The Ethics of Gun Control

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The Ethics of Gun Control

The phrase "Gun Control" means different things to different people. One

bumper sticker states that "Gun Control means hitting your target."

However one defines gun control, the mere mention of it brings

controversy. 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. The best known of

the Pro-Gun Lobby is the NRA, headed by Charlton Heston and Wayne

LaPierre. The Anti-Gun Lobby includes such organizations as Handgun

Control, Inc., The Violence Policy Center, and the ACLU, and is commonly

associated with such figures as Sarah Brady.

It is doubtful that anyone would dispute that reducing violent crime is a

good thing. Most pro-gun lobbyists will concede that guns are used in

violent crimes, and that guns act as an enabler for criminals. It is

impossible to deny that mass shootings could not be carried out without

guns. This fact is generally the basis of the anti-gun movement. They

argue that since guns are commonly used in the commission of crimes, and

since guns are inherently dangerous because of their primary function

(the primary function being the destruction of the target), that guns

should therefore be outlawed. The pro-gun...

... middle of paper ...

...der rate

because Americans own so many guns."

http://www.guntruths.com/myths/united_states_has_such_a_high_mu.htm.

28 July 1999.

"Only the police are trained enough and responsible enough to carry guns".

http://www.guntruths.com/myths/only_the_police_are_trained_enou.htm.

28 July 1999.

"Proof Positive: Gun Control Increases Violent Crime".

http://www.guntruths.com/resource/australia.htm. 28 July 1999

Reese, Charley. "American Citizens Have the Right to Bear Arms".

http://www.guntruths.com/guest%

20correspondent/american_citizens_have_a_right.htm.

28 July 1999.

Schultz, Daniel J. "It's Hard to Argue With the Founders".

http://www.guntruths.com/schultz/it.htm. 28 July 1999.

"This is America. The government is never going to turn into a

tyranny." http://www.guntruths.com/myths/tyranny.htm. 28 July 1999.

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