Karley Campbell Intro to Criminal Justice Reflection Paper One: Gun Control Vs. Gun Rights Whether you gather your information from the newspaper, radio, or a website, you have certainly been exposed to one of the most controversial, current debates. It seems that the media refuses to stop talking about this topic. In fact, as soon as the press over one event disappears another event seems to revive the debate. Some citizens say that we need more restrictive gun laws. Meanwhile, other Americans say that more guns are what is necessary. It’s impossible to know what the right answer is. However, we can investigate surrounding factors of the matter in order to gain a clearer understanding of the controversy. That being said, I will explain …show more content…
A common phrase from this stance is the belief that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. That being said, it is justifiable to say that those who are against more gun laws feel safer and are content with concealed carry, even on college campuses. Now that the views of each side have been examined, it is important to analyze how crime models play a role in the gun debate. First, the consensus model is based off the assumption that a majority of citizens in a society share the same beliefs of right and wrong (Gaines and Miller, 2015). Second, the conflict model says that those with economic, political and social power determine the laws (Gaines and Miller, 2015). The textbook explains how, historically speaking, the consensus model has criminalized and decriminalized acts on account of social norms, such as adultery. Yet, others acknowledge that social attitudes are forever changing and that the power to change laws lies not within a community’s stance, but in the interests of powerful lawmakers. After gun massacres, the media often demonstrates a consensus model of a push for some additional regulation. On the other hand, the conflict model is demonstrated when a widely-known organization called the National Rifle Association reaffirms their case against more restrictive gun laws.These two models matter because they are how society determines laws such as concealed carry and will facilitate the next decision.
Gun control is an extremely controversial issue in the United States, and the debates around this topic has started many decades ago. According to the article “Gun Rights vs. Gun control” by Brianna Gurciullo, these debates are fueled by the people who defend the gun rights and the people who advocate in favor of gun control. It has been difficult to prove that gun ownership is directly related to an increase in violence due to the fact that researches tend to disagree on the impact of gun ownership in the American society. These debates tend to be brought to the spotlight whenever there is a mass shooting in the United States, which according to Abbey Oldham, who is a reporter from the PBS News Hour, happens quite frequently. However, organizations, such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), defend that the laws for gun control violate the Second Amendment of the constitution, which states “the right of the people to keep and bear arms” stated Gurciullo. Due to the distinct interpretations of the constitution and the difficulty to agree on the best approach to tackle the issue, this controversy seem to be almost unsolvable.
In America guns have been a part of the country’s society since it’s birth. Throughout history the citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, hunt for food and engage in sporting activities. The issue of Guns and gun control is complex. Weighing the rights and liberties of the individual against the welfare and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one of these tumultuous issues that has both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep arms, rely on the fact that the provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of
Countless opinions have been broadcasted on national news media regarding what society ought to do about gun control. This controversial topic sparks many heated debates with people of either position reluctant to compromise. Gun supporters claim that the proposed gun laws infringe on their constitutional right to bear arms. Conversely, others believe that restricted gun access would cause gun violence to decrease. Regardless of what side one stands on, with the increase in gun violence, it is safe to say that something must be done.
Gun control has been a long debate to determine if it’s better to have stricter access to firearms. America is one of the few countries that has gun rights embedded in their constitution. But what makes the US exceptional is that it has the right to keep and bear arms, other countries do not provide the right to have access to them, but rather, the government is allowed to regulate its use. The right to bear arms has also been the cause of growing violence and crime, at least according to anti-gun lobbyists. Citizens should be aware the dangers and harm that guns present to society. Controlling the sale of firearms can greatly decrease the number of violent crimes.
The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution protects the rights of individuals, concerning the right to bear arms. Amendment II was adopted on December 15th, 1791. Gun rights and gun control groups alike have been lobbying Congress for decades to craft legislation in their respective favors. Twice in the past two years the gun issue has reached the nation’s highest court. In the 2008 Supreme Court case District of Columbia vs. Heller the court ruled that the Constitution protects an individual’s right to own a gun for personal use (Blocher, 816). Excavating the gun debate from the constitutional rubble may be a step in the right direction, as it could enable a more direct discussion of the proper role of gun rights and gun control in the United States, freeing from misunderstandings and misinterpretations of constitutional doctrine (Blocher, 815).
With an increase in the number of mass shootings that have occurred in the United States in the last few years the issue of gun control laws has become a prevalent topic of debate throughout American society. This debate stems from two opposing arguments over gun control. Some feel gun control laws are fair and not the contributing factor to these mass shootings, whereas, others feel that there is an urgent need for strict laws in order to end the problem of mass shootings. There are numerous pros and cons to the enforcement of stricter gun control laws but we must note a few things: stricter gun control laws would interfere with the second amendment, it is not the gun that kills it is the individual, and it is ultimately not laws that are
There has been an increase in gun sales and conceal and carry permits nearly tripling from 4.7 million to 12.8 million in response to mass shootings like Sandy Hook (Johnson). As time goes on, there has been an increased amount of debates about whether or not the United States should be adding additional regulations to firearms. Some say the U.S. should not because it would be considered as the government infringing on the people’s rights in the words of the Second Amendment: “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.” On the opposing side, others feel that guns are something that should not be
Gun control is a controversial topic that is widely discussed in the United States. The call for gun control came during the 1960’s when many famous figures were assassinated. Today Gun Right’s Activist believes we should not infringe on the Second Amendment. While Gun Control Activist believe we should take precautions to protect people from gun violence. The republicans typically are against gun control while democrats are for gun control. Gun control is a hot topic in the United States, there are many organizations, politicians, and we the people are either for or against gun control.
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.
Gun-control has been a controversy between Americans over the years and it has gotten to a point where it seems to divide Americans severely. It has been a controversy on whether or not the U.S. should establish tougher gun-control laws rather than preserve our current gun laws. The U.S. should establish tougher gun-control laws in order to put a stop to gun violence.
With conservatives, liberals, and moderates continuously arguing about what is right for this country or what is morally or politically correct, we are forced to find a compromised middle-ground, because it can be the difference between life and death in many unfortunate cases. Conservatives believe that The Second Amendment allows citizens the right to bear arms and protect their individual, inalienable rights. They believe that there are too many gun control laws and that these laws do not keep criminals from obtaining guns. On the other hand, Liberals believe that The Second Amendment is only meant for federal/state government to have the right to bear arms, as well as militias, and that it is law enforcement and only law enforcement’s job to protect citizens and have guns. To Liberals, more guns equals more violence.
Gun control is broken down and analyzed. The topic is generally discussed, talking about the concept of gun control laws and differences in these laws by state. The argument in favor of the topic is assessed from multiple different angles, and facts and sources are used to explain the general opinion of those that support gun control. Next, the other side is considered, with persuasive evidence and logic to prove the viewpoint that gun control is negative and harmful to the country. Aspects of the debate, such as conceal-carry permits and gun-free zones are discussed, and examples of crime stopped by citizens that possess a firearm are used to reinforce the main idea. Lastly, the article ends by considering other actions that could be
America is a special case of male violence dictated by circumstance and society. In no other country is individualism as fetishized and reified into the national identity. The subtext of the American Dream is a story of one person pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. The measure of one’s success is calculated by the difference between the start and end points. Ultimately, the necessity of individual accomplishment undercuts cooperation and nonviolent success. Today more than ever we have the ability to self-segregate from society, and become trapped in an echo chamber of fear. The lone gunman phenomenon has very little tie to genetic success. If anything, the lone wolf adopts his dangerous mindset through shutting himself off from
In recent years, we have seen an increase in mass shootings in the United States, these tragic occurrences have everyone asking the same question “how do we prevent this from happening again?” Many people believe that these problems can be fixed by further regulating firearms, of course, this opens the question, “Should more gun laws be enacted?” Firearms are rooted deep our country’s history; our founding fathers having fought the revolutionary war for our freedom recognized the importance of guns to citizens. Adding it as a fundamental right in the constitution as the second amendment. Stating 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
In recent decades, gun rights and gun control have been high on the list of issues in the cultural war sharply dividing Americans. Gun control's passionate proponents and opponents clash in the media, city council chambers, state legislatures, Congress, and the courts. What one side perceives as necessary to stem out-of-control violence in urban centers, the other fears as the road to unlawful confiscation and abridgement of constitutional liberties. Fundamentally disagreeing on most of the essentials, the two sides concur that a tremendous amount is at stake. "Guns are lightning rods of American culture," observes law professor Adam Winkler in his "Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America."