Comments on Society in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman Often times when we read literature, we can derive certain ideas or messages that the author of the work is trying to illustrate. After reading the play Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller, it is evident that he is trying to comment on our society . These comments on society being expressed are demonstrated in several examples throughout the play.   I think the idea that Miller is trying to get across to the audience is that, today's society is filled with people who don't get the credit they deserve for the "little things" they do in life.   These people in society are like "unsung heroes" because the hard work they do might be overlooked. If others around you see that you are not living up to their expectations or their standards, they may put you down instead of giving you the credit you deserve. Other times we do not appreciate the "little things" that our loved ones do for us until it is too late. Usually these little things impact us the most.   In this play, I think the "unsung hero" is no doubt Willy Loman, an aging salesman, father, and husband to the Loman Family. For example in the play, Willy is getting old and his success in business is suddenly declining. His salary was even taken away, leaving him to depend only on commission. Because of this, his two sons Biff and Happy, along with others that knew him, constantly put him down for not always being on top, saying how he didn't have any character, and that he was crazy. No one knew him at work anymore and no one showed Willy the respect he needed. Others looked down on him not realizing how exhausted he was trying to make a living just for his family. In reality,   Willy would drive 700 miles to work and come home without even earning a cent. He had to borrow money from Charley just to provide food on the table so that he could provide a future for his sons. I think that Willy should've been acknowledged for that in itself but instead, his two sons never even t ook the time out to thank him for just going out everyday trying to make it in the world. Unfortunately, Biff and Happy could only fully realize this when Willy was at the end of his rope, secretly trying to kill himself.

A Weapon for Self Defense

A Weapon for Self Defense The following celebrities have stated his or her stance on gun control in the following quotes. Ted Nugent states, â€Å"To my mind [sic] it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness? How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic. (Buckeye Firearms Association 2009). Clint Eastwood also states, â€Å"I have a strict gun control policy: if there is a gun around, I want to be in control of it. (Buckeye Firearms Association 2009). Finally, James Earl Jones was quoted as saying, â€Å"The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise [sic] they will win and the decent people will lose. † (Buckeye Firearms Association 2009). Are these quotes to be considered opinionated views? Perhaps, but each is logical and valid. Should law-abiding citizens have the opti on to own and carry a gun for the use of self-defense? The answer is yes.While gun control advocates fight for stricter gun control laws; anti-gun control supporters believe that stricter gun control laws will limit and prohibit a citizen’s Constitutional right to â€Å"keep and bear arms†. There are enough extensive gun control laws already. Creating and passing stricter gun control laws would only make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to protect his or herself. Self-Defense Guns are used 2. 5 million times a year in self-defense (Gun Owners of America 2004). What is this organization and who are they to provide such a startling statistic?The Gun Owners of America is an organization created in 1975 and currently has 300,000 members. Gun Owners of America was founded, â€Å"to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. † (Gun Owners of America 2004). With a statistic like that, what law-abiding citizen would not want to own a gun fo r self-defense? The Gun Owners of America (2004) further states that: Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2. 5 times every year – or about 6,850 times a day.This means that each year, firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives. (Gun Owners Foundation, 2004 p. 1) To support the issue of self-defense further, the article, â€Å"Is Gun Ownership Dangerous† (2009) describes the reasons for the right of an individual to own and use a gun in self-defense. The most significant dispute that supporters of gun rights argue consists of the right for each individual in our American society to be allowed to have possession of a gun and is allowed to exercise the right to use a gun for means of self-protection.Gun right advocates suggest that police officers are unable to defend individuals in their house, vehicles, or communal places from criminal offenders, because the offic ers usually enter the scene of the crime subsequently to the crime taken place. In concurrence with this observation, an individual’s only defense if he or she fall victim to burglary, sexual attack, or murder; is having a device that will permit him or her to defend him or herself.In many arguments, gun supporters suggest, if an individual presents a firearm in observation of a criminal, this simple act might be all it takes to discourage and inhibit an offense from occurring. If an assailant persists, supporters of gun rights state that an individual possessing a firearm still has the opportunity to avoid any risk of being assaulted (Guns and Crime, 2009). Gun Control Laws According to the above stated statistics, why do gun control advocates continue to fight for stricter gun control laws? The National Rifle Association Institute for Legal Action does not believe that stricter gun control laws are necessary.Who is this group and what do they stand for? The National Rifle A ssociation Institute for Legal action was founded in 1975 and currently has 300,000 members. This group consists of anti-gun control advocates who are dedicated to protecting the right of all United States citizens to procure, own and utilize firearms for lawful reasons as pledged within the United States Constitution within the Second Amendment. Andrew Arulanandam, the National Rifle Association’s Director of Public Affairs stated, â€Å"We have adequate gun laws on the books and if a crime occurs, those criminals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.The question becomes how do you [sic] make something that is already illegal more illegal. † [sic] Jost (2008). Furthermore Jost (2008) reveals the following: Gun advocates – including the powerful, 3-million-member National Rifle Association – defend what they view as an individual constitutional right to use firearms in hunting, sport shooting and self-defense. They argue that gun owners and dealers are already subject to a web of federal, state and local firearms laws and regulations. The key to reducing gun violence, they say, lies with tougher penalties against criminals who use guns, instead of more restrictions on gun owners. Jost, 2008, p. 2) The resolution lies in stricter laws and enforced punishments for illegal gun usage and sales, not stricter laws that prohibit or exclude law-abiding citizens from obtaining and owning guns for self-defense. However, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is determined to prove individuals and officials otherwise. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is an organization that guides the fight to prevent gun violence, along with other grassroot organizations. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence originated from an organization known as Handgun Control, Inc.Jim and Sarah Brady are the founders of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Jim Brady was the Whitehouse Press Secretary when Ronald Reagan was in office. Brady and the former President were both shot by John Hinckley who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981. (Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence 2009). According to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (2009), its goal is stated that, â€Å"As the Brady Center, we work to reform the gun industry by enacting and enforcing sensible regulations to reduce gun violence, including regulations governing the gun industry. What has this organization accomplished? The answer is The Brady Law. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, also known as â€Å"Brady Law† was signed into law on November 30, 1993, and went into effect in February 1994. In its original form, the Brady Law required a five-day waiting period and background check before completion of the sale of a handgun. Unfortunately, the gun lobby was able to weaken the Brady so that on November 30, 1998, the five-day waiting period for handgun purchasers expired.It was replaced by a mandatory, computeri zed National Instant Check System, which provides the information for criminal background checks on all firearm purchasers, not just those buying handguns. The results were devastating. (Brady Campaign to Prevent Violence 2007) What have stricter gun control laws contributed to so far? Death, as explained in the following cases. Erich Pratt is the Director of Communications for the Gun Owners of America. Pratt (2001) stated that, â€Å"ten years ago this month, a Brady –style waiting period resulted in the death of Bonnie Elsmari of Wisconsin. † This is Bonnie Elsmari’s story:In March of 1991, Bonnie had inquired about getting a gun to protect herself [sic] from a husband who had repeatedly threatened to kill her. She was told there was a 48 hour waiting period to buy a handgun. But unfortunately, Bonnie was never able to pick up her gun. She and her two sons were killed the next day by an abusive husband of whom the police were well aware. (Gun Owners of Americ a 2001). This is Rayna Ross’s story: On June 29, 1993, at three o’clock in the morning, a 21-year-old woman named Rayna Ross was awakened by the sound of a burglar who had broken into her apartment and entered her bedroom.The burglar was her ex-boyfriend, a man who had previously assaulted her. This time, having smashed his way into her apartment, he was armed with a bayonet. Miss Ross took aim with a . 380 semi-automatic pistol and shot him twice. The burglar’s death was classified as a â€Å"justifiable homicide† by the Prince William county commonwealth’s attorney, which determined that Miss Ross had acted lawfully in shooting the attacker. Here’s the real scary part to this story, Miss Ross had bought her handgun one full business day before the attack, thanks to Virginia’s â€Å"instant background check. Virginia’s 1993 Democratic candidate for the governor, Mary Sue Terry (endorsed by Handgun Control, Inc. ), proposed th at although the Virginia instant check already checks all handgun buyers – Virginia handgun purchasers should undergo a â€Å"cooling-off period† of five business days. Had the proposal been law in Virginia in 1993, Rayna Ross would now be undergoing a â€Å"permanent† permanent cooling off period. This is Catherine Latta’s story: In September [sic] 1990, Catherine Latta went to police to obtain permission to buy a handgun. Her ex-boyfriend had previously robbed her, assaulted her several times, and raped her.The clerk at the sheriff’s office informed her that the gun permit would take two to four weeks. Ms Latta told the clerk, â€Å"I’d be dead by then†. That afternoon she went to a bad part of town and bought an illegal $20 semi-automatic pistol on the street. Five hours later, her ex-boyfriend attacked her outside her house, and she shot him dead. Fortunately in this case, the county prosecutor decided not to prosecute Ms. Latta f or either the self-defense homicide, or the illegal gun. Now why is it, that stricter gun control laws are needed? Gun control laws have contributed only innocent people dying.Gun control advocates believe that stricter gun control laws will reduce violence, prevent accidental deaths, and deter crime. There has been no proof to show that by enforcing stricter gun control laws, violence will decrease. There has been no evidence that enforcing stricter gun control laws criminals will be deterred from committing violent crimes. However, it is evident that the enforcement of stricter gun control laws will hinder a law-abiding citizen the ability to own a firearm for self-defense. The citizens of the United States have the right to protect themselves and their families.Although many gun control advocates will continue to try to infringe on the gun rights of the law-abiding citizens of the United States, Americans who take advantage of their Constitutional right to bear arms, will continu e to legally possess a firearm and furthermore continue to support anti-gun control advocates in their on-going efforts to defend our freedoms. Do individuals want to be part of the effort to defend our freedoms, therefore choosing the right to possess a gun in order to protect themselves and their families? The answer is yes.