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Gun Control

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Gun Control
Bethany Snook
January 17, 2013
PSY/400
Dr. Rockel Etienne

Unfortunately there was a terrible tragedy that occurred on December 14th 2012 that would change the world forever. This wasn’t any school shooting that could compare to ones in the past but labeled more as a mass murder. It had taken place at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newton, Connecticut where twenty children and six adults were fatally shot (Karl, Dwyer, & Bruce, 2013). The 20 year old man, Adam Lanza was help responsible for the shooting and killings when he then turned the gun on himself (Karl, Dwyer, & Bruce, 2013). This event has left out country weeping, broken, and frightened for such a terrible thing to happen in an elementary school of all places. This is why President Obama is trying to create a new gun control law to ban types of assault weapons, ban high-capacity magazines and put a limit to only allowing someone to having 10 rounds in their weapon but, is this going to create peace or is it going to cause more conflict (Karl, Dwyer, & Bruce, 2013)? Conflict is described as disbelief but, this does not always mean fighting as most people believe (Myers, 2010). Conflict can exist in any situation where desires, facts, or fears start to push or pull people against each other or in opposite directions (Myers, 2010). In this specific situation, the conflict would be what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School and why a mass murder like that should be able to happen in such a place as an elementary school taking so many innocent lives, young and old. Then this leads in what conflict resolution is and how that comes into play. Conflict resolution is a process in which one will try and find a solution to a conflict (Myers, 2010). Usually, this is cooperative talking-together, and collaborative problem-solving process that would lead to a making a decision on a plan of action that everyone can feel good about (Myers, 2010). With this specific article, for the direct victims of Sandy Hook, their parents and the community this is very much evident. But, once this banning of weapons leaks out to the rest of the community, especially the NRA (National Rifle Association), there was no conflict resolution. In fact, this has created a nation-wide conflict as they see the bigger picture with not guns killing people but people killing people. They believe that if they decide to go through with banning these things that it is going to cause an even greater problem with people rioting against it. They are in no way desensitized to the event that occurred but, thinking logically as to why and how it happened. So, is Obama’s decision logically going to create peace or just create more conflict? Peacemaking is defined as someone who makes peace, especially by settling disputes (Myers, 2010). So, in this article, President Obama is trying to create the peace for children, parents, the public and just our nation in general for trying to ban certain assault rifles and how many rounds one can be in possession of. This essentially is a good idea and seems logically for what has happened but, looking at the past why have the past presidents not tried to do that with other shootings. Or even with the recent shootings that have occurred in malls or movie theatres where any age of people could be killed, injured and actually have been. The fact of the matter is that by trying to do this for the community that was greatly affected by the shooting will give them peace, yes but will that stop everyone nation or even worldwide from having or using guns? Compare it to drugs. Drugs are completely illegal but has that stopped people from using, selling or drug cartels? No it hasn’t because you can’t stop people from doing something that they want to do, such as murder. It’s not that Obama has a terrible idea but it seems that this ban is in fact going to cause more conflict for society than cause more peace as to how many people live by the second amendment of the Constitution. In conclusion, the path that Obama is trying to take with the banning of the assault weapons and possessing more than 10 rounds is not a bad path to take. But, when it is viewed by the country and how they contradict the country’s own constitution then it is hard for something to create peace. It seems that this solution that he has thought of should be just set to restrict those types of things in specific public places but, not in the country entirely. He is focusing on the children who were directed affected trying to help them which is amazing but, isn’t logically thinking about this country as a whole and how that is never going to pass especially with how big and widely favored the NRA is.

References
Karl, J., Dwyer, D., & Bruce, M. (2013, January 16). President Obama unveils sweeping plan to curb gun violence. ABC World News
Myers, D. (2010). Social psychology (10th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection.

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