Gun Control Term paper
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Gun Control
The idea of gun control and regulation is becoming more and more popular throughout the U.S., although it may still bring up resistance among some people. Guns are sort of a foundation of American culture. This country’s freedom was won over bloody and “heroic” wars with guns. Guns are portrayed throughout television, movies, and video games. Guns are a popular symbol of power, control, authority, dominance, and can be associated with security and defense. The role guns play in our society is a highly controversial debate. I will support the gun control and regulatory side of this topic as a short-term realistic goal. There are both avid supporters of the 2nd amendment guaranteeing American citizens the right to bear arms, and there are people who strongly disagree with the widespread use and availability of guns to youth and criminals. Those in favor of open gun use are often motivated by the 2nd Amendment, and the right many claim to hunt, protect the home, or for defense against potential militias or government overthrow. The motive behind proponents of gun control on the other hand, is to restrict accessibility to guns to prevent violence and death in our society. My position ultimately, with relevance to our presentations in class, is neither an attempt to persuade or convince anyone to use guns nor to control and restrict them. From here however, let me tell you that guns play a role of non-importance in my life, and therefore I have sought out a reasoning that has led me to favor a world with no guns altogether. This may sound rather idealistic or radical, but it is necessary. Our world is in need of a profound, collective reformation where violence and guns are concerned – particularly in the United States. This is my long-term goal of potentiality. Firstly, the extent of gun violence is tremendous, primarily in the U.S. among all other industrial nations. Next to automobile fatality, gun violence is the second leading cause of death by injury in the U.S. It should become first by the year 2003 unless something is done to prevent it. In the early nineties for example, four states – Nevada, Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas had trends of gun injury as the top cause of death. This type of violence it seems is almost as epidemic as AIDS is in causing death. That is a very scary thing to consider. (gunfree.org) The National Center for Health Statistics reports that firearms have taken the lives of 35,957 people in the U.S. in 1995. There is a 21.5% firearm fatality increase since 1985. And, of these fatalities, suicides rank first at 18,503 people; homicides second at 15,835 people; unintentional shootings next at 1,225 people; and 394 were undetermined. (gunfree.org) Now I would like to demystify several arguments used against gun control. The first one assumes that gun control won’t stop gun violence or crime. Most criminals get guns through legal means contrary to what the gun lobby says to justify having a huge availability of guns. This is proven by the Criminal Justice Research Center. They apparently surveyed that only 27% of adult inmates and 43% of juveniles have bought handguns illegally on the black market. On the other hand, of these inmates, 69% of adults and 55% of juveniles obtained guns through means like retail, gun shops, private owners, friends or family. This confirms that most guns are gotten legally through controlled methods. (gunfree.org) Also, the FBI has received reports of a median number of about 274,000 guns stolen yearly from ’85 to ’94. This points out that the guns sold by owners and dealers are a risk to us and can be regulated to lower crime, murder, suicide, and other fatalities. (gunfree.org) Is owning a gun really a constitutional right? The 2nd amendment of the constitution says: “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 Supreme Court made clear in its 1939 case decision of U.S. vs. Miller, that the 2nd Amendment doesn’t protect possession of a firearm unless there exists some type of reasonable relationship in preserving a militia. Currently, the National Guard is regarded as today’s form of militia. (gunfree.org) Also equally impressive is that in all Supreme and Federal courts, since the Miller decision, no gun control laws have been shot down on the case of the 2nd Amendment. And particularly lower federal courts have never supported firearm possession as being a fundamental and individual citizen right. (gunfree.org) Although it is true that the constitution is a fundamental part of our history and country, “the framers of the Constitution more than 200 years ago couldn’t possibly have foreseen the multitude of high tech guns, their widespread availability and the violent culture we now live in that is sadly desensitized toward injury and death (Tampa Bay Business Journal 62).” We must all realize that “rather than protecting us from potential tyranny – as our forefathers imagined – guns now threaten the very survival of the nation’s citizens and communities (Rosen 179).” I’m not against the constitution, but using the 2nd amendment which was created during a different societal time frame, to justify gun rights, is one of the reasons that “among the world’s 36 wealthiest nations, the U.S. has the highest rate of gun deaths through suicide, murder and accidents (America 3).” Do you think handguns or any firearm is a good way to defend yourself? If so, than think again. If you keep a handgun in your house for defending the home and family, than you are five times more likely to experience a suicide and three times more likely to experience a homicide than compared to those people without guns in their homes. A gun in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a household member or friend rather than an intruder or criminal – like a robber. Using a firearm to resist a violent assault can actually increase your risk of injury and death. Does that surprise you now? (gunfree.org) What it really comes down to is that guns give us a false sense of security. Gun manufacturers and lobbyists want us to purchase firearms and have us believe they will protect and defend us. “We are being targeted by an industry that wants us to join the vigilante crowd. Buying a gun, however, is an individual solution, which only helps the gun industry turn [people’s] fears...
“New Gun Control Initiatives”. America. Editorial: 2/20/99, Vol. 180 Issue 5, p3. Rosen, Ruth. “Domestic Disarmament: A Women’s Issue?”. The Informed Argument. Ed. Robert Miller. New York: Hartcourt Brace, 1998. 178-181. Sugurmann, Josh. “The NRA Is Right”. The Informed Argument. Ed. Robert Miller. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1998. 185-190 Tampa Bay Business Journal. “Crack Down On Guns”. Tampa Bay Business Journal. Editorial: 11/6/98, Vol.18 Issue 45, p62. www.gunfree.org (within gun facts in csgv index)MLA Style
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