Develop Pro and Con Arguments on the Issue Research Paper

Develop Pro and Con Arguments on the Issue - Research Paper Example The disturbing thing is that guns (whether legal or illegal) is being used to create problems in the society. The long-term policy is to educate the citizens of values and caring. In the short-term, a highly controlled licensing statute should be implemented in an effective manner. Review of literature shows that a total ban on gun ownership is not practical in the short-term. Introduction: In most organized societies, there exists some form of law and order in order to protect its citizens from both internal and external threats. In the modern context of what can be defined as a society, a set of statutes and laws which is administered by the legal department and controlled by the government exists. Apart from the legal angle, the military is formed to protect the country from external threats. There is normally an internal security force, namely the police department to protect individuals from crimes and threats within the country and society. But the extent to which citizens can take law and protection into their own hands can be questionable and even controversial. Some societies (and countries) have liberal laws regarding self-protection. The United States is one country which has such liberal laws. While the law does allow citizens to own guns and firearms, there has been a negative aspect to this stand. Misuse of owning arms which has resulted in wanton killings and attacks have been reported in the media over the years. As a presidential candidate and taking the above factors into consideration, this presentation reviews both sides of the argument – one that allows easy ownership of guns and the other that restricts its sales. Ownership of firearms, if it is not misused, could be a means of self-protection and could even ease the burden of law enforcement agencies. But on the other hand, emotional outbursts, personal vendetta, and criminal intents could result in unwanted violence that could create unrest and lack of security in the society. It is hoped that no personal bias and opinions will appear in this presentation. The intention is to present an unbiased review of literature before coming to a conclusion regarding the topic. Before moving on to the main topic under study, a definition of key terms will be provided so that the reader will be informed about the different aspects that influence this debate. Definition of key terms: The Second Amendment: It is assumed that one of the most important factors that allows citizens to own arms is the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. The wordings are as follows – â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed† (Scaros, 2010, 390). Militia: Militia does not mean owning arms for offense. According to one definition, militia comprises â€Å"of all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense† (Pollock, 2009, 379). This indicates that owning licensed arms is legal, but only for protection and not for offense. Hence any hostile or violent act against another individual can be considered to be a legal offense. Guns or firearms: â€Å"Any weapon that will or, that may be readily converted to, to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and