Noor: Reinforcing Gun Control in America
I: Introduction
Gun politics is a controversial area in politics that is primarily defined by the actions of two groups: gun control and gun rights activists. These groups often disagree on the interpretation of laws and court cases related to firearms as well as about the effects of gun control on crime and public safety. Citizens, lawmakers and gun lobbyists have been debating the issue of gun control for more than a century, and there has yet to be a definitive answer. Proponents of gun control don’t believe that state and federal gun control acts do enough, and gun rights advocates believe that the laws go too far.
II: Definition of Key Terms
●The biggest component of the Gun Control debate is whether existing gun laws are sufficient, or whether more gun laws are needed.
●Liberals and populists generally favor more gun laws. Look for buzzwords like "more registration" or "more licensing" to describe seeking further restrictions legal ownership; or "close the loopholes" and "restrict access" for further restrictions on illegal ownership.
●Moderate liberals and populists will generally favor more restrictions on ownership while paying lip-service "sportsmen's rights" or respecting "the right of self-protection." A moderate compromise is to "extend waiting periods" before allowing ownership, to perform "background checks" of varying degrees of severity.
●Conservatives and libertarians generally oppose gun laws. Look for buzzwords like "Second Amendment rights" or "allow concealed carry". A call for "instant background checks" pays lip-service to gun-control advocates: it sounds like a restriction, but means allowing purchasing guns on the spot.
●Moderate conservatives and libertarians oppose gun laws while acknowledging that restrictions are inevitable. Look for buzzwords like "enforce existing gun laws," which implies not passing any NEW gun laws. Similarly, "more strict enforcement" of gun laws implies a pro-Gun Rights stance, unless it is accompanied by a call for new gun laws.
●Centrists and moderates from both the right and left generally support restrictions on juvenile access to guns, especially in the wake of tragedies like Littleton and other gun-related deaths.
●Positive mentions of the NRA (the National Rifle Association, the largest pro-gun rights lobbying group) implies support of gun rights, while opposing the NRA or "taking on the gun lobby" implies support of gun restrictions.
●Many states have “Stand Your Ground” laws, justifying the use of deadly force when threatened, in contrast with the legal principle of an “obligation to retreat” first. The Florida version of the “stand your ground” law gained national attention in February 2012 in the case of Trayvon Martin shooting. Martin, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed by a “neighborhood watch” coordinator, George Zimmerman. Citing the “stand your ground” law, Zimmerman was not initially charged, but was later arrested. Zimmerman was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter in July 2013. Since then, the mainstream media report regularly on Zimmerman’s new arrests & police encounters, including a “road rage” incident in Sept. 2014.
●The Newtown, Connecticut shootings in December 2012 reignited the debate on gun regulation. On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, 20, fatally shot twenty children and six adult staff members in a mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Several bills were proposed in the 2013 Congressional session: banning the sale of semi-automatic firearms, and restricting large-capacity magazines.
III: History and Timeline
AMERICA:
1791: Second Amendment Ratified
The government passes an amendment to allow anyone to own a gun, main argument being that they mustn't infringe what the constitution says.
“It 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." See U.S. Constitution.”
1871: National Rifle Association Founded
Union soldiers Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate found the NRA to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis." Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside, who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. Senator, serves as the organization's first president.
1934: National Firearms Act
Brought about by the lawlessness and rise of gangster culture during prohibition, President Franklin D. Roosevelt hoped this act would eliminate automatic-fire weapons like machine guns from America's streets. Other firearms such as short-barreled shotguns and rifles, parts of guns like silencers, as well as other "gadget-type" firearms hidden in caves and such were also targeted. “All gun sales and gun manufacturers were slapped with a $200 tax (no small amount for Americans mired in the Great Depression; that would be like a tax of $2,525 today) on each firearm, and all buyers were required to fill out paperwork subject to Treasury Dept. approval.”
1938: Federal Firearms Act
Makes the guns salesmen required to record the names and addresses of everyone they sold guns to and were prohibited from selling to those people who were convicted of certain crimes or lacked a permit.
“The congress aimed this law at those involved in selling and shipping firearms through interstate or foreign commerce channels. Anyone involved in the selling of firearms was required to obtain a Federal Firearms License from the Secretary of Commerce ($1 annual fee).”
1968: Gun Control Act
The key element of this bill outlawed mail order sales of rifles and shotguns; Up until this law, mail order consumers only had to sign a statement that they were over 21 years of age for a handgun (18 for rifle or shotgun); it also detailed more persons who were banned from possessing certain guns, including drug users, and further restricted shotgun and rifles sales.
“The assassination of John F. Kennedy, who was killed by a mail-order gun that belonged to Lee Harvey Oswald, inspired this major revision to federal gun laws. The subsequent assasinations of Martin Luther King and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy fueled its quick passage. License requirements were expanded to include more dealers, and more detailed record keeping was expected of them; handgun sales over state lines were restricted; the list of persons dealers could not sell to grew to include those convicted of felonies (with some exceptions), those found mentally incompetent, drug users and more. The act also defined persons who were banned from possessing firearms.”(
1986: Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act
Made it illegal for anyone to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, or "cop-killer bullets," which are capable of penetrating bullet proof clothing.
1990: Crime Control Act
Directed the attorney general to develop a strategy for establishing "drug-free school zones," including criminal penalties for possessing or discharging a firearm in a school zone. Outlawed the assembly of illegal semi automatic rifles or shotguns from legally imported parts.
1994: Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
Imposed, on an interim basis, a five-day waiting period and background check before a licensed gun importer, manufacturer or dealer can sell or deliver a handgun to an unlicensed individual.
“Required a new National Instant Criminal Background Check System, run by the FBI, be ready to replace the waiting period by Nov. 30, 1998. The new background check system will apply to all firearms and will allow checks to be done over the phone or electronically with results returned immediately in most cases.”
2013: President Obama Proposes Sweeping Changes to Gun Control
This is one of the failed attempts of gun control that Obama initialized to ensure the safety of the citizens in the U.S.
“In response to recent massacres, including the killing of 20 first graders in Newtown, Conn., and 12 moviegoers in Aurora, Colo., President Barack Obama introduces proposals to tighten gun-control laws. His plan includes universal background checks for gun sales, the reinstatement and strengthening of the assault weapons ban, limiting ammunition magazines to a 10-round capacity, and other measures.”
IV: Key issues
-Primarily democratic countries that still enforce individual owning a firearm, such as America, are unsafe for some civilians. EX: here are on average about 327 mass shootings per year in the U.S. alone. And only about 10% of those are non native Americans. This seems to imply that these mass shooting are the result of the freedom of owning guns in these countries such as America. Although guns can be used for self-defense, they can also fall into the hands of terrible people, such as terrorists or killers. This means these countries are constantly under the threat that such liberties brings. This is unsettling because that would throw the lives of many people to waste.
-If the United States has only minimal control over who owns guns, and anyone can buy a gun, there will be constant threat over humanity. With developing technology, comes greater responsibility for countries to do their best to protect civilians. Unlike when the constitution was created, the United States has one of the inarguably most powerful armies and security systems in the world, to serve and protect the country. The United States Is known for its strong belief in its constitution, created at a time when the US army was not in any way developed, which claims that all human beings have the right to self-defense(and owning a gun.) It is hard to change the constitution, which can only be done through amendments., which need to be approved by a number of people. However, many Americans belief that such an amendment would strip away their basic human right to self-defense.
V: Major parties involved
(In America):
-Democratic party: Supports the right to individually own a firearm, however wishes the availability of guns goes down by a lot.
-Republican party: Supports the right to individually own a firearm fully, and wishes to not change too much.
(Europe):
-There are no sides, because the side that supported owning guns was outweighed by the other side and so was too small to be a major party. So there is only the side that wants strong gun control.
VI: Evaluation of Previous Attempts (OPTIONAL)
In previous attempts to solve the issue of Gun Control in certain democratic countries, citizens have denied the move towards less guns. This is because big parties such as presidential candidates do not tell masses the whole truth, for example; there are on average about 327 mass shootings per year in the U.S. alone. And only about 10% of those are non native Americans. This seems to imply that these mass shooting are the result of the freedom of owning guns in these countries. In fact,the president of one of these countries; United States, Barack Obama, had made several attempts to pass acts that enforce stronger gun control. All of which failed due to misinformation of the voting masses.
●Statistics on Gun Ownership
●40% of all US homes have guns
●81% of Americans say that gun control will be an important issue in determining which Congressional candidate to vote for.
●91% of Americans say that there should be at least minor restrictions on gun ownership;
●57% of Americans say that there should be major restrictions or a ban.
VII: Possible Solutions
- Democratic countries that still enforce individual owning a firearm, such as America, perhaps listen to what other countries have to say and ban, to then individuals owning guns. This would make living in these countries much much safer for individuals such as us.
- If democratic countries that still enforce individual owning a firearm, such as America, do not listen to what other countries have to say over this matter, and keep enforcing this lack of gun control, then the countries will be less safe to live in, and there might be a civil war somewhere in the future, but it would be some sort of a solution
VIII: Bibliography
[1]they must be in your own words, sorry
[2]quotes from these websites are not allowed, i just found out.
[3]i suggest you erase some of these, so you don't have to redo everything