Argumentative Essay: Should Gun Control Laws Be Enacted
Tyler Sedlak
Mr. White
English 10 CP
24 February 2017
Gun Control
Approximately 30,000 people die a year because of guns when they are used in both self defense and murder. Many people argue whether restrictions on guns should be enacted or repealed. Tensions have grown high on both sides of the issue making it a hot topic in our country today. Many people cast their votes in the last election based on their feelings about this very issue. The divide among Americans when it comes to gun control is large, spanning from those who want strict regulation, including an outright ban on all firearms, to those who want complete legalization of individual gun ownership. Guns can be used for killing or protection, so it is important to examine all …show more content…
Not one of them was stopped by an armed civilian, even though gun rights activists would have claimed that their right to bear arms is a critical component in their own personal protection, and the protection of others. Armed civilians aren’t likely to stop a mass shooting because they are not trained in law enforcement nor are they trained to handle life threatening situations. In addition, in at least 50% of the 62 mass shootings, the shooter was using high-capacity magazines. “When high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings, the death rate rose 63% and the injury rate rose 156%”("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?"). Civilians should not have military grade firearms or accessories, including high-capacity magazines. These weapons are complete overkill when it comes to personal protection or hunting. “These weapons that will shred your venison before you eat it, or go through the wall of your apartment when you’re trying to defend yourself…. they’re made for mass killing, but not useful for law-abiding citizens.”- Johnathan Cowy, Director of Legal Action Project at the Brady Center to prevent Gun Violence. Pope Francis even stated, “Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?”(Hale p.1). Gun Control is a pro-life value, with 30,000 gun related deaths a year in the U.S. every year something needs to …show more content…
"A Criminologist’s Case against Gun Control." Time, 1 Dec.
2015, time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control/
?iid=sr-link2. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Drabold, Will. "Here Are 7 Animals Hunters Kill Using an AR-15." Time, 6 July
2016, time.com/4390506/gun-control-ar-15-semiautomatic-rifles/
?iid=sr-link9. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Hale, Christopher J. "Gun Control Is a Pro-Life Value"
Time, 6 Jan. 2016, time.com/4170126/gun-control-is-a-pro-life-value/
?iid=sr-link1. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Rapoport, Abby. "Guns—Not the Mentally Ill—Kill People." Mental Illness, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010154403/OVIC?u=ghsl&xid=9bb81f3b. Accessed 18
Jan. 2017. Originally published in Prospect.org, 7 Feb. 2013.
Pérez-Peña, Richard. "Gun Control Explained." The New York Times, 7 Oct. 2015, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/07/us/gun-control-explained.html?_r=0. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.
"Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?" ProCon, 28 June 2016, gun-control.procon.org. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.
"Should Adults Have the Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun?" ProCon.org, 24 Aug.
2016, concealedguns.procon.org/. Accessed 27 Jan.
Mr. White
English 10 CP
24 February 2017
Gun Control
Approximately 30,000 people die a year because of guns when they are used in both self defense and murder. Many people argue whether restrictions on guns should be enacted or repealed. Tensions have grown high on both sides of the issue making it a hot topic in our country today. Many people cast their votes in the last election based on their feelings about this very issue. The divide among Americans when it comes to gun control is large, spanning from those who want strict regulation, including an outright ban on all firearms, to those who want complete legalization of individual gun ownership. Guns can be used for killing or protection, so it is important to examine all …show more content…
Not one of them was stopped by an armed civilian, even though gun rights activists would have claimed that their right to bear arms is a critical component in their own personal protection, and the protection of others. Armed civilians aren’t likely to stop a mass shooting because they are not trained in law enforcement nor are they trained to handle life threatening situations. In addition, in at least 50% of the 62 mass shootings, the shooter was using high-capacity magazines. “When high-capacity magazines were used in mass shootings, the death rate rose 63% and the injury rate rose 156%”("Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?"). Civilians should not have military grade firearms or accessories, including high-capacity magazines. These weapons are complete overkill when it comes to personal protection or hunting. “These weapons that will shred your venison before you eat it, or go through the wall of your apartment when you’re trying to defend yourself…. they’re made for mass killing, but not useful for law-abiding citizens.”- Johnathan Cowy, Director of Legal Action Project at the Brady Center to prevent Gun Violence. Pope Francis even stated, “Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society?”(Hale p.1). Gun Control is a pro-life value, with 30,000 gun related deaths a year in the U.S. every year something needs to …show more content…
"A Criminologist’s Case against Gun Control." Time, 1 Dec.
2015, time.com/4100408/a-criminologists-case-against-gun-control/
?iid=sr-link2. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Drabold, Will. "Here Are 7 Animals Hunters Kill Using an AR-15." Time, 6 July
2016, time.com/4390506/gun-control-ar-15-semiautomatic-rifles/
?iid=sr-link9. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Hale, Christopher J. "Gun Control Is a Pro-Life Value"
Time, 6 Jan. 2016, time.com/4170126/gun-control-is-a-pro-life-value/
?iid=sr-link1. Accessed 13 Jan. 2017.
Rapoport, Abby. "Guns—Not the Mentally Ill—Kill People." Mental Illness, 2016. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010154403/OVIC?u=ghsl&xid=9bb81f3b. Accessed 18
Jan. 2017. Originally published in Prospect.org, 7 Feb. 2013.
Pérez-Peña, Richard. "Gun Control Explained." The New York Times, 7 Oct. 2015, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/07/us/gun-control-explained.html?_r=0. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.
"Should More Gun Control Laws Be Enacted?" ProCon, 28 June 2016, gun-control.procon.org. Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.
"Should Adults Have the Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun?" ProCon.org, 24 Aug.
2016, concealedguns.procon.org/. Accessed 27 Jan.