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Gun controls refer to policies and laws, which regulate the manufacture, modification, transfer, sale, and usage of firearms
Gun Control
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Gun controls refer to policies and laws, which regulate the manufacture, modification, transfer, sale, and usage of firearms. These policies usually vary with countries. Some countries, such as the UK have very strict policies that limit the possession of guns while others like Mexico openly legalize the possession of guns by inhabitants for personal protection. In the U.S., different states have varying policies that govern the possession and utilization of guns. Gun control has often received diverse views with proponents arguing that the legislations are necessary to minimize ownership by individuals for safety reasons. Opponents argue that the legislation does not necessarily reduce murder, injuries, suicide or other related crimes. Some individuals argue that gun control laws infringe on civilian liberties, hence unnecessary. Gun control has therefore invited diverse perspectives and debates from different opinion leaders, stakeholders, and individuals, making it a controversial topic.
The second amendment of the American constitution encouraged more gun ownership and relaxed the laws. However, the debate on gun control has taken political dimension, Democrats against republicans. According to Peters (2014), “Bloomberg has already spent millions of dollars trying to persuade members of Congress to support enhanced background check laws with virtually nothing to show for it”. There is need for political impartiality in dealing with the issue, beyond the second amendment, since the circumstances and context under which the amendment was enacted have changed. The amendment allowing gun ownership was passed when the county was experiencing security challenges after the American civil war. The citizens were more exposed due to the security threats posed by the armed rebels who had no formal command. Currently, the country has employed thousands of well trained and armed police officers. The country today has lesser threat that the unarmed citizens face in comparison to the 19th and the 20th centuries. The political antagonists need to realise the changed circumstances and enact the laws that require more background checks as proposed by Mr. Bloomberg. However, Mr. Bloomberg as a political figure may not rightfully lead the struggle for the changes as his views may be perceived negatively by those in the opposing camps.
The gun control concept is a diverse subject and a subset of a wide global topic that focuses on arms control in terms of manufacture, transportation, possession, and utilization of especially, small arms. These include pistols, revolvers, assault rifles, hunting rifles, and short guns, among others. This has seen different groups rise up either in proposing or opposing the legislation. Various individuals, companies, and associations, have had varied perspectives on gun control based on the area of interest. For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) indicates that it “is not intimidated by a multimillion-dollar gun control campaign backed by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg” (Chappell, 2014). The association believes that it is working in the interest of over ninety percent of Americans who trust that more can be done to protect citizens against gun violence. This is a clear indication that different stakeholders hold varying perspectives towards a topic that appears universally agreeable. Internationally, most diplomatic deliberations have always tended to divert their focus towards cross-border illegal movement and trade in small arms as a subject of great concern as compared to legislation pertaining to possession of firearms by civilians.
In contrast, state and national perspectives usually focus on legislation regarding ownership and possession of small arms by civilians. U.S. News (2014) indicates that the Second Amendment to the Constitution, concerned with the right to possess firearms, has always been a hot issue especially during the electioneering period. In addition, the article notes that for decades, gun control and gun rights groups have always tried to lobby Congress to design legislations in their favor (U.S. News, 2014). Consequently, in the last two years, the issue of gun control legislation reached the country’s highest courts with several high level cases handled. For example, in the 2008 case of the Supreme Court of Columbia v. Heller, the court upheld that the Constitution has provisions that protect an individual’s liberty to own a gun for personal use, in a 5-4 decision that only applied to federal legislation (U.S. News, 2014). Though in 2010, the Supreme Court issued a judgment that the federal right to own a gun applied also to the local and state levels, a ruling that, according to U.S. News (2014), uplifted a nearly thirty year old ban.
Those against the uncontrolled gun ownership argue that the weapons are used for various criminal activities and illegal hunting. Those against the practice question the logic behind gun ownership, where they are carried to the drinking places, classrooms, and sports arenas. On the other hand, the proponents of gun ownership argue that the weapons are used purely for self-defence and not any violent act. The political class has over the year differed on the issue, in the same way as the general public. The debate revolves around legislated control or personal responsibility. In what the media considers as ‘a major political investment’, Michael Bloomberg, former New York Mayor, “plans to spend $50 million this year building a nationwide grass-roots network to motivate voters who feel strongly about curbing gun violence, an organization he hopes can eventually outmuscle the National Rifle Association” (Peters, 2014). The approach by Bloomberg is to get grassroots support and push for more responsible gun use and more background checks before licensing. The approach is proactive and needs to be supported. However, the focus of the campaign is to outdo the National Rifle Association rather than tackling the root cause of the issue. A more balanced approach, managed by the law, should be adopted in gun control. While arming the civilians, the law should allow the authority to carry out thorough checks before any licensing.
In conclusion, though, some advocates of gun control warned lawmakers against the legislation arguing that high numbers of guns in civilian hands equals high levels of crime. An article on USA Today News indicates that advocates stepped up their lobby for enactment of the law to minimize crime that has escalated because of gun possession (Evans, 2014). Evans (2014) cites an incidence in which a young man was shot dead because of playing loud music in his car. Such cases can be reduced if the debate revolves around objective issues rather than prejudices and political rhetoric.
References
Chappell, B. (2014). NRA Says It’s Not Bothered By Gun Control Group’s Protest. Retrieved from: www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/27/307353115/nra-says-its-not-bothered-by-gun-control-groups-protest
Evans, T. (2014). Gun control advocates warn lawmakers. Retrieved from: HYPERLINK “http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/25/nra-convention-gun-control/8163561/” www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/25/nra-convention-gun-control/8163561/
Peter, J. (April 15, 2014). Bloomberg Plans a $50 Million Challenge to the N.R.A. Retrieved from nhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/16/us/bloomberg-plans-a-50-million-challenge-to-the-nra.html?_r=0
U.S. News. (2014). Gun Control and Gun Rights. Retrieved from: www.usnews.com/topics/subjects/gun-control-and-gun-rights
GUN CONTROL
GUN CONTROL
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Victimology refers to the study of crime victims alongside their psychological effects and the experience they go through. It looks at the relationships between victims and the offenders alongside their interactions with the criminal justice system. Victimology could also be defined as the scientific study of the physical, emotional, and financial harm people suffer because of illegal activities (page 2, Crime Victims).Victimologists investigate the victims’ plight: the impact of the injuries and losses inflicted by offenders on the individuals they target. They also carry out research into the public’s political, social, and economic reactions to the plight of victims, study how victims are handled by officials and agencies within the criminal justice system, especially interactions with police officers, detectives, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, probation officers, and members of parole boards.
A victim refers to a person who suffers injuries, losses or hardships for any given reason. People tend to be accident victims, natural disaster victims, disease or social problems like warfare, discrimination, political witch hunting and other injustices. Crime victims however are harmed by illegal acts (page 2, Crime Victims).
Gun control refers to laws, policies, practices, or proposals constructed limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or usage of HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm” o “Firearm” firearms. The laws and policies related to gun control vary so much around the world especially based on countries. Countries like the HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom” o “Gun politics in the United Kingdom” United Kingdom actually have very strict limits on possession of guns whereas others like the HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_States” o “Gun politics in the United States” United States tend to have relatively and considerably modest limits. Elsewhere, the topic remains a source of intense debate with proponents generally arguing the dangers of widespread gun ownership, and opponents generally arguing individual rights of self-protection as well as individual liberties.
The gun control concept is a miniature of a much greater topic commonly referred to as arms control. In so many scenarios, gun control is to a greater extent related to the various firearm restrictions normally imposed or sanctioned by a country to its citizens or another country on usage, transportation and possession. This in most instances specific with regard to the category of small arms. However, to a global and larger scale, there are instances where we have the inclusion of what are commonly referred to as light weapons.
Gun control is in most instances considered a HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense_(theory)” o “Self-defense (theory)” self-defense mechanism that is very fundamental and an accepted HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_right” o “Human right” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_right human right. Many people actually believe that firearms are an important tool in their lives and do help them to exercise their right of self defense and protection from physical harm by other offenders. The prohibition of a means so effective to self-defense does seem to be HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics” o “Ethics” unethical to many persons. For instance, HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson” o “Thomas Jefferson” Thomas Jefferson’s “Commonplace Book,” has a quote which spells that laws which forbid people from carrying fire arms actually disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws tend to make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants. They serve to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
It is highly inappropriate to allow each and every person to own guns around especially where licensing from the relevant authority has not been issued. Whether for self-defense or any other reason, gun control is a sensitive issue to tackle. A good example would be the constant skirmishes in Northern Kenya where individuals have ease access to small arms that are brought in from the neighboring Somalia. This has prompted if not allowed mass killings, perpetuated terrorism for very flimsy reasons which in turn end up killing innocent individuals for no apparent reasons. Similarly, the issue associated with illegal gun ownership has seen cattle rustling take a rise in areas of Turkana and West Pokot in Kenya. Families raid their neighbors and do away with cattle and other animals after they have done harm in the villages, killing innocent civilians especially women and children who in fact having nothing to be blamed for. In that case, the governments of the day must come into place, take control of every situation by ensuring no arms are in possession of the common citizens given they are illegally used thereby bringing an end to precious life’s of innocent children and women in the societies. Citizens must thus be taught about the value of life, the effects of illegal firearms and the effects that one would get upon having been found in illegal possession of the same especially with bad intentions to the publics.
There is no logical reasoning that could be proved right for any victims to be allowed to possess or be armed. This would then mean each and every individual would be armed in a bid to seek revenge or retaliation for the slightest mistake done to them. In the long run, the entire world would have arms of all types with people in possession and harming others with the flimsy excuse of protecting/defending oneself. A good example would be the night raids carried out by unknown people between two neighboring communities in the Coastal town of Kenya, in Tana River district. Communities turned against one another as they fought for pasture. One community comprises herders whereas the others are farmers. Herders would deliberately provoke their counterparts by grazing on their land and destroy crops. In return, these farmers would arm themselves overnight, execute their neighbors with the animals and leave an entire village with no one in sight.
In conclusion, the gun control is a sensitive issue. No one however mighty in society or the government should be allowed to possess any fire arm especially illegally in the name of self defense mechanisms. With proper structures in place, every person does need to feel secure and need not have any fire arms in the guise of self defense.
References
HYPERLINK “http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/content/9781285286624.pdf” http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/content/9781285286624.pdf
My background Information and Statement of Purpose
My background Information and Statement of Purpose
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Background Information
My names are Abdulqader Fahad Ibrahim. I am a Saudi national aged 25 years. I completed my undergraduate course in Business Administration from King Saud University in February 2012. I specialized in human resource management. After completing my undergraduate studies, I immediately joined the Institute of Public Administration of Saudi Arabia, where I have been working until today. At the institution, I have been working as a human resource manager and I have gained adequate experience in the field. After working hard and portraying my interest to proceed with higher education abroad, the institution gave me a full scholarship to study Masters of Public Administration (MPA) in the US. I managed to win the scholarship after successfully passing an interview that included 200 persons with the same interest. My goal is to pursue MPH and then proceed to Ph.D. in the US. I will work hard to earn good provisional grades that will be shared with the government of Saudi Arabia.
My Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
I have several personal strengths that will facilitate me to pursue the intended course successfully. To start with, I have gained critical thinking skills that enable me to find solutions to emerging problems without the need for much support from my counterparts or tutors. The skills have enabled me to develop an independent mind that makes me focus on my work without too much interruption. As such, the skill will facilitate me to sail through the course. Further, I have gained interactional skills that are vital in any setting that includes people from different backgrounds. From experience in my current job, I have learned about the importance of respecting other people’s views and the need to foster positive culture among my counterparts. I have also learnt to appraise that people have different backgrounds and are unique. The skill will help me to interact well with fellow students, staff and other people from different cultural, social and economic backgrounds in the US. I am also a quick learner; hence, I will be able to absorb new knowledge easily. I have only one main weakness that I need a top work on; the ability to understand pragmatic cues in communication. Although I understand English, and I am able to learn comfortably in an ESL class, I may need to sharpen my knowledge of pragmatic communication that is based on the culture of the US in order to be able to understand pragmatic cues included in any communication.
My Ultimate Goal
`In my previous studies, I have learned the importance of embracing social, economic and environmental sustainability in order to make the lives of future generations better. I have, thus, gained interest in recycling. Although the pressure to embrace secure, ethical and environmentally friendly disposal approaches has been piling up globally in the recent years, the response has been slow in Saudi Arabia. I believe that there is also need for further advocacy of the same goals in the US, even though the progress has been much better than in Saudi Arabia. In this regard, I will lead by theory and practice in the University and actively advocate for a safer environment through recycling all waste products, rather than disposing of them in the atmosphere and the landfills. The advocacy will help me gain ground that will enable me sensitize Saudi government and nationals on the importance of recycling.