Cover Letter
The purpose of this essay is to stipulate arguments pertaining to the banning of semi-automatic weapon such as AR-15. Initially, the goal of writing the essay only evolves around the reason for completing the requirements of the course. However, as the words and pages builds up, one could reach an epiphany that having a firearm for safety and having to own one just for show are two different things. This essay wants to convey a message of putting importance to social responsibility and always think about the greater good and deviate from things that could bring harm to others. This essay wishes to accomplish the mission to provide rationale to the issue of banning semi-automatic firearms. There a great hope that the readers of this essay comes to a realization that firearms are tools of death and that banning it would eliminate unreasonable deaths of young people as described in the paragraphs following this letter.
Completing this assignment brings about a higher understanding of a social issue that people would tend to ignore. This essay offers a new perspective on things that people does not often stop to think about. The only challenge encountered in writing this essay is the establishment of an argument that could not only provide a strong ground to foster social change, but also something that would persuade readers to believe. This objective brings the same reason to enjoy writing the essay because there is a notion that this essay would not be just another essay, but a social contribution.
Introduction
AR-15 assault riffle is one of the most widely available semi-automatic firearms being sold in the United States today. They are also known to a sporting riffle being used by 8.9 million Americans for target shooting and other sport shooting activities (Richwood Gun and Game Club). In addition, about 15% of Americans have also known to purchase the riffle or an all-time high of 34.4 million people in 2009 (Richwood Gun and Game Club). Given the wide availability of the firearm, it also became the weapon of choice in many shooting incidents in recent years. For instance, the Newton and Colorado massacre suspects were found to have used the same weapon in performing the massacre that killed several lives of other young Americans in the aforementioned places (Hundal). These events have led to a further increase to AR-15’s sales across the country, which poses a real threat to the public in addition to the fact the firearm is also a popular choice for a Christmas gift for Americans (Hundal). Evidences of people anticipating to own an AR-15 are all over the social media networks flaunting their intentions to purchase and even young individuals are posting pictures of them holding the riffle. One of the comments in a popular social media website “Tweeter” by (name intentionally undisclosed) reads “I got just what I wanted. An Armalite semi-automatic AR-15 rifle. It's like the Christmas Story, but I'll shoot more than my eye out” (Hundal).
Given the history of violence committed by young people involving the use of AR-15 riffle constitutes an obvious threat to possible occurrences of violence in the future due to the irresponsible ownership and lack of control policies pertaining to the sale of the said firearm. Therefore semi-automatic weapons such as AR-15 should be banned because it puts a lot of people into danger because of the owners’ lack of responsible ownership given that even minors can easily get their hands on the firearm. The entire public in general are endangered by irresponsible semi-automatic riffle owners because of the number of reported firearm fatalities.
Discussion of Arguments
Semi-automatic firearms should be banned because of the evidences presented by criminal investigators during the aftermath of the most depressing shoot-out incidents in American history involving teenagers. A study conducted by the Children’s Defense Fund shows a staggering number of teens and children killed using semi-automatic riffle in 2008 and 2009. There are a total of 5,740 teenagers and children killed and 34, 387 injured in shooting incidents during the Colorado and Newton massacres alone (Children’s Defense Fund). Data analysis coming from 23 sampled high-income countries including the United States appears to have 87% of the children below the age of 15 were involved in shooting incidents (Children’s Defense Fund). In addition, the homicide rate in the Unites States have dramatically increased involving teenagers and young adults at the range of 15 to 24 years old have shown to be 42.7 times higher than any reported gun homicide incident at the same age group in any other countries combined (Children’s Defense Fund).
Banning semi-automatic riffle such as AR-15 from being publicly sold, which causes serious threat to the lives of young individuals is helpful in several ways than one. If semi-automatic riffles are banned in the open market, there is a great possibility of reducing if not to totally alleviate the dangers of putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk of being a target of assault, injuries and other life-threatening situations. Furthermore, if semi-automatic riffles are totally banned from the open market, there is also a possibility of stopping irresponsible gun owners from chances of harming and causing homicidal acts against themselves and the public in general. The eminent danger of letting irresponsible or even young individuals to own a semi-automatic firearm is inevitable. Stories of violence involving gun have shown to have a devastating effect to the victims. APU’s 2007 annual report featured young children being exposed to violence, Kevin Young for instance have witnessed his father being gunned down in broad daylight when he was nine years old (Azusa Pacific University 7). Such event is perceived to cause a traumatic experience to children in particular. The same emotional trauma also occurs on the victims of massacre incidents like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Colorado and most recently in Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newton, Connecticut (Rugg).
While it can be argued that not all gun owners both adult and teenagers are irresponsible and may threaten to cause harm to other, reality remains that not banning a high-powered firearm such as the AR-15 would still allow young individuals to acquire such riffle (Goldberg 68-76). Owning such a powerful weapon comes with a great deal of social responsibility, which most young people does not clearly understand. It is not enough to say that the number of affected people is relatively just a small fraction of the population because the fact remains that thousands have already died because of the people that does not know how to responsibly handle firearms (Schered 24-32). The only case is that AR-15 is a powerful firearm that civilians should not own particularly teenagers. Owning it should not be treated like just buying a gallon of milk from the grocery store because the amount of danger entailed in owning a semi-automatic riffle is immense.
Conclusion
It is apparent that semi-automatic firearms such as AR-15 should be banned because it is a serious weapon that have killed hundreds and injured thousands of people. In addition, the people involved in firing incidents are not the kind of person that can be trusted to be responsible enough in owning such a powerful firearm. Youngsters, teenagers and even children should not be given the opportunity to handle serious firearms because otherwise the history of killings and shooting rampage will just repeat itself. Legislators should consider the total ban of the firearm or better yet to stop stores from selling it like it was just a pair of pants. Therefore, semi-automatic firearms should be banned.
Works Cited
Azusa Pacific University. "Chapter I - Treasures in Darkness." Azusa pacific University 2007 Annual report. California, USA: Azusa pacific University, 2007. 7. Azusa Pacific University. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
APU presents its achievements as a prime institution of learning in its annual report. This report also includes inspirational stories from students, which includes an experience that directly relates to the topic.
Children’s Defense Fund. "Protect Children Not Guns." Children’s Defense Fund Report 0.1 (2012): n. pag. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
The publication is a comprehensive report dedicated to the victims of recent massacres that killed thousands of teenagers and children. The report provides a statistical data of occurring violence related to the use of firearms wherein AR-15 was mentioned as a primary weapon used by the perpetrators in the aforementioned massacre incidents.
Goldberg, Jeffrey. "The case for more guns (and more gun control)." Atlantic Monthly 310.5 (2012): 68-76. Print.
The article discusses the consequences of gun ownership and the responsibilities that entails in allowing civilians to own guns. This article provides a supporting argument to the issue of banning semi-automatic firearm.
Hundal, Sunny. "These Americans got AR 15 assault rifles for Christmas ." Liberal Conspiracy. liberalconspiracy.org, 26 Dec. 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
The website article published by liberal concern groups gives a distinct and direct to the point approach in presenting evidences of people owning the firearm plainly not for reasonable means, but just for show.
Richwood Gun and Game Club. "Dispelling Media Myths on AR-15 Rifles." Product Report (n.d.): n. pag. Print.
The publication released by a gun manufacturer provides an overview about the AR-15 riffle and offers to dispel myths about owning a firearm. Although the publication was made towards promoting guns, it became useful in writing the assignment for the purpose of presenting more details about the number of people in America that actually owns a semi-automatic riffle.
Rugg, Peter. "Sandy Hook shooting: Massacre at Connecticut elementary claimed twice as many lives as Columbine ." Mail Online. Dailymail.co.uk, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
The online news article overviews the recent and the past shooting incidents in America involving the use of semi-automatic riffles and other firearms. It generally represents the similar objective of this essay in terms of insisting to ban the semi-automatic weapons.
Schered, Michael. "The Next Gun Fight." Time 181.3 (2013): 24-32. Print.
The article was taken from the APU database, which is generally discussing the means and causal arguments pertaining to gun ownership. The article provides similar argumentative structure as presented in this essay.
