To persuade. Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience that we need stricter enforcement of current gun laws, as well as new, stricter, gun control laws. Central Idea: Gun Control is a hotly debated issue within the United States, and today I want you to know that the number of deaths due to firearms is an alarming problem, which can be brought under control if we strictly enforce existing gun laws as well as introduce new laws since more deaths will occur as more firearms enter the marketplace; therefore we need to act now.
Every 21 seconds, a violent crime is committed in the United States, and one out of every three of these violent crimes involves the use of a gun (FBI 1). Worldwide, the number of deaths caused by guns is 60 million, which means one person is killed by a gun every minute of every day. By the time I finish speaking with you today, fifteen people will be dead, their lives snuffed out, by a gun. As I am sure you know, gun control is a contentious issue, with both sides vehemently believing that their side is correct.
I am sure, like me, you have heard the saying, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people, yet a close inspection of the statistics surrounding violent crimes and homicides, not to mention accidental shootings, make it inarguable that guns in the hands of people do indeed kill people. I am interested in Gun Control and have done research on the topic so that I can share what I believe is vitally important information with you today.
Gun Control is a hotly debated issue within the United States, and today I want you to know that the number of deaths due to firearms is an alarming problem, which can be brought under control if we strictly enforce existing gun laws as well as introduce new laws since more deaths will occur as more firearms enter the marketplace; therefore we need to act now. Let’s begin by looking at the problem of deaths from guns. Body I. (NEED) The number of deaths due to firearms is an alarming problem in the United States.
Although it is true that some murders, as well as other violent acts, are committed without the aid of a gun, about two thirds of such crimes and murders within the United States do indeed involve a gun. In fact, according to the FBI, in 2004, there were an estimated 16,137 murders committed in the United States, and out of those 16,000 murders, a gun was used 70. 3 percent were committed with firearms. Of course, murders aren’t the only crimes committed that involve guns; there are many other types of crimes for which criminals use guns. . Again according to the FBI, there were 1,367,009 violent crimes committed in the United States in 2004, the most recent statistics available. Violent crimes include crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, forcible rape, and murder. b. Close inspection of the violent crimes that occurred in 2004 show that in roughly one quarter of the crimes, 26.percent of the time in fact, firearms were used in the commission of the crime (FBI).
I think it is important to also consider the fact that injuries which occur during a violent crime are 5-7 time more likely to result in death than when guns aren’t used, which once again proves that although the strict control of guns won’t eliminate all violent crimes and murders, but it does indeed increase the likelihood that the crimes don’t end in a death. While it may be true that guns are not involved in every murder and every violent crime, the fact remains that nearly three-quarters of the time a murder is committed a firearm is used, and in one quarter of the cases of other violent crimes, a firearm was used. Transition: Now that we have looked at the problem of violent crimes and murders being committed by the use of guns, let’s turn our attention to what changes need to be made to deal with the problem. ) II. (SATISFACTION)
The number of deaths due to firearms makes it paramount that as a nation, we more strictly enforce the current gun control laws, as well as enact more stringent gun control laws in the future. A. There are currently two major Federal Gun Control Acts that control guns in the United States. The first of these act, the Gun Control Act of 1968, was passed as a reaction to the violent inner-city riots of the 1960’s, as well as the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. , and Robert Kennedy. a. According to the article “Yes and No to Gun Control” by Gary Rosen, The Gun Control Act of 1968 put restriction on machine guns, limiting interstate business, ending mail-order deliveries, as well as placing national restrictions upon who could buy a firearm.
Among the groups of citizens who were no longer allowed to purchase guns included minors, convicted felons, fugitives from justice, drug abusers and anyone with a history of serious mental illness. The Brady Act, the next major set of federal restrictions on guns went into effect in 1994, requires licensed firearms dealers to run a background check on prospective buyers. Some other more recent laws include the Armor Piercing Ammunition Ban, The Gun Free School Zone Act, and the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to name a few.
D. The Gun Control Laws have been successful, in as far as they go, which only strengthens the argument that we need to not only close the current loopholes, but also pass more gun control laws to further limit the danger of guns to our citizens. 1. The good news is that due at least in part to these laws, the U. S. has seen a 35% drop in gun crime, and in the year of 1997 alone, 69,000 handgun sales to convicted felons were blocked by the Brady Bill (GunCite. com) 2.
Overall, the background checks on potential gun-buyers have, according to the Justice Department, kept over half a million guns from being transferred to people who weren’t qualified buyers. E. As you can see, the United States does have some meaningful gun control laws on the books, but the current loopholes, along with lack of strict enforcement. 1. One major loophole to the current gun control laws is the Gun Show Loophole, which allows unlicensed firearms deals to sell and trade guns at “Gun Shows” without having to run the background checks that licensed dealers must run. Although this “Gun Show” loophole might not sound that important, when you consider that annually there are 4,000 of these Gun Shows, it is a huge and no doubt a deadly loophole for many.
The United States needs to follow the path of other countries which have stringent gun control laws, in order to further reduce the number of deaths caused by and crimes committed with guns. 1. In France and Ireland, where gun laws are much stricter, the national murder rate with a firearm involved is . 03 and . respectively, as opposed to 3. 72 percent per 100,000 deaths in the United States. It is little wonder that America’s gun crime statistics are higher than virtually another western country, since some estimates suggest that 39% of U. S. homes have guns in them. These statistics only prove to drive home the point, once again, that when guns are strictly controlled, deaths as a result of guns are considerably lower. (Transition: Now that I have told you about what can be done to help improve the current deaths and crimes committed using guns, let’s look at how the problem will only continue to get worse if something isn’t done about it.
The number of deaths due to firearms will continue to rise as more and more firearms are introduced into the marketplace if nothing is done. Again, according to the Justice Department, there are currently 230 million guns already owned in the United States. As if this staggering number isn’t high enough, the same article by Rosen tells that every year another 5 to 6 millions handguns and semi-automatic weapons are either sold new or privately transferred. Think about it for a minute, every year there are 4,000 “gun shows” whose gun dealers are exempt from following federal gun control rules, while every year another 5 to 6 million guns are added to the already vast arsenal of deadly-weapons kept in private homes. The federal government estimates that annually, somewhere in the number of 3 millions guns change hands at these gun shows.
That means, potentially at least, there could be 3 million criminals purchase guns every year who have successfully bypassed the federal gun control laws. I don’t know about you, but that thought doesn’t make me sleep soundly at night! It only stands to reason that every year, with another five to six millions guns being introduced into society, that violent crimes with guns, murders, and accidents will only continue to rise. (Transition: Now that you know the alarming statistics of the number of guns already owned, let’s look at what we can do about this problem) The number of deaths due to firearms can be drastically reduced if only we join together and act. The time to act is now; it is time for citizens like us to take a stand! Together, we can make a difference; we can make this country safer.
There are several common sense solutions to this Gun Control Issue that is so divisive. First, the Congress needs to act to eliminate the Gun Show loophole, and require the private transfer of firearms at gun shows to subject potential purchasers to the same strict background checks and licensed dealers must follow. The national database is already there to utilize, all that needs to be done is for it to be made available at gun shows for buys to access. Surely that is as simple as setting up computer terminals so that a person’s identification and background can be check to make sure he or she isn’t a felon. . Second, the Congress also needs to require trigger locks on all new guns sold. This will result in far fewer accidental deaths by guns. Third, as suggested in the article, “Yes and No to Gun Control”, a national system of registration and licensing should be mandated, which would “require anyone selling a handgun to provide the government with a record of sale, including a serial number”, and an “extensive background check of the buyer as well as a written safety test and a thumbprint”.
Now, if you are asking, how in the world can I make a difference, I am about to tell you exactly how. . As an American citizen and a voter, you have a voice, when used in conjunction with others who feel as you do, that will cause politicians to listen. 2. If you feel as I do, won’t you please go to Senate. gov and house. gov to find your legislators and voice your opinion on this matter. Once at either of these sites, again they are senate. gov or house. gov, you can email your Senators and Representatives to let them know you feel strongly about gun control and that you will be voting accordingly in the next election.
That is one of the great things about living in a country that is a democracy, our voices count, so won’t you please use your voice to help save one person a minute from becoming another victim of gun violence? Conclusion In conclusion, somewhere in the world, fifteen more people are dead as a result of a firearm. Fifteen lives have been shattered, fifteen mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, fathers or sons have been killed. Not only are these deaths unnecessary, but many of them could indeed have been prevented if only countries, like the United States, make gun control laws more strict. Today, I hope I have given your some valuable information regarding guns and gun control I hope that I have convinced you not only that guns are a problem in our society, that something must be done about it before this problem gets worse, and that I have convinced you to act by contacting your Congress Members. Every minute, someone else dies from a gunshot, every hour sixty more people are dead because of guns, it’s time to act before one of those people is someone you love.
Works Cited
- “The Brady Bill. ” 7 May 2008. GunCite-Gun Control. 4 Nov 2008. . FBI. Summary of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. ” 17 Feb 2006. FBI UCR.
- Nov 2008. . Krouse, William. Gun Control. 3 Oct. 2002. Alamanc of Policy Issues. 4 Nov 2008. . Rosen, Gary. “Yes and No to Gun Control. ” Commentary Sept. 2000: 47. Stell, Lance K. “
