Writing a persuasive speech on gun control issues, need better sources

[Jittles]

I need sources, preferably reputable such as cnn or abc or msnbc, something like that, relating to gun control issues that are "hot" right now.

I can' t decide which issues have enough information to really argue and have a good shot of both sides.

Ballistic fingerprinting is a recent one brought up by the sniper case, but is there any legislation going through congress about anything right now? I remember hearing of anti-'sniper' rifles legislation in congress.

Are there any other good issues I could argue on the issue of gun control/gun safety?

Please no arguing or anything, I do want both sides of the issue, if you would like to contribute.

 

[Scarpozzi]

How about calling up good old Charlton Heston.

 

[her209]

guns == bad
gun control == bad
no guns == good

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: her209
guns == bad
gun control == bad
no guns == good

Specifically not what I was looking for.

I did ask for your views, but not like that. Please explain if you care.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: her209
guns == bad
gun control == bad
no guns == good

Logic = bad.

When you find a way to un-invent a thing, let me know.

 

[KC5AV]

Ballistic finger-printing is a waste of time and money. The ballistics of a gun change slightly each time it is fired. It is also possible to change out the parts of said gun that cause the imprint. Gun-control advocates are calling for it because it sounds good. Of course, the only way that information would be of any use is if records were kept relating to purchases. That happens to be illegal.

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

In Louisiana, the gun issues are hot also.....Deer hunting and Duck hunting right around the corner.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Most guns are beautiful pieces of machinery. Enjoy them or they will enjoy you.

 

[xuanman]

how about: justifigying the use of tec-9/dc9 semi-automatic assault weapons for deer hunting.

 

[Utterman]

NRA

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: KC5AV
Ballistic finger-printing is a waste of time and money.

Not only that it is asinine. Criminals don't follow laws. That's why they are criminals.

 

[rufruf44]

How about pulling statistics from other countries that outlaw guns and comparing the crime rates? I think Australia just recently banned guns ownership to some extent, so might be a before and after iin there ?

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: rufruf44
How about pulling statistics from other countries that outlaw guns and comparing the crime rates? I think Australia just recently banned guns ownership to some extent, so might be a before and after iin there ?

Good idea I'll look into that.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Jittles

Originally posted by: her209
guns == bad
gun control == bad
no guns == good

Specifically not what I was looking for.

I did ask for your views, but not like that. Please explain if you care.

guns == America == bad
no guns == Japan == good

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: Jittles

Originally posted by: her209
guns == bad
gun control == bad
no guns == good

Specifically not what I was looking for.

I did ask for your views, but not like that. Please explain if you care.

guns == America == bad
no guns == Japan == good

America != Japan == good

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
America != Japan == good

(America != Japan) == comparison == duh ==

 

[Orsorum]

Does it interest you to know that Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world? America is second.

Look up crime statistics on Japan, England, and Switzerland. Both Japan and England have strict gun-control, in Switzerland, almost every household has an automatic weapon.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Gun control issues? There's always gun safety measures (gun locks, etc.), magazine (Brady Bill restricting handgun and rifle mags to 10 rounds), automatic weapons (well, not being able to get new ones), waiting periods, concealed weapon permits (or the inability to get one in states such as California), things of that nature.

Ballistic fingerprinting would be really easy to defeat. When someone like Ari Fleisher (sp?) can tell how to modify a weapon to defeat such legislation in one sentence, it's pretty easy.

 

[seti920]

http://www.nra-ila.org/
Link to the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action -- What the NRA wants.

http://www.nra-ila.org/LegislativeUpdate.asp
- Digest of what's going on, legally, at the moment

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/news/kabanews/disp.asp?d=11/19/2002
- List of articles that relate to firearms, with minor editorial commentary.


I've chewed through a major comparison of firearm fatalities / crime use / murder rate in the US, with comparison to other countries about two weeks ago. If you want a copy, shoot me an E-mail.

Regards

 

[tcsenter]

Only when you have heard all perspectives can you form an informed opinion; far left, far right, center left, center right, center, then you will have a sound, fair, and informed perspective on the issues.

The gun control/ownership issue is surprisingly complex, if for no other reason than the whole range of debate is mired deeply in rhetoric and politics. You have to wade through a lot of bullsh-t, scraping away several layers of crud, to get at the nugget of truth in the center.

Mmmmm, caramel-nuget center.....yum!

Oh, sorry, became distracted there momentarily.

As for where to start? I have no idea, it took me two years to get a solid handle on the issues. I can only say that you will think you know enough to make an informed judgement long before you actually do know enough. Good luck!

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: tcsenter


As for where to start? I have no idea, it took me two years to get a solid handle on the issues. I can only say that you will think you know enough to make an informed judgement long before you actually do know enough. Good luck!

Just do a TSCENTER search with the word GUN He's made dozens of persuasive detailed posts on the subject

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: xuanman
how about: justifigying the use of tec-9/dc9 semi-automatic assault weapons for deer hunting.

9mm is not meant for deer hunting. I just killed a nice deer on Saturday. .30-06. One shot, one kill.

What you don't understand, is that the 2nd amendment has nothing to do with hunting.

Read the constitution.

 

[0roo0roo]

guns+ dangerous minorities = dangerous

just ask heston of the nra

 

[HokieESM]

Like many others have said, gun control is incredibly incredibly complex. I personally have enjoyed target shooting for several years--but paper is it for me (I personally have no interest in hunting--in fact, i have serious problems with people hunting and not eating what they shoot). Its an engineering "game" for me, its science--seeing how accurate I can make my rifle and ammunition and then how well I can shoot it. My dad has competitively shot pistols for 20+ years--its a hobby/interest to him. But unfortunately, some people ruin the fun for the rest of us.

Gun control, in my opinion, is a cultural issue. Much like drinking and driving, to a degree. Its all about social responsibility. Switzerland (which I had the pleasure of visiting not too long ago) is the home to "every man is in the militia" slogan--so virtually every home has a fully automatic rifle (which, despite what a lot of people say, is VERY difficult to legally obtain in the US--semi-auto is easy, fully auto is horribly difficult) and a semi-automatic handgun. Yet virtually no violent crime. They also are a notorious "drinking" country like their neighbor Germany, but no drinking and driving. It basically boils down to this: the citizens TRULY feel that using a gun for harmful purposes is WRONG (just like drinking and driving is WRONG). Its social responsibility. Just like I tell many people out there: every gun-control advocate in the country could probably be introduced to shooting (competitively) the RIGHT way and truly enjoy it--and their families and the world would be perfectly safe with a gun in their home. Mainly because gun control advocates have the RIGHT idea--it IS wrong to use a gun for nefarious purposes.... they ARE the socially responsible ones. Its a shame that everyone isn't that way......

When it comes down to it, a VERY small percentage are causing ALL the problems. Billy Joe Bobb who goes deer hunting two weeks out of the year isn't causing the problem... neither is John Doe who goes target shooting every Saturday. While there are some dangers with using one for 'home protection', that's not usually the problem either--its a criminal element who is intent on wielding a form of "lethal power".

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Good luck on your fact-finding!

 

[Amused]

Try www.guncite.com. They are pro Second Amendment, however they are quite honest about it. They even go so far as to dispell myths and false quotes spread by the pro Scond Amendment activists.

Their site is easy to navagate, and it touches on every aspect of gun control.