...Debate: http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-guns-be-banned-in-america Pro: Why Guns Should Be Banned in the U.S. Kevin Ngo Opinion Editor February 20, 2013 Filed under Opinion If guns make us safer, America should be the safest place on earth. We have more guns per capita than any other place in the world, but we are clearly not the safest country on earth. Guns have brought nothing to Americans except harm and heartbreak. It is unfortunate that a tragedy, such as the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, has to occur in order for anything to be done to place a ban on guns. President Obama has proposed a plan to have thorough background checks on those who purchase guns, and prohibit the purchase of armor piercing bullets, along with magazines with a capacity larger than ten bullets. The National Rifle Association believes that their rights are being taken away completely, but this isn’t true. 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.” A more modern interpretation is required. That, like the First Amendment, the freedom of speech and press, is not an absolute right. There is also a key portion of the amendment that states, “In well regulated militia.” Any assualt-type weapon, regardless of whether it’s for hunting or not, needs to be banned, along with large capacity magazines. An assault-type weapon...
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...Proposition 63 How many more innocent people need to die from gun violence before we take bold action to save lives? We have all seen news reporting's on people being killed during a shooting. Violence will never be completely terminated but what if there was a way that you can help bring the death rate down? Well there is. By voting yes on proposition 63 you support prohibiting the possession of large-capacity magazines and require individuals to first pass a background check before being granted the permission to purchase ammunition. Some people think Proposition 63 wouldn't make a difference in “California’s safety”, because nonresidents would have no restrictions on bringing ammunition into the state, and they can sell to the state’s residents if they go through a licensed vendor. It would also be pricey to law-abiding citizens who need to purchase ammunition for recreation, home defense and competition, and gun owners who have legally-purchased ammunition, would be forced to give up their private property to the government. Those who support Proposition 63 include Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S Senate Dianne Feinstein, U.S Senate Barbara Boxer, The California Democratic Party, The California Young...
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...Assault Weapons Ban Within the past few years there has been several mass shootings with in the United States like Sandy hook and Columbine. These crimes were done assault weapons, due to these crimes the proposal of an assault weapons ban is being brought up. This interests me as an active gun owner and activist. But with as much of an unbiased view I look for the answer. Should there be a ban on assault weapons? The most popular method for attempting to reduce violent crimes would be gun control. The idea for an assault weapons ban is on the rise. The recent proposal of an assault weapons ban is not the first within the U.S. Back in 1994 there was a federal assault weapon ban (Warrick). This ban was eventually repealed in 2004. This previous ban banned military style weapons with high volume magazines. With the thought of these bans brings up a question, is it constitutional for these bans. The second amendment gives U.S. citizens the right to bear arms. But with this right comes restrictions, it doesn’t mean that a citizen can waltz around with a firearm anywhere they please. Also there are restrictions on who can and cant own certain or any fire arms like felons and the mentally ill (Kelly). With the idea of gun control and assault weapons bans it’s to reduce the frequency of violent crimes committed with firearms. This comes from the idea that firearms are a more dangerous and lethal weapon compared to other possible weapons. But gun use and possession is a double...
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...private citizens. However, to blame assault weapons for this tragedy makes sense like blaming airplanes for the 9-11 attacks. The problem lies with the perpetrator, not the tool used to commit the crime. It 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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...fear. Gun control is a very controversial topic and many people live in a state of fear because of the people that cause many violent acts with guns. Assault rifles should be outlawed. Although many people say that AR’s can be used as protection because they are very accurate and have a reasonable price, many people live in fear though because AR’s are deadly weapons. They have caused the biggest and most controversial massacres in the past years. Furthermore, ethnicity also has taken a part in this because more black males are killed with guns than any other ethnic group. Same citizens feel more safe with a lightweight gun like an AR. People want to protect themselves or...
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...is attacked by a madman and 26 people are shot and killed. A gunman enters a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and opens fire killing 12 and injuring 70 others. The obvious answer to prevent instances like this from happening is to tighten gun laws and restrict people from being able to get them easily-or is it? Over recent years several mass shootings have occurred across the country. Every time this happens, more restrictions and bans are placed on owners and sellers of firearms. Why is this the immediate reaction every single time an event like this occurs? Gun control is “The government regulation of the manufacture, sale and possession of firearms.” (thefreedictionary.com) This includes banning certain types of firearms, requiring people to register guns, and generally making it more difficult for citizens to own guns. In theory, this should work to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on guns; however, this is not often the case. Making more gun laws certainly prevents people from being able to obtain firearms. A question to ask though is would a criminal really be inclined follow the rules if he wanted to commit a mass shooting? Criminals often and easily find illegal ways of acquiring firearms if they want to cause trouble. This would leave the criminal with a weapon, and nobody else with one, thus allowing the criminal to commit a crime without anyone being able to stop him. Another reason that I disagree with gun control is that it infringes on our 2nd Amendment...
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...violence trumps the headlines. With tragic incidents such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut that occurred in December of 2012, as well as the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado in July of 2012 occurring less than six months away from each other, prompted debate on a national level regarding the importance of gun control and mental illness. Other highly publicized mass shootings, such as the one that occurred in Tucson, Arizona in January of 2011, involving former US Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the mass shooting at Virginia Tech, along with the two events mentioned above, “all shared two common characteristics: all four shooters were mentally ill, and all four used guns with large capacity magazines, allowing them to fire multiple rounds of ammunition without reloading (Barry, 2013).” As the Second Amendment guarantees an individual’s right to bear arms, the issue at hand is: how can the government prevent guns from landing in the wrong hands, while at the same time, providing better mental health services for those in need. In this paper, I will explore and compare the agenda setting process regarding two landmark gun control legislations that were passed along with the agenda setting process today – proposed by President Obama in the wake of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook...
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...Gun Control Matthew EN-1420 April 15, 2015 What an amazing country “land of the free and the brave” known as the United States of America. It is a known fact that people from all around the globe immigrate here for the opportunity and the freedom. This very freedom that makes so many want to be here should not be impinged on. There are some good regulations and laws in place to keep citizens safe, however, the U.S. should not be banning anymore gun types! Let us explore. Our freedoms are detailed in the constitution of amendments. The second amendment states, “the people have the right to keep and bear arms and these rights should not be infringed on” (Cornell University Law School, 2015). The law does allow room for some regulation, hence the U.S has banned machine guns or fully automatic weapons from civilians. Further regulation as in banning rifles and handguns would be a breaking our constitutional rights. The law school at Cornell University states, “The second amendment has most recently been interpreted to grant the right of gun ownership to individuals for purposes that include self-defense” (Cornell University Law School, 2015). The Supreme Court has also ruled in this favor. In a case in 2008 (D.C vs Heller) and in 2010 (McDonald vs Chicago) the Supreme Court firmly established the 2nd amendment is an individual right (Smith, 2014). The legal carry of guns has reduced crime and in some states has reduced the murder rate drastically. Most of us would agree...
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...they are not there is a lot of mass murders in the world such as San Bernardino and sandy hook elementary ETC. Most of the gunmen and women have disabilities. The man from Sandy hook elementary had a mental problem and he went to the school and shot all of the little children. Most of the mast shooting aren't from people having the assault weapons most of the massacres are from video games. Some shooters play gun games such as Call Of Duty. A lot of gunmen play those a games daily and learn how to do things like breaking into places, and killing many and many people. I think the U.S should ban violent video games. Assault weapons shall not be banned at all....
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...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. 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 has always been a risky balancing act. 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 is protected by the constitution. 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. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens. Attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens do more harm than good. Americans want to know, how far is too far when it comes to passing laws restricting the second amendment? After all isn’t this “The Land of the Free”? The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States...
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...Gun Control. Does it need revised? Denise Kirby March 20, 2013 Gun Control. Does it need revised? Gun control seems to be a major issue for discussion in our society today. These issues have stemmed from all the violence and tragedies that have happened in the past several years. There seems to be two sides of this argument. People are either for stricter gun control laws or against it. I would like to try to find the correct answer as I am a gun owner. I enjoy target shooting, skeet shooting, and hunting. So, gun control. Does it need to be revised? 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.” There have been many debates as to what the original authors intended by the wording of this Amendment. Some people believe the phrase “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms” created individual constitutional rights for United States citizens. Some scholars argue that the phrase “a well regulated Militia” shows they meant only to restrict congress from taking away a states right to self-defense. In 1939 the United States Supreme Court adopted a collective rights approach in the case of United States v. Miller. They determined Congress could regulate a sawed-off shotgun which moved in interstate commerce under the National Firearms Act of 1934 because the evidence did not suggest it “has some reasonable...
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...Corporate Governance & Business Ethics Gun Control vs. Gun Violence The debate over gun control in the United States has been a topic of controversy over the years. In particular, the killing of twenty schoolchildren in Newtown, Connecticut. In December 2012 this mass shooting fueled a national discussion over gun laws. However, compromise legislation would have banned semiautomatic assault weapons and expanded background checks was defeated in the senate in 2013, despite extensive public support. Arguments for more restrictive gun laws http://gun.laws.com/gun-rights/gun-control-versus-gun-rights As society continues to diversify and human beings become more individualistic, we drift further apart from understanding each other. The gun control debate is not directly effected by this, but psychologically human beings fear what we don't understand. In a society with hundreds of cultures, differences and arguments can arise out of nothing. Words are one thing but the use of firearms is an entirely different topic. With less restrictive laws on purchasing and ownership a seemingly pointless feud could intensify into murder. Guns give a man power, with power inevitably comes abuse. There is a high rate of gun-related violence http://gun.laws.com/gun-rights/gun-control-versus-gun-rights The United States leads the world in gun violence and ownership. There is a direct correlation. This is perhaps the most obvious argument made in the gun control debate-guns...
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...too often the resulting debate is rooted in erroneous statistics and unrepresentative comparisons. To illustrate Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced Assault Weapons Ban legislation that would ban any weapon with a grip on the premise they are too easy to get and used too often for bad (Feinstein). The NRA states “the average annual number of background checks for the last five years, 2007-2011, is 25 percent higher than for NICS’ first five complete years, 1999-2003” (NRA). The NRA also states “In 2009 alone some 1,868,268 pistols were imported or exported by U.S. manufacturers, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) data (NRA). If the old mantra holds true overall crime should be on the rise; however, a 2011 FBI Uniform Crime Report shows violent crime is continuing a decade long downward trend and is down 3.8% from 2010. The recent massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary has overwhelmingly drowned any positive statistics. While this event is truly an unspeakable, horrible, tragedy eventually a reasonable person must put aside emotions, and really think about how to...
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...But oddly, not many people now about the church shooting in texas where a man shot up a church with a rifle but was later shot and killed by a man with a rifle of his own, effectively stopping the shooting before it could further escalate. Recently the media also did not blow up coverage on the maryland school shooting where a teenager fired rounds in his school but was stopped by an armed school officer, stopping the shooting before anyone could get seriously hurt. The shooter Rollins a 17 year old, was not armed with an assault rifle or any rifle for that fact, instead he was armed with what most shooters would use, a handgun. This may be why the media did not want to cover this extensively, because it was not an assault rifle used and/or the fact that authorities actually did their jobs and stopped the shooter. The anti gun liberals are using the media and the minds of young liberals to advance their goal in banning all guns, possibly getting rid of the second amendment. After many tragedies the media have always said that the current shooting is the worst one yet, the “deadliest school shooting ever” when this is not the case. In the recent Parkland shooting it was...
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...argument include that these weapons present a threat to public safety and should be banned, and that the ownership of assault weapons is protected by the second amendment to the United States Constitution. The consensus of those who oppose the weapons is that the ban of assault weapons will reduce gun violence, attacks on police, and mass killings in the United states. This essay will analyze evidence to determine if this claim is accurate. The belief of those opposing the ownership of assault weapons is that these weapons are more dangerous...
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