Abstract This paper examines the gun that 'won the west'. The author looks at the history of the gun as well as the importance the gun played over the years. He also looks at the influences the gun had on later models as well as those manufactured today.
From the Paper "The Colt revolver is often called "the handgun that won the west", and for good reason. Revolvers leading up to Colt's invention were bulky and not very reliable. Up to this point, revolvers tended to work on the same principles that the musket had worked on, which was the one-shot/reload formula. Some multi-firing guns had been made, such as the repeating pistol, the German four-barreled revolver, and pistols based on Collier's revolving system. However, Colt's method for a six-shot revolver provided both ease and efficiency, and its effects are still very prominent in the guns of today."
A discussion of the hunger and cruel treatment of those vulnerable in the Grimm Brothers' tale "Hansel and Gretel" and the Chinese folk tale "The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt".
Abstract The paper examines how in "Hansel and Gretel" hunger perverts the normal relationships between parents and children, husband and wife and even stranger and guest. The paper then looks at the Chinese Han folktale of "The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt" and how the long drought perverts the relationship of landlord to tenants. The paper discusses how both stories act as a warning to people who ignore their obligations to others and illustrate how ruthlessness as well as cleverness is often required to survive during desperate, hungry times.
From the Paper "One of the most striking things about reading the original Grimm Brothers' tale of "Hansel and Gretel" is the relentless focus on hunger of the tale, and the way that children or vulnerable people in general are treated cruelly by adults or by people in power. In the original tale, the two children are sent into the woods to starve to death, not by a cruel stepmother, but by their natural mother. Their father, a weak man, acquiesces unwillingly, but because of the terrible famine the people are enduring, he grudgingly goes along with his wife's plan."
Abstract "Black Beauty" is written as an autobiography, as if the horse were telling his own story. It explains that the story takes place as in the eighteen hundreds in England, during a time when horses were the main means of transportation and labor. Black Beauty describes his life from his beginning as a colt through various owners to his final home, again in the country. The paper shows how during the course of his life, Black Beauty learns the differences in humans and their treatment of animals, particularly horses.
From the Paper "Black Beauty begins his life on a farm where he was fed and sheltered well. He spends the first two years of his life enjoying himself as a colt before he is a witness to tragedy. A popular sport at the time was hunting fox and hare. In this particular instance it was a hare that the men were chasing, which ended in the death of one of the hunters and the need to put down the rider's horse, which we discover later was Black Beauty's brother. At the age of four, Black Beauty is gently broken in. It is during this time that Black Beauty's mother teaches him that not all humans are kind to their horses. After being broken in and has become accustom to the various tack used with horses during this period of time, Black Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon."
This paper presents a detailed history of the Texas Rangers, which for one hundred and seventy seven years has almost continually protected the residents of the state of Texas.
Abstract The paper explains that, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin, realizing a vital need to protect the people of Texas, organized a group of men, which would become the Texas Rangers, to "range" the frontier and guard against hostile Indians. The author points out that, in their earliest beginnings, the Rangers had only single shot pistols and rifles; therefore, they readily accepted the Colt .36 caliber five-shot revolver, which gave the Rangers deadly precision in defense of the Texas frontier. The paper relates that one of the most famous Texas Ranger was Captain Leander H. McNelly, who organized the "McNelly's Rangers" and was a man whose iron will and daring courage set the standard by which future Texas Rangers would be measured.
From the Paper "Captain John H. Rogers spent a better part of his career chasing the Conners, a gang of murderers and outlaws who had defied the civil authorities and in fact the whole country. These desperate men were the old man Conner and his three sons, Fred, William and John. The Conners were routinely joined by whatever criminal might be hiding out from the law. The Conners were incredible shots and lived almost like Indians in the forests of Sabine County. Rogers and his Rangers spent many years tracking down the Conners but were never able to find the notorious gang."
Abstract The Civil War was a time of great technological advancement in America; weapons, ships and artillery were vastly improved during the period. The paper examines the history, function and development of various guns, rifles, battleships and modes of transport and shows how they were used during the American Civil War.
From the Paper "Invented by Dr. Richard Gattling, the Gattling gun was similar to the Williams, except it had six barrels, giving it the capability of wiping out an entire field of enemies with one sweep. The Gattling gun did not, however, overheat like the Williams did. Dr. Gattling was from North Carolina, so the Union War Department was hesitant to use the weapon, and did not field-test it until Petersburg, too late to have much of an effect on the war. The modern machine gun is modeled after the Gattling gun, and a modified form of the original is still in use today."
Abstract 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."
