Gun Control: The Public's Opinion

Term Paper # 59737

Criminology > Public and Crime
Ethics
Hot Topics > Gun Control

A look at public attitudes concerning gun control over both short-term and long-term.

2,914 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the majority of Americans oppose outright bans or severe limits on gun ownership and how a significant minority of Americans remain firmly opposed to many gun control policies and opinions on gun control, whether for or against. It attempts to explain why gun control policies have been slow to change, despite broad public support for tighter regulation of firearms and how, although support for gun control is strong, it faces significant opposition that has remained solid, despite public events such as the Columbine shootings.

From the Paper:

"Supporters and opponents of gun control both agree that some means should be found to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Yet, the two sides approach the issue differently. The two strategies for gun control involve "deterrence" (discouraging by instilling fear) and "interdiction" (legally forbidding the use). Advocates of deterrence, most notably the Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA, recommend consistent enforcement of current laws and instituting tougher penalties to discourage individuals from using firearms in crimes. They maintain that interdiction will not have any effect on crime but will strip away the constitutional rights and privileges of law-abiding Americans by taking away their right to own guns."

More papers on Gun Control: The Public's Opinion:

View more related papers »

Cite this paper

APA Citation:

Gun Control: The Public's Opinion (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 13, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-Gun-Control-The-Public's-Opinion/59737