Abstract This research paper examines and analyzes the economic costs and benefits of guncontrol in the United States. The positions of guncontrol advocates and the gun lobby are compared and conclusions reached accordingly.
Abstract In this article, the writer examines the guncontrol debate in the United States of America. The writer provides a review of the studies that relate to that debate. The history of guncontrol as an issue in American society is discussed in this paper. The writer argues that guncontrol policies should not be expanded and presents both sides of the control argument.
From the Paper "Gun control has been a prominent issue in American politics since Revolutionary War. The Founding Fathers gave American citizens the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment to the Constitution. The debate over the government's ability to regulate the sale and use of guns can be most simply stated as a fundamental conflict between the rights of the citizen versus the need of the government to assure public safety. Opponents of gun control believe that any infringement of an individual's right to bear arms is unconstitutional and ... "
Tags:guncontrol, crime rates, history, second amendment
Abstract This paper surveys arguments made in favor of and against guncontrol in the United States. It discusses the second amendment argument made by gun rights advocates. The author also explores the impact of guncontrol laws on violence.
From the Paper "The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that 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. Today many people argue that ..."
Abstract This paper looks at the strong debate raging between those who believe in guncontrol and those who believe in gun rights and then proceeds to make the argument that children dying from guns should speak loudly that guncontrol is vital in saving the lives of children and others.
From the Paper "A six-year-old girl brings a gun to school and shoots a six-year-old (School Deaths). Another example of tragedy involving guns is a high school student who shoots three members of his own family and two other people before he finally kills himself (Wilson). These are two examples of children that obtain guns to shoot others. In the 1999-2000 school year, there were ten shootings. Personally, if one child dies because of a gun it is too many."
Abstract This paper examines the argument espoused by guncontrol advocates that guncontrol and licensing measures in the United States represent a political solution to avert the loss of lives due to handguns and firearm use. The paper suggests that these guncontrol advocates have long utilized an alternate reading of the Constitution's Second Amendment to argue that the Constitution itself does not permit individual firearm ownership and that therefore the right to bear arms is a misguided interpretation of the Constitution.
Abstract This paper addresses the question as to why the federal and state regulatory regime on guns remains so weak even though most American consistently and decisively support stronger national guncontrol laws. The paper considers the question in the context of single-issue voters and the historical background of the Second Amendment.
Abstract A paper which examines and discusses all factors relating to guncontrol in America. The writer focuses on the issue of guncontrol as it pertains to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan.
From the Paper "The theory behind gun control is an honest one. Advocates of gun control believe that if the nation takes the guns away then crimes of violence will stop. This would be true of crimes of violence were only being committed against law abiding citizens(McCaffery, 2001). As the gun control laws begin to be implanted in carious states there are other states that are taking the opposite approach to the trouble. They believe that to arm their residents is to send a message to those who are potentially violent that it would not be a good idea in that state."
Abstract The paper discusses the controversial and passionate political and social debate of guncontrol. The paper examines how shootings were occurring with seeming regularity in the United States schools with gang violence harming communities and innocent bystanders. The paper further discusses how gun advocacy groups are funding politicians and how anti-gun activists can promote their cause.
From the Paper Throughout the 1990s and the earlier parts of the twenty-first century, it would seem that one of the more controversial and passionate political and social debates was gun control. With shootings occurring with seeming regularity in United States' schools, with gang violence harming communities and innocent bystanders, and with a politically liberal majority in power, talk of controlling access to firearms, at least certain more dangerous models and types, was commonplace. Yet, things have changed in the past few years. The nation is now in the control of politically conservative individuals and interests, who are backed and funded by gun advocacy groups, as well as put in place by a seeming popular majority of those who embrace their right to bear arms and do not want this right curtailed. So, in this new atmosphere of gun toting, what are those who feel the need to legislate stricter gun laws to do?
Abstract The paper addresses the failing and financially disastrous guncontrol legislation and act that has been present in Canada for the past decade. The writer focuses on three failed aspects of this legislation: that it is financially over-budget; that it is targeting the wrong individuals; and that it has not been understood or embraced by either federal or provincial governments and leadership. The writer further argues that a different system must be studied and implemented for Canada to have the proper guncontrol that it long has boasted.
From the Paper "In its attempt to control guns, mirroring attempts in much the same way as its neighbor to the south, Canada has largely failed. While there has long been a history of support for stricter gun control in Canada than in the United States, such efforts have usually proven successful, or at least not as outrageous as recent developments. And while these recent actions and plans have affected crime and violence in a somewhat successful manner, the reason that they have failed is threefold. The current system of gun control can be considered inadequate and appalling because it has been a financial disaster, it has regularly targeted the wrong individuals with its restrictions, and it has been enacted without the full knowledge and/or cooperation of both the national government and the provincial governments."
Abstract This paper examines special interest groups with regard to their role, their activities, and their influence, especially with regard to the immigration and guncontrol lobbies.
From the Paper "Special interest groups by definition are organized groups of individuals working together to shape public policy usually for a specific or exclusive benefit for its members. The National Rifle Association (NRA), for example, has an Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) which is the lobbying' arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment..."
Tags: special interest groups, PACs, immigration, guncontrol, NRA, Brady Campaign, Brady Center, La Raza, NCLR, National Council of La Raza, FAIR, Federation of American Immigration Reform, lobbying, lobbyist, Congress, government, elections, campaign finance
Abstract This paper examines the issue of guncontrol, focusing on the rhetorical strategies, fallacies of argument and persuasive language of the opposing viewpoints. It contends that both sides of the controversial argument use emotional rhetoric rather than logic.
From the Paper "Gun Control is a controversial issue that lends itself to bad rhetorical strategies true of both sides of the issue, since both sides are guilty of emotional rhetoric that is not based on logic but appeals to emotions such as fear and sympathy rather than to reason. The results are numerous fallacies of argumentation and the objective is to persuade rather than to present factual evidence of cause and effect,..."
Abstract This paper looks at the three major arguments of gun-control advocates and disproves them one by one. The major arguments are - more guns, more crimes; possible accidental deaths and criminal access to guns.
Thesis: Despite the good intentions of guncontrol advocates, their means in attaining what they want are entirely misguided and misinformed.
Table of Contents
Accidental Death
Child killed by ownership of firearm
Suicide in relation to ownership of firearms
More Guns More Crime
Gun ownership as a crime prevention
Gun ownership for self-defense is most common
Gun ownership as a deterrent to tyranny
Criminal Acquisitions of Guns Limiting the attainability legally of guns only limits law-abiding citizens
Criminals acquire guns on black market
Brady Laws do nothing to deter criminal misuse
From the Paper "Gun Control has been a center issue in American Politics for quite some time. Advocates of Gun Control often state the hazards of owning guns and their constant use in criminal activity. The ultimate solution for these people is to completely eliminate the right of an individual to own a gun. On the other hand, the Anti-Gun Control advocates state that people are responsible for their own actions and that the existence of the gun is not what causes crime, or accidental death. So despite the good intentions of Gun Control advocates, their means in attaining what they want are entirely misguided and misinformed."
Abstract The paper addresses the political and social climate leading up to the gun bans put into effect during President Clinton's term in office and explains how the intense crime wave from which the nation was suffering led to an emotional appeal for guncontrol from guncontrol advocates. The paper explores the background, provisions and constitutional validity of the Brady Bill, the Assault Weapons Ban and Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Tobacco (BATF) regulations. The paper notes the limited measure of success from the Assault Weapons Ban but then shows where and how the Assault Weapons Ban failed. The paper emphasizes how the pro-control polices and legislation of the Clinton Administration were ultimately unsuccessful in achieving their desired results.
Outline:
Section I: Introduction
Section II: National Sentiments Leading to Gun Bans
Section III: Brady Bill
Section IV: Assault Weapons Ban and BATF Regulations
Section V: Where the Bans Achieved Success
Section VI: Where and How the Assault Weapons Ban Failed
Section VII: Conclusion
From the Paper "Through the 1980s, the American people suffered through a crime wave that was peppered with headline grabbing mass shootings perpetrated with the assistance of media-dubbed "assault weapons." The American people turned in fear to their government, demanding comprehensive crime control. Groups such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, formed from Handgun Control Inc., pushed strongly for gun control, launching nationwide campaigns to increase the registration, restriction, and government control of firearms. The results from this push for control were varied pieces of legislation which were passed in multiple states, but the culmination of the efforts for more gun control were manifested in the laws passed during and the policies practiced by the administration of President Clinton."
Abstract This paper looks at the causes and reasons behind armed conflict in the streets of our cities, making reference to several examples of armed violence. The writer contends that gun-control is not the answer to the nation's ills. The writer suggests that stricter guncontrol laws are the result of unsubstantiated fears, promulgated by the mass media. Finally this paper suggests that guns are the scapegoat for all human ills.
From the Paper "We do not have all of the answers to suicide, murder, and teen violence, but it is clear from the statistical proof that gun control is not the answer. We need to look at the reasons why people are compelled to do these things. Before the invent of gunpowder, there was still suicide, murder and teen violence. Perhaps the answers to these dilemmas lie somewhere deeper inside us. Perhaps the answer lies in our ability to love one another, instead of blaming guns for the hatred within."
