New Member Tournament: Gun Rights Debate

So, for this round, I will argue the benefits of having an individual right to guns, which relates to gun control and gun-related activities. Arguments Contention 1: Self Defense: It is beneficial as means to protect society from abuse. With the problems and commotion between law enforcement and the citizens, we can assume that this is a disadvantage on protection, since police will develop an undesirable attitude or sense of higher authority on the citizens, or believe that they are above the law {1}. With gun rights exercised, this allows citizens to ensure their safety when police may behave brutally and irresponsibly, since police are likely to think that the citizens are defenseless. Depriving people of these rights is abusing them further, in 1938, European Jews (and other undesirables) were deprived of firearms due to the Nazis’ enactment of a strict gun-control law, this disarmament was not done for their (the undesirables’) benefit, it wasn’t done to lessen crime, it was done to make killings (the genocide) easier {2}. Contention 2: Self Defense: It is beneficial as means to protect from criminals. And by criminals, lots of them, murderers, muggers, rapists, and other potential ones alike, who are most likely to commit crimes while armed. Based on statistics of the National Crime Victimization Survey, 533,470 victims of serious crimes stated they faced their attackers carrying guns {3}. These people prefer victims that are unarmed and defenseless. Wherever you go with gun control laws, a criminal can obtain any firearm, usually obtained illegally {citation needed}, and if these people target law-abiding citizens, they can rob, rape and murder without hesitation. But, when people exercise their right to bear arms, these lawbreakers are less likely to attack and victimize people if they believe that their potential victim may be armed, these criminals are likely to think twice before committing crimes once they have knowledge that the victim’s are in possession of a firearm. Criminologist Wright and Rossi surveyed prisoners regarding deterrence, they found out that strict gun control and the police is ineffective, and criminals aren’t afraid to get caught, but the criminologists found out that the criminals choose their target, whether or not they’re defenseless, but with or without guns, criminals will find a way to commit more violent acts {4}. These outlaws may carry guns regardless of their legality, this is a disadvantage to the law-abiding, and it can be a benefit if these rights are exercised responsibly and thoroughly, the purpose of defending ourselves from assailants, guns do not kill, people do, it depends on the person’s capability, we can assume that if these people who are responsible and competent enough to own a firearm succeeds, we know he takes proper precautions and proper training, we’re only missing more accurate education on safe gun ownership so that risks can be decreased. ***In conclusion to self defense, it’s an individual right, it’s every citizen’s right and obligation to defend himself, using guns as a means to self-defense, universal access to guns may also be a necessary and beneficial because it’s the only way to ensure equality before the law in regards to self-protection. - Police protection instead of gun ownership? It would be a dream come true, but no, the authorities can’t guarantee the safety of the public, a US Supreme Court case (Warren v. DC), the justices ruled that police have no obligation on protecting/rescuing potential victims, they can’t be held reliable with these mistakes, and mentioned that the individual is the only one responsible for defending themselves {5}. This is harmful to society, when we can’t depend on the law enforcement to serve and protect, but by exercising our rights to bear arms, it can benefit us, it gives us an advantage, to defend ourselves and others, to save lives, it can be considered as a personal duty to serve and protect. You may say that there is a part of the police that really gives a damn, just dial 911, and hope they come save you like in the movies, but you’d be lucky if the operator on the other side isn’t jerking around, or, if a patrol car is roaming the streets near your house eager for some action, or if they really care, but it might also take a long moment for them to respond, inside those moments, you could be raped, robbed or even murdered while holding no weapon but a phone call. But according to a Police Survey of the National Association of Chiefs of Police, about 92% of the officials believe that citizens should be able to purchase firearms for self-defense and sporting purposes, since the cops do not need to protect us every time, it’s our job to do that. {6} Contention 3: Crime Deterrent: It is beneficial as means to reduce crime. Contrary to popular opinion, guns saves lives, there is a deterrent effect when these rights are exercised, it benefits the person carrying a gun, that person may feel safer and confident on his protection. He’ll feel freer to go outside at night or in dangerous areas. According to a survey by John Lott, PhD, homicides were decreased by 8.5%, aggravated assaults decreased by 7%, rapes by 5%, and robberies by 3%. Lott stated that if states permitted handguns in 1977, 1,570 murders, 4,177 rapes, 60,000 aggravated assaults, and 12,000 robberies would have been prevented between 1977 and 1992 {7} As I said, guns are beneficial when talking about self-defense, a study by Gary Kleck, PhD, from the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, found that when someone draws a concealed gun in self-defense, the criminal simply retreats 55.5% of the time. {. http://concealedguns.procon.org... } Contention 4: Sports and Recreation: It is beneficial as means to entertain ourselves or for sporting purposes. Guns sports (i. e. : shooting) is sport enjoyed by many law-abiding citizens, it’s beneficial to enjoy our leisure time, it’s considered a fun and safe sport, harmful risks are less likely to happen, I quote {8}, that says that: “. .. according to the National Safety Council, Injury Facts, 1999 and a 1991 Harvard Medical Practice Study: You are 100 times more likely to be injured in a swimming pool than by a gun. You are 31 times more likely to be injured riding in a car than by a gun. You are 1,900 times more likely to be injured by an "iatrogenic" error than by a gun ("iatrogenic" error is medical speak for a doctor or hospital injuring you accidentally). ” This sport can be considered a training exercise, for physical and mental discipline, it’s a healthy sport that increases strength and stamina, as for mental benefits, it can help with concentration skills, thinking and character development, let’s you overcome your fears. It trains the person on responsibility using a gun, to enhance their skills on defense and safety and security, to promote the education needed to teach society for a safe society {8}. References {1} Paul A. Policing the Police. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. pp. 45–55 {2} . http://goo.gl... {3} . http://goo.gl... {4} . http://goo.gl... {5} . http://goo.gl... {6} . http://goo.gl... {7} John Lott, Jr. , More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-control Laws, 2000 {8} . http://goo.gl...