Gun Control Unit 2 Part 1 - Research Paper Example

Gun Control (Criminal Justice: Ban on Hand guns, NRA, Constitutional Rights) The article Former Chief Justice Supports Chaffee’s Gun Control Legislation was written by Mulligan 1992 in a bid to garner support among legal specialists towards the appreciation of a gun control legislation. In 1992 Senator John Chaffee got unprecedented support when retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger echoed his proposing statement on 27th of June 1992. The support was on a bill that would outlaw possession of handguns by the public in the U.S.A.

burger particularly differed with the National Rifle Association reluctance to support the ban, on the premise of constitutional provisions, terming it as “one of the greatest frauds”. He pointed out that some resistance was expected form weapons, ammunition and arms industries, stating that it would be seen as an attack on them. Although only as few as four senators had agreed to support Chaffee in his quest to table the bill, he remained confident of winning more support. He was wary of refusal to hand over the guns immediately, but confident $5000 penalty thereon would compel criminals to gradually accept the ban.

He was categorical on exceptional possession of the guns by police among other licensed holders. In attendance was Dr Burton Lee, the President Bush’s personal physician who was in agreement of Chaffee’s argument (Mulligan, 1992). The controlling idea in the author’s article is the legal platform being sought to bring in measures t control possession of guns by the public. It is clear that that his thesis is centered on the bill and the popularity it is likely to gain from supporters.From the reporters’ view on the bill that Senator Chaffee prepared for passage into law, some key support is lacking, such that the retired Supreme Court Chief Justice declaration for support of the bill gets such publicity.

Apart from a few senators in support of the provisions of the bill, it is apparent that there is a considerable level of resentment from key quarters of arms possession stakeholders. Apart from the politics that goes with legislation, public safety enhancement lies squarely in the sealing of risky loopholes in the security policies made by the government. It might be argued that public opinion is the key to determination of policy and legislation, and so does the support of key bills, but a critical surgery of the underlying issues must be used to make the final verdict.

How serious is possession of guns by the public? What popular alternative solutions could be offered in place of hand gun bans? Who could take a better platform to effect the preferred solution better than the senator? Having rhetorically asked a few more of similar questions could have landed one with the better option in the support of the bill. It is a good idea to effect the ban, even if the penalties upon violation were to be increased in support of the objective.The author presents the article in an informational platform, detailing the development of the senator’s attempts to bring control to possession of hand guns.

The author’s primary audience is the public reading the news he is reporting about. Apparently, there is a heated debate on the government’s role in the control of arms possessed by the public, with the majority taking it as a contradiction of a constitutional provision. On the other hand, another group supports any move to regulate the possession through the introduction of legislation, even though there is an element of lack of enough numbers to support it. The pioneer is however not giving up on the likelihood of winning more supports.

There is some hope in the success of the bill in that a close white house figure hints of possible support from the president. This acts as a boost in the camp supporting the ban, with all the hurdles lying ahead of a successful passage of the bill. References Mulligan E. J. (1992). “Former Chief Justice Supports Chaffee’s Gun Control Legislation”, Providence Journal 1(2):10