...crime. This has sparked the debate of whether gun control is necessary to diminish crime and many pro gun advocates, look at Switzerland as proof that it is false. To get into this heated debate, it is important to understand the term gun control. Gun control is defined as laws that control the selling, owning, and use of guns (Webster's Dictionary). Like in any debate there are always two very different stance on this topic. PRO Pro gun control advocates argue that having strict gun laws will decrease the nation's crime rate. They also point out that having tougher gun laws will save lives by avoiding any more public massacres. To the eyes of a gun control advocate, it seems like a no brainer. After all, the less guns on the street will result in less gun related deaths. In the United States, 33,636 people have died due to a firearm in 2013 (Alpers, Philip).That number accounts for murders, homicides and suicides across the country. Thousands of people that year lost their life due to a firearm incident and the number keeps growing each year. Many gun control advocates wonder why it is so difficult to implement stricter gun laws in the world's greatest democracy. The misinterpretation of the second amendment is what's holding back the U.S. Many people that are against gun control throw around the Second Amendment a whole lot. What many have failed to realize is that the Second Amendment protects the right of militias to own guns, not the individual. Let's take a look at what...
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...Gun Control is when you keep firearms plus guns away from people. Many people think that gun control is right because they think keeping people away from guns will reduce the amount of deaths each year. They also think that guns cause many of the deaths that had been committed each year. Also when ever people hear the word gun, the thoughts are of violence and negativity. Many people, myself included think gun control is wrong because we know that it is not necessary, since we know that guns were not involved in many of the deaths caused each year. While many other people disagree and think it is good because of the safety for people. In this essay I will tell you why gun control is unnecessary and why there shouldn?t be any gun control at all. There have been many gun control laws established throughout the U.S., but they vary from state to state. For example, in Colorado you can purchase any type of gun: handgun, machine gun, shotgun, rifle, automatic rifle, etc. at the age of 18, while in other places you would need a hunting license.1 I think this is unfair because when I?m at the age of 18 I would want to buy a gun, but I can?t because I?m living in California and another 18 year old could in Colorado. Also, another example is that in some states, they allow citizens to carry concealed weapons, while in other states citizens can?t. I don?t think this is fair at all because I think they should make laws that suits the whole U.S., and not make different laws in different...
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...Gun control laws should not be strengthened, instead they should be enforced. Instead of making it harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain guns, guns should be taken away from unstable individuals or people who should not have guns like criminals. The first reason why gun control should not be strengthened is that citizens have the right to own guns; it is one of those entitlements that makes the United States different from other countries. Secondly, criminals are criminals and that is why they are called criminals, they don’t follow the law; basically if a criminal wants a gun they will get a gun, legally or not. My third reason is that guns are used for protection. Strengthening gun control laws will not prevent violence, guns aren’t the only tool used to hurt people, and people will use other objects to hurt people if they can’t have guns. Without a gun, murderers will still murder people whether they use a gun, knife, baseball bat, or any other object, it doesn’t matter. If not that many citizens have guns thanks to stronger gun laws, what if the government becomes tyrannical or does not protect the citizens’ rights? Well they won’t be able to do anything because they will be helpless, they can’t take out the leaders and fix the government. The second amendment 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. Adolf Hitler took away guns from the Jewish people during...
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...Gun Control Rhetorical Analysis Bryan Cabrera Devry University 12/08/2013 Gun Control There are many people who argue about the topic of gun control. The topic that is discussed can be heard in television, among people’s conversations, on the radio, and in political debates. In the United States, 36% of the population owns a firearm for their personal use, whether it would be for hunting as a sport, personal defense, or just plain gun collections. So there are always debates on whether there should be stronger gun control enforced. However before anything is discussed, what is gun control? Many people can say gun control prevents the sale of firearms to regular people. However other people can say gun control is merely just restricting sale to people who are mentally healthy. Gun control is defined as “efforts to regulate or control sales of guns”. Therefore, gun control just regulates the sale of firearms. There are two sides to every debate, in the debate of gun control; it’s whether or not to increase gun control. The reasoning behind increasing gun control would be shooting related tragedies. The school shooting in Columbine High School is a prime example chosen by pro control people. However now the top example chosen would be the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The people who are against gun control base their reasoning on the constitution and common reasoning. People believe that gun control goes against the second amendment of the constitution...
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...Anonymous Professor Writing 201 6 August 2015 Gun Control It Now “Here’s your gun sir, with a side of no strings attached. Enjoy!” Throughout history, weapons , such as guns , were designed to protect and kill. Whether it was an issue over love, property, or even war, weapons were a necessary means if there was a disagreement. However, times have changed and guns have become dangerous and deadly weapons often used for no purpose at all, other than to harm innocent individuals. Although there are gun restrictions in California; an individual must complete a safety and handling course, be a legal citizen of the United States, and pass a thorough background check; including a fingerprint check. On occasion, it is still possible to obtain an illegal weapon through the black market; therefore, it is easy to buy an unregistered and untraceable gun, which can lead to detrimental effects. The Constitution is the foundation for laws and social norms for the United States. In the second amendment, it 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." Nevertheless, the Constitution can be interpreted in many different ways. Although the Constitution permits the “right to bear Arms” a certain level of control is necessary in order to keep peace and stray away from anarchy and chaos. Unfortunately, it has become very easy for people to obtain weapons of mass destruction and preventative...
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...Gun control is necessary in order to have a peaceful city, country and world. Without gun control, many lives will be taken for unnecessary reasons. Not only should things be settled in a different way, but violence is never the answer. Those who do not support gun control show they are for violence and are not thinking in terms of safeness for all. This is why I am pro-gun control. The first reason gun control should be in existence is because without law saying otherwise, a gun can be in anyone’s hands. If stricter gun laws were made, more lives would be saved. Not only should there be a standard background check, but I am also a strong supporter of medical background checks. If there are no boundaries to who can have a gun, anyone and everyone is put at risk. Once it is legal for anyone to have a gun, nothing can be done about it. Another reason gun control should be enforced is because if not, a mentally unstable person could get a hold of one and do something out of their control. By allowing someone unstable to have a gun, people are just setting themselves up for disastrous conclusions. If guns were not easy to get then all of those parents would not be childless. By allowing this problem to occur a first time is unforgivable; doing nothing to stop it from happening again is unprincipled. Keeping the current laws as they are makes it seem as if there is no sympathy for what happened and now nothing will change. The final reason that being pro-gun control is effective...
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...Controlling sales and the registration of guns and owners is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns and the violence caused by criminals using guns. Since the early days of the United States, firearms have been part of the American tradition as protection and as a means of hunting or sport. As we near the end of the 20th century the use of guns has changed significantly. Because the increase in crime and the fight for the right to own a handgun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to reduce the crime in the United States, has been a hotly debated issue in recent years. Many people feel that gun control violates the right of the people given in the second amendment the right "to bear arms". Opponents of gun control, including the National Rifle Association argue that the "right To bear arms" is guaranteed in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and licensing restrictions penalize law-abiding citizens while in no way preventing criminal use of handguns. It is also argued that by making it difficult for guns to be bought and registered for the American public there is a threat to the personal safety of American families everywhere. Controlling the sale and distribution of firearms is necessary because of the homicide rate involving guns. In 1988, there were more than 9000 handgun-related murders in America. American metropolitan centers and some suburban communities of America are setting new records for homicides...
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...Gun Control Do you ever wonder why there are so many crimes in our country? There are many crimes involving firearms happening in our country that most of them we do not know about unless it is a massive shooting. Many of these happenings are in cities near us that could possibly harm us. Our politicians are trying to solve the problems with these actions that are taking place, but some of the suggestions interfere with the constitutional rights. Since gun control is not going to help lower crime rates, stricter gun laws will not help the situation. Some people believe that Gun Control will help reduce crime rates. There has not been a reduction in gun violence even with the stricter laws. Republican legislators have offered thoughts and prayers to...
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...connected, but can you guess why? The answer is not something to celebrate; it is truly something of American suffering and distrust. Recently shootings have been occurring all over the United States from South Carolina to Texas, spanning all the way to California, there seems to be no safe place. The occurrences given do not account for all of the shootings throughout modern history, but these incidents are just a minute number of events that have rekindled the debate behind gun control. The Second Amendment: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people...
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...America has the highest amount of gun related deaths each year in the world. “In Germany 381, in France 255, in Canada 165 in the United Kingdom 68, in Australia 65, in Japan 39 and in the United States, 11,127” (Moore Michael, 51:15-51:48). Since the United States has the highest number of deaths, it is important to have gun-control laws that restrict people from owning dangerous firearms like machine guns. Gun-control laws should support both sides of the debate. Of course, both sides will not be completely happy with the laws created, but America should have a balance. In 2008, a poll was taken stating: “Adult poll respondents’ views on the meaning of the Second Amendment; An individual’s right to bear arms: Republican 51% and Democrats 41%” (The History of the Right to Bear Arms). Today, the United States is more divided on gun-control than it has ever been. The Second Amendment 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”(Milestones in Federal Gun Control Legislation). Unless the Second Amendment is changed, we cannot take the right from others to own guns. However, the government should regulate the types of gun Americans can own and who can own a gun because times have changed and American’s mental health system is broken. Decades ago, the United States was once a country where a gun was considered to survive and protect. “As Americans civilized the wilderness...
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...massacres, gun control has once again been thrust back onto the main stage in the United States. In a New York Times op-ed titled, “How to Win an Argument About Guns”, Nicholas Kristof takes on this very issue. According to his bio, Kristof has been a foreign correspondent and columnist for the New York Times since 2001. However, his bio says nothing about any involvement with firearm related topics. This makes his opinions less trustworthy than that of an actual expert on the issue. Kristof is very pro gun control and dispels five main myths from those that oppose his views on gun control. The author believes that greater restrictions and laws concerning firearms will lead to a safer country and far less casualties....
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...Debate: http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-guns-be-banned-in-america Pro: Why Guns Should Be Banned in the U.S. Kevin Ngo Opinion Editor February 20, 2013 Filed under Opinion If guns make us safer, America should be the safest place on earth. We have more guns per capita than any other place in the world, but we are clearly not the safest country on earth. Guns have brought nothing to Americans except harm and heartbreak. It is unfortunate that a tragedy, such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, has to occur in order for anything to be done to place a ban on guns. President Obama has proposed a plan to have thorough background checks on those who purchase guns, and prohibit the purchase of armor piercing bullets, along with magazines with a capacity larger than ten bullets. The National Rifle Association believes that their rights are being taken away completely, but this isn’t true. 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.” A more modern interpretation is required. That, like the First Amendment, the freedom of speech and press, is not an absolute right. There is also a key portion of the amendment that states, “In well regulated militia.” Any assualt-type weapon, regardless of whether it’s for hunting or not, needs to be banned, along with large capacity magazines. An assault-type weapon...
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...Gun Control Research Gun control is an ongoing, heated debate in America. Various states have decided to take action against guns as a deterrent to crime. Nevertheless, are guns really the main factor in causing crimes, or are the criminals themselves to blame? There are two sides involved with the gun debate. The anti-gun campaign with supporters like Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Cease Fire, and Mothers Against Violence in America are pressuring the government to have stricter laws or ban guns all together. On the other side of the debate, the most prominently heard voice it that of the National Rifle Association or NRA. However, there are others such as Women Against Gun Control and Gun Owners of America. The pro-gun lobbyists are trying to convince the government that outlawing guns will not affect the criminals but leave the honest individual defenseless. Guns are a necessary form of self-protection because the majority of the gun control laws we have are ineffective, criminals are able to obtain guns no matter how many laws we have against it, and the new “smart” technology will only hurt us in the long run. Guns, when used and operated correctly, can be a very effective form of self-protection. “There is only one police officer on patrol for every 3,300 people” (Polsby and Brennen 3). This is probably one of many reasons that “about 83 percent of the population will be victims of violent crime at some point in their lives” (Polsby and Brennen 3). Statistics...
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...Gun control has always been something extremely controversial in society. But when events occur such as the shootings at columbine high school and sandy hook elementary, gun control becomes even more of an issue not just in government but in the eyes of citizens. April 20th 1999, for most people in Colorado I’m sure it started off as a normal day. By the end of the afternoon it stood out as one of the most tragic days in recent history. About twenty five people lost their lives during the shooting that day, not including the shooters who committed suicide. On December 14th 2012, an event occurred that left the whole country struck by sadness and tragedy. A mass murder occurred in sandy hook elementary school in newton Connecticut. A man named Adam Lanza killed twenty children and six staff members in the elementary school. After events like these, gun control laws become much more controversial and emotionally driven because people are still in devastation. Many parents and other family members of these events become so involved in gun control laws because of how emotional and close to home gun control becomes, after your own family is impacted. After the event at sandy hook, president Barrack Obama delivered one of the most touching and memorable speeches of his presidency. In honor of the deaths he expressed enormous sympathy for the families of the victims; he ordered flags to be flown half-staff in honor of the victims. Also Obama honored the six adults with the 2012...
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...Gun Control GM 520 – Legal, Political and Ethical Dimensions Prof. David S. Carter By: Mustufa Husain Table of Contents Introduction 3 Gun Laws Internationally 4 Gun Control and the Second Amendment 7 Conclusion 12 Introduction I often wonder, should any citizen around the world be able to carry firearms? Can a person really feel safe from crime no matter where they may go? According to the bill of rights, the second amendment to the constitution of the United States reads “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”. So how do I go about interpreting this? Some believe that it only means that the people of the military should be allowed to carry firearms, where some believe it means every citizen has the right to bear arms. Right at this moment someone around the world is being part of a violent crime whether it is the aggressor or the victim. How do we as citizens protect ourselves? Should we all be allowed to carry guns for self-defense or have guns around in our household? Even though many countries have implemented strict gun control laws, none have proven to be as effective as law makers thought they would be in reducing the number of crimes happening around. I shall present an argumentive paper on why I do not feel there should be stronger gun control laws. Guns do not kill…people kill. How many people do you know who have been...
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