...massacres, gun control has once again been thrust back onto the main stage in the United States. In a New York Times op-ed titled, “How to Win an Argument About Guns”, Nicholas Kristof takes on this very issue. According to his bio, Kristof has been a foreign correspondent and columnist for the New York Times since 2001. However, his bio says nothing about any involvement with firearm related topics. This makes his opinions less trustworthy than that of an actual expert on the issue. Kristof is very pro gun control and dispels five main myths from those that oppose his views on gun control. The author believes that greater restrictions and laws concerning firearms will lead to a safer country and far less casualties....
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...Gun Control Team Debate Paper BCOM/275 May 7, 2013 Gun Control Gun control is a hot topic in the United States with primarily two sides of the conversation advocating for either more control of guns or more freedom of guns. The current laws on gun control or gun rights are disagreed upon by these individuals essentially based on the interpretation of such gun control laws. Firearms and the effects of gun rights has many cases that call for the strictest form of gun control. Some of these instances involve elementary school shootings, shootings at theaters, and even shootings on military installations by military members. The 2nd Amendment in the constitution has long been the proof of rights for citizens to bear arms to defend themselves from tyranny. Gun rights supporters say firearms should be unrestricted as it allows for self-defense in the case of another individual holding a weapon. Gun control supporters state that less regulation on gun control does not allow the government to provide its role of security because of it. The statistics for gun ownership in America are interesting to look at. For example, in the United States the average gun ownership per 100 people is 88.8, the highest of all other countries. Both sides of the argument have valid points, however it is important to dive deeper into each argument to analyze the logic and statistics involved in each argument. Major Gun Control Arguments Every day there are a countless instances that show that...
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...Gun control is a controversial issue that continues to spark heated debates and calls for action. With over 48,800 firearm-related deaths reported in the United States in 2021, the need for effective measures to curb gun violence is more pressing than ever. This essay examines the escalating demand for increased gun control, exploring the complicated aspects of the debate and the importance of stricter regulations. The call for enhanced gun control gained momentum as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a significant increase in the rate of gun deaths between 2016 and 2020, with a 15 percent rise in 2020 alone. Democratic lawmakers staged a sit-in on the House floor, recommending the reintroduction of bills on gun control,...
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...“Facts don’t care about your feelings.” This argument heavily applies to the concept of a gun ban. Shootings are beginning to become commonplace, and hardly elicit shock in the news nowadays. The death of an innocent human being, especially that of a child in the case of school shootings, is unbelievably tragic and disgusting. This truth applies to both sides of the debate over gun control; both sides want to eliminate gun violence to prevent the deaths of innocent people. However, controversy arises over how to address the issue. The idea of a gun ban splits the United States, and both sides act passionately based on their beliefs. According to “Public...
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... Agresti, James D., and Reid K. Smith. "Gun Control Facts." 11 Feb. 2013 Web 18 Sept. 2014. http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp. This is a web document in which the authors cover pure statistics and facts. Graphs, tables, quotes, and statistics are all that this piece contains. This resource is useful since it was updated a little more than a year ago with the most recent data and continues to be updated as new stats and facts become available. It is also neutral in nature, giving just the facts and referencing both the affirmative and negative sides of the argument. 2. McEntee, Peg. “Utah Teacher Shoots Herself in Leg With Concealed Weapon.” Huffington Post 11 Sept. 2014 Web 18 Sept. 2014 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/11/teacher-shoots-self-concealed-weapon_n_5807826.html?utm_hp_ref=gun-control The Huffington Post is a news site with an entire section dedicated to news surrounding gun control, both recent and past. This article is helpful because it outlines the concealed carry laws in Utah schools, a state which has closely modeled it’s laws after Colorado’s. This article is useful because it describes some of the negative effect that concealed carry on campus has for the person carrying as well as the student population/their parents if they find out about the firearm. 3. Students for Concealed Carry. “Common Arguments Against Campus Carry.” Concealed Campus 2011-2012 Web Sept. 18 2014 http://concealedcampus.org/common-arguments/ Students for Concealed Carry is...
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...Arguments on Gun Control Arguments on Gun Control Introduction Gun control is law and policy which has been developed for the purpose of restricting the import, production, shipment, possession, use and sale of the firearms. There are variations in the laws and policies of gun control around the globe. There are strict gun control policies in United Kingdom. On the other hand, the gun control policies in United States are modest. Many people claim that the gun control policies are very effective and there should be strict control on the implementation of these policies. On the other hand, a group of people thinks that the gun control policies are not so effective and there should be no strict policies on the firearms. Thus, the both sides provide their arguments on the issue of gun control. The main aim of this paper is to persuade against the policies of gun control. The paper is comprised of both the arguments in favor and against of the gun control policies. Discussion It is so easy to understand that without guns or rifles, killing of criminals would have been much more difficult to consummate, which is sometimes hard to explain how it is possible that guns are legal in the largest and most powerful democracy in the world. But it is undeniable that easy access to firearms greatly facilitates this sinister task (Amo, 1989). The criminals have committed one of the latest killings with firearms that shook Americans, 14 Dead Colombine students in 1999...
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...I. Many different arguments regarding gun control. a. Good arguments on both sides of the issue. b. Viewpoints have different basis. i. Religious beliefs. ii. Cultural beliefs. iii. Familial upbringing. iv. Gender bias. II. Debate arguments for and against banning guns in the United States. c. New gun control laws alone will not solve violent crimes/massacres. Law abiding citizens are not the problem, and a ban law will not stop criminals from obtaining weapons. d. Consequences of banning guns from law abiding citizens. The American people have the right to protect themselves. Other countries have banned guns and then massacred the population. e. Banning guns in the United States will prevent the mentally ill from procuring weapons in order to perpetrate mass killings. f. There is no need for weapons to be owned by the private sector. v. Hunting is not a viable option for feeding families anymore. vi. Overthrowing the government is not a valid argument since we live in a democracy. g. Going back to the constitution: The Second Amendment doesn't allow for any limitations on the right to bear arms. But there are always loop holes within it. III. In conclusion, many arguments are being discussed. h. Many viewpoints need to be considered. i. Banning weapons for the sake of the United States population is needed for the safety of society. vii...
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...Gun Control COMM 215 October 14, 2013 Gun Control The United States is in a controversy of whether or not the Second Amendment is protecting the country or killing it. The United States owns approximately 250 million guns, nearly one for each citizen, and increases about seven million more each year. Numerous experts believe that the Second Amendment in the Constitution is rational and legal. However, they do not condone maliciously shooting people. Many lives could be saved with stricter gun control laws and educational requirements legislated. A well-intended and justifiable right during its era, the “right to bear arms” today needs common sense reform. During the late 1700s, founding fathers were not certain about the future success of the “Union,” nor did they have the legalities fully worked out. Trusts between the states were hit and miss and few if any trusted “big” government. The possibility of invasion was frighteningly real; the Second Amendment was put in place to make sure that a citizen’s militia could defend the principles of the Constitution (10- arguments for gun control, 2013). However, they did not say that citizens could go around shooting people and claiming that the Second Amendment protects them. Society’s problem is not the guns; it is the people handling them and the laws that surround their use and ownership. The bottom line is simple; nations with zero to few requirements/laws in force to regulate gun ownership will have more...
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...Abstract This paper critically analyzes gun rights in the United States and the economics of gun centralization. The phrase, “gun rights” refers to the second amendment in which it states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The term, “gun centralization” is what is most commonly referred to as “gun control,” which is refusing citizens the right to keep certain or all firearms and keeping them solely in the hands of government. There are many different points of view on the issue of gun rights, coming from all political and religious views. It is near impossible to find the truth on the issue while wading through an ocean of loud, boisterous opinions on the extent of gun rights and whether people need guns at all. This paper critically assesses the Republican and Democrat points of views on the two issues, and draws a conclusion to the legitimacy of gun centralization, better known as gun control. Ethical Dilemma Research Paper Gun Rights and the Legitimacy of Gun Centralization Gun control has been the highlight of the news lately. Politicians and caring people all across the United States have seen the tragic events, such as the Sandy Hook shooting, and are now demanding a government takeover of firearms. The dilemma occurs within the right-left political paradigm, two differing ideologies, where the labeled “left” are strongly for gun control, and the labeled “right” are strongly...
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...given to us, then why do we need to be restricted with gun control amongst our nation? One of the trending topics of conversation, which has been blowing up media sites recently, is the discussion of gun control. Gun control laws attempt to regulate the sale, acquisition, or ownership of firearms through registration and identification. Now if the right to bear arms is a freedom granted to us, then why is this a topic of discussion and debate, and should it be regulated or not? Many sources state that guns lead to violence and crime, and we would be much better off without them, while the opposition to this argument states that taking away the right to carry a gun is unconstitutional, and it’s the individuals behind the firearms committing the crimes and not the guns themselves. Either way, this topic has been in debate for a duration now, and it is one to be addressed to understand whether the regulation of firearms has an impact on our society through absolving crime. Crime appears to be the obvious reason that guns are regulated by law in most countries, including the United States. The question that pertains to this situation is whether or not heavy regulation of arms actually deters crime, and if it does, should the United States follow in the footsteps of that of other countries who disallow even any ownership of firearms, or if this freedom that is granted to us should be actually free? Currently, the United States regulation of arms has an impact on who can actually own...
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...& 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 kill people, most of...
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...teachers at an elementary school in Connecticut (CNN). Horrific, terrifying, and saddening all describe the above-mentioned events. And as would be expected, each one of these events brought forth the question, “Where does the America draw the line between personal freedoms and the safety and well-being of her citizens?” The Second Amendment promises, “[…] the right of people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” But, the recent shooting in Connecticut has caused the extremely emotionally charged arguments both for and against the ban of assault weapons to resurface within the United States Congress. This paper will provide an unbiased presentation of both arguments for and against the ban of assault weapons. Upon objectively presenting both sides of the argument, the paper will then proceed into developing a stance against the ban of assault weapons through the further discussion and elaboration upon the ideas As mentioned before, the Second Amendment specifically states...
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...debated is whether our government has the right to regulate guns. The answer of who has which rights lies within how one interprets the Second Amendment. With this being the case, one must also think about what circumstances the Framers were under when this Amendment was written. There are two major sides to this debate, one being the collective side, which feels that the right was given for collective purposes only. This side is in favor of having stricter gun control laws, as they feel that by having stricter laws the number of crimes that are being committed with guns will be reduced and thus save lives. However while gun control laws may decrease criminals" access to guns, the same laws restricts gun owning citizens who abide by the law; these citizens make up a great majority of the opposing side of this argument. These people argue that the law was made with the individual citizens in mind. This group believes that the Amendment should be interpreted to guarantee citizens free access to firearms. One major group that is in strong opposition of stricter gun control laws is the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA argues that having stricter gun control laws will only hinder law-abiding citizens. The final outcome on this debate will mainly depend on how this Amendment is going to be interpreted. The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights 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...
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...The United States Should put More Restrictions on Gun Ownership and Use The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "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 Second Amendment is the people’s right to bear arms. The United States should put more restrictions on gun ownership and use. Any american citizen can purchase a firearm from a store with a simple background check or firearms are sold at gun shows with no form of investigation on the customer's criminal record. The customer purchasing the gun is asked to fill out a form that takes a couple of minutes to complete. The form consists of questions about the customer's...
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...Mapping an Argument Karla Cooper CRT/205 September 15, 2013 Laura Mellott Mapping an Argument Article #1 Gun Control The article’s issue was about gun control in the United States and how the constitution should be challenged on this controversial topic. Discussions about citizens’ rights to bear arms extend back to ancient times. Supporters of gun control would like even tighter restrictions on the sale and circulation of firearms. According to Samuel Adams he argued that the Constitution should never be interpreted “to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” Several stated premises in the article were that “Opponents of gun control interpret the Second Amendment as the guarantee of a personal right to keep and bear arms.” In two other rulings, the Supreme Court reaffirmed this view in upholding New Jersey’s tough gun control law in 1969 (Burton v. Sills) and in supporting the federal ban on possession of firearms by felons in 1980 (Lewis v. United States). Gun control laws have several functions. They may be designed to hinder certain people from gaining access to any firearms. The laws may limit possession of certain types of weapons to the police and the military. A person who wants to make a gun purchase or obtain a gun license may be subject to a waiting period. Gun-control laws vary from country to country. The following stated premises are that gun violence also affects...
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