Recent legislative developments, however, are progressively bringing guns out of the private domain, with the ultimate aim of enshrining them in public life.
WHO, through its creation of a Department of Research Policy and Cooperation within the cluster of Evidence and Information for Policy, has defined as one of its objectives: "the development of initiatives aimed at strengthening research capacity in the developing world with the ultimate aim of enshrining research as a foundation for policy".
Superannuation associations and the finance industry are supportive of enshrining an objective in the bill but think it needs to acknowledge the aim is not just to supplement the pension but to provide an "adequate" level of retirement income.
Backed by Barack Obama, the rules aim to enshrine the principle of net neutrality – the idea that all information is treated equally online and internet service providers, like Comcast, cannot discriminate against or prioritise services or sites.
The ISC surprised commentators with its critical report on the IP bill, given how much emphasis the security-cleared committee placed on the importance of enshrining privacy protections in a piece of legislation aimed at expanding security agency powers.
It also aims to enshrine various bulk capabilities in UK law, although these powers have faced opposition, including from the official opposition Labour party, and are the subject of an outside review — due to report later this summer.
It was the first of a litany of worthy aims enshrined in the United Nations "millennium development goals" (MDGs).
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) produces "carbon budgets", setting out what the government should aim to achieve at various stages en route to the eventual aim, enshrined in legislation, of cutting emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050.
The aim of the movement was to enshrine in law the same kind of antidiscrimination principle that protected persons based on their race.
Rich private collectors have traditionally supplied museums with both money and art, often with the aim of having their collections, names attached, enshrined.
This week a letter from Dr Fox to Mr Cameron, in which the former took issue with the government's plan to enshrine in law its aim of raising international-aid spending to 0.7% of GDP, was leaked, as was another letter from Dr Fox to the prime minister about defence cuts last year.His discomfort is likely to worsen.
