The Gun Debate

Term Paper # 100247

Business > Consumer Behavior
Business > Industries
Ethics

The Gun Debate

An analysis of the ethical issues involved in the manufacturing and selling of small guns.

2,002 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the ethical issues related to the manufacturing and selling of inexpensive handguns (known as Saturday-night-specials) when such guns are commonly used for criminal purposes. The paper describes and analyzes the key facts in this gun debate and then reviews the implications for the stakeholders affected by the decisions taken and their interests.

From the Paper:

"Difficulties arise in trying to establish the proper scope to utilize in evaluating this problem: Suppose a gun manufacturer decides to move his factory overseas to China or Mexico as a way to cut production costs. The benefits in corporate profits and dividends to a large number of shareholders may be substantial. Likewise, the salesforce and customers could benefit by resulting cost reductions. But the consequences of this outsourcing for the working class employees, their families, and the other residents of the company's age-old New England hometown could be catastrophic. Who is to determine the greatest good for the greatest number in this context? Even those who opt for the shareholders side have to live with the consequences and experience the problems of rust belt states with decaying infrastructure."

Sample of Sources Used:

Brady, Sarah "A Way to Cut the Deadly Toll",Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1996, reprinted as "Holding Gun Manufacturers Accountable Would Reduce Gun Related Deaths", in Guns and Violence, Henny H. Kim, editor, Greenhaven Press, Inc. San Diego, Ca., 1999, Page 187.
Bentham, Jeremy, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, (1789) in The Works of Jeremy Bentham, edited by John Bowring, London, 1838-1843.
Greider, William "Will the Smart Gun Save Lives",Rolling Stone, August 6, 1998, reprinted as "Controlling Gun Manufacturers Would Reduce Gun Violence", in Guns and Violence, Henny H. Kim, editor, Greenhaven Press, Inc., San Diego, Ca., 1999, Page 179.
Kant, Immanuel, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, James W.Ettington, translator, Hackett Publishing Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1985.
Mill, John Stuart, Utilitarianism, in Collected Works of John Stuart Mill, ed. J.M. Robson, Routledge, London, and University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario, 1991.