...Crime Trends Crime trends have changed drastically throughout the years. Criminal activity has always been a challenging task to evaluate and monitor. What is a crime trend? A crime trend is defined as a significant change in the nature of selected crime types within a defined geographical area and time period (U.S. Legal, 2001). Crime trends tend to increase and decrease for different reason throughout the years. The essay will discuss the crime trend in America and the reason for a decline in 1999. In 1999 there were several reasons that could be the cause for a decrease in crime trends. Unemployment rates were low in 1999, in fact at the time rates had not been seen as low since 1969. There was also an increase in new jobs; under President Clinton administration the economy added 245,000 jobs per month. When President Clinton took office in 1992 the unemployment rate was at 7.5%, by 1999 the rate had dropped to 4.0%. Employment showed a promising reason for a decrease in crime (The Clinton-Gore Economic Record, 2000). Throughout the years researchers have been noticing when the economy is good it seem to reduce the amount of crime that happens. In the article Crime and Unemployment, the author refers to a study conducted in the United States that showed unemployment as a reason behind higher homicide rates and suicides; the study was conducted from 1940-1984. The study included five socio economic variables unemployment rates, gross national product...
Words: 986 - Pages: 4
...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....
Words: 1268 - Pages: 6
...A- Block Gun Control essay Why does gun control continue to be an argument in this country? Will America ever come to an agreement? I will explain my opinion in this essay. My opinion will be based on the New York Times magazine “Upfront- The Gun Debate.” The discussion of gun control has many different points of view. Though guns are sometimes kept to help, they can be given to criminals and used in the wrong ways, too. “Gun control is a broad term that covers many kinds of restrictions.” said the article. What is gun control? Gun control is known as the restriction the government puts on the buying, selling, and usage of firearms. Now that we know what gun control is, why do so many citizens argue about it? Some people believe that if the government banned U.S. citizens from personally owned firearms that it would lead to a safer environment. Others counteract that by stating that if people are murdering others now our only protection is guns. However if you take firearms away then people wouldn’t have anything to either scare off criminals or protect themselves and others....
Words: 527 - Pages: 3
...Gun Control not Controlling Gun control has been a question for many years. It has only become a big issue in the past decade with the number of mass shootings increasing more and more. Beside mass shootings, 289 people are shot every day, according to NBC News. These numbers are very bothersome and should be lowered greatly. In this essay, I will talk about why gun control needs to be stricter, why guns still need to be available, and solutions to making laws stricter. Brady Campaign says a gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used to kill or injure in a domestic homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense. Very few people who have a gun to be used in self defense don’t use it at the time of action. Less than 1% of victims in a violent crime protected themselves with a firearm. Therefore keeping guns around for self defense is not a very arguable point. Of the 289 people...
Words: 761 - Pages: 4
...Today in America, gun control is a very serious issue. There are different opinions on this issue, the National Rifle Association (NRA), feels that guns are safe when used for protection by responsible citizens, others feel that guns are far to dangerous to be kept in homes, and that guns should not be owned by anyone, only used by the National Guard and law enforcement. These people think their opinions are correct according to the second amendment, the amendment that deals with the bearing of arms by citizens of America, but there have been different interpretations of it. The reason that people feel gun ownership is such a problem is that so many people lose their lives by them each year. Personally, I feel that guns lead to increases in crime, murder, and household accidents. By reducing availability of guns and providing education on gun safety, I think that these things will help make America safer. Before making up my mind on what I felt about the issue, I made sure to consider the opinions of others and to collect statistics. People from the (NRA), who are against gun control, feel that the people are responsible for the negative effects guns have on America. Helen Smith, a forensic psychologist who shares the ideas of the NRA, wrote an article titled “It’s Not The Guns”. In this article, she talks about the increase in school and youth violence, relating to guns. She blames the children and irresponsible parents. She denies that guns are easier for kids to get today...
Words: 1303 - Pages: 6
...Formal Essay #1 October 12 2013 Gun Control Debates involving gun control began in the early 1960s, since then many laws and regulations have been created (“Gun Control Time Line”). However, while crimes involving the use of guns start increasing, is changing the laws going to end the violence and make people feel safer? There have been many different media sources and political debates throughout our country questioning if increasing the laws will stop the crime or not. A problem in our society that we may all suffer from is in our amendment system. Our second amendment, established in 1791, states that “everyone is entitled to the right to bear arms.” (“Gun Control Time Line”) Recently, with everyone hearing and seeing gun violence on the rise has pushed the issues of changing our laws. With nearly all states considering all of the available options, many arguments concerning whether or not laws will reduce violence, need to be thought out to determine the best for society. Debates that support changing our laws within our country, feel as if our government is losing control as we all see crime rates rising. People argue that something needs to be done to stop gun violence. Many people have said that, guns do not kill; criminals who use them are the problem (“What the Public Really Thinks about Guns”). Individuals across the nation argue that current laws today are actually allowing criminals to get access to guns that are used for crimes. Those who are in favor of changing...
Words: 1654 - Pages: 7
...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...
Words: 3335 - Pages: 14
...Nicolas Navarrete Essay 3 April 23, 2015 Gun Laws Law breaking and guns, the two seem to always be associated with each other. But are the two really connected? Do laws placing restrictions on firearm ownership really protect the average citizen from other citizens? These are only some of the questions many citizens and lawmakers are asking themselves when setting about to create gun control laws. The debate over gun control is always changing, and is in need of some improvement before all hell breaks lose. Clearly this debate still goes on today and is the very reasoning for the formation of gun control laws. Guns are extremely potent weapons. They can cause destruction, cause death, and most importantly, cause a city to retaliate. However, they can be used to defend and protect. No matter what way you look at it, guns are powerful tools, not only physically but also in society. As college students, it is important to stay up-to- date of the current events and issues circulating our country today, one of which is the controversial issue of gun control. It is extremely important to pay attention to where gun control laws are headed. With all the recent shootings in the past years, there is something to be said about how easy it is to acquire a gun. The courses they take will not only affect our nation and society but also the future and the families that plan to raise children. The gun war has been going on for years and...
Words: 642 - Pages: 3
...Guns are a part of America’s way of life. Today many people are under the impression that guns are the root of all that is evil. Who would be the person that would save a lady that was being raped? Probably someone who owns a gun and its use is not intended for evil, or what about someone that is breaking into your home? Who is the person that will save the day? Once again probably someone who owns a gun and it is not intended for the use of evil. Those people who fought for the independence of America were not evil people they were average people who hunted and farmed for a way of life. Some people believe that the banning of guns would then no one would have them…please! One example that clearly comes to mind is the Prohibition Act of 1920, we see how well that worked, and it most certainly didn’t stop people from drinking. It only made people that would sell it illegally richer. Also, what about illegal drugs, just because it is illegal doesn’t mean that people are doing it. Kids could get their hands on many illegal drugs. So banning guns would not mean that people would not have them. Banning guns would only take them out of the hands of honest citizens that own guns and give criminals more of an advantage over unarmed citizens. Banning guns would do no good because criminals don’t care if they break the law, or they wouldn’t be considered criminals in the first place. Isn’t that the reason why we are trying to ban guns is to reduce crime? That could leave us law-abiding...
Words: 1090 - Pages: 5
...A Rebuttal of Gun Control What would be going through your mind if you were at your barber and a deranged man came in and began pointing a gun at others and you. You have your 5 year old son with you? Would you be thinking if they would ban guns this would have never happened? Probably not! What you were probably thinking is if I had a gun on me I could protect not only my own lift but also my sons life and the people around me. People are starting to see a gun as an object of death and destruction, and not what they are intended to be. There is a major debate going on in the U.S. on gun control. Should people have the right to carry a concealed weapon or should they only be allowed to have a gun in their home? Another question is if the government were to ban guns would that be doing us law-abiding citizens more harm than good? Or maybe they should only allow guns in the hands of people that have had background checks and our licensed to handle them. “Guns are a part of America’s way of life. Today many people are under the impression that guns are the root of all that is evil.” (Patton, 2011). Who would be the person that would save a lady that was being raped? Probably someone who owns a gun and its use is not intended for evil, or what about someone that is breaking into your home? Who is the person that will save the day? Once again probably someone who owns a gun and it is not intended for the use of evil but more for the purposes of eliminating the evil. Those people...
Words: 1397 - Pages: 6
...My Essay on Gun Control for my English Class: Gun Control – Should We, Or Should We Not? The issue of gun control has come up recently as an important decision opportunity for our country. Many people are asking whether guns really are the helpful tool that many of us have been saying they are, or if they are the killing machines they have recently been publicized as. Gun Control: The Great Cop-out by Jared Machaud and Gun Control and the Constitution by David B. Rivkin Jr. and Andrew M. Grossman effectively display the anti-gun control side of this discussion; whereas The Second Amendment is all for Gun Control by Adam Winkler and Making Gun Control Happen by Patrick Radden Keefe display the pro-gun control side. In my views, guns are a helper in a time of crisis when help is too far away, or unwilling to come. Rather than put more restrictions on guns and gun owners, we should maintain the ability to protect ourselves and our fellow Americans through the use of firearms. As we take a look at the way gun control advocates are planning on enforcing gun control, you may start to even question why we would even contemplate using such tedious means. The idea that limiting the size of a magazine or regulating the type of gun you can purchase or even doing something as simple as a background check will stop murders like the Connecticut shooting from happening is ridiculous. In Making Gun Control Happen the author, Patrick Radden Keefe, writes as an advocate to gun control. He...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 1322 - Pages: 6
...Gun Control in America When I was in the military I had the opportunity to travel to many different countries in the world where gun control was either limited or fully enforced. In countries like Great Britain, which has strict gun control, the country has a very high miscellaneous crime rate due to even the law enforcement not carrying side arms (Kelley, 2012). Then countries like Switzerland where their gun laws are minimal, and their crimes are very low and they have access to guns (LaFollette, 2000). These countries with guns may have gun violence, but countries without guns tend to have more heinous crimes using other things as weapons (LaFollette, 2000). I have been around this world and I feel as Americans we don’t need gun control. Even though some Americans believe guns kill people and should be banned, I am completely against gun control, because it violates our Second Amendment Right, and guns also protect us and our families from intruders and individuals trying to commit a crime. Americans in today’s society want gun control to prevent foolish people and ones not all there in the head from owning guns. LaFollette (2000), thought that even though guns don’t kill people, people kill people so we should have gun control to stop these individuals from getting firearms. Such lunatics that have shot up schools like Columbine, Sandy Hook, and most recent the kid that shot up that church Charleston, SC. LaFollette (2000), said,” Availability of guns is also positively...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...Argument Essay By Joseph Peterson Ivy Tech Community College Argument Essay Guns or no guns? That seems to be a big question these days. A lot of the reason behind the discussion is mass shootings that occur so often now days. Other forms of violence with guns happen, but the most controversy over guns usually occurs after a mass shooting. The reason for that is that mass shootings tend to be more mindless and more innocent people are hurt or killed in mass shootings. The thought of what if I or one of my families was in one of these mass shootings always hit home afterwards, and so we think of ways to prevent them from happening again. I have a question though is guns really the issue or is it really another issue? I think that the anti-gun activists use every shooting as just another door to support their views against guns. I can see why they do since guns are used to the shootings, but taking away a normal citizens right to own a gun and defend themselves against crimes is not smart. These shootings are not done by normal citizens and could still occur even if they took away guns from the normal citizens who just want protection. Police are not always there when you need them and sometimes you need to protect yourself first as we can see from different crimes that take place today. What would stop a mass shooter from buying guns illegally? Do they not think that they could? Drugs are illegal but still sold and used everywhere every minute. One argument...
Words: 1807 - Pages: 8
...No Need for More Gun Control Justin Sullivan DeVry University Prewriting What is your narrowed topic? Be detailed in your answer. You can use any of the versions you’ve developed for prior assignments. My chosen topic is the for less gun control in our society. Who is your primary audience or reader? Why? Be detailed in your answer about your audience. My paper is written towards members of our society that believe more stringent gun control is needed. However, the paper will be presented to my professor and classmates. In a sentence or short paragraph, what is your thesis statement, including your angle? Write what will appear in your essay. My point is that What topic sentences will you use as the foundation of your communication? (If necessary, add more points.) * * * * What method of organization and development will you use to develop your paragraphs? * Introduction: * * Body: * * * * * Conclusion: No Need for More Gun Control Turn on a television to just about any news channel, or pick up a newspaper, whether it is local or national and you will most assuredly find a segment on some sort of gun violence. This may be a shooting at a movie theater, a busy market place, a gang fight, or God forbid, an elementary school. These events and other similar events have lead to a question that is prevalent across the country: Should there be more gun laws and therefore more gun...
Words: 2324 - Pages: 10
