Guns: A Necessary Evil
Few issues have inflamed American public debate more than gun control. From coast to coast, channel to channel, the nation is engaged in a deafening argument over guns. Guns are getting into the hands of people who should not have them and are being used in ways they should not be. However, that is where the agreement ends. From there, the issue explodes into a range of opposed views, posing questions with no easy answers. Using real-life surveys and criminal data obtained from the National Institute of Justice, Don B. Kates in his article, "Shot Down" states that " widespread gun ownership is a net benefit for society" (711). In "A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun" Linda M. Hasselstrom speaks about how different events in her life over the years have forced her to carry a pistol (handgun) in an effort to protect herself. Even though Kates and Hasselstrom write from different perspectives, their articles share a common message: guns shift the balance of power!Although Kates does not draw from personal experience in "Shot Down," he does use credible research findings to support his conclusions about gun ownership and the use of guns. One of the researche
Felons who commit crimes prey on the weak. One incident in particular proved this to Hasselstrom, who while on her way to check her mail one night saw four men on her property re!lieving themselves. Kates and Hasselstrom both agree that guns serve as a strong deterrent to criminals. When Hasselstrom showed the man her handgun as he passed her vehicle, the man became frightened and drove off. When asked about criminals in general, fifty six per cent of the felons reported that a criminal will not "mess around with a victim he knows is armed with a gun" (714). Seventy four per cent of the felons agreed that the reason homes! are not broken into is because the criminals are afraid of being shot by the homeowner. The man in the other vehicle followed Hasselstrom for thirty miles at which point he tried to run her off the road. "A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun". Hasselstrom in her essay says that she used to carry her handgun in her purse when she traveled alone. Based on research conducted by Ted Robert Gurr and Hans Toch when ordinary citizens uses a handgun to protect themselves, criminal aggression can greatly be reduced. Simply avoiding a bad situation does not prevent crime because " precautions aren't always enough" (693). 711-715BALANCE OF POWER ------------------------------------------------------------------------**Bibliography**.
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