...A personal freedom we as a society are in danger of losing is our right to bear arms as stated in the Second Amendment; “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The government has made an ongoing discussion known to the public about repealing or changing the Second Amendment as a means of gun control, this has become a popular topic due to the high amount of mass shootings we have had in recent years. While some would argue that taking away guns would make the country safer due to the decline of mass deaths, some might argue differently saying that we would be making ourselves helpless victims. Charles Krauthammer states; “Unless you are prepared to confiscate all existing firearms, disarm the citizenry and repeal...
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...Senior Research Project: Is the right to bear arms ethical? Lucas Van Duyn Senior Seminar: Business Ethics Dr. Jewe July 31, 2012 Introduction to the Project: In the United States, research into firearms and violent crime is fraught with difficulties, associated with limited data on gun ownership and use, firearms markets, and aggregation of crime data. Research studies into gun violence have primarily taken one of two approaches: case-control studies and social ecology. Gun ownership is usually determined through surveys, proxy variables, and sometimes with production and import figures. In statistical analysis of homicides and other types of crime, which are rare events, these data tend to have poison distributions, which also presents methodological challenges to researchers. (Just Facts, 2010) Americans own an estimated 270 million firearms, approximately 90 guns for every 100 people. In 2009, guns took the lives of 31,347 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings. This is the equivalent of more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. 66,769 Americans were treated in hospital emergency departments for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2009. Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2009, following poisoning and motor vehicle accidents. Between 1955 and 1975, the Vietnam War killed over 58,000 American soldiers – less than the number of civilians killed with guns in the U.S. in an average...
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...The Battle Rages On Tyler D. Scott Ozarks Technical Community College Abstract This paper discusses and is centered around the on-going debate over gun control, I directly address how each major political party views this subject and what I believe the United States Government should do to be able to best combat this tremendous issue. I use research from multiple sources that contrast each side of the argument and give an overall insight into the world of modernized gun control. Gun Control: The Battle Rages On With the Second Amendment giving American citizens the rights to bear arms, and approximately fifty percent of Americans owning some form of a firearm, issues involving the ownership and possession of guns have led to heated debates in American society. Most notably is the issue of gun control. Many feel that the some form of gun regulation is necessary in order to lower the level of gun related violence in the country. On the other hand, the opponents of gun control feel that it would be an infringement on their second amendment rights. The outcome and extent of gun control has strong political implications because it basically determines the present day meaning of the Second Amendment. While each side has strong points to their arguments, one quote by writer Michael Warfel basically sums up the need for gun control. He writes, “An individual’s right to own and bear arms must be balanced by the greater social needs of a society” (Warfel, 2000, p. 18). Today, based...
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...Persuasive Research Paper Dominique Harris ENG/215 September 30, 2013 Bill Morgan Persuasive Research Paper Restrictions on Guns for the Sake of Life Volsky (2012), "I support the Second Amendment” (para. 2) Governor Rick Scott (R) stated December 2012 when questioned by anchor Soledad O’Brien about which reforms, if any, he would support. Gun control is one of the leading controversial issues society faces in America to date. The government is faced with the issue of limiting assault rifles with a trite and establishing tougher gun laws vs. the second amendment. President Obama said it best “the country’s background check system for gun buyers is so weak it makes the United States vulnerable to mass shootings” (Rucker, 2013, para. 2). That statement alone should end any controversy on the issue of gun control. Regulating individual’s right to bear arms certainly would bring a since of safety to our society. In order for that to happen, government will have to do more than just prohibited sales of guns. In everyone’s community someone knows an individual who owns gun e.g., for protection or hunting. To regulate the rights to bear arms authorities would have to confiscate everyone’s guns to make America safer. I personally would like that to happen because guns kill, accidentally and on purpose. Take a look at the bigger picture “every day in the U.S., an average of 289 people are shot. Eight-six of them die: 30 are murdered, 53 kill themselves, two die accidentally...
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...Than I had realized in that time that I had answered my question of what my topic should be. I knew from the very start that I wanted to do something in relation to guns, but was not sure of how to take the right approach because I feel it is such a large topic and issue. Locating the information was a fairly easy for me because of my knowledge over the years by hunting with my dad. My biggest concern was narrowing my topic into something practical that covered the big picture of my point of view, but not every aspect. When I tried finding specific information it was difficult because I had altered my questions several times to make them very specific to give it an interesting bias and a to give a two sided controversial issue for the reader. Most of my research came from the internet but I did explore the Fresno State Madden Library and the local Fresno Library. Mangrum 2 By researching the internet I took a look closer at each amendment and dissect the protection that the Constitution provides is for the second amendment and why it has caused such a limitless controversy. Nevertheless, the Second Amendment for years, has given us the Right to Bear Arms. But has been the main reason why our nation has created such a ferocious debate about gun control and individual rights. Perhaps it is because so many guns already are in motion. Most people know that the Second Amendment gives individuals...
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...Persuasive Research Paper ENG 102 August 11, 2013 Karen Halusek Persuasive Research Paper In America, guns have been a part of the country’s society since its birth. Throughout history, citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, and to hunt for food. In the United States, gun control is an issue that has both sides firmly imbedded in their beliefs. The parties in favor of gun ownership and the right to keep and bear arms rely on the fact that provisions for such rights are protected by the Constitution. No legitimate study in the US has ever shown that gun control has any positive impact on crime. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. In this time of turmoil and growing violence, gun advocates feel more than ever that their position is justified. The issue of gun control continues to remain a controversy. A large number of citizens believe that if gun acts are strictly enforced, that violence and the threat of crime will reduce everywhere. On the other hand, a large amount of society feels that they deserve the right to bear arms and will stop at nothing to protect their second amendment. The challenging issue of gun control takes a harmonizing act of extreme measures. Weighing the rights and liberties for each individual against the welfare and safety of the public is a risky balancing act. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. People believe that the banning...
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...of this research paper is on a particular subject that has spurred an ongoing debate for many years, the Second Amendment. To this day many Americans have raised the question is the Second Amendment still valid after 200 years? The answer to that question is YES! When the founding fathers signed the Constitution in this document there are many Articles and the First ten are known as the bill rights and the first one is the right to free speech, most everyone is in agreement that is one of the most important rights as citizens. Now the Second Amendment which 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”. In this paper it is the authors’ intension to show why this Amendment is important today and in the future. The Second Amendment has been a part of this country since the very beginning of our great nation. Fast forward to the present, they are now people saying the Second Amendment is no longer valid or needed. How can that be we not need this right or it no longer applies to the present day? One of the main reasons most people say we don’t need this fundamental right is because of the recent waves of shootings around this country. The only response is to put a ban on firearms or limit how many rounds a weapons magazine can hold. The Second Amendment is in place as part of the Bill of Rights, when you remove this right, where does it stop? What is to say one right is more...
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...Usually the American citizens agree with their president, but never before has one presidential opinion created so much outcry. In my research paper, I will look at why the American citizens cannot agree with their president. 47 American states have turned against their recently re-elected president’s opinion on gun control. How can the opinions of a democratically elected president offend so many American citizens? Eric Reed of Texas is encouraging Americans to rally against their president in the “Guns Across America” association. He felt offended by the president when Obama expressed his wish to ban assault rifles. He said to the New York Times: “He’s essentially restricting and punishing all law-abiding American citizens. He’s taking people who have never committed a crime in their lives and he’s trying to tell them that these guns are ‘assault weapons.’ Well, I’ve got guns in my home. If they’re ‘assault weapons,’ then mine must be defective because they haven’t assaulted anybody.” (Schilling 2013) Mr Reed’s association is one of many associations that were recently founded to try to prevent more gun control in the American constitution. The main factor protecting the right to bear arms in the USA is the 2nd amendment of the Bill of Rights, which states that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the...
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...Amendment to the Constitution is the right to keep and bear arms by every law abiding citizen in the United States. In this dialog, we will look at the aforementioned Supreme Court cases to better understand the limitations of the Central Governments ability to interfere with this individual right. In the case of the District of Columbia vs. Heller, the primary issue in this case was the complete ban of handguns in homes within the District of Columbia unless they are unserviceable. This case was brought by Dick Heller in an action claiming that a complete ban violates the 2nd Amendment right guaranteed to the citizens of this country. In the case of Lopez vs. the United States, Congress attempted to control where individuals could carry weapons through the invalid use and exercise of the commerce clause power. At first look into the District of Columbia vs. Heller case, the power to solicit and control gun regulation belongs to the States, not the Federal Government. The District of Columbia is not a state and therefore does not possess the authority to install gun regulations on the citizenry living there as they are residents of Maryland and Virginia and are so governed by the gun laws which exist in those states depending on which state they are located in. The Supreme Court stated that when the Constitution referred to the “right of the people” that this refers to individual rights and not collective rights. Additionally, to keep or bear arms means literally to hold in one’s...
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...that prevent people from having the right to own a firearm. The reason I want to talk about this topic is because I do not feel the same way as others about the gun control laws. I believe that American citizens should have the right to own a firearm due to the crime that we have in America. Although weapons are not always the right choice many people feel the need to have a gun in their homes for their own protection. At the same time I believe that we should all have the write to bare arms, I also believe that there should be a well controlled process in order to keep weapons out of the hands of those that are unstable or criminals and who would use these weapons on the people as a whole to cause undo danger and inflict harm. It is never a good start to your day to turn on the TV or radio only to discover that there has been another school shooting were innocent children have been targeted. Turn on the nightly news; you are sure to hear about home invasions, carjacking and stores being robbed. For those of us who work hard to get where we are and are upstanding citizens, we should have the right to protect our selves from those who believe that they are better than the average person and that they are owed something. I believe that guns in the hands of properly trained individuals would drastically reduce the violence inflicted on unsuspecting citizens. With all of the talk going on about the gun laws and the research that I have done I have seen many posts...
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...Chicago’s handgun ban, in 1982, proved that these bans have no effect on reducing violent crimes. This ban banned civilians from owning handguns apart from for those registered with the city government previous to passing of the law (Agresti, Smith). Furthermore, the law included these handguns had to be re-registered every two years or the proprietors would surrender their rights to owning them. In 1994, the law was changed to an annual re-registration (Agresti, Smith). In the year 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that Chicago’s handgun ban was unconstitutional (Agresti, Smith). In between the enactment of the ban and the Supreme Court ruling, the percentage of handgun murders, in Chicago, was 40% higher before the law took place. Also, there is the statistic that in 2005, 96% of firearm murder victims in Chicago were killed by handguns (Agresti, Smith). Another gun ban that can be looked at is in Washington. During the duration of the handgun ban and trigger lock law, the Washington, D.C. murder rate was 73% higher than it was before the law, while the U.S. murder rate averages lowered to 11% (Agresti, Smith). In the...
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...is an illusion that further gun control will protect the public since no law, no matter how restrictive, can protect us from people who decide to commit violent crimes. Guns should never be banned in the United States, because the possession of guns ultimately helps improve public safety. Embodied in the Second Amendment to the Constitution is the truth that self-governing individuals should bear the responsibility for defending themselves. The Amendment 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. Cramer and Joseph examined the history of pistols in early America that tells us the Framers' original intent in protecting the right of the people to keep and bear arms with no apparent limitations concerning handguns. Many pro gun control supporters adhere to the belief that the availability of guns make violent crime happen and, more importantly, that criminal violence in general can be reduced by limiting access to firearms. This is a testable empirical proposition. Research shows that disarming the public has not reduced criminal violence. For example, in Washington, D.C. and New York City, severe gun control laws had been applied, yet Washington D.C. is the "murder...
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...The 2nd Amendment, “The Right to Bear Arms” allows the population of the United States to be allowed access to fire arms. Various occasions have shown the 2nd Amendment needs a revision due to many tragic deaths that is caused by fire arms. Several years of research have pointed to a solution; stricter gun control laws will lower or get rid of gun related crime drastically. Stricter gun control laws can prevent many tragic events from happening and lower the amount gun related deaths and injuries, but not everyone is law bidding citizen. Despite what many claim, various sources indicate the Gun laws are like any other laws congress passes. Someone will break them and the number of incidents will grow. My argument is to show cases the dangers of having firearms, and banning them will be the correct choice. The various sources being used in my argument will elaborate on scenarios like...
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...The 2nd Amendment and the Battle for the Bill of Rights in the United States Christopher Jesus Moya CM220 College Composition II Kaplan University Over the last few years it seems that there has been a noticeable amount of gun crime making its way into the media and thus stirring up a debate on gun control. The government wants to make it seem like strict gun control is the answer to lower crime rates. However, we have the constitutional right to bear arms. Gun control laws will not effectively lower crime rates they will just make it more of a hassle for those who are law abiding citizens to get firearms because criminals that want to obtain firearms will start to find illegal ways to obtain them. There are many questions that can be brought up about gun control and whether or not it is infringing on our American Bill of Rights. It seems to be a huge topic of discussion and in modern America leads to a lot of debate. Some questions that we face on gun-control are as follows. If the government put in place stricter gun-control laws does it infringe on people’s rights to own guns? The current laws that are in place are they truly enforceable? Should the governments’ stricter gun laws prohibit gun sales at gun shows without background checks? Would more guns, not less, prevent shooting massacres or gun crimes like the Sandy Hook Shooting? Also, will banning assault rifles and high capacity magazines lessen gun-violence like so many would like to believe here in...
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...Week 5 Assignment PHI103: Informal Logic 29 November, 2012 Are there any legitimate restrictions on gun ownership? Introduction The modern era is heavily dependent on the TV as their chief source of information or news about the rest of the world. Since the nations have simultaneous access to the violent new stories that are exaggerated and sensationalized to generate more and more ratings all over the international television channels, newspapers and even the internet, a lot of people have started thinking whether the U.S. Constitutions’ 2nd Amendment is restrictive enough or not. According to a case in the Supreme Court recently, there was an evaluation of the said Amendment and its context. A question needed answering which were whether there were any legitimate restrictions on gun ownership. According to the ruling of the Supreme Court, other Constitutional Amendments and the dangerous times, there are not many legitimate restrictions in the ownership of firearms. Thesis Statement “There are not a lot of legitimate restrictions in ownership of firearms.” Discussion In the Court case of Heller versus District of Columbia (D.C), there are arguments which cover almost all possible aspects of the 2nd Amendment. From the year 1975, Columbian District has put a ban within the residents of D.C’s homes, on the unlocked firearms’ possession. The residents were required by law to store any and all firearms which were permissible in the Columbian District disassembled...
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