Reference no: EM133697923

Assignment:

Hello, I have a debate coming up in my Gned 1301-Citizenship without borders and I have been given the topic of Against gunownership. I have started working on it and I am just wondering if you could suggest any changes or paraphrase. The debate format is a 2-minute opening and then 3 questions each and then an open debate. It would be great if you can also suggest some points that could be raised during the open debate.

The issue of gun ownership is not merely a matter of personal choice and safety but one that impacts the safety and security of society.

Throughout history, firearms have experienced a significant transformation, evolving from really heavy weapons that were mainly used for the military to more streamlined, effective weapons of aggression and intimidation. According to SpringerNature although these developments have increased the power of militaries, they have also brought forth new kinds of violence with threats of poaching, robbery, smuggling, and invasion. The fact that guns are so common in these situations is a terrifying reminder of their ability to intimidate and kill individuals.

In modern-day Canada, where the threat of gun violence puts the right to life-one of the fundamental rights guaranteed in our Charter-in danger. Gun advocates usually use the argument of self-defence, but the statistics paint a disturbing picture of the harsh reality. Gun violence is the main cause of premature death in the United States, where the right to bear arms is protected by the Bill of Rights. Gun crimes vastly exceed incidents of defensive gun use. According to the American Public Health Association, there are seven times as many incidents of gun crimes (484,800) compared to instances of defensive gun use (70,040) each year. This concerning figure highlights the risks that come with the widespread ownership of firearms-risks that should not be disregarded when considering the safety of society.

The John Howard Society has mentioned, that financial factors like unemployment are directly related to criminal activities. They also mentioned, "the existence, quality and stability of employment appear to be powerful protective factors against criminal behaviour ". With the unemployment rate being at an all-time high disregarding COVID-19, the easy access to firearms in such an environment creates a temptation and increases the risk of robberies, mass shootings, and other criminal activities. Therefore, it is more important than ever to ensure that we as a society do not encourage gun ownership.

1. Given the devastating toll of school shootings, workplace violence, and other mass casualty events involving firearms, how can we justify allowing individuals unrestricted access to guns, when such access contributes to these tragic events?

2. Given the inherent risks associated with firearms, especially in homes where children and individuals with mental health issues are present, what specific steps may be taken to ensure the responsible and safe use of firearms while reducing the possibility of tragic accidents?

3. According to Harvard Medical School researchers, gun violence accounts for 557 billion dollars or 2.6% of GDP in America. How do you believe that this tax burden would be justified to those who do not use weapons or own guns, especially considering that there are seven times as many incidents of gun crimes (484,800) compared to instances of defensive guns?

4. We often talk about slavery and sweatshops in this class. One of the ways these corporations can exploit individuals is by using weapons to intimidate workers into working.

• Given the complexity of human emotions and their unpredictable nature, the presence of a firearm nearby during moments of heightened emotions poses an imminent and potentially lethal threat.
• CHecks and balances
• In 2020, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., and gunshot wounds were the leading cause of death for kids and teens under 19.
• We found that firearms are used far more often to frighten and intimidate than they are used in self-defence. All reported cases of criminal gun use, as well as many of the so-called self-defence gun uses, appear to be socially undesirable.
• Victims using a gun were no less likely to be injured after taking protective action than victims using other forms of protective action. Compared to other protective actions, the National Crime Victimization Surveys provide little evidence that self-defence gun use is uniquely beneficial in reducing the likelihood of injury or property loss.
• Firearms are accountable for nearly 85,000 injuries and 38,000 in 2015 in the US. If we as humans have been fighting one of the leading causes of death in America, Cancer, for the past century, how come deaths caused by firearms, which is almost half that of cancer, have individuals still favouring guns?

The democratic society we live in today along with the law makes government tyranny nearly impossible. The right to life listed in the charter means that the government can not take away a person's life without due process of law.

Even in the worst scenario, the individuals enforcing the government's order are going to think twice as the tyranny might affect them.

"There is the use of tech to spread the word across the globe and gain some help from other governments and what better time is there for a government to overthrow the

When it comes to suspected acts of tyranny, the House of Commons can remove the powers of a leader through a no-confidence vote.

Do not necessarily have to use guns for hunting, bows and spears are an option as well.

In the present day, marginalized groups have access to resources such as social media and are always protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

According to Forbes, America's gun business is 28 Billion dollars. Compare that with the 557 billion dollars that Americans have to pay to clean up gun violence.