...1 Firearm Control Laws and Their Impact on Crime XXXX-XXXX 12/11/2014 2 Introduction Firearms have been around for hundreds of years. Their purpose is simple: to provide a person a quick and easy means of killing a living being, whether it is an animal or human. During the formation of the United States, the founding fathers attempted to create a list of rights they deemed, “inalienable.” Among these rights was the, “Right to bear arms”. Never has a Constitutional amendment generated so much publicity and heated debate. Many people feel that the founding fathers never could have predicted that firearms would evolve into weapons capable of a rate-of-fire greater than one round per minute. As such, they call for a new interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. They’re rationale being that allowing people to have access to firearms with “high” rates of fire actually increases violent and non-violent crime rates. Over the decades, there have been some changes in the interpretation of the 2nd Amendment, and laws have even been instated that follow the same rationale. Coincidentally, there has also been a drop in crime rates. In fact all crime rates, violent and non-violent, have been steadily decreasing since 1993. Statement of Problem The major problem for my research study is based on further understanding the connection between firearm control laws and crime rates in the United States. Looking at the use of firearms in crimes is difficult as there...
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...FASCINATION OF FIREARMS What is our fascination with firearms? Big or small, long or short, old or new, it doesn't really matter what type of firearm it is, most all human beings have a strong fascination with them, even if you don't like to use them, they're still interesting, and everyone knows what a "gun" is. But why the fascination? When you break it down it's a pretty simple idea and process as to how they work, nothing really complicated. Yet we have been making them for hundreds of years, and I'm sure we will continue to make them for several hundred more. Now when I say "firearm" most people probably think of a pistol, or perhaps a rifle of some sort, but when you really think about what a firearm is, you could consider a cannon a firearm. Obviously cannons are fun, but not really convenient or strictly-speaking, legal. That being said, it's easier to explain that firearms come in many shapes and sizes including handguns, shotguns, rifles and if you want to stretch, cannons as well, with each of these categories holding several sub-categories. To put it simply, there are numerous types of firearms designed for people of all ages, sizes, and tastes. There's pretty much a gun for everyone. So to address the question concerning the human fascination with firearms, it's pretty easy to understand, like any deadly weapon, having possession of a tool that can end life, especially with such ease and simplicity, is rather empowering. But I think for some people, including...
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...ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE Firearm Protocols CJ2570/ Week 4 Research October 13, 2013 Abstract Securing firearms at a crime scene is a meticulous task. Understanding firearm operations and knowing the different types of firearms can ensure safe handling of all weapon s found. The first duty of the investigator recovering a firearm or weapon is personal safety and the safety of anyone who will potentially come in contact with the item of evidence. The investigator then has to preserve the potential evidence the item may reveal. From semiautomatic pistols to shotguns and long rifles each weapon has different mechanical parts and disabled properly before handling. The forensic technician is tasked with rendering all firearms safe so they can be preserved and analyzed at the lab. Firearms are used in many crimes around the world. It is important to know the proper steps in handling firearms in any crime scene investigation. Analysis and comparison of firearms evidence depends on the type used. There are certain rules for collecting firearms, bullets and residue from a crime scene. Each one is different in characteristics from semiautomatic pistols to long rifles and shotguns. These weapons continue to evolve in manufacturing and forensic technicians must stay up to date and educated on new firearm technology. Handguns are most commonly used to commit crimes because they are smaller and can be...
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...policy makers, and everyday citizens are faced with answering the question, are there any legitimate restrictions on firearm ownership? The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (NARA, n.d) This statement, set forth by society’s Founding Fathers, has created a multitude of debates, beliefs, and restrictions. Congress passed the National Firearms Act In 1934, then later the President of the United States signed a law requiring gun dealers be licensed while recording the purchasers names and addresses. The 1968 Federal Gun Control Act, was enacted by Congress making it law following a turbulent time in history which was marred with the assassinations of several prominent public officials. The deaths, all due to firearms, included President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. This law categorizes people prohibited from owning guns including, those convicted of a felony, a fugitive, those who suffer from mental disorders, are minor in age, dishonorably discharged, or have a domestic violence conviction (NRA, 2011). It further restricts both firearm and ammunition sales from state to state and through the mail. Many raise the argument that surrounds firearm recreation, survival and self-defense, insisting the Second Amendment grants them the unalienable right to bear arms...
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...Handling firearms at a crime scene is a very important task not only for the potential evidence that can be lifted from it, but also for the safety of those involved in and anywhere near the people involved in. While handling any discovered gun at a crime scene it is imperative that you handle it was if it were actually loaded, this is a safety precaution because it is better safe than sorry. Before any firearm is touched it is a basic procedure that you photograph the firearm and sketch its location, you might need to photograph it multiple times because you need from long, mid, and short range photos with and without scales and evidence tags, with all of these in place the gun can now be examined. The steps listed above are the basic procedures...
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...October 20, 2014 Unit 4 firearms Mr. Barron SPO1-four primary safety rules * Never point a firearm at anything you don’t want to shoot or destroy * Treat all firearms as if they are loaded * Be aware of your backstop and what is beyond it * Keep your finger off the trigger until you have made the conscious decision to shoot. Range safety rules * Remember the four firearm safety rules * Lad only when instructed * Keep firearms pointed downrange * Never draw with finger inside of trigger guard * Do not handle firearm behind the shooters * Never permit muzzle of firearm to touch the ground * Never leave your firing point without firearm in safe condition * Never go in front of the firing line until line has been cleared * Pay attention to commands, ask for clarification if necessary. * If firearm malfunctions, clear it. If your are unable to correct it, signal instructor Firearm safety in the home * Each of you is responsible for the safety of others with firearms in your home. * Educate your immediate family * Remember, visitors in your home may encounter your or your issued firearms and safety and security is your responsibility * Home safety procedures: * Store firearms and ammunition separately, under lock and key. * Use commercial trigger locks. * Be consistent in how you store your firearms and ammunition at home. Have a routine and stay with it * Do not keep your...
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...Firearms and Gun control is a major issue in the U.S. because guns are not being used for the reasons in which they were designed to be used for. Which is why gun control is a hot topic mainly because of its uses, does a firearm cause more good than bad or vice verse. Guns and crime seem to be intertwined which is why many people believe if you take away guns you take away crime. But does placing restrictions on the owning of a firearm help lower crime rates or does it simply take protection away from the citizens? On average every year guns are used 80x more to protect a life than to kill somebody. But of course you also have to add in the fact some deaths cause by guns are accidents where the gun’s safety failed or it was being misused. With...
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...of guns on the community and the fear that they bring. With all the recent school shootings across the nation, having a gun shop in close proximity to elementary school age children puts them at higher risk to violence. Background Information Nova Firearms, a gun store in Mclean Virginia, has raised controversy about it's existence, and especially its location. The gun store is backed up to Franklin Sherman Elementary School. The store caused controversy and protests before it arrived in McLean, as well as after. NoVa Firearms was intended to be in the Cherrydale section of Arlington however after much protesting, the landlord dropped out. It then relocated to McLean, in the spot of a former photography studio, where it is located right next to the elementary school. A large protest against the store occurred on September 26th, protesting not as much the selling of guns, but its close proximity to the elementary school. NoVa firearms in completely legal and follows state guns zones (Trompeter). The federal states that there is a gun free zone within one thousand feet of a public or private school, however the store is exempt from this law because it is licensed...
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...personal possession of a firearm is a very touchy subject in this day and age. There are two distinct attitudes towards personal forearm possession laws in the United States and they are obvious; those for and those against. Both sides of this longstanding argument similarly have supporters who are extremely passionate about each individual’s rights or lack thereof, to possess a personal firearm for protection or other reasons. In the same way that detractors of personal firearm possession see their side as controlling irresponsible gun possession by untrained and immature users, the supporters of allowing for personal firearms see their side as controlling irresponsible possession of guns by those whose only use for them is to break more laws. Each of the groups recruits local support in the form of politicians, successful alum or famous athletes or actors to support their stance on the issue. Supporters of gun control and not allowing personal possession of a firearm cite the violence and street justice that laws allowing will bring, whereas supporters for personal possession of a firearm contend that this will do just the opposite and reduce crime and violence. Those against allowing personal firearm possession also contend that this will lead to more firearms on the streets, in the wrong hands, more crime at gunpoint and, ultimately more deaths as a result of the allowance of them. On the other hand, supporters for allowing personal firearms continually point out that...
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...Firearm Ownership in The United States COM 150 Firearm Ownership in The United States “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution has given Americans the right to firearm ownership since 1791. The exercising of this right has been part of how our society has been formed. Gun ownership in America has affected our economy, lifestyle, and politics throughout our history and continues to be a hot topic of discussion today. The economic impact of firearm ownership in America is not a defining one. This industry does not make or break our economy, but the contributions the industry and related industries make can be seen in the form of jobs and sales of goods. Companies who make items for the industry are located throughout the world and make a wide variety of products. These products include firearms, accessories, ammunition and gear. Many firearm manufacturers make accessories for their firearms to try and cash in on both markets. Some of the best-known manufactures throughout the world are Glock, Colt, Benelli, and FN Herstal. These companies not only make firearms for civilian use, they also compete for government contracts to provide weapon systems for the various militaries and police agencies worldwide. The firearm industry is one of the few industries that have grown during the most recent economic slump...
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...health. Many noble individuals have contributed to this pool of knowledge leaving legacies that have saved millions of lives and continue to save lives today. Included in the many facets of public health are injuries, both accidental and intentional. An article entitled “Firearm related injuries amongst children: Estimates from the nationwide emergency department sample” reports that close to 50,000 injuries result from violent acts within the US each year. A significant amount of those injuries involve the use of a firearm. Furthermore, in 2008 the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) reported that firearm injuries accounted for 14,831 ER visits by children alone. Although firearm injuries are unfortunate and dangerous in any situation, those involving children and adolescents are extremely despairing. The effects of a firearm injury in the early stages of life can not only have lasting physical effects, but can also result in psychological issues. Of the 14,831 ER visits mentioned, 494 died in the ER and 392 died following patient admission. Another article entitled “Variation in Pediatric and Adolescent Firearm Mortality Rates in Rural and Urban US Counties” reported 23,649 deaths from firearms over an 8-year span between the years of 1999 and 2006. Of these reported deaths, 15,190 were homicides, 7,082 were suicides, and 1,377 were unintentional deaths. The thing to notice about these figures...
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...Probation and Parole Officers the Carrying of Firearms Community Resources In Corrections - Fall, 2011 Date submitted Probation and Parole Officers have a common goal to protect the public. They play a vital role in the criminal justice process. The criminal offenders and the areas in which they work may be dangerous. The question of whether parole and probation officers should carry firearms has fueled controversy. Some who favor treatment-based model of supervision have objected to officers carrying a firearm, while others have embraced it. Some agencies throughout the United States have made carrying a weapon an option, some others have gone the mandatory route, while others still do not allow their officers to carry at all. Probation and parole officers experience violent incidents including verbal threats, attacks by offenders' dogs, bomb threats, physical assaults, and resisting arrest. Some argue that probation and parole agencies should authorize their officers to carry firearms in response to these challenges. Parole officers are supervising a violent offender population and are being asked to participate in more aggressive activities. Probation, like most important parts of the CJ system has tons of different positions from administration to actual Officers that get to work one on one with the offenders. The issue of probation/parole officers and firearms relates to whether the officer's role is counseling or...
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...Since the early 20th century, the practice of firearm and toolmark identification or comparison has been a crucial factor in forensic science. Agencies such as the FBI have introduced a standard operating procedure which helps to identify weapons and toolmarks. There are certain criteria that must be met to be considered a match. These criteria include multi-level matching of the items brought from the scene of a crime with the test specimens. (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/july2009/review/2009_07_review01.htm). “The examination process typically begins when an examiner receives a suspect firearm, along with bullets (the projectiles) and spent cartridge cases recovered from a crime scene.” (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab/forensic-science-communications/fsc/july2009/review/2009_07_review01.htm). Next, the suspect weapon is test-fired into a tank of water or a cotton filled recovery box so that bullets, together with their cartridge casings (which serve as a control) may be analyzed. The test-fired bullets are then examined via comparison microscope. This will confirm or rule out a relationship between the control and the bullets retrieved from a crime scene. According to the Firearms Tutorial, there are three possible results of comparison identification. Test-fired bullets and those retrieved from a crime scene may be related to the same weapon; may not be related to the same weapon; or not even be likened via this kind of test. ...
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...“Ethics” has at least three uses potentially relevant here. First, it can be a synonym for ordinary morality, those standards of conduct that apply to all moral agents simply because they are moral agents—“Don’t kill”, “Keep your promises”, “Help the needy”, and so on. Second, “ethics” can refer to those morally binding standards that apply to members of a group simply because they are members of that group. Legal ethics applies to lawyers and no one else; business ethics to people in business and no one else; and so on. Third, “ethics” can refer to a field of philosophy, that is, the attempt to understand morality (including its special standards) as part of a reasonable undertaking. Other names for “ethics” in this third sense include “moral theory” and “ethical theory”. I shall hereafter reserve “ethics” for the special-standards sense, using “morality” for the first sense and “moral theory” for the third. Given this terminology, some “ethical issues” identified in the call for our conference seem in part moral (whether or not they are also ethical, that is, whether or not they concern an 4 existing special standard or might lead to the adoption of such a standard). For example, the threat drones pose to people’s privacy is a moral issue.3 Every moral agent, even the agents of the global arms industry, should, all else equal, avoid contributing to the invasion of people’s privacy. Other issues, such as what to do about “government officials [who] expect some form of quid pro...
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...the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that was in place from 1994-2004. This law made it illegal to produce or purchase a firearm that had certain cosmetic features which had no effect of the lethality of the firearm when used as a weapon. The politicians had essentially banned firearms that they deemed looked scary. Now there is a push for a renewed Federal Assault Weapons Ban. It is imperative the people know that this infringement on our Second Amendment rights is constructed around banning firearms based on how they look instead of how effective they are as weapons. Fallacies of the Assault Weapons Ban There are many political issues in the world that incite strong emotional reactions from people from all walks of life. These issues can turn the tide of a political campaign because of the emotions involved with them. Quite often, the most emotion inspiring issues are related to individual rights and public safety. A major issue that is constantly debated by opposing interest groups is gun control. This is a topic that creates a firestorm of debate between people all over the country. On one side, there are the gun owners who believe the Second Amendment to the constitution is absolute and that citizens of the United States should be permitted to own any firearms they want. On the other side, there are gun prohibition groups who believe that all firearms should be banned. Both of these points of view are the extreme ends of the spectrum. Most people tend to be in favor...
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