...Gun Control Effectiveness; Fact or Fiction Daryl L. Wassell COM/220 March 10, 2013 Robin Lyons Gun Control Effectiveness; Fact or Fiction The second amendment gave all citizens “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms”, and that right accordingly “shall not be infringed” (National Archives, 2012). Within this statement the founding fathers rose to the level of securing the countries new freedom with defense by any means necessary. While the second amendment permits gun ownership, it is also with the intent of securing our land from imminent national threat. As it states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State” (National Archives, 2013) affords the people the right to bear arms. The idea that the second amendment grants owners privilege to own assault rifles is ridiculous; however, more so is added legislation that yet has to prove deterrence of violence. To begin a debate on gun violence and legislation, one should start with where the escalation has come from, war. Many would believe that weapons of mass destruction have caused the greatest numbers of death around the world. In fact, no nuclear, biological, or mass acts of terror have done greater damage than standard munitions. Machine guns, rifles, and pistols are among the chief instruments of death. The figures are difficult to pinpoint but are estimated to be 60 to 90 percent of all deaths by armed conflict. Some estimate “the number of conflict deaths at 27,000–51,000...
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...Legitimate Gun Restrictions Christopher Glover PHI103 Karen Kart February 25, 2013 Legitimate Gun Restrictions A continuous argument between gun owners and concerned citizens is over gun restrictions. Many gun owners support the second amendment of the constitution and believe that any restriction on guns is an infringement on this amendment and there for there right. Concerned citizens of the United States believe that guns are to readily available and believe restrictions should be put in place to prevent these guns from falling into the wrong hands. In this essay I will discuss this argument and reveal the reasons that there are legitimate restrictions on gun ownership. I will start with how background checks keep guns out of the hands of people with a felony on their record. The gun control act of 1968 following the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, Congress passed this law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms. It also required licenses to trade in guns and created procedures to track serial numbers and control imports (www.keyt.com). Many will say that this helped reduce gun valance in America because after the gun control act of 1968 handgun violence dropped by 37% the next year (http://www.saf.org/LawReviews). The real reason behind the drop was the fact that during that year handgun production dropped, resulting in the drop in violence not the new law. Therefore the...
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... Traded under SWHC on the NASDAQ, Smith and Wesson gained most of its notoriety and sales success with the invention of the .38 special, at one time used by most of the United Stats police forces (citation). Continuing into the 20th century, Smith and Wesson obtained success with the invention of the .357 magnum and the highly popular .44 magnum. In fact, Smith and Wesson’s accomplishments are so numerous that it would be difficult to study the history of the firearm without first studying the history of Smith and Wesson. With the inauguration of Democratic President Barack Obama and a current Democratic majority in the US Congress, Smith and Wesson is concerned over the inception of new laws and regulations governing their civilian consumer purchases. According to CBS news article “Gun Sales: Will The "Loophole" Close?” the author writes, “In the national debate over the right to bear arms, the election of Barack Obama was seen as a victory for those who want stricter gun controls.” This victory in the eyes of anti-gun activists has currently set off a “feeding frenzy” of gun purchases nationwide. Guns stores are logging back orders for Assault style weapons and...
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...that gun related violence is not a problem that requires attention. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, firearm homicides account for roughly 11,000 of the 16,000 homicides that occur the United States annually (2013). The subject of gun control has been a topic that has generated an enormous amount of controversy and attention. When one hears the term “gun violence”, vile acts against humanity, such as the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary and Columbine High School, come to mind. More recently, the rise in extremist acts of terror has heightened the public’s concern over gun control. In the aftermath of multiple occasions, President Obama has publically called for stronger gun control laws, specifically calling for stricter background checks among other provisions. In response to the public’s concern for safety, the president used executive action which increased the number of businesses which require federal licenses to sell guns, thus increasing the number of dealers requiring background checks when selling firearms (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2016). This is, of course, not a one-sided argument. The subject creates strong feelings across the political spectrum. Gun rights groups, such as the NRA, suggest that gun control laws are not only unconstitutional, but actually leave citizens in more danger by preventing them from using their best form of protection (National Rifle Association, 2015). In 1994 Congress enacted the Brady Gun Control...
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...Michelle Evans History of Gun Control July 9, 2011 Chapter IV History of Gun Control In the 1960s after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, gun control became a major subject of public passion and controversy. To some people gun control is a crime issue, to others it is a rights issue. Gun control is a safety issue, an education issue, a racial issue, and a political issue, among others. Within each of these issues there are those who want more gun control legislation and those who want less. On both sides of this issue opinions range from moderate to extreme. Guns are not for everyone. Certain individuals cannot handle a 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. Most of this legislation restricts, to some degree, the rights of individuals to possess or use firearms. Some restrictions may be necessary, but some recent legislation has gone too far. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution 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 Founding Fathers included this in our bill of Rights because...
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...“Disarming Law-abiding Citizens Doesn't Make Them Any Safer" In the article, “Disarming law-abiding citizens doesn’t make them any safer”, (Spartanburg Harold-Journal, 2012) the Spartanburg Harold talks about the ban on guns will leave law-abiding citizens vulnerable to criminals, terrorists and homicidal lunatics. In this paper I will discuss some of the laws that will refute this claim. In the quote “The media is largely made up of people who don’t understand guns.” (Spartanburg Harold-Journal, 2012) the Harold makes a fallacious statement due to the fact that the media uses several different sources which includes gun manufacturers, experts on guns and law enforcement agencies. The Harold also makes the statement that the gun control lobbyists are too quick to assume that the problem is the weapons that are used. Instead they know it is not the guns. They are just trying to make it harder for that type of person or persons from getting the guns or that type of gun. Let us look at the Brady Handgun Control Act of 1993. (Library of Congress, 1993) It does not take away handguns. Instead it just adds a five day waiting period for a background check to be performed. This way those with criminal backgrounds will not be getting their hands on handguns or any gun. It also made it where state and local police were notified when multiple firearms was purchased. The Harold makes reference to the National Firearms Act of 1934. (ATF, 1934) Stating the average American cannot obtain...
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...Restricting Gun Control in the United States For many decades gun control and ownership has been a major issue in the United States. Gun control and ownership needs to be restricted in order to maintain order and save lives throughout the world, but especially in the United States. Restricting firearms, especially for civilians minimizes gun trafficking and enforces gun safety. The restriction of guns needs to be federally regulated, not state regulated in order to be effective. There have been several laws set in place to assist with regulating firearms. The two most prominent federal laws are the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968. The National Firearms Act put in place a registration system for firearms which included identifying the firearm, date of registration, and the address and identification of the person entitled to possess the firearm. The Gun Control Act “prohibits mail-order sales and the interstate sales of firearms, prohibits transfers to minors, limits access to new assault weapons, and sets forth penalties and licensing requirements for manufacturers, importers, and dealers. This act was inspired by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy because he was killed by a mail order gun. Despite these regulations there is still a widespread need to increase gun regulations. There are numerous groups and lobbyists that would like to see a slack in firearm regulations. However, the most prevalent group is the National...
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...Are there any legitimate restrictions on gun ownership? Informal Logic / PHI103 The sometimes-explosive topic of an individual’s right to bear arms is a long-standing debate both nationally and internationally. Center fire of such debates is the interpretation, definition, and intention of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, the right to bear arms. Scholars, policy makers, and everyday citizens are faced with answering the question, are there any legitimate restrictions on firearm ownership? The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution 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.” (NARA, n.d) This statement, set forth by society’s Founding Fathers, has created a multitude of debates, beliefs, and restrictions. Congress passed the National Firearms Act In 1934, then later the President of the United States signed a law requiring gun dealers be licensed while recording the purchasers names and addresses. The 1968 Federal Gun Control Act, was enacted by Congress making it law following a turbulent time in history which was marred with the assassinations of several prominent public officials. The deaths, all due to firearms, included President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. This law categorizes people prohibited from owning guns including, those convicted of a felony, a fugitive, those who...
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...Public health is an expansive discipline encompassing a vast array of issues and policies. Yet it carries within it a distinctly noble mission. The Future of Public Health defines it as “Organized community efforts to ensure conditions in which people can be healthy. Activities that society undertakes to prevent, identify, and counter threats to the health of the public. “ Therefore in fewer words, its mission is simply to protect its namesake, the public’s health. Many noble individuals have contributed to this pool of knowledge leaving legacies that have saved millions of lives and continue to save lives today. Included in the many facets of public health are injuries, both accidental and intentional. An article entitled “Firearm related injuries amongst children: Estimates from the nationwide emergency department sample” reports that close to 50,000 injuries result from violent acts within the US each year. A significant amount of those injuries involve the use of a firearm. Furthermore, in 2008 the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) reported that firearm injuries accounted for 14,831 ER visits by children alone. Although firearm injuries are unfortunate and dangerous in any situation, those involving children and adolescents are extremely despairing. The effects of a firearm injury in the early stages of life can not only have lasting physical effects, but can also result in psychological issues. Of the 14,831 ER visits mentioned, 494 died in the ER and 392...
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...a problem with guns. Like every other good old boy, I am concerned about being the victim of a random shooting, but at the same time, I want to be able to take down a nice10-point buck during hunting season. Guns effect every one of us every day. They fill us with fear or they make us feel protected. My point is this: guns are a problem, but using gun control to abolish them isn't necessarily the best solution. In gun control I mean laws that keep firearms off the street by preventing their purchase. I agree that some form of gun control is needed, but what we really need to concentrate on is gun licensing and more gun safety. I believe in my constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and I don't feel that legislators should be allowed to take away that right. Gun control can be a good thing, but if it leads to gun prohibition I will fight it until the day I die. Our country was founded on the basis of guns. The wars were won with guns and the people were protected by guns. Guns were so important that they were placed in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution: 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. Amendment II From this amendment it is apparent that the founders of our country knew in 1791 that guns did and would continue to play a role in the lives of Americans. Things haven't really changed that much. Gun control was brought into...
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...Gun Control: Who Does it Protect? Gun control is a very controversial topic in the United States. Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines gun control as the “regulation of the selling, owning, and use of guns.” The regulation is meant to protect citizens from harm by limiting or eliminating the ability to purchase or own a firearm. The one fact that many gun control supporters forget is that criminals commit crimes, and laws do not apply to those who choose to not follow them. It is a problem that they believe that more people owning guns means more crime. Another issue is that they believe Congress should pass stronger gun control laws. The gun control supporters are also misinformed as to whether concealed carry states have better or worse violent crime rates. Gun control is unsatisfactory, even though it is meant to protect against violence. It only disarms law-abiding citizens, therefore putting them at a disadvantage against criminals using illegally obtained weapons. History of Gun Control and Rights The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states that citizens have “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” (U.S. Const. amend. II.). Following the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congress passed the Gun Control Act. This law was meant to strengthen “the firearms licensing process to limit foreign and interstate transport of firearms, prohibits the interstate shipment of pistols and revolvers...
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...Gun Control Gun Control in the United States should be more limited because Gun Control would reduce gun violence and would limit the amount of people killed each year by guns. According to Watkins “We will never fully solve our nation’s horrific problem of gun violence unless we ban the manufacture and sale of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons.” USA Today, December 29, 1993.” [ (Watkins, 2012) ]. Gun control has been a hot topic for many years, because conservative Americans believe they should have the right to bear arm and the liberal side believe that it is not safe to have guns in the home. Both sides believe that they are right, because of the Fifth Amendment but the facts speak for themselves, “with nearly 400,000 gun crimes committed every year, the United States has the highest rate of firearm deaths (more than 30, 000 each year) among twenty –five high-income nations. Clearly, stronger and more effective gun control laws are needed to keep guns out of the wrong hands and to better protect the public. Furthermore, despite what the gun lobby claim, most Americans are in favor of common-sense gun laws because they understand that such laws will, in fact, help reduce gun violence.” [ (Watkins, 2012) ]. Over 270 million people are estimated to own guns in American but does that mean we are safer in our homes because we have a gun or the fact that we have a gun increase the likely hood that we may be killed with our own gun? Watkins went on to say that “many people...
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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 Imagine a world where there were no laws controlling who could and couldn’t buy guns. Imagine that a felon who had committed armed robbery could walk into any store and buy a gun along with the ammunition that is needed for that gun. It would be a scary would if anybody and everybody were able to buy a gun. If there were no laws for gun owners this situation could happen these laws are put into place to protect not only citizens but to protect the gun owners. Thankfully we live in a world where gun control has evolved over the years in order to protect America and its citizens. 1911 was when the first law towards gun control was passed and according to The Salt Lake Tribune (1995) New York passes the Sullivan Law, which makes buying or carrying a handgun without a permit a felony. Which also started the first political fray against the gun control that was stopped because of the start of World War I? It was the start of both sides of gun control, not only was it the start of gun control, however it was also the start of people political or not, the laws were against the gun control. These Laws are put into effect to protect, and eleven years later, there was another law that was passed. In 1927 Congress had passed a law that would ban mail-order sales of a handgun but the advocates fail to pass that law on a federal level. After that, states did start putting laws into place that would regulate the use and sales of handguns (The Salt Lake Tribune, 1995). According...
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...focused to focus on these two segments from each channel. On FOX News, The Bill O’Reilly Factor segment, the discussion of gun rights laws is clearly slanted toward legal ownership of guns. I don’t enjoy hate type of humor or information. Bill attempts to substantiate the Conservative parties views toward gun control with the standard NRA-Conservative argument that Americans should bear the right to own arms, arms of any type. Not limited to sporting guns or collectables. His comments are sarcastic and confusing because they are vague, with no clear and factual point made. The fact is that Bill O’Reilly said nothing new as far as conservative views and gun rights are concerned. He continued to justify his argument by saying “guns don’t kill people, people kill people”. His argument is specious in design because it is a rationalization. People, in fact, use guns. Bill went as far as mentioning Hitler, and Nazi Germany’s very strict gun control laws. German soldiers took the guns from the Jewish people, and then turned on a defenseless people. Gun laws said to be made with “good” intentions that took guns out of the hands of the people Hitler wanted to persecute. Hitler was deceptive and outright dishonest about his intentions. His intentions were to disarm and exterminate a certain race and religion of people. I don’t find anything about Hitler funny; in fact I’m sensitive to the subject because all four of my grandparents were Holocaust survivors. MSNBC has a similar program...
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