...Gun Control Political Science 1333 Dr. Garrison December 3rd, 2009 The Gun Control Debate Gun control and the supposed right to a gun have been at the war for many decades. The term gun control refers to policies which seek to regulate the manufacture, sale, ownership, and the use of guns. These policies or the lack there of, are reinforced and intensified ever so often when an unfortunate tragedy occurs. For instance, after the April 16th, 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech University, in which left thirty-three persons including the gunman died, many persons were of the opinion that such an incident could have been avoided through effective gun control measures. However, the issue of gun control is a very sensitive topic in the American society. Many Americans view control gun legislation and policies as an attempt to refute and violate a constitutionally enshrined liberty, which guarantees them a right to own a gun. This liberty to own and possess firearms stems from the Second Amendment which many believe affords the ordinary citizen the right to be armed. On the contrary, there is the other sector of American society who argues that the Second Amendment does not afford or protect and such a right. Moreover, members of this group also argue that if the Constitution does in fact afford such a right it needs to be revisited or repealed since it is not applicable to the present American society. Both sides of the spectrum are heavily represented...
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...Jonathan Schwartz Prof: F, Gomez Eng 1A 11-15-13 The Power of the Media to Shape Our Perceptions and Understanding of Reality on Gun Control Introduction The wake of gun violence in the United States has seen various proposals on how to handle the gun issue. Occasionally, people have woken up to shocking incidences of gun violence on various quarters. Perhaps the most outrageous incidents are the ones that involved shooting of school going children by a fellow student, seemingly unstable, or at least for that moment. It is important to note that in these incidences, the media coverage of the live happenings have always been extensive, giving the perpetrator of such violence a lot of fame. Various segments of the society have reacted to such incidences with diverging and converging opinions on what should be the best way forward. While the Obama administration has been on the forefront proposing stringent measures for the purposes of reducing or eliminating repeat occurrence, Republicans have a different view on how to address the whole matter. Religious groups and civil society have not spoken in one voice although one may deduce that everyone desires some changes in regards to how the whole issue should be addressed. Some of the emerging schools of thought that have come out have to do with logic behind issuance of guns, the ethical and practical implications of the solutions proposed for adoption as policy. Probably the big challenge is that the incidences...
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...Americans today have been dealing with controversy over gun control due to the rise of shooting crime. The majority of today’s society is involved with crime committed by Americans who come into possession of a firearm obtained illegally and or without a proper permit. There have been many events that fall into the category of gun violence, such as; the Columbine shooting, Virginia Tech University, and the latest nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida. The guns used in these events were obtained legally by those individuals which committed these horrific acts of crime. Gun control laws in America have been increasingly relaxed in many states over the years. Public education on gun safety should be better available to our public society. Firearm...
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...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. ...
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...able to be armed, due to gun control laws, the outcome would be detrimental. If severe gun control was actually enforced, as a society we would see crime rates increase, and our idea that school shootings would stop would be found out to be false. Many people argue over gun control, but do they truly know what it is? Gun control refers to laws or policies that are put in place to regulate the overall market with guns, including the ownership of them. This is something that has been of debate...
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...December 7, 2012 Gun Control Obviously, guns have been a very big part of our history but because it was use inappropriately gun control was created. Guns are weapons that can take a life in an instant (“Does Gun Control…”). Guns have been part of American society since the arrival of the first European settlers (“Topic Overview…”). Arms in this country are part of our history, part of our culture. It has been passed down, generations to generations, as just an important part of who we are (“Topic Overview…”). Prior to the civil war, gun control laws were enacted in the slaves states principally due to the fear of firearms in the hands of free blacks and slaves who might rebel against their masters (“Special Interview…”). In the 1960’s after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, gun control became a major subject of safety. Certain individuals cannot handle firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being considered (“Special Interview…”). Throughout history violence has plagued the human race. We have passed laws to protect society, but the violence continues. Laws attempt to change human behavior, but laws are not able to change human nature. Laws are not enough to protect people from aggression. Xiong 2 While gun control advocates contend that guns leads to crime, injury, and...
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...Gun Control: The Battle Rages On Tyler D. Scott Ozarks Technical Community College Abstract This paper discusses and is centered around the on-going debate over gun control, I directly address how each major political party views this subject and what I believe the United States Government should do to be able to best combat this tremendous issue. I use research from multiple sources that contrast each side of the argument and give an overall insight into the world of modernized gun control. Gun Control: The Battle Rages On With the Second Amendment giving American citizens the rights to bear arms, and approximately fifty percent of Americans owning some form of a firearm, issues involving the ownership and possession of guns have led to heated debates in American society. Most notably is the issue of gun control. Many feel that the some form of gun regulation is necessary in order to lower the level of gun related violence in the country. On the other hand, the opponents of gun control feel that it would be an infringement on their second amendment rights. The outcome and extent of gun control has strong political implications because it basically determines the present day meaning of the Second Amendment. While each side has strong points to their arguments, one quote by writer Michael Warfel basically sums up the need for gun control. He writes, “An individual’s right to own and bear arms must be balanced by the greater social needs of a society” (Warfel, 2000, p...
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...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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...Gun Control Kristy L. Harris English 102 University of Phoenix Mrs. Megan Jurs “Gun control means being able to hit your target. If I have a 'hot button' issue, this is definitely it. Don't even think about taking my guns. My rights are not negotiable, and I am totally unwilling to compromise when it comes to the Second Amendment” (Badnarik, 2014). Is Gun Control the management of firearms that will help reduce the criminals from using these weapons? The Gun Control Act of 1968 became the primary federal law regulating firearms. The citizens began feeling that this act was due to the violence and assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. As the country came to grips with the senseless tragedies of these notable people they could not help but think: does this effort really prohibit convicted felons, drug users and the mentally ill from buying guns? And just because this act raised the purchasing age to 21 years old, has it stopped the death of children from guns. In 1993, The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was created; to mandate the prevention of gun sales to people without a background check. And eighteen years after this act being created the Brady Law has had over 156 million background checks with rejection numbers soaring to nearly a million. When looking at these numbers, how does it compare to the tragedies some have faced? In 2007, 294 million firearms were in circulation in the U.S.: further...
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...Anti-Gun Control Gun control is a huge restriction we face as Americans. As time progresses, gun laws get have been getting more strict and serious, thus making it harder for non felons to obtain a permit to carry. Even the Second Amendment gives us as Americans the right to bear arms. Gun control in Indiana is more strict than a lot of other states. In Indiana, in order to carry a hand gun, you must have a concealed carry permit produced by the state of Indiana. In order to obtain the permit you must be at least eight-teen years old and fill out an application, and be fingerprinted. In other states such as Virginia you can simply carry a handgun as long as you are eight-teen and don’t have a felony. You can still get a gun permit in Virginia but until you get one you must open carry the gun, without hiding it. Even though when you turn eighteen you can obtain a gun permit, as eighteen you can’t buy a handgun. However at that age, you can go to a gun store and by any rifle. I think these laws are a little mixed up. I think that if im old enough to carry a hand gun, I should be able to buy one. Guns are not killing people, what kills people is when guns get in the wrong hands. This is the result of our strict gun laws. However other actions could be taken to allow safe people to obtain guns and felons to not. Such actions are being used today including the concealed carry permit process, because it requires a background check. I think the process should be a little more simple...
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...Gun Control Anthony D. Torres COM 220 August 5th, 2012 Mary Trapasso Does gun control affect the way we live? Every year, in the United States, there are over thirty thousand deaths attributed to gun violence. Gun control and its laws are designed to save lives while ensuring a safer and more civilized society. Although these laws do nothing to prevent crimes; they are in place to ensure that those who violate them are punished and removed from society, thereby preventing future crimes. Supporters and opponents of gun control agree guns should be kept out of the hands of criminals. The ability for people to use a firearm while defending themselves from harm or possible death at the hands of a criminal is not debatable, it is a Constitutional Right. Gun control laws save lives and continue to have positive effects within our nation. The Second Amendment in the US Constitution grants law abiding citizens the right to own a gun for self-defense. The amendment states that “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” (Find Law, 2012). Even though it is a right to bear arms, the purchase of firearms has become more difficult and almost impossible for people with criminal backgrounds. Those with felony convictions, fugitives from justice, dishonorably discharged from the military, illegal aliens in the United States, convicted of domestic violence, and people who possess restraining...
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...Gun Control Angela Bauch Grand Canyon University: PHI-105 21st Century Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills 01/24/2016 Gun control is one of the most divisive issues in American politics. “The term “gun control” refers to any government policies that influence the availability and use of firearms among the general public or distinct subsets of the population” (Chapman & J. Ciment, 2013). Gun control groups would like to initiate additional restrictions on firearms, but also to eliminate legal limitations on the right to possess and carry firearms. Gun control laws should be strengthened because it will reduce crime rates, would decrease crime due to concealed carrying, and is not a constitutional right. Gun policy at the state and federal levels need to strengthen gun laws because violent crime rates are high. Initiate additional restrictions on firearms to reduce crime. “One of the more emotional arguments for greater control of firearms is the number of gun-related accidental deaths that occur each year, especially among children” (G. Carter, 2012). “Supporters of gun control argue that firearms restrictions are reasonable measures that reduce injury and death” (R. Chapman & J. Ciment, 2013). “Passions run deep on the issue of gun control, indicating highly distinct and conflicting attitudes toward firearms in American culture” (R. Chapman & J. Ciment, 2013). However, a regenerated boost in the violent crime rate could ensue in more forceful pressure...
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...Gun legalization benefits and disadvantages in the USA Introduction The question on whether violence and crime could be tackled effectively and consequently minimized by ultimately legalizing guns in the United States has remained a hard nut to crack over the past decade. On the other hand, ardent debate has been going on getting the guns off the streets. There are valid points on both sides of the issue where legalizing of guns will have benefits as well as disadvantages to the American society. In states where legalization of guns has been effected, citizens have realized numerous benefits. However, the legalization of guns has not been without disadvantages because when the guns find their way into the hands of gangs and children owing to the availability, high rates of crime and deaths are witnessed. Therefore, gun legalization in United States is an issue which has come to the forefront and should be accorded all attention bearing in mind the benefits as well as the disadvantages (Blek 121). Cook, Molliconi and Cole (60) state that guns are weapons that can be used to mitigate crime or violence but can be used to perpetuate violence and crime. It is true that guns do not do the real shooting: people do the shooting. It is the person who possesses the gun and the intent to do harm that we should be worried about. The pride of a person with a gun can actually make him or her to impose his or her will upon other people. This aspect is what puts the legalization of guns...
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...Gun Control, An Idea That’s Time Has Come As a Criminal Justice student I lean toward the gun control side of the current debate. In his Federalist Papers James Madison said, “Americans have the right and advantage of being armed – unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms” (Raymond). Madison may be right about our citizens having more rights than those in other countries, but our government places too much trust in the American people. If you take away privately owned guns, it does not solve anything because doing so would consequentially create a communist or police state. Instead of taking away the guns, a better solution is to control who buys guns and for what purpose they should be used. Opponents of gun control may say that a seven-day waiting period before being able to buy a gun does nothing to help fight or prevent crime or to save lives, it is needed to keep more people from dying, to keep people from being robbed, and to keep guns out of the hands of known criminals. There are over 283 million licensed guns in the U.S. (Herbert 1), and that does not include unregistered and illegal weapons that people own, sell to and buy from unlicensed or criminal sources. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants Americans the right to “bear arms,” but when they kill innocent people or even themselves, should all Americans have that right? More than 50% of U.S. homes own one or more guns (White 1). The question...
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...Enforcement of Gun Control It seems to never fail when one turn on the news there is going to be some gruesome scene involving the inappropriate use of firearms and the mass murdering of innocent civilians. There are laws implemented to give Americans the right to bear arms; however, does that right also give the power to murder? A mass murderer has been created who gives himself the power to control the fate of our American society. The question still remains; what happens after the crime has been committed? As history shows not much has happened and that needs to change. There has been an uncanny abundance of crime and mass murder as a result of firearms in the United States; therefore, there is a strong need to implement laws that enforce...
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