Is it Self-Defense? Or is it Spreading Chaos? - Gun Control Essay

America's pervasive gun culture

Terrorism. Ironically, that is what the US government and people that support anti-common-sense gun-control laws encourage. Thomas L. Friedman indirectly conveys this message in his article, "If Only Stephen Paddock Were a Muslim". He writes his article in order to persuade American citizens to elect politicians who will enforce stricter gun laws.

Friedman structures his article to show us contrasting ways that the US government reacts to small threats from an outside terrorist group (namely ISIS) and serious threats from within their own country. One of the serious threats he mentions is the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association) and their policies against strict gun laws. Everytime Friedman gives examples of the government overreacting to something done by ISIS, he follows it up by giving an example of the government doing absolutely nothing when a mass shooting happens or when NRA is involved. This makes it seem to the reader that the government is corrupt and the lawmakers are incompetent, which makes the final few paragraphs seem enticing when he tells us to go and elect politicians that are for stricter gun control.

A study shows that waiting periods for handgun purchases can reduce gun homicides by 17% (Michael Luca et al, 1). It is very easy to enforce simple gun laws like this that wouldn't affect a citizen's second amendment rights, yet many states, including Las Vegas where the mass-shooting happened, don't enforce it. Why? Friedman mentions it in his article: the legislators are either bought or intimidated. NRA has a much higher budget than any of its competitors and has its own Political Action Committee (PAC), which transfers funds to legislators ("US Gun Control"). It is very easy for the NRA to convince a legislator to do what it wants.

In 2012, a mass-shooting at an elementary school, which killed 20 children, shook the nation. It started heated debates on the policies of gun control. The NRA's solution to the problem was adding armed guards at schools (Text of the N.R.A.). This would expose children to guns at an early age and desensitize them towards it, which could potentially create more murderers.

After showing us the hopelessness of trying to get the politicians to promote stricter gun laws, Friedman tells the reader how to solve this problem: by electing honest politicians that support stricter gun laws. By saying "get power" he manages to keep his solution simple, yet powerful. He makes sure to let his audience know that this is the only solution and reassures them with his confidence.

Friedman writes his article in a serious, informative way in order to convince his audience to elect the right politicians. In his piece, he shows how the government tries to stop terrorists from outside the US, but opens doors for terrorists within its nation.

Work Cited

Friedman, Thomas L. "If only Stephen Paddock had been a Muslim". The New York Times

Luca, Michael et. al. "Handgun waiting periods reduce gun deaths". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

"US gun control: What is the NRA and why is it so powerful?" BBC News

"Text of the N.R.A Speech". The New York Times

Hamza, I think your essay is more about why US government should enforce gun control laws more stricter while the prompt implies you want to discuss why each of these opinions might be true. The reference you made to the Friedman's article, affects the whole essay to the end where I thought it is a report on the article.

Terrorism. Ironically, that is ... gun-control laws encourage.
A study shows that imposing waiting periods for handgun ...
Hope these are helpful.

Hamza, this research / opinion paper is tremendously one sided in presentation. Any research paper that wishes to inform its reader must do so by properly representing, discussing, and opining on both sides of the issue. For example, when you say that the government did nothing after the Las Vegas shooting but does something when ISIS attacks internally, you need to follow up those claims with clear supporting examples and reasoning. Aside from that, you also need to do research on what type of reaction did come out of the government and present it in line with the discussion regarding gun control. For example, the local police were in charge of the Las Vegas investigation for a time before higher authorities came into play. When an act of violence has the trademark signs of ISIS, the FBI and Homeland Security immediately step in. Then there is the question of how these guns were purchased and what existing gun control laws already exist. One of the major discussion points your research should prove or disprove is that, based upon research and other sources, that there are either enough or not enough gun control measures passed by congress and what is preventing its proper implementation, aside from the NRA and other connected lobby groups.

As a commentary on a single article, the essay is strong, as a comparative argument, it is one sided and weak. It does not have enough resources cited in order to give credence to your opinion in the paper. In order for your argument to be effective, you must show evidence of the weakness from the other side. Your reader cannot just take the opinion of one writer or two writers who share the same opinion and then consider that the gospel truth.