Argumentative Essay Gun Control
English 101
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay
4/12/2013
Word Count 1,255
Readability 12.3
There are new proposed gun control laws in the aftermath of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut that occurred on December 14th, 2012. This incident claimed the lives of twenty 1st graders and six adults and has set the government in motion to try to prevent future acts of violence by strengthening gun control laws in the United States (Smith). This has been a topic that has been an extremely emotional debate with people on both sides unwilling to compromise. Gun advocates and critics of the new proposed gun laws argue that these new laws infringe on our constitutional right to bear arms; however, the new laws do not take away that right, they simply add minor restrictions in the search to put an end to gun violence. With the rise in gun violence today, we need to take some sort of action. If we look at the history of gun control in the United States, we find that laws concerning gun control are not anything new; in fact, the first federal gun control law was the National Firearms Act of 1934. This law imposed a restrictive two hundred dollar tax on the manufacture or sale of machine guns and sawed-off shotguns. Also, all sales of these weapons were to be documented in a national registry (The Long). Then in 1968, a new law passed. This was the Gun Control Act of 1968 and it was the first major gun control law in America. It prohibited certain people from being able to purchase firearms including convicted felons, fugitives, minors, individuals with a history of mental illness, dishonorable discharged veterans, expatriates and illegal aliens (Riczo). This law also expanded licensing requirements to more firearms dealers and ordered more detailed records of sales (The Long). Continuing on gun control laws throughout American history, the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act of 1993
Argumentative/Persuasive Essay
4/12/2013
Word Count 1,255
Readability 12.3
There are new proposed gun control laws in the aftermath of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut that occurred on December 14th, 2012. This incident claimed the lives of twenty 1st graders and six adults and has set the government in motion to try to prevent future acts of violence by strengthening gun control laws in the United States (Smith). This has been a topic that has been an extremely emotional debate with people on both sides unwilling to compromise. Gun advocates and critics of the new proposed gun laws argue that these new laws infringe on our constitutional right to bear arms; however, the new laws do not take away that right, they simply add minor restrictions in the search to put an end to gun violence. With the rise in gun violence today, we need to take some sort of action. If we look at the history of gun control in the United States, we find that laws concerning gun control are not anything new; in fact, the first federal gun control law was the National Firearms Act of 1934. This law imposed a restrictive two hundred dollar tax on the manufacture or sale of machine guns and sawed-off shotguns. Also, all sales of these weapons were to be documented in a national registry (The Long). Then in 1968, a new law passed. This was the Gun Control Act of 1968 and it was the first major gun control law in America. It prohibited certain people from being able to purchase firearms including convicted felons, fugitives, minors, individuals with a history of mental illness, dishonorable discharged veterans, expatriates and illegal aliens (Riczo). This law also expanded licensing requirements to more firearms dealers and ordered more detailed records of sales (The Long). Continuing on gun control laws throughout American history, the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act of 1993
Cited: Jackson, David. “Obama pushes gun-control measures in Colo. Speech.” USA Today. 03 Apr. 2013 "The long, difficult history of gun control." Washington Post. 23 Dec. 2012: A8. eLibrary. Web. 10 Apr Rampart, Roberta. “President Makes Push in Central Conn. (Video).” Speech. Huff Post. 08 Apr. 2013 "Remarks by President Obama on Gun Violence." New York Times 29 Mar. 2013: NA(L). Opposing Viewpoints In Context Riczo, Steven. "Guns, America, and the 21st century." USA Today; New York. 01 Mar. 2001: 16. eLibrary Smith, Patricia. "THE GUN DEBATE." New York Times Upfront. 28 Jan. 2013: 6. eLibrary. Web. 14 Apr "Stopping gun violence." Christian Century. 09 Jan. 2013: 7. eLibrary. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. Prevent Future Tragedies." MayorsAgainstIllegalGuns.org. 2011. Opposing Viewpoints In Context