Manesha Singh
Art of Persuasion
Professor Catalano
10/26/2017
Gun Control Liberties Lately, there have been frequent discussions plaguing the news which primarily emphasizes firearms and gun control. These debates have led to many American citizens questioning the laws revolving around gun control and the amendment to the constitution permitting the right to bear arms. In numerous cities across the United States, the necessity to own a firearm is incredibly important. For example, let’s imagine someone walking the streets of Chicago on a daily basis and is constantly looking over his or her shoulder over the prospect of someone deliberately assaulting them. What if that same individual was murdered at gun point in broad daylight because he/she looked like a vulnerable target? Unfortunately, the senseless murder of this innocent individual was then reported to a grieving mother where she had to bury her child at a very young age. Let’s propose another overwhelming scenario involving gun control. Imagine a scenario where you’re casually spending an afternoon eating in a restaurant and all of a sudden a criminal comes rushing in. This criminal obtained his/her firearm legally through an accomplice and now you’re suddenly at the criminal’s mercy. Instantaneously, one must feel overwhelmingly unsafe and at any moment a life changing moment may ensue. Furthermore, what if the individual in danger was denied the freedom to bear arms and was a direct victim of
On average, there is a shooting throughout the country where the victim was left defenseless each day. even with strict gun control laws set in by the federal government, many Americans still have faith in our second amendment. Gun control is proven ineffective, According to Richard Epstein of the New york University of Law, “We can confidently predict that crime will go up unless and until there is a vast expansion of the public police force.” (Epstein 1). While gun control law are in place there are still too many guns for the federal government to keep track of within the country, Richard Epstein states that “upwards of 200 million firearms of all descriptions are available for general use in the United States.” (Epstein 2). With recent
Sandy Hook Elementary. Aurora, Colorado. San Bernardino, California. Las Vegas, Nevada. Orlando, Florida. (Words with Negative Connotation) These are just some of the biggest mass shootings that have swept America in the past few years. Hundreds of lives are lost each year to gun related violence in the United States alone. Gun control has been a topic in our country since our founding fathers adopted the second amendment to the US constitution. Although recently controversy has sparked to an all-new extent in America due to the recent spike in mass shootings and gun related homicides. So many families and loves ones are affected each year in the United States because of gun related violence and other mass killing events, because of these events gun control laws need to be revamped and strengthened in American in order to protect the citizens.
The Second Amendment of the US Constitution protects individual gun ownership. The Second Amendment of the US 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." Gun ownership is an American tradition older than the country itself and is protected by the Second Amendment; more gun control laws would infringe upon the right to bear arms. Justice Antonin Scalia, LLB, in the June 26, 2008 District of Columbia et al. v. Heller US Supreme Court majority opinion syllabus stated, "The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home." The McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) ruling also stated that the Second Amendment is an individual right. Lawrence Hunter, Chairman of Revolution PAC, stated, "The Founders understood that the right to own and bear laws is as fundamental and as essential to maintaining liberty as are the rights of free speech, a free press, freedom of religion and the other protections against government encroachments on liberty delineated in the Bill of Rights."
It appears as though the repetitive and unfortunate tragedies of mass shootings have become incorporated into the everyday life of American culture. We are forced to live in a heightened degree of fear, skepticism, and hesitation concerning our public safety. This phenomenon could reasonably occur in response to the vast ineffectiveness of the country’s current gun laws. Time after time similar misfortunes arise, yet few major changes are implemented to prevent them from reoccurring in the future. We cannot let this trend continue any further. Though some claim that increased gun control is useless and infringes upon the Second Amendment, it limits civilians’ weapons grade, obstructs those deemed unfit to wield such lethal weapons, and insures a greater level of security, thus it should be executed.
Another article looks at the Tucson shooting where six individuals were killed as an example (Kaveny, 2016). While the author agrees that the constitution protects the rights of gun owners, she makes the argument that semiautomatic weapons were not what the founding fathers had in mind though and that these type of weapons should not be allowed to be owned by the public (Kaveny, 2016). The author also believes that it would be beneficial to have to obtain a license to own firearms and to purchase insurance for possible damages along with further funding for mental health patients to help keep these mass shootings from happening again (Kaveny, 2016).
Gun control and gun rights are crucial topics that have been debated for years. Some people believe that civilians should not have the right to own a gun while others believe it is our god given right to bear arms. 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 not be infringed.”(Shermer). This is a right that society has had for years and is one of the main reasons why no solution has been reached yet. There are two main sides to this debate, Gun control advocates focus on the serious negative effects of gun availability on health and safety, while gun-ownership advocates emphasize the lawful use of guns and
The second amendment of The Constitution of the Unites States rules that “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 recent years this has become a highlighted and popular discussion topic throughout people and media. Typical with American media the subject of gun control is visited with broad stroked of red and the use of fear tactics while completely ignoring the complicated and underling positives and negatives of public access to firearms and the benefits and risks associated with this freedom. Most people do not carry a weapon at all and may question others who do because of the moderately low risk of being a victim of a crime. Those how carry however like to think “Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
In an editorial published in the Vidette Online titled “We Need Gun Control Now More Than Ever,” the editorial board takes on the topic of the need for stricter gun control. The editorial board reports that if gun control isn’t more strictly enforced it will only create more mass shootings. They make the point that if there was stricter gun control many people would still be living, but their lives have been cut short because of mass shootings. The editorial board is correct when they go on to say enough is enough and we need to figure out a way to stop these mass shootings (“Editorial: We”). However, the board is not correct when they make the statement that putting an end to mass shooting is going to be solved by banning firearms all
Roughly 16,459 murders were committed in the United States during 2016. Of these, about 11,961 or 73% were committed with firearms because people have been killed with gun shot, example the las vegas shooting. A Pew Foundation report found that 79% of male gun owners and 80% of female gun owners said owning a gun made them feel safer, and 64% of people living in a home in which someone else owns a gun felt safer.The Centers for Disease Control listed firearms as the #12 cause of all deaths between 1999 and 2013, representing 1.3% of total deaths. They were also the #1 method of death by homicide (66.6% of all homicides) and by suicide (52.2% of all suicides).
Gun control in the United States is a very controversial topic in today’s political society, leaving the nation divided into two sides with two strongly opinionated beliefs. This all started with the increase in the amount of mass shootings and an overall increase in gun violence. The two sides consist of the liberal point of view and the conservative point of view. The liberals believe that the availability of firearms to the people in the country is a major issue, and that the U.S. government is at fault for the mass shootings due to the lenient regulations on guns. In retaliation, the conservatives argue that having a gun is a God given right, that the Second Amendment of The Constitution. Although the availability of guns is seen to be
The implication of gun control laws, meant to protect the nation, has been the spotlight of controversy for hundreds of years. Advocates claim their effectiveness is maximal, and they genuinely benefit the populace. Evidence contradicts these contentions, showing that gun control laws have been proven to be disadvantageous in their intentions. The absence of gun control is safer for the general public and ensures the rights of the citizens.
Imagine sitting in Mr. Holiday’s English classroom or eating at a favorite restaurant, and you realize people are carrying a gun holstered that is loaded. Would that make you feel comfortable and safe? 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" (“Second Amendment”). In other words, citizens of the United States have the right to carry guns for protection. The United States of America is an advanced developed country and we do not have adequate gun safety laws in place even after countless shooting massacres that have occurred over the years. The government allows individuals to
Gun control in the US was first mentioned in the 1980’s. As the U.S. weaponry became more advanced and efficient we began to see the need to protect ourselves from the people around us. The right and ability to defend yourself is a right and ability everyone should have, but now we have evolved to the point where we are arming and increasing the danger that people face. The increase of mass shootings has raised the call for legislation to a fevered pitch for the men, women, children killed by insane men and women. There are mentally ill people all over the world, but the U.S. is the one of the only place that arms them efficiently. There are two viewpoints on this issue which is debated greatly across all platforms. Gun control is the belief we should regulate guns and create legislation to that limits access, weapons and ammo and then there's Gun rights advocates, those against any kind of limiting or infringing on the rights of the people. Carter Gregg Lee is a professor in sociology at Bryant University. “The magnification hypothesis is supported when one considers the lethality effect that assault by guns produces. Numerous studies confirm that gunshot wounds are much more likely to result in death than wounds inflicted by a knife. In comparing U.S. violence rates to those of its peer nations, gun control advocates observe that assaults in the United States are more likely to involve guns.” ("Magnification Hypothesis." ) Mr. Carter Lee has created a hypothesis that there is a correlation between gun prevention and homicide rates. As a gun Control advocate, he points his argument toward the actual damage and destruction caused directly by guns. Dr.Evan L Lipkins is an Internist in Glennville Illinois. He states “Creating jobs, teaching values in school, early screening for mental health and helping broken families may be far more important than taking guns away from people.” This is a common argument in Gun control circles. But to state that its a singular problem is completely illogical. While it's true that earlier mental health screenings would definitely be beneficial it won’t eradicate the problem. As long as guns are readily available to anyone who wants them The problem will continue to . People
There are new proposed gun control laws in the aftermath of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut that occurred on December 14th, 2012. This incident claimed the lives of twenty 1st graders and six adults and has set the government in motion to try to prevent future acts of violence by strengthening gun control laws in the United States (Smith). This has been a topic that has been an extremely emotional debate with people on both sides unwilling to compromise. Gun advocates and critics of the new proposed gun laws argue that these new laws infringe on our constitutional
“Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little Temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety,” -Benjamin Franklin. It is every citizen’s right to own a gun, whether it be for self defense, recreation, or otherwise. In recent years there has been a push for the institution of stricter gun control laws and bans in the US in response to the rise in mass shootings. The goal of these restrictions is to attempt to reduce the lethality of firearms and remove them from the hands of potential criminals. However, gun owners have fought off these bans by citing the Constitution as well as numerous studies that reveal the ineffectiveness of these laws and restrictions to combat the advancement of gun control in the US. It is this