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Gun Rights Essay That Will Change Your POV

Hey, everyone!  I know it's been FOREVER since I've written a post, but I'm wanting to change that!  I've been so wrapped up in life lately!

I've had to switch jobs, I got married, I moved, got two new cats, and SO MUCH MORE!  I've also been trying to start my own business, which is going slow, but picking up some with the holiday season.

I am hoping to go to Chicon this year and make a full and FANTASTIC blog!  Until then, here is an essay that I wrote a few years ago about American's rights to bear arms.  I think that, with America's current state of mind, this is an important essay for anyone to read.


Leave a comment, let me know what you think, and please share!!!!!











        Why You Should Fight for Your Right to Own Guns
"Iron rusts from disuse....Even so does inaction sap the vigour of the mind."
                                             - Leonardo Da Vinci, The Notebooks, 1519






Anna C. Romano, AC1403560
SP180.1.2, Principles of Public Speaking, Assignment 7_07
Instructor Name: Ronika Chatterjee
2/ /15
         Gun.  Rifle.  Shot. These words tend to make us cringe.  They tend to make us think of death, of violence, and of sorrow.  Guns, however, need not be feared . As someone who has used a gun, I can testify that a gun alone is harmless, much like a spoon cannot make one fat unless it is dipped into that tub of ice cream and placed into your mouth.  Guns are not the problem, some people's choices are.
         In the course of this speech, we will cover facts about guns that I know will change your view on the word.  We will discuss how taking our right to own guns is taking away what our forefathers wanted for us, that it is taking away what it means to have freedom; we will discuss how beneficial they can be, how they can save lives, not end them; and, we will discuss how ending guns won't end violence among mankind, only increase it.  In short, we'll discuss why you should fight to keep them.
         The Second Amendment clearly states that, "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."  At one point in time, much as they are doing now, the Government tried to deviate from that view and tried to take away those rights, leaving us vulnerable to its militia.  This action was the breaking point that caused the Revolutionary War. Who were and are THEY to change the basic foundation of our historical culture? Who were and are THEY to change the Constitution that they claim to hold so dear?  That's how "gun control" is minimizing our freedom and crushing our Constitutional Rights! What are we, as a nation, without our freedom? How can we call ourselves Americans if we do not fight for our freedom and our rights?
         Now, ladies and gentlemen, let me ask you this: what do you think kills more people a year, a hammer, a rifle or a club/blunt object?  I'm guessing you'd put your money on a rifle, right? Wrong. According to an article on breitbart.com, AWR Hawkins wrote that, in the FBI's annual crime statistics from 2005-2011, more murders were committed with hammers and clubs than by rifles.  In 2005, 2006 and 2011 no more than 450 people were killed by rifles in a year. In the same years, however, murder by blunt objects was nearly 500 one year and two years exceeded 600!
         An article in the Boston Daily, written by Steve Annear,  pulls statements made by Don B. Kates and Gary Mauser, Ph.D from their study of gun related deaths in the US, where guns are currently more available, as compared to gun related deaths in Europe, where there is a stricter control.  Their findings are as follows:
         ....“Kates and Mauser looked at and compared data from the U.S. and parts of Europe to show that stricter laws don’t mean there is less crime. As an example, when looking at  murder, on an international scope, the U.S. falls behind Russia, Estonia, and four other countries, ranking it seventh. More specifically, data shows that in Russia, where guns are banned, the murder rate is significantly higher than in the U.S in comparison...."
         From a statistical stand point, it seems that diminishing carry laws RAISES the likelihood of violence, let me give you two more examples.
1.  In the United Kingdom, where possession of a handgun is illegal, there are over 2,000 violent crimes per 100,000 people, whereas, in America, there are only 466 per 100,000 people.
2.  Statistics show that in every mass shooting, except for one in the US, since 1950 has happened where citizens are banned from carrying guns.  Following this pattern, Europe, where guns are banned, has had three of the six worst school shootings.
         Okay, so we've gone over the fact that taking guns from citizens causes a rise in violence.  Now, how about we go over the personal advantages of owning a gun? The security, for instance, something we all crave as human beings.
         I use to live in a bad neighborhood, every house within a two block radius had been robbed on at least one occasion, many had been unfortunate enough to have suffered more.  Except for one, mine. Not only did I have dogs, but I also had guns close by. Knowing that, if they got past the dogs, robbers or anyone else had no chance of hurting my family before I could get to one was a great weight lifted from mine and my family's shoulders.
         Did you know that 200,000 times a year, women use guns to defend themselves against sexual abuse?  Did you also know that, the FBI crime statistics analysis found that states who allow concealed carrying reduced murders by 8.5%, rapes by 5%, aggravated assaults by 7% and robberies by 3%. 
         Maybe you still think other self-defense products, ones that don't kill, are better?  Did you know, pepper spray only has a range of ten feet, while a gun has a between 200 and 500 yards?  That's a lot more room between you and your assailant, or you and potential death! In addition to the range difference, one source that polled felons said, 3/5 felons say they won't mess with a potential victim if they are armed.  To sum it up, guns are more effective than pepper spray and are the best deterrent on the market.
         All of the evidence presented to you points to two things: taking away gun rights takes away both protection and freedom.  Guns are the ultimate deterrent and they are a symbol of freedom, they are something we have always fought for and something that was written into our country's very history.  Guns are not what causes murder, reducing them only increases it.
I would like to turn your attention to four quotes which sum up each of the points made in this speech:
1)  No kingdom can be secured otherwise than by arming the people.  The possession of arms is the distinction between a freeman and a slave." - James Burgh
2) "The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the USA who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." -Samuel Adams
3) "I have always been fascinated with guns.  I grew up in America so granted, it is part of our heritage and it is written into the laws of how this county is run." -Joe Perry
4) “That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of    democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.”  - George Orwell
         In conclusion, guns do not kill people, people do!  Without guns, a greater number of people would become victims.  Guns provide more distance between the attacker and victim and are more of a deterrent than pepper spray.  We cannot allow the Government to reduce our Rights nor can we allow them to take away our protection! In order to protect our families, present and future, as well as our heritage, we need to stand as one and fight for our rights as Americans!  In the words of James Madison, “The ultimate authority resides in the people alone.”  YOU can make a difference, YOU can protect YOUR future, YOU can fight for YOUR right to own guns! 
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1.  Author: AWR Hawkins
Year of Publication:  2013
Title: FBI: More People Killed With Hammers, Clubs Each Year Than Rifles
Name of Publisher: breitbart.com
Date Downloaded: January 3rd, 2013

2.  Author: Steve Annear
Year of Publication: 2013
Title: Harvard Publication On Gun Laws Resurfaces
Name of Publisher: Boston Daily
Date Downloaded: August 30, 2013

3.  Author: Vici Media
Year of Publication: NA
Title: A Factual Look At Guns In America
Place of Publication: http://americangunfacts.com/
Name of Publisher: Vici Media
Date Downloaded: NA
*This is a campaign done by Vici Media, comprised of several different references from a variety of sources including the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, USA Today, US Department of Justice National Institute of Justice, 2010 CDC Report, etc.

4.  Author: Model Mugging
Year of Publication: NA (Copyright is 2015)
Title: Pepper Spray, Pepper Spray For Self-Defense
Name of Publisher: Model Mugging
Date Downloaded: NA

5. Author: Glen Zediker
Year of Publication: 2014
Title: The Shooter's Log
Place of Publication:   http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com/long-range-shooting-ar-15/
Name of Publisher: Cheaper Than Dirt
Date Downloaded: August 23, 2014

6. Author: Vici Media
Year of Publication: NA
Title: A Factual Look At Guns In America
Place of Publication: http://americangunfacts.com/
Name of Publisher: Vici Media
Date Downloaded: NA
*This is a campaign done by Vici Media, comprised of several different references from a variety of sources including the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, USA Today, US Department of Justice National Institute of Justice, 2010 CDC Report, etc.

7.  Author: Simplefacts Plainarguments
Year of Publication: 2013
Title: The Revolutionary War Began With Gun Control
Name of Publisher: Simple Facts and Plain Arguments (powered by Blogger)
Date Downloaded: February 3, 2013

8. Author: Wex (Free Online Legal Dictionary, sponsored/hosted by the Legal Information Institute )
Year of Publication: NA
Title: Second Amendment
Place of Publication: http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/second_amendment
Name of Publisher: Cornell University Law School
Date Downloaded: NA

9. Author: Guns Save Lives
Year of Publication: NA (Copyright is 2015)
Title: Pro Gun Quotes
Place of Publication: http://gunssavelives.net/pro-gun-quotes/
Name of Publisher: Guns Save Lives
Date Downloaded: NA

10. Author:  Terry Breverton, Leonardo Da Vinci
Year of Publication: 2009
Title: Immortal Words: History's Most Memorable Quotations And The Stories Behind Them
Place of Publication: Quercus Publishing Plc. Bloomsbury Sq. London
Name of Publisher:  Quercus Publishing Plc.

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