...argument is if the second amendment was created to ensure the state militias were a means of defense, or was it created to ensure an individual's right to bear arms? Back then, militia stood for all men who were capable of bearing arms. Today’s militia now refers to the National Guard in every state. The second amendment clearly says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Therefore, the right to bear arms was meant for everyone, not just a militia. Also, many gun owners use their handguns for hunting and target shooting. “Every year millions of handgun owners practice or compete in marksmanship competitions, sight in their guns in advance of hunting season, or perfect personal protection skills. Hundreds of thousands participate in thousands of local, state, regional and national handgun matches annually, using a wide variety of pistols and revolvers in a broad range of formal competitions” (NRA). Gun control laws violate our right to bear arms, and would prevent millions of handgun owners from hunting and target shooting. An additional argument is whether firearms increase violent crimes, or does the fear of crime cause people to acquire guns? “If firearms increased violence and crime, the crime rate...
Words: 910 - Pages: 4
...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
...constantly abused and a right that can infringe on our right to live. I propose that we need more restrictions on guns, this is sort of a controversial idea, but it is something that needs to happen. According to an article done by The Atlantic online in 2013 in some U.S cities the gun homicides are comparable to some of the most violent countries in the world. The U.S has consistently for almost a decade been in the top ten in gun homicides while most major countries like Canada, U.K, and Japan don’t even make it to triple digits as opposed to US 6 digits. My proposition is that we put stricter laws on guns such as banning assault rifles because assault rifles are weapons with an intent to harm and are over the top weapons. Weapons should be used to defend against a life-threatening situation not a go-to when a physical altercation gets tough. Weapons such as handguns and shotguns are enough for life-threatening situations. I also propose that we do universal background checks to get a closer eye on the people who are buying guns. We should also raise the price of ammunition making those who buy bullets think is shooting that bullet really worth it. So in conclusion a ban on assault rifles and the implementation of a universal background check would be extremely beneficial for gun control. Because in our present laws they present an issue to not just our citizen but our society as a whole cause if we keep doing the same thing with no change it will just get...
Words: 301 - Pages: 2
...placed it on the manufacturer of the firearms. Media coverage and firearm-related deaths have caused the government to intervene on the manufacturing and banning of firearms. In order to discuss firearms we must understand its definition. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a firearm is "a weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder- usually used of small arms". The Oxford Dictionary simply states that a firearm is “a rifle, pistol, or other portable gun". These definitions are vague and somewhat confusing to those who are not very knowledgeable in the firearm subject. Many reporters and anti-firearm organizations also include assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons. So I will go ahead and speak of firearms to include all guns and rifles. Anti-firearm groups have been around since the Constitution was written. These organizations believe that gun ownership should be limited and very strict. Their quest is to reduce violence, ensure that the government enacts national regulations, ban all types of assault weapons, and restrict the number of guns individuals can buy during a specified time (Carter). The banning of assault weapons is thought to reduce violent crimes. And therefore, anti-firearm organizations feel that private citizens should not be allowed to own them. Gun restriction has been aided by Brady Handgun Prevention Act,...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
... and there has been gun control almost as long as it's been around. The National Rifle Association is an advocate of the Second Amendment and an opponent of those who propose restrictions on guns. Even Presidents Reagan and Bush are members, and Nixon, Eisenhower, and Kennedy were also members. Why do people feel the need to own a handgun? One reason is heritage. For as long as this country has been around, there have been gun owners, to defend themselves and to hunt for food. Buying, owning, or carrying a handgun doesn't hurt anyone. Until a person commits a crime, he/she is free to choose what he/she wants to do. Even if guns were completely banned from the U.S.A., people would still find a way to get them. Criminals would get guns. They would have their way, and there would be nothing we could do about it. We would have no way to defend ourselves. What is gun control to you? To me, it is the unconstitutional regulation and banning of guns to try to keep the crime rates in this country down. Does it work? Some gun laws are okay and they may work to some extent, but not to the extent that was intended. As for most of these gun laws such as the Brady Law, it serves no purpose. It is only there to make our lawmaking bodies and those of us who are too naïve...
Words: 394 - Pages: 2
...40-cal handgun that police recovered at the scene.” The next day when police went to Holmes’ house they found that he had booby trapped the whole house with explosives. Holmes also had dyed his hair and told the police he was The Jjoker. At trial Holmes’s lawyer pled insanity for Holmes. This man killed people, said he wasis The Joker, booby trapped his own house from top to bottom in explosives, and pledads insanity. He sounds pretty insane to me which just proves themy point that those guns did notdidn’t kill those innocent people; the insane guy behind the trigger did. Yes, guns can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and that is why they have all these safety courses in gun safety and the right equipment to lock your guns up so they stay out of the wrong hands.. Yes, you can give the stats on people who die in...
Words: 904 - Pages: 4
...Jasmine Diaz Ms.Bell Period 5 April 7, 2015 Legalization of All Weapons Gun control has been a disputed topic for a long time. Many citizens believe that if gun control is strictly enforced it would reduce the crime rate.Many innocent people feel they should have possession of guns for their protection or just to go out and hunt. Some gun control advocates believe that banning all guns is the best way to protect people. Banning guns can do many things, but it doesn’t protect anyone. Some say that a gun in the house is more likely to cause the death of a family member or innocent person than a criminal/intruder. That is true, but that does not mean guns cause more innocent deaths than guilty ones. That is because only about 1 in 1,000 uses of firearm self defense results in the death of the criminal. Guns are used hundreds of thousands of times a year in lawful self defense. Unless you are a criminal, or psychopath, the constitution should apply. My parents own guns, and have never had one go off accidentally. Every couple weeks we go to the range and and just have fun shooting. When a government tries to outlaw guns, its de-arming its citizen. George Washington said "A man with a gun is a citizen, a man without a gun is a subject"If a criminal really wanted a gun, they could get it illegally, and then the only thing the control does is not allow the law abiding citizen from having one to protect himself...
Words: 1104 - Pages: 5
...“Guns do not kill, but people do.” I am sure most of us have heard this saying at some point in our lives. Surely, it is a statement of the obvious, but the logic behind it rings true. It may seem rational to ban guns entirely to prevent people from killing, but it is not the guns themselves that are the problem. The criminals who kill others are willing to break the law and risk going to prison for the rest of their lives to murder, yet they are expected to follow firearm laws? If a nationwide gun ban is enacted, criminals will not suddenly follow the law and reject the thought of buying a firearm on the black market. Banning all guns in the United States would be irrational because it would not lower crime or prevent firearm-related murders. Outlawing firearms punishes the law-abiding citizens by leaving them defenseless against criminals who obtain their firearms illegally. Michael and Susan Gonzales of Jacksonville, Florida learned first-hand the importance of protecting yourself with a registered and legal firearm. According to Gia Fenoglio’s article in the National Journal, in the early morning hours of August 2, 2000, two intruders masked in camouflage kicked their way into Michael and Susan’s home with guns drawn. One of the intruders opened fire and struck Michael in the shoulder. Susan hastily grabbed her husband’s twenty-two caliber pistol, cocked the hammer, and squeezed the trigger. She killed one of the intruders by hitting him in the neck and back. The remaining...
Words: 834 - 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
...Gun control and the Second Amendment The United States Constitution says that U.S. Citizens have the right to bear arms. Even though this guarantee was written with no constraints, there are now laws that limit certain aspects of gun ownership. The reasons for gun control fall under the flag of public safety. Though there are many safety reasons why private ownership of firearms should be banned, these arguments are outweighed not only by the need for protection, but because the limitation of ownership rights could become dangerous to personal freedom. When the U.S. Constitution was written, some delegates thought Militia was military forces because the Federal Government had its own army to protect the people. The second amendment was made in response to the fear of being helpless before a standing professional army. "Aristotle said that decisions of a leader 'backed by a standing army' would be different from those made by a leader 'awed by the fear of an armed people'" (The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, 28). Elbridge Gerry, a delagate to the Constitutional convention from Massachusetts, was an activist for the right of the Militia to bear arms. When asked what use a Militia has, he responded: "What sir, is the use of a Militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty" (The Commission of the Bicentennial...
Words: 2352 - Pages: 10
...The New College Classroom – 25 Students, 12 Handguns Campus life 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...
Words: 785 - Pages: 4
...October 20, 2014 Unit 4 firearms Mr. Barron SPO1-four primary safety rules * Never point a firearm at anything you don’t want to shoot or destroy * Treat all firearms as if they are loaded * Be aware of your backstop and what is beyond it * Keep your finger off the trigger until you have made the conscious decision to shoot. Range safety rules * Remember the four firearm safety rules * Lad only when instructed * Keep firearms pointed downrange * Never draw with finger inside of trigger guard * Do not handle firearm behind the shooters * Never permit muzzle of firearm to touch the ground * Never leave your firing point without firearm in safe condition * Never go in front of the firing line until line has been cleared * Pay attention to commands, ask for clarification if necessary. * If firearm malfunctions, clear it. If your are unable to correct it, signal instructor Firearm safety in the home * Each of you is responsible for the safety of others with firearms in your home. * Educate your immediate family * Remember, visitors in your home may encounter your or your issued firearms and safety and security is your responsibility * Home safety procedures: * Store firearms and ammunition separately, under lock and key. * Use commercial trigger locks. * Be consistent in how you store your firearms and ammunition at home. Have a routine and stay with it * Do not keep your...
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...Adan Gallardo Should the government pass stricter gun laws? Did you know that only in 2011 there were 11,101 people killed by an irresponsible gun owner? Yes, the irresponsibility of gun owner have caused an immense impact in society, based in The International Firearm Injury Prevention and Policy Organization, just since January of 2013 there has been 8,534 cases of people killed by a gun. In fact, to prevent more deaths due to irresponsible gun owners the government of the USA should certainly pass stricter gun laws because it can prevent deaths, it can reduce crimes, and it can make America a better and a safer place to live. There are many reasons for the government to pass stricter gun laws. A perfect example is the shooting that took place in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. James Egan Holmes killed twelve innocent people and at least 59 were injured with an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun, and a 40- caliber hand gun. These kinds of incidents could be prevented if the government would pass much harsh and stricter gun laws, so that not anyone could obtain a gun so easy. Throughout the country many people are afraid, because of how easy it is for someone to obtain a firearm. These people have all the right to be insecure, but parents are the ones who are most perturbed, and this is due to the school shooting in Connecticut. Adam Lanza killed himself after killing 20 small children and six adults in an elementary school with two 9mm pistols, police officers...
Words: 553 - Pages: 3
...School shootings are becoming a massive deal now and President Trump insists that arming all teachers with guns will protect the students and prevent school shootings from happening. “But if he had a firearm, he wouldn’t have had to run, he would have shot and that would have been the end of it.”, said Trump. Having a gun during that moment would’ve saved numerous lives in the Florida incident. Parents and students are terrified of having to be going to schools where any incident like the previous school shooting in Florida can happen. A father whose daughter was shot 7 times and died in the Florida school shooting incident could not repress his emotions, Andrew Porter states, “How many schools, how many children have to get shot? It stops here, with this administration and me, because I’m not going to sleep until it’s fixed.”, parents of the victims want there to be a change and want schools to become a much safer environment for kids of all ages, instead of seeing that no one's doing anything to resolve the solution. Gun violence is getting out of hand in the U.S, at least 18 school shootings have occurred in 2018. Gun safety isn't being taken seriously and more incidents involving an arm are happening. Sheriff Scott Israel stated in the video, “2 folks, people lost their lives at the hospital”, that occurred on February 14, 2018 in the Florida school shooting. Six school shootings have happened in K-12 grade schools, a 15 year old student killed 2 students in Kentucky on January...
Words: 724 - Pages: 3
... In today’s United States, one of the most prevalent and heated debates is on guns. There have been several shootings as of late which have drawn an extensive amount of attention to the topic. This has, however, drawn the public eye from other important issues. One of these neglected issues is depicted in the above advertisement. When first viewing it, the eye passes over it, seeing the shape of a gun. After all, the rather dramatic lighting lends to this conclusion. Then one’s eyes are drawn back to the object. The brain finally realizes that it is a set of car keys, not a gun. The message underneath then reads: “Takes one life every 25 seconds,” and underneath it, “Drive safe.” This poster was made by the Frontier Post. This newspaper was founded by Rehmat Shah Afridi in 1985 in the Country of Pakistan (English). This image has been widespread throughout the internet, reaching different social medias and other online news articles.The Frontier Post created the advertisement as a campaign to promote awareness of the risk of driving a car and to plead for drivers to practice safe actions and driving habits. This poster shows great tact with its use of pathos, logos, and ethos by remaining balanced in its use of each of these three appeals. The first appeal that is experienced is pathos. It is first witnessed in the focal point of the poster, the keys. Most people will first see a gun and have their minds filled with thoughts and feelings about the recent political...
Words: 726 - Pages: 3
