...The Great Gun Debate Introduction Among the more diverse issues in an already polarized society is a national perspective of guns (Hargrove & Perdue, 2015). The gun debate in the U.S. dates back to the 18th century, when the nation’s founders were crafting the Bill of Rights—the first ten amendments to the Constitution, adopted in 1791 (Smith & Ross, 2013). All gun control debates turn on interpretations of the Second Amendment, the worst written and most bizarre part of the constitution (Eichenwald, 2015). The Second Amendment gave Americans the right to “bear arms;” however, for more than 200 years, people have disagreed over how to interpret the amendment (Smith & Ross, 2013). Heated debates over guns have created division among “we the people.” On one end of the divide are pro-gun extremists. On the opposite end of the divide are anti-gun extremists. Then, there is the rational middle—the group that is often left out of the debate. This group typically consists of average law-abiding citizens who do not believe that Americans should be stripped of their rights to bear arms, but, rather, that some laws should be tightened up to ensure that guns and deadly accessories, such as high-capacity magazines, stay out of the wrong hands. Over the years, numerous mass shootings in schools have forced lawmakers to assess and tighten gun-control laws, which has also reignited the fiery gun debate. This assessment will attempt to uncover a proper course of action via a rigorous...
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...economic interest. Freedom of speech, provided by the First Amendment, is valued with high regard but there are several instances where speech is not always protected. From a historical perspective, Korb v. Raytheon provides a precedent for competing claims between private actors for the right of free speech. This essay attempts to provide the facts of the case, the issues, and the ruling. Much emphasis is put on the challenges associated with freedom of speech, freedom of information, and employment law while the public perceptions of Raytheon and its influence with the Department of Defense plays a huge role. FACTS, ISSUES, & RULING OF CASE Raytheon Company was founded in Cambridge, Mass., as the American Appliance Company in 1922, a pivotal time in American history. This company predominately manufactured equipment for the U.S. military along with defense technology and training, homeland and border security, and cyber security. The plaintiff, identified as Lawrence J. Korb, was employed by Raytheon as a vice president of operations. Korb made the decision to join a non-profit organization which was named the Committee for National Security. While on his lunch break a press conference was held by the CNC with the main focus being on the annual alternative defense budget. As a result of this press conference, an article was released in the newspaper detailing Korb’s criticisms and discontentment with the defense spending. He also went on to speak about a reduction in spending...
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...same because gun related deaths have dropped, it is our Second Amendment right, but some state laws should change to keep guns out of schools. Barrett (2013) discusses that gun violence is declining in the U.S. Figures from the United States Bureau of Justice and that gun related deaths have dropped 39% since 1993 (Truman, P.H.D & Planty, Ph.D., 2013). The author also states that handguns are mostly responsible gun related deaths and injuries, which raises questions on the emphasis of assault weapons of some gun control supporters. According to Barrett (2013), he states the government says nonfatal gun crime has dropped in the last twenty years by 69%. It is good that the rates have dropped that much. Singh (1998) focuses on an essay written by Jeremy Putley in January 1997, which criticized the American system of government and the assumed deficiencies of its constitution, highlighting gun control in the United States. The topics include the amount of Americans who have died from gun-related deaths yearly during the 1990s, identification of the two gun control measures which were padded by the Democratic 103rd United States Congress, and explanation of the gun crisis in the United States. The United States Bill of Rights (Madison) 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 Bill of Rights is a part of our Constitution, which was amended in 1791. This has worked...
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...Danielle Born EN102 November 10, 2012 Portfolio How has this course benefited me in my career? This course has shown me another type of writing styles. We were taught to to plan out and write an argumentative essay. This course will help me in my career because I now know another advanced writing style. Writing is very important in the business world. With amazing direction from my professor, I was able to see where I had gone wrong and fix and learn from my mistakes. I believe this course has made me an even stronger writer than I was before. What specific skills have I learned in this class? The specific skills that were learned in EN102 were, constructing a strong thesis statement, compiling strong supporting ideas and learning how to write argumentative essays. Instructor Comments regarding my performance: Lesson 1: You did a good job creating ten solid questions and presenting them in a manner to produce a quality response. You handled each stage of the interview professionally, well done. Thank you, Karen You came up with some solid ideas for topics that will work well as a final project. Do some preliminary research and make sure you will have no trouble finding enough information on your topic to meet the minimum requirements (1,400 words at least) of the project. Thank you, Karen Lesson 2: You did a solid job on your chosen activity. Good work eliminating all spelling and grammar errors. Thank you, Karen This assignment will serve as the foundation...
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...Bill of Rights & Amendments Paper Intro The United States is a country that was founded on the principle of freedom; it took the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution to guarantee citizens freedom. The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments in the constitution; a document that outlines how the new American government would be created and operated. The Constitution was ratified in 1788 which was the start of protecting the interests of each citizen, two years later the Bill of Rights was proposed by congress and went into effect in 1791. It was designed to prevent the government from taking total power over citizens and to provide them with legal defenses. This essay will discuss the understanding of how amendments become apart of the constitution and how it adopted the Bill of Rights. As well as the changes in society that led to amendments XIII-XV that became part of the constitution. The effects of the Bill of Rights to this country have been beneficial; they lay down the blueprint for freedom by allowing citizens a voice. The failure of the Articles of Confederation was what led to the Constitution; The Articles had a weak national government with no president, or judicial branch. Hence, this led to the Constitution, which showed the three branches of government legislative, executive and judicial; it describes the power of each branch. It was set up by our forefathers in order to change it if necessary. It tells the relationship of the federal...
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...This, they say, should lead to peace. Charles Krauthammer wrote about this in “The Washington Post” in an article titled “Disarm The People.” He wrote, “…a civilized society must disarm its citizenry if it is to have a modicum of domestic tranquility…” Pro-gun activists, on the other hand, see gun-control as a threat not only to their self-defense, but also to their Second Amendment right. In an issue of American Survival Guide, Howard J. Fezell wrote an essay: “Your Individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms,” during which he made plain this fact: gun-prohibitionists have completely ignored numerous rulings of the Supreme Court in which the Supreme Court has stated the Second Amendment as an individual right, not a collective right. Also, they believe it to be a failed experiment. This is obvious in a statement by David Lampo: “The basic premise of the gun control movement, that easy access to guns causes higher crime, is contradicted by the facts, by history and by reason.” According to statistics, gun bans - the ultimate goal of gun control activists - has failed completely. The right to bear arms”, an amendment so prioritized by our founding fathers that it 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...
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...Gun Control Essay 1 Gun Control Essay 06/14/2015 The right to bear arms is guaranteed in the constitution by the Second Amendment. Many politicians are looking to amend the constitution any way they can to ban handguns or at least Gun Control Essay 2 restrict sales. The argument between pro and anti gun control has been debated for years, both with valid points. Many studies and factual data shows that strict gun control only removes guns from law-abiding citizens, but does not actually help reduce crime. Studies have shown that gun control cannot stop people from committing the crime because if a handgun ban were issued, there is evidence that citizens would not comply with the law, strict gun control does not reduce homicide rates, and studies have found that high crime rates have stimulated purchasing of guns rather than high gun ownership stimulating crime. While the Founding Fathers of this country were developing the system of government, as set forth in the Constitution, many feared that a standing army controlled by a strong central government would leave them helpless. The Federal Constitution contained no provisions to prohibit a standing army or allow states to create their own militias. The Constitution was signed by thirty-nine men from the twelve states represented at the Constitutional Convention on September 17 1787; three delegates refused to sign because of the absence of a bill of rights. Two years later, the First Congress agreed on...
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...Bill Of Rights In 1791, the Bill of Rights, consisting of 10 amendments, was ratified into the constitution. The document’s purpose was to spell out the liberties of the people that the government could not infringe upon. Considered necessary by many at the time of its development, the Bill of Rights became the cause for a huge debate between two different factions: The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists were those who thought that there should be a new Union created with a strong centralized government and individual regional governments. They felt that it was not necessary for there to be a bill of rights because it was implied that those rights the Constitution did not specifically state would be handed down to the states. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists were opposed to such a form of government on the grounds that the Constitution, in which it was outlined, lacked clarity in the protections of the individuals. The Anti-Federalists—whose memory of British oppression was still fresh in their minds—wanted certain rights and guarantees that were to be apart of the constitution (Glasser 1991). A clear demonstration of the Anti-Federalist attitude was performed by Samuel Bryan, who published a series of essays named the ‘Cenitnal Essays,’ which “assailed the sweeping power of the central government, the usurpation of state sovereignty, and the absence of a bill of rights guaranteeing individual liberties such as freedom of speech and freedom of...
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...THIRD ESSAY: 14 OCTOBER 2011 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS IMPACT ON US NATIONAL SECURITY TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction US Government changes since 9/11 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Intelligence Reform The USA Patriot Act National Defense Programs Conclusion References INTRODUCTION Ten years have passed since the United States was attacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001. The event was a crucial moment in U.S. history. After it was discovered that the attacks were delivered by Al-Qaeda, the information sparked intense debate in the political world. Former President George W. Bush decided to pass a large amount of U.S. legislation to strengthen U.S. National Security. The impact of 9/11 is clearly visible in the policies adopted by the United States government in the wake of the disaster. On October 7, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks. On March 20, 2003, the Iraq War began. Many people feel that the changes put forth by the U.S. government have benefited the livelihood of Americans. This might be true as the United States has not experienced a major terrorist attack since September 11, 2001. Other people feel that the spending has hurt the United States economy, pushing America into a series of economic downfalls. US GOVERNMENT CHANGES SINCE 9/11 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act The FISA Amendments Act of...
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...I support the policy as it stands. 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.” If we leave the second Amendment as it is there is no additional funding that would be needed. This is a document that has been a part of American history, it covers the United states as a whole and is a fundamental aspect of the constitution. While the constitution can be amended as stated in an essay it is usually frowned upon by the American public. Every American citizen has the right to own a weapon according to the Second Amendment. • Option 2: Concealed weapons carry Currently, people can get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. This means that they are allowed to carry the weapon but only in certain places and in certain states. o Advantage: Though you have to go through a process to get a permit you are still allowed to have a weapon on your person for protection and safety. In addition, in some states the issuing official cannot deny a permit as long as all the requirements...
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...Zulamita Robles Government Mr. Allen 3/26/14 Public Opinion Essay (Conservative) Being raised in a Hispanic Catholic Home I do highly believe I am a conservative. While thinking it through it came to mind that it may be because of how I was and am being raised or perhaps my religion or possibly even my race. Then it came to mind that being a Hispanic girl raised with Hispanic parents in a strongly enforced catholic home has greatly influenced my beliefs. We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want as few people suffering as possible; we want healthy children; we want to have crime-free streets. Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. We believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. There are several topics in which my belief of me classified as a conservative is put up to its meaning for example Abortion a Liberal would believe that A woman has the right to decide what happens with her body. A fetus is not a human life, so it does not have separate individual rights. The decision to have an abortion is a personal choice of a woman regarding her own body and the government must protect this right. However a Conservative would argue that a Human...
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...Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay - Part II Kadisha Blaylock Professor Sliben Critical Thinking January 17, 2016 There is no requirement for a civilized society to endure the kind of gun-related brutality that Americans appear to acknowledge as ordinary. The answer for gun-related wrongdoing isn't further outfitting general society. It includes establishing thorough firearm control laws that preclude numerous types of weapon possession, essentially shortening or dispensing with access to and the capacity to buy weapons, and actualizing programs in which the administration takes or buys unlawful weapons as of now available for use among the general population. For those guns that are lawful, possession should be fixing to personal investigations, as well as to broad and compulsory preparing in the protected use and capacity of weapons. In a time of compelling worry about national security, Americans need to perceive that one of the best dangers to national security is their own particular intensely equipped populace. Lamentably, our demonstrated failure to handle boundless firearm possession proposes unequivocally that the best approach to do this is to profoundly limit access to and responsibility for sorts of weapons. More gun control leads to fewer suicides. Between 1999 and 2013 there were 270,237 firearm suicides in the United States, accounting for about 52% of all suicides during those years. By Mar. 2014 study distributed in the International Review...
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...Although our nation is young compared to other countries in the world, we have seen our fair share of conflict and battles. From the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, and even the war to end all wars, World War II, our country proved time and time again, that if you attack us, we will come out swinging. What has also been unchanged, is that if the reason for war is blurred and it is unclear who our enemy is, the American people are reluctant to take the word of their political leaders and rush into a conflict. Through this essay, I will present arguments for the American people’s reluctance to enter the Cold War arms race against the Soviet Union and the war on terrorism post September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. It was in the late 1940s when the Soviet Union was developing itself...
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...Monica Siah Heidi Bauer Expository Essay Final Draft “Gun Control” 03/25/13 Safe, Not Sorry Freedom seems to be defined differently between Americans these days because some relate freedom to owning a gun through The Second Amendment of the United States. The Second Amendment states: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, has the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Presently, part of our society is attempting to legislate and regulate the possession and use of firearms by proposing a ‘Gun Control Bill’ that dictates and determines whether certain citizens of the United States are able to posses or carry a firearm. If this bill is approved, gun-owning/seeking citizens must supply a background check for criminal activity, mental illnesses, proof of citizenship and proof of an occupation. As this bill is carefully being examined, many Americans are becoming angered and agitated. This controversy has created a debate across the nation with both sides sharing suitable arguments from safety issues to leisure issues. For decades, firearms have been commonly classified into four expansive types: shots guns, handguns, rifles and submachine guns. Each style of shooter has similar internal workings as far as releasing ammunition out of the barrel and having the capability of fatally harming/ damaging anything in its target site. The significant specifics that separate these guns from one another is the firing...
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...Grant M. Ritchie POS-301 November 16, 2014 Jonathan Roeder Constitutional Timeline Our Founding Fathers relied on the information found in the Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Federalist Papers to help draft the United States Constitution. These documents played a significant role in developing the United States of America. I believe without the support of these documents the Constitution would never existed. Those who created the Magna Carta brought on some of the liberties we appropriate today. The Magna Carta’s one important law includes freedom of the church. The freedom is also in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which states freedom of religion. King John was forced to sign this document in 1215. “The Magna Carta also imposed limitations of the King of England and established a parliamentary form of government with powers to act on the citizens behalf,” (AuBuchan, 2001, p. 1). The Magna Carta is comparable to the constitutional form of government which establishes Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. The Magna Carta contained due process which led to trial by jury also included under Article Three Section Two of the U.S. Constitution. The words of the Fifth Amendment are mentioned in the Magna Carta. Rough seas and storms stopped the Mayflower from reaching their destination. The settlers ended up in Cape Cod. “Mayflower Compact, document was signed on the English ship Mayflower...
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