1. Teighlor Clark
FYS MWF 11-11:50
Harold Blanco
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What underlying issues are being debated in the readings?
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According to the supporters of stricter gun control, what are some possible
advantages in favor of supporting the issue?
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Some possible disadvantages to stricter gun control laws would take away rights
granted to the people by the Constitution. Just because guns are taken away doesn’t
mean that crimes involving guns will decrease. There will always be some sort of
crime happening involving firearms. Guns are also used for homeowners and
hunters to protect themselves and their homes, if guns are taken away not only
would it be against their rights but they would no longer be able to protect
themselves
What fallacies of reasoning emerge from the debate?
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According to the supporters of stricter gun control, some possible advantages in
favor of supporting the issue is that the chances are greater for someone who is
unfit to carry or use a gun to not have access to firearms. The more legislation on
guns the better chance that crimes involving firearms will decrease.
According to those in opposition, what are some possible disadvantages to stricter
gun control laws?
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The underlying issues that are being debated in the readings are whether or not
there should be more legislation on gun control, or if there should be less control.
Another issue that is being debated in this reading is whether or not legislation
would drop the rate of criminal activities involving guns.
One fallacy of reasoning that emerges in this debate is that if you put more laws and
legislation on guns then the crime rate will drop and that there will never be another
shooting like Virginia Tech again. Fact is there will always be crimes involved with
firearms. The rates may drop but they will not stop completely. Another fallacy is
that people who can’t get a hold of guns legally will not be able to get them at all.
Not true, there will always be a way for someone to get a gun legally or illegally.
What alternative policy/programs have been proposed or might be developed?

2. -
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Some of the restrictions that have been proposed or put into the law include
background checks and waiting periods for individuals who would like to buy a
firearm, the regulation of secondary market sales, mandatory child safety locks on
the weapons, laws that prevents child-access, concealment laws, small and light
weight guns have been banned, and a 1994 controversial ban on assault weapons.
What implications does the debate have for families in society?
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The debate implies that there will never be an agreement on whether or not there
should be more laws and legislation on gun control. As far as families go, there will
always be that chance of another Virginia Tech happening, be cautious and careful.
Families need to make sure to discuss gun control and how to handle guns, the more
you talk about it the more knowledge there is, leading to less accidents involving
firearms.

3. The second amendment gives the people the right to bare arms. People think that if
there are more laws and legislations on gun control then the crime rate will decrease. However,
regardless of what laws are put into place people will get guns. Crimes involving guns are
normally because people get the guns illegally anyways. If someone wants a gun they’re going
to get it, regardless. It has never been harder to legally buy a gun than it is today, there used to
not be laws like the Brady Bill and a background check wasn’t required. All you had to do was
by a gun in almost any store and fill out paperwork and stating whether or not you had a
criminal background.

4. There was a time when getting a gun was easy and crimes involving guns were low.
People wonder what has changed over time; its simple parents were raising their children.
There was technology. Their parents were their role models, the children were taught right
from wrong, even their teachers and schools played a part in them being raised. They were
guided through their adult hood. The difference from back then and now is that everyone is too
busy to focus on what is important. There is always violence on the television and computers
and you hear it on the radio, it’s in the media everywhere. Children were taught about guns,
what do with them and what to not do.
Firearms are used to protect and to hunt also. What happens if guns are taken away,
people will not be able to protect them if they were put into a situation where that was
necessary. Some people are only able to get food if they hunt, if guns are taken away then how
can they feed their families. Are they supposed to starve? Of course not.
It is easy to say that the lack of gun control is why tragedies like Virginia Tech happened.
When you get into the reality of it though you soon realize that there are rules on guns, like the
background check. It isn’t the people who can get guns doing the killing; it’s the ones who
would not have been allowed to legally buy firearms so they find a way to buy them illegally.
Violence is a terrible thing but it isn’t the gun laws that are making all these crimes happen, it’s
the people behind the guns. Normally, those people committing the crimes often have some
sort of mental issue that causes them to go out and kill. The sad truth is whether or not there is
more legislation on guns those who want the guns bad enough will get them. Those people are
the ones that are normally out to kill.

5. Moms, Cops, & Voters against Gun Control. By: Yiotis, Gayle; Wisher, Ray. American Enterprise.
Sep/Oct99, Vol. 10 issue 5, p61. 4p.
GUNNING DOWN PERSONAL FREEDOM. By: Erler, EDWARD J. USA Today Magazine. Jul2013,
Vol.142 Issue 2818, p10-13. 4p
Goodwin, Garth. “Place Of Saftey.” Relational Child & Youth Care Practice 26.1 (2013): 59-61.
Academic Search Premier. Web.10 Feb. 2014

6. Ballaro,BeverlyFinley, Laura. “Counterpoint: Gun Control Saves Lives.” Points of View: Gun
Control (2013):3. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 10 Feb. 2014
Lee, M. Stingl, Alexander. “Gun Control: An Overview.” Points of View: Gun Controll (2013):1.
Points of View Reference Center. Web. 10 Feb 2014
Bowman, Jeffery Newton, Heather. “Point: Controlling Gun Violence is More Important than
Controlling Guns.” Points of View: Gun Control (2013): 2. Points of View Reference
Center. Web. 10 Feb. 2014

7. Ballaro,BeverlyFinley, Laura. “Counterpoint: Gun Control Saves Lives.” Points of View: Gun
Control (2013):3. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 10 Feb. 2014
Lee, M. Stingl, Alexander. “Gun Control: An Overview.” Points of View: Gun Controll (2013):1.
Points of View Reference Center. Web. 10 Feb 2014
Bowman, Jeffery Newton, Heather. “Point: Controlling Gun Violence is More Important than
Controlling Guns.” Points of View: Gun Control (2013): 2. Points of View Reference
Center. Web. 10 Feb. 2014