second amendment persuasive essay

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The ‘scope’ of the argument: Why the Second Amendment matters

The U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of the right to bear arms has been a primary conversation topic among Americans in 2020. As uncertainty and fear have plagued the world over the last eight months, there has been a surge in gun sales nationwide — many of them to first-time owners.

Austin and Danielle, one young couple in Utah, had always talked about owning a firearm. Austin grew up in a city where gun ownership was less common, but Danielle grew up in a small town where gun ownership was normal. They both said the events of 2020 lead them to buy a firearm.

“We always talked about having a gun,” Austin said. “I thought they were probably important to have for self-defense. Once COVID-19 hit , it made getting one feel like an important purchase to make.”

The couple bought their gun in early April. While they believe in gun ownership, they wanted to keep their last name anonymous to avoid the negative stigma some associate with gun owners.

“I feel like a lot of people have a mental image of gun owners as uneducated or having low IQs,” Danielle said. “I do feel like most gun owners are responsible and only want them for recreation and self-defense purposes, but some people think they are hillbillies.”

The two cited the case of the Orem wildfires in mid-October, which were caused by target practice at a local gun range. They also mentioned a few other reasons they didn’t want to be labeled as “gun owners.”

“We wanted to remain anonymous because we didn’t want to be targeted for our political beliefs or because we choose to own a gun,” Austin said. “Remaining anonymous is a safe choice. That’s the reason I bought a gun — it’s something to protect my family and keep us safe.”

While some Americans have sought to restrict gun ownership, for many others it is a cherished right they work to protect. According to The New York Times , demand for guns has surged since the start of the pandemic in March and hasn’t let up all year. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) recorded an estimated 28 million background checks were requested from January to the end of September.

Jeffrey Denning, a Salt Lake City Police detective, teaches firearm safety classes to private parties. He has seen a dramatic increase in people wanting to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

“One gun store owner I talked to said the day after the Utah earthquake on March 13th, he received the most sales he had ever gotten,” Denning said. “After that, sales started going through the roof. The numbers are off the charts.”

According to the data reported by the NICS, the first spike (3.7 million background checks) in firearm demand happened in March likely because of the pandemic. The second spike (3.9 million background checks) was larger and occurred in June — right after acts of civil unrest began in major American cities.

“ People should be able to protect themselves individually and collectively,” Denning said. “We should be able to preserve our freedoms — this lets us have agency and a land of liberty.”

Denning said that while firearms are certainly good for personal protection, the reason the Second Amendment is considered a right is more complex than that.

“The Second Amendment was included in the Constitution so the government could not take over,” Denning said. “It’s to serve against government encroachments. The amendments were developed because of what the founding fathers saw in other parts of the world.”

Most historians agree that this was the premise of the Second Amendment. But some people have grown increasingly wary of the potential dangers of an armed population. Because of this fear, there has been heated debate in recent years over whether to update or reform the Second Amendment.

Lucy Williams, an assistant professor of political philosophy, said the conflict was most pronounced in the 2008 Supreme Court case D.C. v. Heller.

“For some time, there was a debate about whether the prefatory clause ‘A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State’ was intended to limit the right to bear arms or if it merely explained why the right is important,” Williams said. “The debate is now largely settled.”

Williams said reformers proposed that the Constitution only protects a right to bear arms in relation to military service. People who took the other position argued the right was not connected to military service. The Supreme Court sided with the latter position.

After this Supreme Court decision, it seems that the debate has shifted. Instead of asking whether individuals should be allowed to have firearms, the debate is focused on whether the government has the ability to regulate and restrict specific weapons from entering the public sphere.

This threat of potential regulation has made some Americans nervous, and conservative politicians say the Second Amendment is under attack, or will be eliminated because of their political opponents. Williams said this is not likely.

“Although the scope of (the Second Amendment) may change, it’s hard to imagine that the right could ever be eliminated entirely,” Williams said.

Though reform may happen in the future, more people are making use of their Second Amendment right. Background checks, first-time gun purchases and training classes are increasing in demand. It remains to be seen whether gun sales will trend downward anytime soon.

“If you haven’t had a gun in 70 years, and are only interested in one because you’re scared, there is no reason to buy one now,” Denning said. “You are going to be fine.”

Despite this, Denning said individuals who have considered buying a gun and want to educate themselves should do so.

“It’s ignorant and foolish not to have a plan for preparation and protection,” Denning said. “You can think all day long that something won’t happen ‘here’ or ‘to you’ but if it does, you’re not going to be prepared.”

Second Amendment - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

An essay on the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution can analyze the historical context, legal interpretations, and contemporary debates surrounding the right to bear arms. It can delve into the arguments for and against gun control, the role of firearms in American culture, and the impact of gun violence on society. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Second Amendment you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

The Second Amendment – Firearm Legislation

Americans are being murdered at unprecedented rates and little action has been attempted to prevent similar events from reoccurring. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ninety-six Americans die by firearms every day (The Editorial Board). Ninety-six lives end because of a bullet. It is unethical and immoral for that many people to perish, and for there to be little change made. Unfortunately, legislators can not just simply change firearm laws due to the long-standing and well-respected second […]

Gun Violence and the Second Amendment

According the Cornell Law Studies Institute, the second amendment states, "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." The Second Amendment of the constitution is one of the most misunderstood and confusing sentences in the history of America. The 27-word sentence has a partial collectivist ora while still maintaining the individualistic right to keep and bear arms. Before discussing the reasons behind […]

Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens

United States citizens are some of the richest in the world when it comes to the rights that they are afforded. Along with those rights come responsibilities. The U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are the foundation upon which these rights and responsibilities were carved. A right is a freedom or privilege that is granted to U.S. citizens by the constitution. A responsibility is a duty or obligation to be able to enjoy those rights. Rights and responsibilities go […]

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Negative Consequences of Second Amendment

In late pasts guns were the only means of survival. The gun was what kept the home front safe from unwanted intruders from invading your land. It was also used to hunt for food to be put on the dinner table. However, today guns, as of late, are being used in the mass killings of innocent lives. Many of those who are caught in the crosshairs of a mass shooters were children and young adults. No amount of blood and […]

Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights

Imagine waiting on the line at the cafeteria on campus and you notice there are people running because there is a gunman firing not too far from where you are located. As a concealed carry license holder, do you reach for you gun realizing it is not there because it is not allowed on campus, or do you run for safety like everyone else? The founding fathers of America gave the right to bear arms for self-defense with the passing […]

The Gun Problem in America

Introduction As stated in the Social Problems textbook, “Social problems: Continuity and change”, “A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed” (2015). As a result, I decided to discuss the social problem of the second amendment. Since the founding of the United States of America, the right to bear arms has always been a hot button […]

Supreme Court and the Second Amendment

Heller was a special police officer in Washington D.C. He was allowed to carry a Handgun as part of his job. Wanting to keep a handgun at his home, he applied for a license with the District of Columbia. They denied the request making heller sue the District For violating his second amendment rights. Based on what the second amendment said the District Court Found that the second amendment does not create an individual right to gun ownership Unrelated to […]

Second Amendment Gun Control: Urgent Need for Stricter Laws and Licensing

The 2007 Virginia Tech shooting killed 32. The Orlando nightclub shooting last year killed 49. The 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School killed 27 first graders, all younger than six years old. Since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, not a year has passed without a mass shooting. Yet little has been done to restrict the sale of the very weapons used for these senseless murders. Understanding Gun Control Laws in America Gun Control, at least in America, […]

3d Printed Guns It is Constitutional

Even though this is an incredibly new technology, politicians and even presidents around the globe makers have recognized 3D printed guns and what’s behind it. Regardless of what their actual thoughts are on the topic, the laws that they have tried to put into place that obstructs the progress of the technology has risen the number of questions that deal with it. Questions such as whether or not it is constitutional to make them, distribute them or even use them. […]

Gun Control in the United States

Over the past few decades, the United States has witnessed various high- profile mass shootings in towns including Las Vegas, San Bernardino, Orlando, and Newtown. Even though most homicides receive little public attention, incidents of mass shooting are extremely salient. Gun violence is the primary cause of mass shootings in the US. Victor Hayes attributes increased gun violence to how easily an individual can access a gun in the US and further argues that such ease of accessibility acts as […]

Problems with Gun Control

When a problem arises, people are most likely to asses the situation, find what is causing the complication, and then take actions to exterminate the cause of the problem. In recent years problems with gun control have risen and politicians, in addition to the general public, seem to lack an understanding of the true problem. However, it is undeniable that the rate of gun violence has risen, and many debates have taken place on whether guns should be take away […]

The Second Amendment: the Essence of ‘Well-Regulated Militia

Let's talk about a phrase that's been batted around more than a ball at a baseball game: "well-regulated militia." It's one of those terms that feels like it's been pulled straight out of a history textbook, yet here we are, still debating its meaning in coffee shops, courtrooms, and online forums. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution is its home, a place where it sits snugly between discussions of individual rights and collective security. But what's it really […]

DC V. Heller: a Landmark Decision in American Second Amendment Rights

In the annals of American jurisprudence, few cases have sparked as much debate and legal scrutiny as District of Columbia v. Heller. Decided in 2008, this landmark Supreme Court decision unequivocally altered the landscape of Second Amendment rights, marking a significant shift in the interpretation of the Constitution's provision on the right to bear arms. At its heart, the case revolved around Dick Heller, a licensed special police officer in Washington D.C., who challenged the district's handgun ban as unconstitutional […]

Deciphering the Core of the 2nd Amendment: Unveiling its Complex Layers

Embarking on an odyssey through the annals of American constitutional jurisprudence, the Second Amendment emerges as a captivating enigma, a succinct phrase laden with profound implications. Nestled within the hallowed precincts of the Bill of Rights, this venerable clause has ignited a veritable tempest of discourse, provoking an array of divergent perspectives and interpretations. Let's embark on an expedition into the heart of this constitutional labyrinth to unravel the true essence of what the Second Amendment proclaims. The Second Amendment, […]

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Home / Essay Samples / Social Issues / 2Nd Amendment / 2nd Amendment: Pros & Cons

2nd Amendment: Pros & Cons

Category: Social Issues
Topic: 2Nd Amendment

Pages: 6 (2781 words)

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Work Cited Page

History.com Editors. (2017, December 04). Second Amendment. Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.history.com/topics/united-states-constitution/2nd-amendment
Why Own a Gun? Protection Is Now Top Reason. (2020, May 30). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/03/12/why-own-a-gun-protection-is-now-top-reason/
The Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership: Cove Security. (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.covesmart.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-gun-ownership-for-home-security
What if all guns disappeared? (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180417-what-would-happen-if-all-guns-disappeared
Miller, B. (2019, February 14). 19 Biggest 2nd Amendment Pros and Cons. Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://greengarageblog.org/19-biggest-2nd-amendment-pros-and-cons
Why a repeal of the 2nd Amendment would not be enough to stop gun violence. (2019, August 16). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/08/16/why-repeal-2nd-amendment-would-not-be-enough-stop-gun-violence
Repealing the Second Amendment – is it even possible? (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/repealing-the-second-amendment-is-it-even-possible/
Vargas, E. (2019, November 20). Gun Violence in America : A State-by-State Analysis. Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/news/2019/11/20/477218/gun-violence-america-state-state-analysis/
States With Weak Gun Laws Suffer From More Gun Violence. (2019, September 24). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/dem/releases/states-with-weak-gun-laws-suffer-from-more-gun-violence
Gun Violence Must Stop. Here's What We Can Do to Prevent More Deaths. (n.d.). Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy
Neera Tanden, W. (n.d.). Preventing Gun Violence in Our Nation. Retrieved December 07, 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/courts/reports/2013/01/12/49510/preventing-gun-violence-in-our-nation/

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