Safety and freedom are both essential components of society and many argue over which component holds desirability in modern civilization. Many, like H.L. Mencken, believe that humanity’s desire to be safe trumps their ambition to be free. This view may hold true for multitudinous individuals, however safety is defined differently by each person based on their own morals and values.
By way of example, the infamous American firearm debate displays the differentiating views on what it means to be safe. In general, conservative citizens argue that they need guns in order to protect themselves from intruders or others who intend on doing harm. On the contrary, primarily liberal Americans aspire to remove guns out of people’s possession in an endeavor
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Comparable to the discord surrounding gun laws and regulation, the opposite sides of the political spectrum come to a disagreement of what it means to be safe and free. To generalize, the vastly conservative movement theorizes that allowing large waves of primarily Middle Eastern immigrants into the country would risk the security of the nation. Conversely, liberal Americans place the potential freedoms that immigrants could have in America above the possible repercussions in regards to safety. Radical conservatives speculate that a halt of the flow of Middle Eastern immigrants would improve the security of the nation. They overwhelmingly stereotype those with Middle Eastern ethnicities or those who follow the Islamic faith as people who will invoke violence and terror. The freedom to religion protected under the First Amendment right is seemingly inferior to the desire to feel secure. On the other hand, the liberal movement desires to help those living in war torn areas to get to more secure places. They generally place the potential risk of violence in the back of their minds when considering the flow of immigrants into the nation.
Evidently, the value of safety and freedom is completely dependent on the moral compass and political bias of the individual. Those who hold conservative views value safety in different scenarios than the liberals and vis
A hot-button topic in the world of U.S. politics today is the controversy over whether or not new gun laws need to be instituted to keep Americans safe. We are a nation that believes in the Second Amendment, and one that sticks to traditional values. With this, comes a great deal of incongruity, which makes for a very sensitive debate on gun control. On one side of the spectrum, we have those who take a more liberal stance; while they do in fact support the second amendment, there is no doubt that the U.S. has evolved significantly since the Constitution was written, hence creating a need for strict gun laws. On the other side of the spectrum, conservatives argue that as soon as executive action inhibits the fundamental principles in which
“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.” These are the famous words drafted by the founding fathers into the Bill of Rights. This particular amendment has since then been a major part of American culture. Through the second amendment it has given American citizens freedom to buy firearms of any sort: AR-15s, AK-47s, handguns, and the like for self-defense. However, in light of the most recent mass shootings, people have felt that it is time to change if not regulate the freedom the second amendment grants. That is to say that some believe that there needs to be a solution to reduce if not end the gun violence in America by regulating and restricting the access to weapons meant for the police and military by American civilians. Ultimately, the solution to this social problem of gun violence in America is gun control. What is gun control exactly? From an extreme conservative's perspective, gun control is a means of disarming the public and infringing the right the second amendment grants Americans. What this point of view fails to take into account is that gun control is not about infringing on any right or disarming American civilians. It is about restricting the access and sales of deadly firearms to potential felons who have the capability of using them to commit mass murder. Furthermore, what some do not realize is that the second amendment was written in
Safety and freedom are both essential components of society and many argue over which component holds the most desirability in modern civilization. Many, like H.L. Mencken, believe that humanity’s desire to be safe trumps the want to be free. This view may hold true for some but there are varying interpretations of what is means to be safe and have freedoms.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”. In Benjamin Franklin’s quote is saying that if someone gives up the necessary liberty to receive safety that means they do not deserve neither safety nor liberty. Safety can be defined as the state of being safe; freedom from the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, or loss. It can also be defined as the quality of averting or not causing injury, danger, or loss. In modern day safety is prominent in the society, safety has even been questioned in today’s society.
People who appreciate activities like shooting competitions and hunting, use firearms responsibly. This use contrasts with other uses, which often result in consequences that can be both intended and unintended. With past and present mass shootings, and acts of bloodshed perpetrated with the usage of weapons; has triggered a focus on gun control that once again has been brought into the spotlight. The purpose of the ongoing gun argument addresses the crimes that are committed with guns. This issue of gun control separated people into two groups: those who believe that carrying guns might prevent some crimes and fatalities, and those who don’t. There are individuals who believe absolutely the reverse: that more crime and deaths
Throughout history, many people find themselves choosing safety over freedom; perhaps the safety of a stable job, safety from physical harm, or even safety from discrimination. As H.L. Mencken, a social critic, claimed the average man wants freedom over safety, he encompassed the human psyche that favors safety over freedom in society. However, in our modern society, people opt for safety on the surface, but subconsciously wish for freedom from societal propaganda that one must live a certain way to be considered successful.
Throughout this paper I will be challenging the arguments of Jeff McMahan’s paper Why Gun ‘Control Is Not Enough where he concludes that the only effective form of gun ‘control’ would be for The United States to make it illegal to shoot a gun of any type. He begins this argument by citing the “central pillar” of the argument for those who are anti-gun control is that when more individuals own guns, there is a mindset that the entire population is safer. With this logic, it can be inferred that citizens feeling unsafe in the current environment of their country are those seeking protection, one way being through the purchase and ownership of a firearm. Safety is imperative part of ensuring peace of mind, which then impact the peace of the
In the United States of America the right to bear arms gave birth to a phenomenon called the “gun culture,” the term coined in 1970 by a historian Richard Hofstadter, which describes America’s heritage and affection for weapons(1). Not only did gun culture become an inseparable part of American democracy, but also it is considered to be synonymous with independence and freedom, the most important values for American society. Even though the crime rate and murder rate in the U.S. is higher than in any other developed country, U.S. citizens oppose every attempt made to pass gun control legislation(2). However, it may sound like a paradox, but the crime level in the most liberal states, when it comes to gun ownership, is the lowest in the
December 4, 2015, in San Bernardino, CA, fourteen residents at the Inland Regional Center lost their lives due to Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik shooting many residents. Attending a holiday party at the center for thousands of residents with disabilities, Mr. Farook left the center “angry” over a dispute and came back with Ms. Malik. Armed with .223- caliber assault rifles and semiautomatic handguns, they killed 14 residents and wounded at least 17. Shootings seem to be becoming more habitual, therefore, people fear guns and want to enact gun control laws. Recent attacks from terrorist groups spark the question of who should have the right to own guns. Controversies over interpreting the Second Amendment date back to the turn of the twentieth century because so many viewpoints and regulations have accumulated; it is all in the manner of which interpretation citizens subscribe to- loose verses strict interpretation. Due to the controversies, certain gun regulations have been enacted and fears have risen because of this.
Mass shootings are increasing in the United States, and gun control advocates are seizing the opportunity to push anti-gun legislation to deter gun violence in America. Guns and the Second Amendment have come to the forefront of political rhetoric, leading to conflicting views between lawmakers on the future of gun legislation. Republican lawmakers are encouraging law abiding citizens to acquire firearms and to defend themselves against acts of violence by criminals. On the contrary, Democratic lawmakers believe the only way to slow gun violence in the United States is to remove guns from society. While certain politicians believe strict gun laws would protect the American people, the proposed policies would make our nation more vulnerable
The term “gun control” deals with the regulation of the selling, purchasing, and using of firearms in America. The availability of firearms to the public has been causing serious debates around the country because of the diversity in the people’s cultures, judgment, and religions. Many people thought the provision set by the Second Amendment when it was ratified can perfectly be applied in the society today. However, the understanding of people about the Second Amendment and how they interpret it change over time. They cannot agree with each other about the meaning of the historical evidence (Karlan, 2013). Research and polls found that people in the rural areas tend to support the right of gun owners while those in urban areas encourage gun control. Due
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
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.
The ongoing war against ISIS is still raging world wide as thousands of refugees from Syria seek a safe haven away from their nefarious homeland that America is able to provide. Many are concerned about the potential threat these immigrants may pose while others believe that it is America’s duty to help humans suffering from this war. A Raisin in the Sun is a novel that contains events that pertain to this situation; its protagonists are African Americans that want to move into a white neighborhood but are frowned upon by their current residents. Back in the 1950s, many people of the U.S. would not allow blacks to have basic rights or become successful regardless of their character or living situation. Like the Youngers, Syrians have faced
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