With the rise in mass shootings, more Americans are choosing to obtain a permit for a concealed handgun. Unfortunately, most of these shootings are taking place in public buildings where people are banned from bringing their concealed weapons. If these types of bans do not stop criminals, then law-abiding citizens should not be denied the chance to protect themselves and others. There should not be any public building where a person that has legally obtained a concealed-carry permit can not be allowed to bring his or her weapon. Most employers do not want handguns on their premises, not even in the parking areas. According to a recent WSJ article, “Guns in the Parking Lot: A Delicate Workplace Issue” (October 15, 2013), Starbucks CEO instructed their customers not to bring guns to the cafes, and they are not alone in this request. However, many feel the action of a private business to oppose public gun laws is questionable. There is a strong plea to ban weapons, not only in the workplace, but everywhere. However, employers’ right to restrict weapons is limited especially in states with pro-gun laws. Currently, there are 22 states with bring your gun to work laws. In these states, property owners cannot restrict a worker or visitor from carrying guns in vehicles in parking areas (Murray, 2013). The second amendment to the U.S constitution confers right to individuals to carry weapons in self defense. In a recent case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the United States Supreme Court on June 26, 2008 held that an individual has the right to possess firearm in self-defense. This was the Supreme Court’s first decision on interpretation of the second amendment since 1939 (Library of Congress, 2014). Evidently, those who carr... ... middle of paper ... ... defend them. Works Cited Work Citied Chin, Paula. “A Texas Massacre”. People. November 04, 1991 Vol. 36 No. 17. Web. 22 April 2014 Karwosky, Gary S. “‘No guns’ signs a foolish solution” Riverside – Brookfield Landmark, Jan. 14, 2014. Web. 20 April 2014 Library of Congress, “United States: Gun Ownership and the Supreme Court”. 2014. Web. 19 April 2014 Lott, John and Mustard, David . “Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handguns,”, Journal of Legal Studies v.26, no.1, pages 1-68, January 1997. Web. 20 April 2014 Murray, Sara. “Guns in the Parking Lot: A Delicate Workplace Issue”. The Wall Street Journal. October 15, 2013. Web. April 16, 2014 Roberts, J.R. “Workers and Employers Square Off Over Guns, Security Strategies, Security and Crime News”. 2014. Web. 16 April 2014
Carter, Gregg Lee, ed. “Federal Gun Laws.” Gun Control in the United States: A Reference
Former Chief Justice of the United States (1969 – 1986), Warren E. Burger, was published in the January 14, 1990 edition of Parade Magazine for his work entitled, “The Right to Bear Arms”. In his essay, he questions the modern age standards being held for one to purchase a firearm, with an aim to tighten up those regulations. To argue his case he has provided record breaking homicide statistics from 1988 and states that some of the metropolitan centers in the U.S. “have up to 10 times the murder rate of all of Western Europe”, where strict gun control laws have been placed.
“Gun Control.” Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints In context. Web. 15 Sep 2013.
Moorhouse, John C., and Brent Wanner. "Does Gun Control Reduce Crime or Does Crime Increase Gun Control?" CATO Journal 26.1 (2006): 103-24. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 June 2015.
Opposing sides have for years fought over the laws that govern firearms. For the purposes of this paper "Gun Control" is defined as policies enacted by the government that limit the legal rights of gun owners to own, carry, or use firearms, with the intent of reducing gun crimes such as murder, armed robbery, aggravated rape, and the like. So defined, gun control understandably brings favorable responses from some, and angry objections from others. The gun control debate is generally publicized because of the efforts of the Pro-Gun Lobby or the Anti-Gun Lobby.
Gun ownership is about your constitutional right: the 2nd Amendment. Many people may be robbed of their right to bear arms. In Maloney v. Cuomo, the Second Circuit panel held that New York’s ban on in-home possession of Nunchaku violated neither the Second Amendment nor—because it was supported by a rational basis—the Fourteenth Amendment (Blackman and Shapiro 17). During United States v. Emerson, that court decided that the Second Amendment protected an individual right. The Emerson court stated explicitly that the Second Amendment “protects individual Americans in their right to keep and bear arms whether or not they are a member of a select militia or performin...
In current day society, it is frequently promoted as self-defense and our “duty” as Americans to own a gun of some sort. The second amendment to the constitution declares that “We the People” are allowed to bear arms because we live in a free State. Although these statements are true, at what cost? The question, “at what cost,” arises due to the recent push for an extension and enforcement of the second amendment. The people of the States have been pushing for desired concealed carry at public areas, such as schools. Statements and questions of concern have been on the as to whether or not this idea is “smart”. Contrary of it allowing some people to feel safe, the idea should be imposed. Guns are weapons and they have the history behind them
The Web. The Web. 5 June 2015. Flynn, Michael W. “Handgun Laws.” quickanddirtytips.com. 2008.
Fields, Gary. "New Washington Gun Rules Shift Constitutional Debate." Wall Street Journal. 17 May. 2010: A. 1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
As violence and murder rates escalate in America so does the issue of gun control. The consequence of this tragedy births volatile political discourse about gun control and the Second Amendment. The crux of the question is what the founding fathers meant when they wrote, “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.” Since the writing of the Second Amendment the make and model of firearms has changed dramatically and so has the philosophies of the people. A rifle is no longer defined as a single shot, muzzle-loading musket used to primarily protect families or solely for food. Should the weapons we use today be protected by an amendment written nearly 222 years ago? Should the second amendment be rewritten? Does the Second Amendment apply to individual citizens? These questions spark extensive debates in Washington D.C. regarding what the founding fathers intended the amendment to be. The answer to this question lies in the fact that despite hundreds of gun control articles having been written , still the gun control issue remains unresolved. History tells us gun control debates will be in a stalemate until our judicial system defines or rewrites the Second Amend. This paper will examine the history of the Second Amendment, and attempt to define the framers intent, gun control legislation and look at factors that affect Americans on this specific issue...
The right to carry a concealed handgun has been a sensitive subject for years, however, due to recent acts of gun related violence, the issue has become a political controversy. Although the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution which 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”, guarantees citizens the right to bear arms, the argument is based on the interpretation of when and where Americans are permitted to exercise this right. All 50 states allow the general public to practice concealed carry; however, The District of Columbia permits concealed carry licenses only to active and retired law enforcement officers (Concealed Guns 1). States that allow concealed carry licenses may have a lower crime rate than those that do not; therefore, the District of Columbia should adopt private citizen’s concealed carry laws.
Lott, Jr. John R. More Gun Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. Print.
... middle of paper ... ... Responsible citizens should have a right to carry a gun in order to protect themselves from those who obtain it illegally. All in all, responsible adults should have the right to carry a concealed handgun.
Kates Jr., Don B. "Gun Control versus Gun Prohibition." American Bar Association Journal (1982).Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
McClurg, Andrew J. Gun Control and Gun Rights: A Reader and Guide. New York: New York UP, 2002. Print.