need advice on thesis and ideas on additional content to complete the essay:
There is a common saying that goes, "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is essentially true because it takes a person to pull the trigger. Anything can be considered a weapon; it is just how one chooses to use it. Unfortunately, American's have the tendency of stereotyping one assault to essentially become a phenomenon, generating the notion that that weapon is always used for bad. People do use these devices to commit crimes, however they are also used as means for defense. American's ignorance has caused the gun debate to spiral out of control. All non-criminal, law-abiding citizens should have the right to the ownership to a gun.
Each state should be the one's to declare certain laws and regulations for gun ownership. It is the federal government's job to protect and reinforce every individual's rights. Although the federal government has the right whether or not to decide if gun ownership is unconstitutional or not, states should ultimately have the right to develop their own regulations. This decision has already been made, by the Supreme Court ruling in, "District of Columbia v. Heller decision, which transforms a decades-long dispute over the meaning of the Second Amendment. The awkwardly phrased 27-word provision proclaims: '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.'" (Jost). Although the federal government has made it legal for a citizen to own and carry weapons, states should have to abide by this law, as well be sole decision maker on how they chose to regulate this right. An example of states taking advantage of their right to regulate their own laws on guns is when, "The Virginia Senate voted Monday to lift the state's one-per-month limit on handgun purchases" (Vozella). Although Virginia does not have the best reputation with gun ownership, they still ruled to allow to people to buy as many guns.
Anything can be considered a weapon, the issue that should arise it how it should be regulated and why kind of training can one provide to promote how to use it safely. This notion is described perfectly when Matthew and Walter Block claim, "Yes, there is a potential danger involved in private gun ownership and use, but if we were to prohibit all such occurrences, we would have to ban autos, knives, scissors, letter openers, arms (for boxers) and legs (for karate), etc". This is a valid point, because anything can be used to harm another human being. Todd Haebe, a DEA agent in Tucson, Arizona agrees that guns should be available to law abiding citizens, but also says, "Certain weapons are made for killing, such as the machine guns used in combat, which should probably not be sold, because no citizen should be utilizing such a powerful gun that can be used from 500 feet away". It is fair to say that sniper rifles, or high powered machine guns should be available to the public, because no normal citizen should have any use for them.
If guns are legal to carry and operate, there should be a law stating mandatory annual training. Many American's agree with idea of training if citizens are able to own and operate a gun. Alisha Hector, who owns multiple guns, as well taken a few classes on gun safety, "would mandate all American's, as part of their civic duty and responsible citizenship requirements, attend a minimum of 16 hours of firearm and hunting safety courses, between the ages of 13 to 18 years old (Hector). This is an extremely reasonable request to ask of a gun owner. Although this foundation has generated much controversy, their website specifically states, "The NRA Foundation grants provide essential program funding, ensuring the availability of quality training and educational opportunities nationwide. Grants benefit programs such as youth education, law enforcement training, hunter education, conservation, firearms and marksmanship training and safety, and much more". Even the leading foundation that promotes guns also promotes and provides training to people, so they are well informed on how to properly operate a gun while hunting or in a defensive situation.
Although guns are dangerous, they do and still can reduce crime rates. People use guns to defend themselves in threatening situations. A criminal is less likely to attack or pursue if they know the person they intend to attack has a weapon on them. Guns are used 2.5 million times a year in self-defense. Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2.5 million times every year-or about 6,850 times a day. This means that each year, firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives. According to the Clinton Justice Department, crime has decreased even while the number of guns increased. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, the research arm of the Justice Department, reported in 2000 that while the number of firearms in circulation rose nearly 10% during a recent five-year period, gun-related deaths and wounding dropped 33%. More people perish in car accidents than they do by guns.
There is a common saying that goes, "guns don't kill people, people kill people". This is essentially true because it takes a person to pull the trigger. Anything can be considered a weapon; it is just how one chooses to use it. Unfortunately, American's have the tendency of stereotyping one assault to essentially become a phenomenon, generating the notion that that weapon is always used for bad. People do use these devices to commit crimes, however they are also used as means for defense. American's ignorance has caused the gun debate to spiral out of control. All non-criminal, law-abiding citizens should have the right to the ownership to a gun.
Each state should be the one's to declare certain laws and regulations for gun ownership. It is the federal government's job to protect and reinforce every individual's rights. Although the federal government has the right whether or not to decide if gun ownership is unconstitutional or not, states should ultimately have the right to develop their own regulations. This decision has already been made, by the Supreme Court ruling in, "District of Columbia v. Heller decision, which transforms a decades-long dispute over the meaning of the Second Amendment. The awkwardly phrased 27-word provision proclaims: '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.'" (Jost). Although the federal government has made it legal for a citizen to own and carry weapons, states should have to abide by this law, as well be sole decision maker on how they chose to regulate this right. An example of states taking advantage of their right to regulate their own laws on guns is when, "The Virginia Senate voted Monday to lift the state's one-per-month limit on handgun purchases" (Vozella). Although Virginia does not have the best reputation with gun ownership, they still ruled to allow to people to buy as many guns.
Anything can be considered a weapon, the issue that should arise it how it should be regulated and why kind of training can one provide to promote how to use it safely. This notion is described perfectly when Matthew and Walter Block claim, "Yes, there is a potential danger involved in private gun ownership and use, but if we were to prohibit all such occurrences, we would have to ban autos, knives, scissors, letter openers, arms (for boxers) and legs (for karate), etc". This is a valid point, because anything can be used to harm another human being. Todd Haebe, a DEA agent in Tucson, Arizona agrees that guns should be available to law abiding citizens, but also says, "Certain weapons are made for killing, such as the machine guns used in combat, which should probably not be sold, because no citizen should be utilizing such a powerful gun that can be used from 500 feet away". It is fair to say that sniper rifles, or high powered machine guns should be available to the public, because no normal citizen should have any use for them.
If guns are legal to carry and operate, there should be a law stating mandatory annual training. Many American's agree with idea of training if citizens are able to own and operate a gun. Alisha Hector, who owns multiple guns, as well taken a few classes on gun safety, "would mandate all American's, as part of their civic duty and responsible citizenship requirements, attend a minimum of 16 hours of firearm and hunting safety courses, between the ages of 13 to 18 years old (Hector). This is an extremely reasonable request to ask of a gun owner. Although this foundation has generated much controversy, their website specifically states, "The NRA Foundation grants provide essential program funding, ensuring the availability of quality training and educational opportunities nationwide. Grants benefit programs such as youth education, law enforcement training, hunter education, conservation, firearms and marksmanship training and safety, and much more". Even the leading foundation that promotes guns also promotes and provides training to people, so they are well informed on how to properly operate a gun while hunting or in a defensive situation.
Although guns are dangerous, they do and still can reduce crime rates. People use guns to defend themselves in threatening situations. A criminal is less likely to attack or pursue if they know the person they intend to attack has a weapon on them. Guns are used 2.5 million times a year in self-defense. Law-abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals as many as 2.5 million times every year-or about 6,850 times a day. This means that each year, firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives. According to the Clinton Justice Department, crime has decreased even while the number of guns increased. The Bureau of Justice Statistics, the research arm of the Justice Department, reported in 2000 that while the number of firearms in circulation rose nearly 10% during a recent five-year period, gun-related deaths and wounding dropped 33%. More people perish in car accidents than they do by guns.