Lowering Homicides and Gun Crimes - Thesis Example

of the institute] of the of the Lowering Homicides, Gun Crimes and Illegal Weapon Use: A Case of StricterLaws Thesis Statement: Do stricter laws correlate to lower homicide rates, fewer gun related crimes and less illegal weapons Splitzer, R.J. (2011). The Politics of Gun control. New York: Paradigm Publishers. This book provides an overview of gun control debate that existed before Oklahoma City bombing. Moreover, it discusses in detail the Second Amendment. Splitzer asserts that the second amendment is not a hindrance between gun control laws. Although the writer illustrates some historical facts wrongly when he says that “1968 to 1988 no bill was passed for gun control in the congress” (Splitzer, 2011). As a whole, Splitzer in his book promotes a gun control agenda between arms control advocates and organizations as NRA. This source is very useful to the reader because it provide background information of the debate on gun control before Oklahoma attacks and the description of the Second Amendment. Lott Jr, J.R.(2010 ). More Guns, Less Crime. University of Chicago Press. This book illustrates the author’s research on crime, prevention, and the authority to have concealed weapons. He severely condemns the notion that it is unjustified to allow citizens to carry guns, as it is harmful to the society, however, concealed weapons is only dangerous to the criminals and useful to the common man. The writer provides data of 3000 U.S. countries who imposed gun laws over 18 years (Lott, 2010) and as a result, the crime rate like murder, theft went down immediately. Moreover, according to Lott, the people who benefitted were mostly women, Blacks, and individuals living in the rural areas. However, in the book some statistics is rather dull and boring especially the data tables. This book is an excellent read especially for those who believe that gun laws should be implemented. Moreover, the book offers us a variety of debates that help us argue people who are in support of gun control. This source however, does not give much emphasis on the gun laws of America, instead, it provides data of gun control laws of other countries. Colorado’s dark night (n.d.). The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21559617 The article gives information about Colorado’s mass killing that took lives of twelve people and fifty eight were injured. Living in America is extremely threatening because a person is more likely to be killed in the US than any other country like Britain, Japan and Germany. Moreover, the article gives credible information about why the crime rate is so high in America by telling, “two- thirds of the people in America carry guns, whereas in Britain only 10% of the people carry weapons” (Colorado’s dark night). The article shed lights on Obama’s failed strategy of gun control and the condition of the country is getting worse as a result. Every politician hides behind the Second Amendment constitution, which says the people have the right to carry arms. The author recommends that stricter laws should be imposed on the types of guns available. Although the article talks about Colorado killings and information about the impending situation in the US, but lacks in background information about how politicians before Obama’s regime also failed in amending gun laws. Moreover, the data provided is quiet brief. Henigan, D. A.(2009). Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy. New York: Potomac books Inc. “Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy” is the first book that highlights how pro gun motto of the government has misled the innocent citizens into believing it. The book highlights how through the pro gun messages have deep impacts on current politics of arms control. Henigan is the first author who illustrates “the bumper sticker messages” (Henigan, 2009) that have long hampered the improvement toward positive solutions to gun conflict. The book condemns the pro gun messages that say that gun laws are baseless, because the criminals would not follow any law. Moreover, Lethal Logic is the first narrative that discusses the effect of gun control arguments of the Supreme Court’s approval of gun rights in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, that a person has a right to carry arms according to the Second Amendment. This quality of the article is excellent as it brings forth the problem of common citizens of the US who suffer because they are not allowed to carry guns legally. The Writer however, provides less description of the background of the gun legislation instead just focuses on the Heller case. Rogers, A. (2012). A history of Gun Control Laws Shows US citizens Don’t Have An Absolute Right To Bear Arms. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-history-of-gun-control-2012-12 The article “A history of Gun Control Laws Shows US citizens Don’t Have An Absolute Right To Bear Arms” highlights the history of gun control laws, starting from the 1860s to 2010. In 1860 many African American southerners were limited to their rights to possess guns. In 1927, the Miller Act was passed by the Congress according to which mailing of concealed arms was forbidden. Moreover, in 1934 The National firearms Act taxed all the firearms who dealt in arms in any way. In 1938 The federal Firearms Act legalized interstate trade in weapons. The Gun Contol Act of 1968 approved the gun ownership, which was implemented after the death of John F. Kennedy. Similarly, the article illustrates that in 2010 Obama lifted restrictions on weapons in national parks. The article provides credible and detailed analysis of how gun laws work during different times in history, through this information one can get an idea of how gun control laws worked throughout the history of America. This book is an excellent source as the reader is informed of the historical background of the gun laws through centuries. Healy, J. (2013). Colorado Gun Control Proposals Face Fight. The NewYork Times. This article shed lights on how law makers in Colorado state proposed a package of gun control system but failed in putting a ban on rifles. Colorado has been a victim of severe shooting in the history of America. Hence, the proposed laws were severely criticized by people. This article provides information as to when” National Rifle Association is due to meet with Colorado’s governor to solve the case” (Healy, 2013). Healy just focuses on the mass killings of Colorado city, but does not provide the reader with background information on the topic of gun control legislation. Obama tries to undercut NRA in gun control debate (2013). Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/04/obama-to-appeal-to-public-law-enforcement-for-support-on-new-gun-control-laws/ The Article shed lights on President Obama mission “to undercut NRA in gun control debate”(obama, 2013)/ he said that the gun control owners approve the gun control steps as “common sense” However NRA has condemned this and has called for better firearms ban. This article shows how Obama government has failed in making a proper gun control legislation and many people are cynical about it. This article just discusses the failure of the Obama government to correct the wrongly made gun laws, and does not provide the reader with information on how the previous governments also failed to bring about any solution to the ongoing gun crises. Lapierre, W. (1995). Guns, Crime and Freedom. New York: Harpercollins This book explains the myths and truth of the gun control issue in detail. Moreover the second amendment is explained in detailed. Wayne Lapierre also shed light on the writings of the founding fathers of the United states. He argues that the only solution to reduce crime is to give weapons only to the responsible citizens of the country. He praises NRA so much that a reader would start appreciating it that it is just not a " gun lobby" ( Lapierre, 1995 ) but a complete civil rights movement for not only men and women but the whole society. This book provides logical explanations of the facts on the topic of gun control issue. The statistics provided are true relevant and well searched. Whitney, C.(2012). Living with Guns: A Liberals Case for the Second Amendment . NewYork: Public Affairs. Whitney’s book is remarkable for its description of gun control and will be remembered for years to come. He writes his book as a highly disturbed individual of the society. He provides extremely useful information on gun history. He is against the fact of how previously made gun legislation faile for the African Americans. Although his work is less scholarly but is very informative. Although he agrees with the Second Amendment but is against liberals relying on militia. Hence he analysis America’s long relationship with arms, saying that this battle started since early 20th century (whiteny, 2012). The book is remarkable for readers who want to know about the history of gun laws in America, hence, this source has credible information and provides background information of the topic. Liptak, A. (2008). Gun Laws and Crime: A Complex Relationship. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/weekinreview/29liptak.html?pagewanted=all This article analyses how gun laws and crimes have a complex relationship. Stephen Breyer analyzed in his research that how gun control laws are working and wrote “The upshot is a set of studies and counter studies that, at most, could leave a judge uncertain about the proper policy conclusion” (Liptak, 200). Moreover, he said guns resulted in increase in countless suicide and murders. Hence it is difficult to say that gun control has prevented any deaths, and the homicidal rate is even higher. In the same way another professor, Gary Kleck asserts that it is high time that the government must make aa appropriate decision. The article is very relevant and provides genuine information to the readers. However, the analysis provided by the author is a bit boring and brief, and does not give any background on the topic of gun legislation. References Splitzer, R.J. (2011). The Politics of Gun control. New York: Paradigm Publishers. Lott Jr, J.R.(2010 ). More Guns, Less Crime. University of Chicago Press. Colorado’s dark night (n.d.). The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21559617 Lapierre, W. (1995). Guns, Crime and Freedom. New York: HarperCollins Henigan, D. A.(2009). Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy. New York: Potomac books Inc. Rogers, A. (2012). A history of Gun Control Laws Shows US citizens Don’t Have An Absolute Right To Bear Arms. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-history-of-gun-control-2012-12 Healy, J. (2013). Colorado Gun Control Proposals Face Fight. The NewYork Times. Obama tries to undercut NRA in gun control debate (2013). Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/04/obama-to-appeal-to-public-law-enforcement-for-support-on-new-gun-control-laws/ Liptak, A. (2008). Gun Laws and Crime: A Complex Relationship. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/weekinreview/29liptak.html?pagewanted=all Whitney, C.(2012). Living with Guns: A Liberals Case for the Second Amendment . NewYork: Public Affairs. Read More