Haha. (at Health Clinic)
Gun Control.
Joshua Carlton
Jean M Zhuno
ENGL 1101
17 Jul 2012
Gun Control in America
Gun control has been one of the most controversial topics in America for most if not all of the twenty-first century; it ranks with abortion in America (ontheissue.com). This native feels that people should uphold the Second Amendment and respect gun control. Every couple of years something happens that creates some controversy which makes guns look bad. Just because you place new-fangled laws on guns and gun control does not denote that criminals still would not have access to guns. The Second Amendment states that “a well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people and to bear arms shall not be infringed” (archives.gov). The three reasons this American believes the Second Amendment should be upheld is because the statistics are reviling, hunting, and guns are a part of American history.
Another reason that gun control is such an issue today is because people in America do not know what responsibility of owning a gun entails. Furthermore there needs to be more required safety courses that every citizen should be duty-bound to take before they turn the age of sixteen. This would bring the knowledge about guns and gun safety would rise and people would know how to use a gun; the upholding citizens who do take these classes now are more conscious about what to do with a gun in their hand and respect the gun laws. These courses are readily available for any resident to take; though some of these classes cost money it is well worth the price to understand and know what gun laws are and how to be responsible with this right we have as a nation today.
First although in America today many things are attributed to guns, people express the view that either they are bad or good. The statistics about guns are they are not as dangerous as often portrayed on T.V. movie screens and in news media. Some of these facts state that 16.5 million (fas.org) fire arm sells happen every year; and $1,530,144,679 (reuters.com) spent on fire arms every year to match that. Thus 45-50% (justfacts.org) of American households has one or more guns. Americans are more likely to fall off of a bicycle and get hurt worse than they would get hurt buy a gun per year (justfacts.com). So why do so many people and so much money spent on is guns a year if guns and gun control is not a beneficial part of America? Gunshot fatality rates are less than 0.05% (nra.org) per year; non-fatal accidents are less than 0.03% (nra.org). Guns are mechanically designed for showing, hunting, and expelling a projectile towards a target not designated to kill humans.
What people do not realize is that guns do not kill people; the people who hold them who are not educated on how to use them properly also people who have mental issues are the ones who make it hard for the upstanding citizen that is for the Second Amendment to have to fight with lobbyists who oppose the Second Amendment. If people were not so closed minded in America then guns laws would not be so strict and America would not have so much crime with guns. The right to own a weapon is the American way; imagine if people would be decent of people to respect the right of all Americans and not try to get the Second Amendment appropriated. Guns are not near as dangerous as the social media makes it seem or sound out to be. It is just another way to make others to complain about things; they would not complain if that law got passed and the military lost all their guns. America then would not have anyone to protect this country after that.
For the purpose of hunting guns are almost necessities. They help individuals get their game because for an inhabitant to shoot a bow towards a bird and actually hit their target is virtually impossible. Hunting a source of food for many Americans hunting is a family tradition. This resident in particular hunting is a tradition for many generations it is a real tradition that we hunt. It goes without saying a family that hunts together will stay together and stick together. As a hunter people ask me how it is done. Hunting is a way of survival and for that it takes a gun. Sometimes hunting is not easy and sometimes it is not so fun; but when it is just the hunter and the woods all alone in the woods it is an mind clearer, a time to plan, and a time of just peace and tranquility. According to Kathryn Moore’s The American President, even from Theodore Roosevelt all the way to George Bush hunting is a tradition and also a great way to bond as an American family. Kathryn Moore also stated in The American President, that just like the Kennedys play football; the Bushes hunt together.
Oddly enough the states have a state gun just like they have a state bird or flower according to Phil Bourjaiy from Field and Stream magazine all fifty states have a state gun; Georgia’s is the L.C. Smith shotgun. It is an American-made side lock quail gun in tribute to its bobwhite hunting tradition. Another reason for guns in hunting is that it helps wildlife management. 12.5 million Hunters (dnr.gov) in America go hunt for food, game and sport every year.
Shooting is a sport; shooting is in the Olympics every four years competitive shooters compete for the gold medal to see who can get the closest grouping of bullets. Vincent Hancock is the now two time Olympic gold medalist. At 23, American Hancock is a two-time Olympic champion in men’s skeet shooting, successfully defending his crown Tuesday with a score of 148 to take the top spot at the London Games (11alive.com). To be in the Olympics for shooting it takes a very precise shooter and if the Second Amendment were retracted then that would take a sport out of the Olympics for America. Imagine not having a sport for the Olympics for America to triumph with the gold medal in the Olympics? That would not be fair for America nor the competitors who compete and master this art throughout their lives.
Throughout Americas history there has been war. All the way back to the Revolutionary War that actually began in 1754 and ended in 1788 (ushistory.org) guns were used to take over the French and begin the Revolution. Even now with the war on terrorism guns are an essential tool in helping our troops defends this great nation. The Wild West was won with guns alone in the middle eighteenth century (history.com) that helped America find gold during the gold rush of 1848-1859 (museumca.org) in California. Think of what life was like before guns slingshots and bows were about as much power as the inhabitants had. A law enforcement officer or even our military with a sling shot would not be taken seriously in America. Think of it if someone was stealing something or even someone with intent to kill if there was an officer were to say stop and held up a sling shot it would look redundant. That just would not be right; America has not had weapons of that sort for that purpose ever.
If a citizen were in the bank and did not have any protection if a bank robber were to walk in then someone would get hurt. If citizens were to come in to the bank while this individual is in there and he/she has a gun and is trying to rob the bank or shoot up the bank this citizen would like to know that he has nothing to worry about and defend the citizens of the bank as well as himself. As an illustration the recent shooting in Aurora, Colorado no one in the theater had a weapon that they could protect their families and a lot of people got hurt and twelve got killed (cnn.com). That is the very tragedy that makes it harder for individuals to purchase weapons and also that is the type of thing that makes the Second Amendment questionable.
After all of this time America has had guns and has been so proud of them. Now people want to get rid of them imprudently. According to Georgia Outdoor News magazine there are ten states that top the charts on gun and the Second Amendment spending. Guns are American, they are actually splendid if they are in the hands of someone who has the correct training and the know how to use a gun. From presidents to wars and even the citizens of These United States of America guns are a part of people lives and how they use them is what determines whether they are astonishing or devastating. Keeping them out of the hands of the near-do-wells is what we should focus on not making the laws so strict and tight for the citizens who use them correctly. There are some accidents that are freak accidents and there is nothing to do with someone with the intent to kill someone; but as it are states that that percent is less than 0.005% every year (justfacts.com). The people that own guns legally are responsible and educated. The military does safety inspections every time a soldier goes in and out of the field so that accidents are not a possibility. If the soldier does have an accident it is contained with accordingly and is infrequent. According to the Total Outdoorsman Manual by T. Edward Nickens there are beginning to be more classes readily accessible and by 2014 there should be one every city and a must before obtaining the carry and conceal permits for all states.
In conclusion, this American citizen would like to address this subject by stating that revoking the Second Amendment really is not that good of an idea because we would not have any military to protect us, we would not be able to hunt, and we would be taking away from America’s history.
“Works Cited”
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Sadness.
I am feeling overly depressed today. I do not know why I have a lot of work that is due, I owe someone $900 and I am just really sad today. I do not know why I am walking around with my head held low and just the feeling that I am helpless. Maybe it is because I am feeling sorry for my self, I am not sure. I do know that I am normally easier or easy to cheer up but I am really overly sad today. I do know that the library is giving away free ice cream but not even that would make me happy at this moment. I just want to be happy, to feel joy to be not sad. I am going to try to get over this I am pretty sure this is just a mental thing and I need to get right in my head. I have also been feeling mad, angry or anxious lately also. Hopefully I can get right in my mind.
