...Gun Control in the United States With recent tragedies like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as other mass shootings like the massacre at Virginia Tech, the debate over gun control is at the forefront of American politics. This debate is extremely controversial, as it calls to question some deeply rooted American traditions. In general terms, on one side of the debate are those who support looser regulation of guns in the United States. These people firmly believe in their second amendment right to bear arms. Opposing them on the other side are Americans who support the tightening of gun restrictions in the United States. These people believe that several laws must be passed to make access to firearms limited. The debate over gun control in the United States is both a social and economic issue. This is apparent through the role interest groups, as well as public opinion in the debate over firearm regulations. Through these two political linkage mechanisms, we can see how well democratic principles like popular sovereignty and political equality are maintained through this debate. Public opinion remains one of the most powerful influences on public policy in the United States. This is why politicians are constantly referencing the enormous volume of public opinion polling conducted in the United States. These polls allow representatives to see what their constituents think about certain issues and tailor their agenda accordingly. However, as we will see...
Words: 2426 - Pages: 10
...with a gun? Seeing that news on the television or on your phone just ruins your day or makes you feel uneasy about people who own guns. There are people who are trying to find a way to stop the suicides and homicides occurring. One answer that politicians talk a great deal about is gun control, and another would be for stricter gun laws for gun owners. But the question cover with this paper is; will gun control cut down the number of suicides and homicides or will it not? In “Gun Control Is a Misfire” Marc Cooper shows what the liberals and the NRA both get wrong. Cooper, a contributing editor to The Nation, retired from the journalism faculty at the USC Annenberg School, has reported on politics and culture for...
Words: 1238 - Pages: 5
...Civic Club during the party and were contemplating whether it should be shut down early. The alleged story is teenagers at the party were involved in an altercation and one opened fire. For weeks, the suspect had not been named because he was considered a juvenile; however, sixteen year old, Nakeydran Williams, is now being tried as an adult for murder. This tragedy is the perfect example of how easy gun possession is and how extreme the outcome of a crime committed with a gun can be. What should be done about gun possession to control crime is the question at hand. Although there are people that essentially think having more guns will decrease the crime rate, a better option may be implementing stricter regulations and consequences for gun possession, possibilities may include implementing stricter background checks whenever a gun is being purchased, making the consequences for juveniles who violate curfew stronger, and making the consequences of any type of armed violation an extreme offense that may lead to life without parole. Finding an answer that will stop crime due to gun possession is nearly impossible. The situation is not an easy fix because everyone has a different viewpoint when it comes...
Words: 1173 - Pages: 5
...American Government 3/14/2013 Gun Control The gun control debate is clearly one of the most contentious and controversial issues in America today and the battle over gun control is now being waged through intensive media campaigns from both sides of the political spectrum to influence public opinion and to assert pressure on policy makers. It is a debate that has not been resolved and will never be. “The right to bear arms”, an amendment prioritized by our founding fathers, which earned the very second spot on the list of birth rights as Americans. However, with constant tragedies striking the United States, such as massacres in public high schools and universities, mall shootings, and attempted assassinations on state representatives, it’s no wonder law makers are constantly debating the topic of gun control. Given the strong evidence that the level of gun violence is related to “relaxed gun laws”, why don’t we do more to enact stiffer gun laws? In America guns have been a part of the country’s society since its birth. Throughout history, the citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, to hunt for food and to engage in sporting activities. Criminals on the other hand, they don't listen to laws, and will take advantage of the newly unarmed law abiding citizen. As shown in statistics and studies, cities with more gun control have more gun murders, due to the fact that a law abiding citizen can't carry a gun with him, but a criminal will...
Words: 1939 - Pages: 8
...Barack Obama’s speech on Gun violence Gun violence is a huge problem in the United States of America. Each year thousands of people are victims of mass shooting, and mass shooting is a growing problem. Many Americans see this problem but the gun law stays the same. The gun law and the gun culture go way back in American history, and many Americans feel it is their right to bear arms because it is written in the second amendment from 1791. But times have changed, and today most Americans believe that the gun law needs to be stricter. Therefore it can be difficult to understand why nothing happens when the majority of the US population supports stricter gun laws. So why is it that the law cannot be changed? And what can the politicians do to end this nightmare? Barack Obama is trying to highlight this issue in his newest speech on gun violence – “Remarks by the President on Common-Sense Gun Safety Reform” – that he presented at the White House Press Conference on the 5th of January 2016. This paper analyses Obama’s speech. The analysis will focus on the communicative and rhetorical devices in the speech. The sender of the speech is Barack Obama, the current president in the USA. He is representing his own party, the Democrats. Obama is speaking for all Americans and against the gun lobbyists. The speech is built on the foundation of all the gun tragedies, which have happened over the last years, and therefore makes use of al lot of pathos. He expresses his compassion for...
Words: 1219 - Pages: 5
...Gun control laws are robust laws around purchasing, selling, carrying, and even utilizing a gun. Knowing these laws is extremely imperative for individuals who intend to possess a firearm or have a gun in their household. With the things are in the world these days some people believe the gun laws need to be revised and become more stringent. To be completely forthright, despite the fact that I possess a gun, this paper is not to support or conflict with gun laws, but rather to advise myself more about them and perceive how I feel about them as well, so I know our rights with having firearms in our household. There are numerous gun laws from the federal government; however, there are just as many more laws from each state government. Annotated Bibliography Sources (Gun Law History in The United States and Second Amendment Rights): SPITZER, R. J. (2017). Gun Law History in The United States and Second Amendment Rights. Law & Contemporary Problems, 80(2), 55-83. This article provides information about the historical backdrop of the gun laws, about laws getting to be stricter, and areas they ought to have become more stringent. The commentary stated, “This historical examination is particularly...
Words: 899 - Pages: 4
...I think guns are a problem in America today, but there is no real way to control the sale and use on illegal guns. People say that guns are the cause of violence but it's not the guns that kill people its people that kill people. If the government made stricter laws on guns, then they really wouldn’t be solving the problem, the problem is criminals are getting their hands on guns. So having stricter gun laws will make criminals find another way to get their hands on guns. The sale of guns over the Internet on private and government approved sites would be a step in the right direction. The idea of banning the ownership of guns to citizens is bad because the government would be breaking the law. Now with recent research and progression we might be able to identify potential mass shooters. Some people view gun laws as another way to keep poor inner city black people (who are viewed as dangerous) from owning guns. Any attempt the government makes to try and make some tougher gun laws the NRA is right there to block or lobby the law, because they have such an...
Words: 1513 - Pages: 7
...people who want more gun control laws and the people who are against it. Gun control is where the “government policies influence the availability and the use of firearms to the general public or the distinct subsets of the population such as minors, convicted felons, and the mentally ill” (Brian Odom). It has been around for many years and it started with the first comprehensive federal gun law “Gun Control Act of 1968(GCA)” which enacted in response to the racial and other unrest of the 1960’s. It was mainly to keep a sharp restriction on the sale of guns and the ammunition across state lines. Now with a better insight and history over gun control, it will be easier to have a good understanding over it. There are also the people that want stricter gun control laws which in theory should decrease crime but also because the kids can get a hold of their parent’s guns which potentially can result in a deadly accident. Reasons for there to be less gun control is because taking guns away would just lead to the vast majority of people being unarmed when being robbed also the criminals can always get a hold of guns whether that be legally or illegally. The gun control laws should be less strict because the laws would not drop crime rates and it would make it more difficult for citizens to defend themselves. With the most deaths in the U.S having to do with guns it would make sense if you take guns out it would drop the killing ratio. Obama says that tightening gun control by banning...
Words: 1160 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 5012 - Pages: 21
...Introduction Guns have been a part of this country’s society from its beginning. Throughout America’s history we have used guns for various different reasons. We use guns to protect this nation, protect our families, to participate in recreational activities and finally to hunt for food. The issue of Guns and gun control is and has been a huge issue that has been debated and will be debated as long as we keep having school shootings and mass murders. Weighing the rights and liberties of the individual against the welfare and safety of the public has always been a difficult balancing act. In America gun control is one of those issues that is filled with passion and emotion. Both sides are firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep arms, rely on the fact that the provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In today’s society, with the growing violence rate, turmoil and crime, gun advocates feel their position has strengthened. As citizens of the “Land of the Free” possessing a gun is a right afforded to us by the constitution, and is probably a necessity. Gun control advocates point to the same growing violence and gun related crimes to strengthen their argument in a collective effort to entice change from our Nation’s Capital. They hope the Government will take action by enacting more laws and stricter control. Gun Control activists feel this would create society that is safer. ...
Words: 1442 - Pages: 6
...New York’s Influence on the Federal Gun Law Since the tragic events in Aurora, Colorado and more recently Newtown Connecticut the talks of stricter gun laws has become a major controversy and political topic. According to an Editorial from the New York Times, New York Leads on Gun Control Editorial, the state of New York has created a bill that will further make guns harder to obtain and own. The bill expands the ban of assault rifles to also include semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines. In addition the bill will decrease magazine clips to 7 rounds instead of 10 rounds and would require gun licenses to be renewed every 5 years. With these restrictions the bill requires all dealer to provide background checks and it also creates a data base for gun permit and a registry for ammunition sales. The most controversial part of the bill is it would allow a medical professional to declare that someone is harm to themselves of others leading to a seizer of their guns. While this part of the law is still being discussed if it is approved this part of the bill could go against doctor-patient confidentiality. If the federal government used New York‘s bill as a model they can decrease gun involved accidents or massacres by limiting the amount of ammo, and providing a way to track gun sales and permits. In both the Newtown and Aurora massacres automatic weapons were used and the killers stockpiled ammunition. In the New York gun law it will decrease the amount of rounds...
Words: 727 - Pages: 3
...Gun Control Congress continues to debate the efficacy and constitutionality of federal regulation of firearms and ammunition. Various federal laws have been enacted since 1934 to promote such regulation. Gun control advocates argue that they curb access by criminals, juveniles, and other "high-risk" individuals. They contend that only federal measures can successfully reduce the availability of guns. Some advocates seek broad policy changes such as near-prohibition of non-police handgun ownership or the registration of all firearm owners or firearms. They assert that there is no constitutional barrier to such measures and no significant social costs. Others advocate less comprehensive policies that they maintain would not impede ownership and legitimate firearm transfers. Opposition to federal control is strong. Gun control opponents deny that federal policies keep firearms out of the hands of high-risk persons; rather, they argue, controls often create burdens for law-abiding citizens and infringe upon constitutional rights provided by the Second Amendment. Some argue further that widespread gun ownership is one of the best deterrents to crime as well as to potential tyranny, whether by gangs or by government. They may also criticize the notion of enhancing federal, as opposed to state, police powers. Recent battles have taken place in the courts, revolving around differing interpretations of the much-debated Second Amendment. On April 20, 1999, two students at...
Words: 1612 - Pages: 7
...Gun control is something that has been talked about for many years now with valid points on both sides. In my opinion, we do not need stricter gun control for the simple fact that guns don’t kill people people kill people. If someone gets into a car accident while under the influence of alcohol they don't go out and try to make it harder for someone to get it they simply charge the person with a crime and that is the end of it. When a criminal gets his hand on a gun and kills someone they don't just go after him they go after every law abiding citizens rights! I feel as though if more people exercised their second amendment right with the proper precautions we would live in a much safer place. I believe that people should have to go through safety tests as well as background checks and mental health checks. In somewhere like NewYork, they make it almost impossible to get your concealed weapon permit nor do we have open carry. Our second amendment is there so that we can protect ourselves as well as sometimes protecting others. There have been many times when someone who exercised their second amendment right and stop tragedies from happening. For example, April 24th, 1998 a student showed up to his middle school dance while welding a pistol and began to open fire! The owner of the hall reacted...
Words: 518 - Pages: 3
...Second Amendment was first ratified on December 15, 1791. Because of the Second Amendment, the use of guns is a lot more dangerous for us in society today. The number of suicides and homicides are increasing every year and the United States has a higher amount of firearm related murders than other countries. Even though American gains a lot of rights and benefits due to the Second Amendment, the negative effects are increasing every year. By improving the Second Amendment, and putting more restrictions on gun regulations, there would be a safer society for the people. Our world has evolved – the Second Amendment should evolve as well. The right to keep and bear arms makes people feel a lot safer because they have some source of protection. It is impossible for the government to protect every American citizen, so the people should have...
Words: 1592 - Pages: 7
...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...
Words: 1909 - Pages: 8
