Public Safety versus Individual Liberty Analytical Essay by scribbler

Public Safety versus Individual Liberty
An examination of gun control laws, pursuit driving, the death penalty, and hate crimes and hate speech in the context of the public safety versus civil rights debate.
# 152546 | 2,066 words | 9 sources | APA | 2013 | US
Published on Mar 15, 2013 in Law (Constitution) , Hot Topics (Capital Punishment) , Hot Topics (Gun Control)


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Description:

This paper explores the controversial topics of the death penalty, gun control laws, pursuit driving, and hate crimes and hate speech from the opposing perspectives of public safety and of civil rights. The paper looks at current laws and amendments associated with the administration of justice and security and describes how they have framed the ongoing debates. The paper notes that since 9/11 and the emergence of the Patriot Act, which gives the government increased surveillance power, the topic of public safety versus individual liberty has become more relevant than ever before.

From the Paper:

"The Bill of Rights' second amendment to the constitution reads: "A well guarded militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not no be infringed." The second amendment means that people can have guns and to defend their liberties, so from a civil rights standpoint, enforcing gun control laws is an infringement on individual liberties; however, our forefathers most likely did not envision a Columbine situation ever happening or, the public shootings that occur not just in the United States - from the two worst high school shootings in Germany to Mumbai where 163 people were killed (Lott 2010). From a public safety perspective, gun control laws will reduce violence and save lives - at least, that is the belief.
"While advocates of gun control laws have the belief that guns will reduce violence, the other side, those who believe that gun control laws infringe on individual liberties argue that simply because people have guns doesn't mean that suddenly a law-abiding citizen is going to run out and harm someone with their gun (Lott 2010). In fact, advocates for the right to own guns believed that the threat of self-defense may even deter criminals from committing violent acts against others."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Alpert, Geoffrey P., & Dunham, Roger G. (1990). Police pursuit driving: Controlling responses to emergency situations (Contributions in criminology and penology). Greenwood Press.
  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). (2010) "The case against the death penalty." Retrieved on June 19, 2010, from the Web site; http://www.aclu.org/capital- punishment/case-against-death-penalty#deterrent
  • Brown, Cheryl A., Cagle, M. Christine., Clouatre, Douglas., Douglas, Mark., Hutton, Chris., McAdams, John C., & Sarat, Austin. (2002). The leviathan's choice: Capital punishment in the 21st century. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
  • Lott, John R. (2010). More guns, less crime: Understanding crime and gun control laws. University of Chicago Press; 3rd edition.
  • Radelet, M. & Lacock, T. (2009). "Do Executions Lower Homicide Rates? The Views of Leading Criminologists," 99 Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology 489, Northwestern University.

Cite this Analytical Essay:

APA Format

Public Safety versus Individual Liberty (2013, March 15) Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/public-safety-versus-individual-liberty-152546/

MLA Format

"Public Safety versus Individual Liberty" 15 March 2013. Web. 29 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/public-safety-versus-individual-liberty-152546/>

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