...Gun Control Texas and Washington State COM/220 March 31, 2010 Gun Control Texas and Washington State Many people do not know that 67% of all homicides in Texas were caused by firearms and 56% in Washington State? This is why, not only in these two states but the entire country, has debated countless years over the controversial issues of gun control and the laws. In the comparison and contrast in gun control stances in Texas and Washington State, the attitudes are very similar. It will discuss and cover many views and will teach about each states laws, statistics and stance on the gun control issue. These issues will be viewed side by side in comparison and contrast with each other to see all the facts. This way you will be able to decide your stance for yourself in the infamous controversial gun control issue. Washington State’s stance on gun control is in support of the gun owner and carrier and allows the owners to have numerous freedoms in owning and carrying guns. The stance against gun control is about 70% and lots of gun owners would like to keep the freedoms they already have. As RCW 9.41.050 states “Except in the person's place of abode or fixed place of business, a person shall not carry a pistol concealed on his or her person without a license to carry a concealed pistol” (Washington State Legislator, 2010). What this means to not just legal gun owners, but to anyone who possess a firearm, is that they are able to legally open carry their...
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...Civil Rights According to Weiggarten(Weiggarten)Texas has a long history about the right to ownership of guns. The history dates back and was initiated by the American Revolution attempt to oppose the disarming of citizens. When Texas was commissioned as a state, it had a law written in the constitution about ownership of arms. Before Texas lost during the civil war it had already established a strong constitution which allowed the citizens town fire arms. The act in the 1845 constitution stated “Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of him and the state (Weiggarten).” The law stated, “Every person shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the state, under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe (Weiggarten).” In early 1970s voted out of the State’s government, and the governor was attacked by a group of armed civilians. The legislature was accorded the authority of regulating ownership of arms as a way of fighting criminal activities. The law stated “Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power by law to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime (Weiggarten).”The Republicans came up with laws that more improved increments especially on gun control. The republicans are advocating for full protections which were lost during the civil wars. In his discussion (Volokh...
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...within its boundary. Debra Medina Claimed that Texas has the power to nullify federal acts deemed unconstitutional. She believes that Texas has the right to invalidate any federal Law the citizen view as unacceptable. In 1798, Thomas Jefferson started the first Nullification in history which was the Kentucky Resolution. He believed that Government does not have the right to Impose it will upon the people without their consent. If the people decide they do not give the government consent, then such will is nullified. Debra Medina based her claim on the 10th Amendment which states that “the powers not delegated to the united states by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states ,are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”, and before the civil war. She argued that the overall power rested with the state of Texas, so base on the 10th amendment Texas state has the power to get representative in congress and pass a bill to nullify any Law passed by congress that is viewed as unconstitutional. In her claim of Nullification, it means that the state of Texas can do what the Supreme Court can do. Nullification is seen as the means of the State to check the power of the Federal government. Medina being a member of Tea party says she would assert Texas Sovereignty by rejecting federal actions on Health care, Gun control, Border security, property Tax and also opposes to abortion. She endorsed a proposed Texas Law making it a crime for any official, agent or...
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...state of Texas in 2016, however, before this was passed there was years of consideration and minimal action. Leading up to this bill there were numerous occurrences of fatal campus shootings and massacres, passing this bill would in hopes allow students to protect themselves if a situation arises and/or help stop the progression of a shooting. Although the students on campus could potentially lesson the number of victims injured or worse, there was also the potential of the opposite to happen, more guns...
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...Texas Campus Carry Texas Campus Carry has been a major topic of debate as of late. Many of those who support Campus Carry believe that concealed handguns allow licensed adults to defend themselves and protect others in the event of a crisis. These supporters believe gun laws only restrict law abiding citizens from their 2nd amendment rights with minimal effect on criminal gun owners. However; many anti-gun activists believe that more guns are not the answer to a gun problem and a Campus Carry law may increase accidental discharges, violence, as well as youth suicides. The University of Texas massacre fifty years ago is a prime example of this heated issue on both sides of the gun debate. On August 1, 1966, Charles Joseph Whitman climbed the University of Texas Tower, in Austin, and in a span of 96 minutes fired 150 high-powered rounds of ammunition down into unsuspecting university students and faculty. Those nearby heard "strange noises" and thought nothing of it until they saw the bodies and blood on the sidewalks. The shooter killed and wounded nearly 50 people that day (Lavergne). A similar occurrence happened on a Monday morning April 2007, on the campus of Virginia...
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...in one of the classrooms that the gunman targeted. He escaped but this information gave him chills. That boy’s name is Jeff. Why is it that issues don’t matter until a horrifying story has a personal connection to its readers that it causes them to fully gasp the situation? There are many alternatives to students carrying weapons on campus. Advocates for guns on campus say that it will make the environment safer, but in reality only the students and faculty can make a campus safer. If someone sees something, they should say something. Responsibility is the first method of defense, not guns. There are over 4,400 colleges and universities in the United States, the majority of these do not allow students or faculty to carry guns on campus. The states that allow students and faculty to carry firearms on college property are Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin. Only Utah and Colorado have explicit laws about allowing concealed firearms on campus, but leave the ultimate decision up to schools to decide whether to allow guns on campus or not. Twenty other states allow schools to decide on allowing guns of any type on campus. This leaves students confused where they can and cannot carry firearms across America. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Education conducted a study that determined that the homicide rate at post-secondary education institutions was only 0.07 per 100,000 in 1999, while there was only a U.S. national homicide rate of 5.7 per 100,000 persons...
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...I think the open carry law should be allowed because if you are carrying a handgun, somebody attacks you, and you shoot them then you are stopping crime at its peek. The open carry law of Texas states that you are allowed carry any handgun as long as you have a license, but the handgun must be carried in a shoulder or belt holster, and you must be 21 years of age or older to get a license. This means handguns will be in the hands of an adult, and not a kid which is one good thing. Another good thing about the open carry law of Texas is that if someone sees that a store is getting robbed then that person can stop the robber with his handgun from stealing from the store. That way the other people that was in the store is safe from the robber,...
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...gay marriage should not be overturned because it is not our right. As a texan and being individualistic/conservative like many others, the right to marry should be left to the personal opinion of the individual not everyone else's. No one person should tell the other they can't marry someone they wish to marry. I personally think people should just accept or at least look away from gay marriage if they are against it. One should worry for their own life and not others, therefore I believe that marriage should not be overturned, but rather be left alone. The negative of Gay marriage is that originally and socially marriage is supposed to be between...
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...Being able to carry a gun openly means that a person is able to carry an unconcealed weapon. This open carry gun law is a new law being applied in several states. This handgun law varies state to state. Thirty one states allow open carry without any permit or license, but fifteen states require some form of permit or license. Open carry is a fresh topic that promotes a tremendous amount of controversy. Open carry should be allowed because it is a constitutional right, it provides protection, and allows others to be protected by those carrying. First of all, bearing arms is a constitutional right. The second amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right of every American citizen to keep and bear arms. This means that every registered citizen of the United States of America can keep guns in their house or on their person. With this constitutional right, it is a person’s choice whether they want to carry a gun or not. If a citizen of the United States wants to have a gun and carry it on their person, that person has the constitutional right to do so. On the other hand, if a person does not want a gun, they have the right to not carry or own a gun at all. The second amendment is a very arguable subject...
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...Title: Should Gun Sales and Ownership Be Subject to Federal Regulation? Author: Introduction: "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." In the Bill of rights it clearly states that firearm control shall not be infringed at all. Most gun laws and regulations are divided into the 50 states to decide the fate of the citizens. The federal laws are simply the second amendment, and background checks prior to gun purchases. The current laws are a little strict with their current background checks and concealed handgun regulations. Guns should be able to be bought with straight cash, with no questions asked at all. Pro Side: Gun sales and gun ownership is a volatile market, and has to be regulated for the safety of the general public. Support: Gun laws need to be immediately enforced to the general public due to possible uncertainties to mental health, and emotional control. Some people cannot control themselves, and their emotions. Most countries in the 21st century of thinking will say that guns need to be registered with the state, and federal governments. Handguns, silencers, and automated rifles being the most volatile, and highest priority of restrictions. Some people will argue that whole wars are fought over who has the biggest and baddest guns, and pride. If guns as a whole were taken away from the reaches every citizen crime rates would logically have to...
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...“Yes, people pull the trigger - but guns are the instrument of death. Gun control is necessary, and delay means more death and horror” (Eliot Spitzer). There is no way in telling what peoples intentions are in this world. Allowing firearms on college campuses make it easier for those who don’t have good intentions harm the people surrounding them. College campuses are supposed to be heartwarming, comfortable, and safe. Allowing firearms on campus is not a good idea; there have been many cases on gun shooting occurring on campuses. On august 1, 1966, Charles Whitman climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower with three rifles, two pistols, and sawed-off shotgun (UT Tower). Charles Whitman was a 25-year-old architectural engineering major and an ex-marine; who had already murdered his mother and his...
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...There have been 307 mass shootings in 2017 alone. So the question arises how can we fix this problem? Many people believe we should have more strict gun control laws while others say that we should make gun control laws less strict. As American citizens, we have the right to own guns and that right should never be taken away from us. We should make it less difficult for an individual to go out and buy guns so people can protect themselves from criminals. People will always find ways to obtain guns, that’s what criminals do. According to the washington post “82% of perpetrators in gun violence got their guns illegally while the other 18% got their guns legally.” More strict gun laws will only make people more vulnerable. There would be more...
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...of this issue and leave it to the reader to decide which argument they will support. Concealed Carry on Campus: Yea or Nay? 3 In the war over guns, the first casualty was the truth (Kleck, 2009). Could the results of the tragedies at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and the private college in California been lessened if concealed weapons were permitted on campuses? Studies have been conducted, but there have been no definitive results. Each side of this question can quote statistics and studies that will prove their point of view. There is no absolute answer to this question, but many people believe that the outcome may have been much different if concealed weapons were present on campus. As with every issue of this magnitude, there are two sides to this question. The debate about whether to allow concealed weapons on campus raises questions of personal safety, legality and are gun-free zones really safer. Students for Concealed Carry is a nationwide organization made up of over 43,000 students, professors and professionals fighting for the legal right to carry concealed weapons on campuses. The members of SCCC want to dispel the myths about carrying concealed weapons on campus. They also want state legislators and school administrators to grant concealed weapon permit holders the same rights on campuses that they enjoy in most other unsecured locations. Their premise is that in a...
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...as we know it is about to change and joining the debate team may hit an all-time low. In Texas, the change is coming on August 1, 2017, with a new law allowing students to carry concealed handguns on public University campuses. I assure you that I would feel very uncomfortable sitting in a classroom knowing that there were one, two, five or possibly ten guns in the room with me. And what if a student dropped his backpack and his gun inside accidently discharged? While this may be highly unlikely, I know that each time I saw a backpack fall to the floor, I would react a little differently than before. We have all seen the horror when a troubled person at school is wanting to make a statement by causing as much carnage as possible. Whenever a tragedy happens in this country, we want answers. If a tragedy involves young people within a school, it hits us all even harder and we demand immediate solutions. Supporters of this law state that bad guys will think twice about coming onto a campus knowing their planned attack may be cut short by students packing heat. The National Rifle Association's Executive Vice President and CEO, Wayne LaPierre, says "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." While in theory that could be true, I don't buy it. We have seen shootings at police stations, courthouses, Embassy's and many other places where everybody is aware guns are present. If there is someone out there with the intent to hurt others, a math teacher...
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...carrying a gun? Some students may feel more protected while others might feel threatened. In the summer of 2015, the law was passed to let students open carry a gun on college campuses. Students should not be allowed to open carry a gun on campus because a gun is known to be unsafe and could always end up in the wrong hands. Guns could end up in the wrong hands. A person with a history of mental illness can easily get their hands on a gun. In “Is There a Link Between Mental health and Gun Violence?” the author points out that a young boy, Jaylen Fryberg, in Marysville, used a gun killing four students and then himself. Reports stated that “he just wasn’t in the right state of mind.” Although, a gun may end up in the hands of a mentally unstable person, one may argue a background check is required for anyone to be allowed to carry a gun. According to “Students Debate Guns on Campus-Pro,” Tina Divara declares, “Texas has strict regulations on who can and cannot carry concealed weapons.” Meaning you must be 21 years or older and have a clean background just to apply for the gun license. It may be true that Texas has strict regulations on getting a gun license. However, a gun could end up in the wrong hands of a person with a history of mental illness. For Example, in 2007, at Virginia Tech University, Seung Hui Cho, a student at the school, opens fire leaving 32 people dead. This student had a background of mental health problems, but was still able to purchase the gun he used...
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