Federal Gun Control Laws: A Summary and Discussion of Pros and Cons, Papers of Communication and Presentation Skills

Download Federal Gun Control Laws: A Summary and Discussion of Pros and Cons and more Papers Communication and Presentation Skills in PDF only on Docsity! Sarah Peters Com 115-610 October 20th, 2008 Federal Gun Control Laws Topic: Federal Gun Control General Purpose: To Invite Specific Purpose: To invite the audience to discuss the pros and cons of federal gun control legislation in the U.S. and the consequences and benefits of such laws. Thesis Statement: I will summarize federal gun control laws and discuss the arguments used in support of these laws and against them, and then I will open the floor to discussion. Introduction I. (Attention Getter) “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.” This is the text of the second amendment to the United States Constitution, found on the Charters of Freedom website, last accessed November 10th, 2008, www.archives.gov. II. (Introduce Topic) The right to bear arms has been a hot topic in the United States for as long as we have been a country. III. (Audience Adaptation) Perhaps some of you are hunters, or own a gun for self defense, while others may worry about crime rates and deaths from handguns. IV. (Establish Credibility) I recently became more interested in this topic when I had a discussion with my mom about federal gun control and decided to do some research for myself. V. (Preview) Today I would like to summarize some of the major federal gun control legislation and explore both sides of this debate, and then I will open the floor to discussion about this issue. Body I. Since the second Amendment was ratified in 1791, there have only been a handful of major federal decisions regarding the right to bear arms. A. As summarized in an article titled “U.S. Gun Laws: A History” found on the National Public Radio website, www.npr.org, last updated June 26th, 2008; the first major Supreme Court decision was in 1939, when it upheld a federal ban on sawed off shotguns. 1. The court stated that it could not say that the second amendment guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms. B. The next major law was passed in 1968 when Congress passed the Gun Control Act calling for better control of interstate gun traffic. C. As the previously cited NPR article explains, Congress passed a law banning felons from possessing firearms in 1986. D. In 1993 the Brady Handgun Violence Act was passed, which set up a National Instant Criminal Background Check which gun dealers were to use before selling a firearm. III. You may have heard the phrase used by many gun rights activists, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” A. This is a basic way to express the sentiments that many people hold that each individual is responsible for their own actions. B. One of the most powerful arguments cited against federal regulations is that it only makes it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to own firearms while criminals continue to own them illegally. 1. If this is true, it means that criminals would end up with guns while people trying to abide by the law would have a harder time accessing guns for self-defense. C. Another argument for gun rights is that people need to be able to defend themselves. 1. Defense can mean against individuals threatening you, government tyranny, or invasions by foreign nations. a. In the political climate today, many would argue that the future is uncertain, and owning a gun can provide the kind of piece of mind that no matter what, we can defend ourselves. D. Of course, the second amendment can also be interpreted, and often has been, to imply that individual’s right to bear arms is guaranteed in the constitution. 1. This is used by many gun rights activists as an argument in support of their position. IV. I would now like to open the floor to hear your opinions on this topic. A. Do you believe that stricter federal Gun laws will curb violence in the U.S. B. Do you think that the second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms? C. Would you or do you own a gun, if so, for what purpose, and if not, why not? Conclusion I. I would like to thank you all for your input on this subject, I know for me it has been interesting to hear different points of view. II. I have talked today about some of the major gun control laws in the U.S., including a recent supreme court decision upholding the right of individuals to bear arms, as well as some arguments for and against gun control. III. I have heard from the audience that…(address key points from discussion) IV. I will end with a question from Thomas Jefferson which I find relevant even to this day. It was found on the FDRS website, “Restoring America’s Freedom” at www.fdrs.org last accessed Nov. 10th, 2008; "Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense?" Work Cited Alito, Samuel. “District of Columbia v. Heller, Majority Opinion.” Supreme Court of the United States. 26 June, 2008. http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07- 290.pdf Altman, Alex. “The Future of Gun Control.” Time.com. 26 June, 2008. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1818325,00.html. “Restoring America’s Freedom” FDRS. 10 Nov., 2008. http://www.fdrs.org/quotes_on_gun_control.html “Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.” Charters of Freedom. 10 Nov., 2008. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html “U.S. Gun Laws: A History.” National Public Radio. 26 June, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91942478