Gun Control In America example essay topic

"Guns Don't Kill People, People Do" American gun control has been a controversial issue for years. It is a growing problem having resulted in murders, gun fights and recent school shootings. A vast majority of citizens believe that if gun control was strictly enforced it would help reduce the threat of crime. However, many innocent people feel they have the right to own a gun for protection, or even for the pleasure of hunting. This essay is going to analyse the quote, "Guns don't kill people, people do", which is the slogan of the National Rifle Association (NRA). It will provide factual information on the United States Constitution, the NRA and the Second Amendment.

Furthermore, this essay will also discuss the pros and cons of being armed with a gun, the tragic effects gun crime had on Columbine High School and will conclude with my thoughts and opinions. The entire United States is governed by a set of laws called the Constitution. This Constitution is a document written by "outcasts" of England. It sets forth the nation's fundamental laws; it establishes the form of the national government and defines the rights of the American people. It also lists the aims of the government and the methods of achieving them. Previously, the nation's leaders had established a national government under the Articles of Confederation.

But the articles granted independence to each state and unfortunately they lacked the authority to make the states work cohesively to solve national problems. After the states won independence in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), they faced the problems of peacetime government. Although the states were very different from each other, they knew that in order to grow and prosper, they needed one another. Delegates from each state met to produce a plan for unity, which was initially submitted to the Second Continental Congress on July 12, 1776. The men had a big task ahead of them.

"How is the legislature going to be structured?" Some wanted representation to be based on population (Virginia Plan). Others wanted equal representation (New Jersey Plan). Rodger Sherman proposed a legislature with two parts. States would have equal representation in the senate, although population of states would determine representation in the house.

After a lot of debate, this "Great Compromise" was agreed upon. On September 17, 1787, the constitution of the United States was finally accepted by the delegates. The second amendment of the USA's constitution states, "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". With this statement, the founders of America guaranteed the American individual the right to keep and bear arms. The Second Amendment has proved vital to the growth and success of the nation, although many Americans question the importance and legitimacy of the Second Amendment, claiming that it is outdated and invalid. Throughout the years there has been an ongoing debate over the Second Amendment and how it should be interpreted.

The issue that is being debated is whether the American government has the right to regulate guns or modernize. The answer of who has which rights lies within how one interprets the Second Amendment. With this being the case, one must also think about what circumstances the Second Amendment was first written in. There are two major sides to this debate, one being the collective side, which feels that the right was given for collective purposes only. This side is in favour of having stricter gun control laws, as they feel that by having stricter laws the number of crimes that are being committed with guns will be reduced and therefore save lives. However while gun control laws may decrease criminals' access to guns, the same laws restricts gun owning citizens who abide by the law; these citizens make up a great majority of the opposing side of this argument.

These people argue that the law was made with the individual citizens in mind. This group believes that the Amendment should be interpreted to guarantee citizens free access to firearms. An organisation that often refers to the second amendment is the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA in its simplest form is the largest gun club in the world. The organisation was founded in 1871 by former Union Officers, to encourage sport shooting in order to have a fine tuned militia in case of emergency.

It is an organisation that is interested in all aspects of shooting sports. The Union Officer's believed that a well regulated militia was essential for the security of a free state. It is an organisation that opposes gun control and believes that people have the right to defend themselves using firearms. Despite the NRA's efforts to promote safety and gun ownership, tragedies still occur on a regular basis.

One of the worst incidents of high school shootings in American history took place in Columbine High School. On April 20, 1999 in a suburban town called Littleton, Colorado, a high school was about to have one of the most tragic and deadly day's in US history. Columbine High School was in the forefront of this tragedy. In a premeditated attack, two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, 18 and 17 years old respectively, mercilessly opened fire on their fellow classmates and teachers.

In this cruel and heartless attack, these two students cut the lives short of thirteen students and one teacher. They then turned their guns on themselves leaving the nation with no explanation! However, they did leave a videotape: this videotape contained Harris and Klebold planning their attack on Columbine High School. This piece of evidence showed two students that were not part of the 'in crowd'; they were outsiders, 'losers', as some would consider them. It later emerged; they were taunted, humiliated, and disrespected by their classmates. How can two intelligent, seemingly 'normal's students do something as deadly as this?

These are the questions that the American people, authorities, school officials, their parents and students have asked over and over again. There appears to be several factors that motivated these two teenage perpetrators to carry out this massacre and have been under discussion since this tragic event took place. Evidence shows they listened to music from Marilyn Manson and ICP, containing lyrics filled with violence. They reportedly watched bloodthirsty films and played violent video games. Alarmingly, Eric Harris had a website which expressed his anger and hatred towards the teachers and students of Columbine High School. He even went to the extent of saying on his website, "God, can't wait until I can kill you people", and "I'll just go to some downtown area in some big city and blow up and shoot everything I can".

Even more disturbingly, the two boys made a video for a school project, showing them walking through the corridors of the school, executing any one in their way. The video showed their disdain and contempt to their fellow students and teachers. Apparently, several teachers reported these disturbing signs but no action was sadly taken. Although, we can debate that this massacre was not caused by the influence of violent music, video games or even films, Harris and Klebold were obviously psychologically disturbed young men. The behaviour they displayed was barbaric and malicious; no one can dispute that. Some argue that the parents should have been aware of their violent tendencies.

However, the parents claim that they were never informed of their sons' behavioural problems at school enabling Harris and Klebold to carry out their rancorous fantasies. The lack of communication between the school authorities and their parents is arguably a factor in the bloody massacre that took place on that tragic day. This tragedy may have been prevented had their violent tendencies been raised at an earlier stage with the school authorities and parents. It not only affected the families of the victims and of the killers, the whole nation was involved as the media coverage was enormous. Several questions continue to be raised regarding Harris and Klebold; maybe, just maybe, this incident could have been avoided if the parents had been more involved in their lives and if the parents and school authorities had been united in obliterating their violent behaviour. Are these problems only exclusive to America?

Despite the many contrasts between the USA and the UK, gun crime is rapidly escalating in both countries. One horrific incident that took place on British soil occurred on August 22 2007. This tragedy involved Rhys Jones, an 11 year old boy, who was shot dead in a pub car park in the Croxteth district on his way back from football training. Rhys was shot in the neck by a hooded youth on a mountain bike. The bullet was reportedly fired by a member of the 'Croxteth Crew' gang who was apparently firing at their rival gang, the 'No gga Dogz', who had strayed into the area from Norris Green. This investigation is still undergoing, and so far the Merseyside Police investigation has seen 18 arrests but nobody has been charged.

In addition, another infamous incident that occurred on March 13, 1996 took place in Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane. The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide, and concluded with sixteen children and one adult dead, as well as the perpetrator who turned the gun on himself. It remains the deadliest attack on children in United Kingdom history. On Wednesday, March 13, 1996, unemployed former shopkeeper and former Scout leader Thomas Hamilton, walked into the school armed with two 9 mm Browning HP pistols and two Smith and Wesson 357 revolvers.

He was carrying 743 cartridges. The subsequent Police investigation revealed that Hamilton had loaded the magazines for his Browning with an alternating combination of fully metal jacketed and hollow point ammunition. After gaining entry to the school, Hamilton made his way to the gymnasium and opened fire on a class of five and six-year-olds, killing or wounding all but one person. Fifteen children and a teacher, Gwen Mayor, died at the scene.

Hamilton then left the gymnasium through the emergency exit. In the playground outside he fired a number of shots into a mobile classroom. A teacher in the mobile classroom had previously realised that something was wrong and told the children to hide under the tables. A number of bullet holes were found in the children's chairs. He also fired at a group of children walking in a corridor, injuring one teacher. Hamilton went back into the gym and fired one shot with one of his two revolvers pointing upwards into his mouth, killing himself instantly.

A further eleven children and three adults were rushed to hospital as soon as the emergency services arrived; one of these children was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The incidences detailed above, show the growing concern of gun crime all over the world. It is fair to say that these are not isolated incidences and the right to possess a firearm must be questioned. The documentary 'Bowling for Columbine', directed by Michael Moore, deals with the problems of gun crime and the main purpose of this film is to persuade Americans to change their views about gun laws. He continuously refers to other countries such as Canada and their gun policies to back up his arguments for increased gun control. He is successfully able to counter argue any reason given by pro gun supporters as to the reason why the USA has the highest gun related crimes and deaths.

The scenes that have been selected focus on different aspects of the film, which present Moore's ability to convince his audience into his way of viewing gun crime. In addition, Moore has used several successful techniques in his documentary to present a provocative message on gun control in America. These techniques are composed of visuals, sounds, editing, interviews and political messages. Camera work is used in a manipulative way in 'Bowling for Columbine'.

There is a purpose for every camera angle used in the documentary. For example, a close up shot is taken in an emotional scene, as it would enlarge characters' facial expressions, which then would stir stronger feelings intended for the audience. In my conclusion I am going to analyse the gun control in America and express my personal feelings, thoughts and opinions about gun control. There are two different arguments to gun control in the United States and both sides are very passionate about their point of view and persistently argue that their concerns are valid. Firstly, some people strongly believe that if gun control was strictly enforced, criminal violence would be reduced to a great extent and that owning a gun is simply viewed as apart of the American culture and heritage. Sadly, the possession of guns is increasing amongst youths in America not only due to the gang culture but it's perceived to be a fashionable accessory for teens.

However the ease of purchasing a gun for youths has resulted in many children and teens being killed by gunfire. According to the latest national data, one child is killed every three hours; eight children every day; and more than 50 children every week. And every year, at least 4 to 5 times as many children and teens suffer from non-fatal firearm injuries. Statistics show that American children are 16 times more likely to be murdered with a gun, 11 times more likely to commit suicide with a gun, and nine times more likely to die from a firearm accident than children in 25 other industrialised countries combined. On the other hand, an argument against gun control is that families feel safer with a gun in the home thinking they would be able to defend themselves from an intruder. According to a 1998 study by the New England Journal of Medicine, a gun is 22 times more likely to be used to kill somebody you know than to kill in self defence.

With the evidence presented, I strongly agree that gun control in America should be strictly enforced. Having studied and read many of the death rate statistics.