...As an American citizen in high school, I believe the popular topic of gun control in schools is most relevant to me at the moment. There have been OVER 300 school related shootings since 2013—an average of about one a week. As a student who has never been put in the position of having to protect oneself from an active shooter, I believe teachers should not have guns. Michael Drayton (1596) created a wise saying: “add fuel to the fire” this is still relevant today. By allowing teachers to have guns it is adding fuel to a fire, meaning it can only make a situation worse. If teachers are allowed to have guns in the classroom, students may be afraid to go to class, may feel uncomfortable knowing there is a weapon in the classroom. It also can...
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...nationwide walked out of their schools for a change. Students from all different ethnicities and backgrounds band together to protest for change, these students want more strict and beneficial gun control laws to help prevent any more mass school shootings from happening. They want to be heard and many of them feel that the only way they will be is if they scream. From east coast to west coast students dropped everything and walked out of their classrooms for 17 minutes, a minute for every student who was brutally shot and killed in the shooting of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last just over a month ago. Students protested in many different ways such as screaming the victim's names, holding...
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...to the issue of gun control. As an ex- policeman and paramedic, a man who personally had dealt with armed criminals, been shot at, and helped save the lives of shooting victims in the past (Dionne), he had a deeply personal connection with the topic, a perspective that endowed him with a unique resolve to fight for the safety of Colorado citizens. But following his gut and doing what he felt was best for his constituents, ironically, turned out not to be what his constituents demanded of him. Morse’s ardent support of five gun-control bills—including HB 1224, probably the most controversial of them (Stokols)—eventually led to Morse’s and fellow Senator Angela Giron’s recall, making the two politicians the first in Colorado’s history to be unseated in special elections (Healy). Morse was at the forefront of the successful effort in Colorado to pass sweeping legislation that tightened gun regulations and implemented extended background checks (Ferner, “John Morse, Colo.”) in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shootings of 2012. For his efforts, he was pursued vehemently by pro-gun activists and organizations (Millhiser). Morse persistently fought for his beliefs despite knowing the political risk he was taking in the purple state of Colorado, where voters are sharply divided on the issue (“Colorado Voters”). With “no regrets” (qtd. in Ferner, “State Sen.”), Morse did what he 2014 Winning Essay: John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students felt would...
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...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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...during election season. This essay will examine the gun control issue. It will provide a brief history, statistics, and quotes from gun control experts to describe the present state of gun control in the United States. In addition, it will offer a brief analysis of gun control efforts. This examination and analysis will demonstrate that stronger gun control is necessary to reduce gun violence and ensure the safe use of guns in the United States. “Since the American Revolution, when colonists went to war against Great Britain, the right to bear arms has been central to – and controversial in – American culture. Take a look back over milestones in America’s relationship with and regulation of firearms”. Following by U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, news reports. Gun control is nothing new in the United States, and neither is the controversy surrounding the control of gun ownership. According to an author , gun control has been an issue since at least 1934, when Congress passed a law restricting machine guns and sawed-off shotguns . An Author points out that after the assassinations of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a law was passed that banned the importation of inexpensive handguns called "Saturday Night Specials;" in 1993, the Brady Bill was passed, which required background checks for handgun purchases; and a 1994 law banned the sale of semiautomatic assault guns . Since 1994, there has...
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...the government starts allowing teachers to carry guns, there stress level is going to soar and they won’t be able to continue highly as they did prior. Jennings gives good points throughout her opinion essay but there is a couple flaws such as saying “don’t arm the teachers, but instead go on social media, arm them with resources to be more mindful, compassionate and responsive in the classroom so they know what to look for if there is a shooter approaching”. Instead of just going on twitter or instagram, we can look into more effective things such as for example, a security guard l or a police officer at the school because both of these occupations are highly skilled in using a service weapon and there number one priority is to protect....
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...people believes in gun control into questioning. Sandy Hook Massacre that took place in 2012, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Adam Lanza decided to not only kill his own mother but drive to an elementary school and kill 20 kids and 6 adults. Even to this day, people are still wondering what the motives behind his vicious attacks were. The Aurora shooting that took place in 2012 as well, shifted the debate over gun control. This time it was over the ease of getting guns. I have not paid attention too much to the shootings because of my age or a lack of knowledge towards the shooting. Now that I am old enough to understand the world, I am starting to see how the current gun control laws are of need of revamping or complete removal. It’s sad to see the lives lost because of how easy it is to get guns, the pain and suffering that families have to go through because of gun violence. Most people are affected by it indirectly or directly. On the flip side, however, we as a society needs guns. I believe guns are helpful if use correctly. I understand people like to hunt, I also understand how important hunting is to people and I wouldn’t want them to lose out because a few bad people are misusing guns. The inadequacy of USA gun...
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...Gun control in America Some gun control laws should stay the 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...
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...Essay on gun control in the US According to the non-profit project the Gun Violence Archive, 12,562 people died from injuries caused by firearms in 2014 alone. The total number of incidents with guns are astonishing 51,763 according to the same source. The massive number of crimes committed with guns is a major concern for the large nation. Especially the increasing number of school shootings have caused a new wave in the debate of enforcing a more strict policy on firearms. This debate has been taking place since the Columbine Massacre and even though school shootings have become more frequent during the last decade no action to enact a more strict policy on firearms have been taken. The question is why ? Among many other gun crimes, school shootings in America are getting more frequent and have become a major concern for the entire American population, who have split into two groups; those who wish to ban the easy access to guns, and those who come to feel even more strongly about the right to carry firearms when witnessing these tragedies. In 2014 there were 36 school shootings while there in 2013 were 25. This comes to show that the number of shootings have increased. The lacking actions on creating more gun control have become a concern for many who wish to end these increasing numbers of school shootings, while others remain convinced that owning a gun is the only way to protect themselves from those crimes. These two very different ways of looking at the problem is...
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...Gun control has been an ongoing issue in the United States for the past few years due to the increase of gun related deaths such as school and mass shootings. There have been debates on whether to eradicate firearms from Americans. These ideas were addressed by the United States government and gun control advocates who are for stricter gun control. On the other hand, people who oppose the policy feel that their 2nd amendment rights will be violated just because they are reoccurring school and mass shooting that are being committed by what are perceived as mentally unstable individuals. This essay will examine the perspectives of both sides son gun control and the mental state of the suspects of the attacks. First the perspective of gun control...
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...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...
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...Gun Control “Gun control” is a phrase that means different things to different people. It has been a serious topic of debate that this author now intends to prove as being right or wrong. For all the attention that gun control has received, there are two basic opinions that are to be discussed. To its proponents, gun control means prevention of crime. 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...
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...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...
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...the reflections. * Sleeping with Guns by Bruce Holbert * My Daughter Smokes by Alice Walker * A Drunken Ride, A Tragic Aftermath by Theresa Conroy and Christine M. Johnson * Young and Isolated by Jennifer M. Silva Sleeping With Guns By BRUCE HOLBERT THE summer before my sophomore year in high school, I moved into my father’s house. My father had remarried and the only unoccupied bedroom in his house was the gun room. Against one wall was a gun case he had built in high school, and beside it were two empty refrigerators stocked with rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. My bed’s headboard resided against the other wall and, above it, a resigned-looking, marble-eyed, five-point mule deer’s head with a fedora on its antler rack. The room had no windows, so the smell of gun oil filled my senses at least eight hours each day. It clung to my clothes like smoke, and like a smoker’s cigarettes, it became my smell. No one in my high school noticed. We all smelled like something: motorheads of motor oil, farm kids of wheat chaff and cow dung, athletes like footballs and grass, dopers like the other kind of grass. It did not appear to anyone — including me — that residing within my family’s weapons cache might affect my life. Together, my three brothers own at least a dozen weapons and have yet to harm anyone with them. Despite their guns (or, arguably, because of them), they are quite peaceable. As for me, I have three guns, one inherited and two gifts, and I’m...
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...Farah English 3 Part 2: Why gun ownership should be held more strictly: I, Omar Farah, certify that I have personally completed this assignment based on my own personal efforts. I understand if I use outside sources, I must properly give my source(s) credit using the APA format and my paper should not include more than 20% of direct quotes from other sources. I understand if I do not provide proper credit to outside sources, I will be documented for plagiarism and be required to resubmit a new assignment. I will not divulge the content of this assignment or any of my work, generally or specifically, to any current or future James Madison High School students. 1/4/2015 I chose the topic “Why gun ownership should be held more strictly” because most of our daily news flashes say at least someone was shot and killed or shot and injured. I don’t like this; it is senseless and very sad. We are losing people every day, because someone is using their gun recklessly or leaving it where someone else has access or easily found. I don’t get why people kill people it is just inhumane and against our morals. Guns have very high danger to our country as well as other countries. That is why I pick or chose to write about this topic for my persuasive essay because that is what I see in guns and want people to see it too. I have one question to my reader; do you think guns should be under a stricter law? Honestly, I believe that we should have more stringent gun laws that tell people; that...
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