Gun Control Essay Essay Example

Gun Control Essay Essay Abstraction Some grounds why colleges should look at the Torahs that they put in topographic point and attempt to alter them. Students should hold the right to hide arms on college campuses. The guns provide the protection that may be necessary in certain state of affairss. Like the Virginia Tech Shooting. many people could hold been saved if merely one individual had a gun. Having a gun gives a sense of safety to many people on the campus. particularly for adult females with a greater hazard of interlopers and rapers. For these adult females. cognizing that they have a manner to support themselves can put their heads to ease. Though some believe that the allowance of guns would increase force on campus. no other college that has allowed concealed pieces has had an issue. Another refering issue would be that holding guns on campus would be easier for pupils to perpetrate self-destruction ; there are merely some things in life that governments can non command. and that is one of them. The right t o hold a concealed arm on campus should be conveyed freely. We will write a custom essay sample on Gun Control Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Gun Control Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Gun Control Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Position Paper – Legalize Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Liberty senior. Craig Storrs. says. â€Å"It makes me experience unafraid knowing I would be able to support myself if something does go on. like Virginia Tech or if I get stopped on the street for a mugging or something like that† ( Barry. 2011 ) . The subject of legalising hidden arms on college campuses has been argued for many old ages. Some colleges have legalized concealed arms on campus and have non had jobs. but many will non even think about legalising hidden arms. Transporting a hidden arm at the age of 21 is a right including a college campus. because it offers protection and safety to pupils ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Background of Concealed Weapons on College Campuses Since the Virginia Tech hiting. many colleges have changed their on-campus Torahs refering pieces. In eight provinces. the statute law is sing if pupils and staff would be able to transport a hidden arm into college edifices. Many functionaries did non desire to hold another repetition the Virginia Tech hiting. Two old ages before the Virginia Tech shot. the lawgivers of Texas rejected a measure to let hidden arms onto college campuses. Since so. the measure has come back with better statements for the right to hold a concealed arm on college campuses. Corey Zipper. a 21 year-old psychological science major. went to the province capitol to speak to the functionaries to go through the measure. Corey Zipper stated. â€Å"We acquire the mature thing a batch – that college pupils aren’t mature adequate. And the alcohol thing – that we’re all merely boozed up all the time† ( Burnett. 2011 ) . He besides states that the jurisprudence states that â€Å"a individual much be 21 old ages old. hold a clean record and no psychiatric upsets. and take a 10-hour direction class that includes clip at a fire range† ( Burnett. 2011 ) . In 2009 Texas passed the measure to legalise holding a hidden arm on college campus ( Burnett. 2011 ) . It Gives Protection Leting pupils to transport a gun could salvage their lives. Life can be unpredictable. so when something happens people should be prepared. If by being prepared agencies they need to transport a gun. so why would the province privation to take that right from person? A individual has the right to protect his/herself and others. and a responsible piece proprietor would make such. Many lives could be saved by the simple action of leting hidden arms on college campuses ( Concealed Guns. 2011 ) . Background of Virginia Tech Shooting On April 16. 2007. Seung-Hui Cho. pupil at Virginia Tech. began his hiting about 7:15 A. M. in a coeducational residence hall. He foremost killed Emily Hilsher and Ryan Clark. The Virginia Tech Police Chief said. â€Å"We secured the edifice. we secured the offense scene† ( Caruso. n. d. ) . The governments did non set the college on lock down and had categories as schedualed. Seung-Hui Cho did non go forth the campus ; around 9:15 A. M. he started to kill once more. He went into the technology and scientific discipline edifice and chained the doors so no 1 could get away. He so went into schoolroom after schoolroom ; he killed 25 more pupils and five module members. Twenty-nine people were wounded. In the terminal Cho besides took his life ( Caruso. n. d. ) . It was reported that 19 of the 32 victims that were killed were over the age of 21. The age of 21 is the legal age for the right to hide a arm in Virginia. If these pupils would hold been able to transport a piece onto campus. so possibly these lives could hold been saved. Alternatively of 33 lives taken that twenty-four hours. there should hold been one. Innocent people would non hold died ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Concealed Weapons Should non Depend on Location It is stated in the Constitution that a individual has the right to bear weaponries at the age of 21. This jurisprudence does non give specific topographic points that are prohibited. Peoples should non hold to set their concealed arm off because of where they are ( The Right to Keep and Bear Arms. 1982 ) . Public Places Peoples can Transport Weapons Though colleges are little. some topographic points that allow concealed arms are smaller. When a individual goes to the films. they are allowed to transport a hidden arm. No 1 would of all time cognize because the arm is concealed. Other topographic points would include a shopping promenade. When people are shopping. the last thing they are believing is that the people next to them might hold a gun on them ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Make College Students Feel Safer The right to hide a arm could set some pupils at easiness. Knowing that they have a manner to salvage themselves in unsafe state of affairss may do the pupils more relaxed. If a pupil comes across a unsafe state of affairs. so they are prepared. These pupils do non hold to worry about what to make ( Marin. 2012 ) . College Intruders and Rapers It is easy for interlopers to acquire into residence halls. In New York. two work forces got into a edifice by mousing in behind another cat after he swiped his card. When the college constabulary were called they came and took the work forces without naming the bulls. If this were to go on once more. these work forces would be taken to the governments. Knowing that it is easy for unusual people to acquire into lodging. it non be a good thought to rob pupils the right to hold a concealed arm. This would give some pupils that okay to populate life and other the demand of protection that they might non be able to happen anywhere else ( Rearick. 2011 ) . One in four adult females have the opportunity of being raped in college. Guns could assist support so many different adult females. They could hold gotten out of the state of affairs if they merely had a manner of defence. Sometimes adult females are physically excessively weak to run from state of affairss like that and the allowance of a gun would supply that chance to them ( College Crime Today. n. d. ) . Counterargument: Guns on Campus Would Promote Violence . â€Å"Some professors might be afraid to publish bad classs if they know that pupils could be transporting guns† ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Some people believe that leting pupil to transport pieces would force them to be violent. If the pupils are allowed to transport pieces. so they will non be afraid to utilize them. If there was an statement with another pupil. so these pupils would be tempted to utilize the gun to frighten or even harm the other pupil ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Logical Response: Guns on Campus Would non Promote Violence There has been over 30 colleges campuses that have allowed concealed arms on their campuses. These campuses have had no issues with gun force. and at that place has non been a gun larceny or accident in all these old ages. This shows that it is a possibility to transport conceal arms and still acquire a great instruction with no distraction with no force. Studies show. â€Å"concealed handgun licence holders are five times less likely than non-license holders to perpetrate violent crimes† ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Counterargument: Guns on Campus Would Encourage Suicide Some believe that leting pupils to obtain pieces would increase the likelihood self-destruction. They would hold all the resources they need now that they are able to transport hidden pieces. This would do it easier for these pupils to perpetrate self-destruction without anyone knowing until after the fact. This would so increase the suicide Numberss dramatically. Leting a pupil to transport a piece that could potentially utilize to kill themselves is non the manner to assist ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Logical Response: Guns on Campus Would non Encourage Suicide Harmonizing to investigators. â€Å"Studies show that 90 % of self-destructions are committed in the home† ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Since the legal age to have a hidden arm is 21. most pupils at this age live off campus. This would non impact the Numberss every bit much as the colleges think it would. If people truly wanted to perpetrate self-destruction. so nil would stand in their manner. Leting them to hide a gun will merely give them an easier manner out ( Students for concealed. 2008 ) . Decision During the Virginia Tech Shooting many lives could hold been saved. Students could besides experience safer cognizing that they have something at that place to protect themselves and others if needed. Though pupils could turn to violence many are really responsible to be transporting this gun in the first topographic point. They merely can non acquire a gun ; they have to travel through the procedure. Another concern would be suicide. but since most of the pupils live off campus anyhow nil would halt that. It would be a lost cause to set a prohibition on hidden arms when there is nil to forestall self-destruction in the first topographic point. Once the right preparation categories are taken. it should non be a job for a individual to be able to transport his/her gun that he/she worked difficult to acquire and paid for. The right to hold a concealed arm on campus should be expressed freely. MentionsBarry. L. ( 2011 ) . Liberty university oks concealed guns on campus. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www2. newsadvance. com/news/2011/nov/16/5/liberty-university-oks-concealed-guns-campus-ar-1463719/ . Burnett. J. ( 2011 ) . Texas Lawmakers purpose for guns on college campuses. Retreieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. npr. org/2011/02/04/133466058/texas-lawmakers-aim-for-guns-on-college-campuses. Caruso. K. ( n. d. ) . What Happened: The Virginia Tech Massacure. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. virginiatechmassacre. com/what-happened-virginia-tech-massacre. hypertext markup language. College Crime Today. ( n. d. ) Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. womens-self-defense-instruction-online. com/college-crime. hypertext markup language. Concealed guns. ( 2011 ) . Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //concealedguns. procon. org/ . Frantz. A. ( 2011 ) . Texas sing concealed pistols on campus. Retrieved from hyperte xt transfer protocol: //news. web logs. cnn. com/2011/02/22/texas-weighing-concealed-handguns-on-campus/ . Marin. J. ( 2012 ) . Guns on college campuses. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //schoolsofthought. web logs. cnn. com/2012/01/03/guns-on-college-campuses/ . Rearick. J. ( 2011 ) . Intruders spark safety concerns. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. miscellanynews. com/2. 1576/intruders-spark-safety-concerns-1. 2660011 # . TxkPxJit-fQ. Students for hidden carry on campus. ( 2008 ) . Retrieved

Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812

Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812 The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Part of the larger Battle of Baltimore, the Battle of Fort McHenry saw the forts garrison defeat a British fleet that had been advancing on the city. As the British had recently captured and burned Washington, DC, the victory proved critical in halting their advance in the Chesapeake. Coupled with successes elsewhere, the victory strengthened the hand of American negotiators at the Ghent peace talks. Francis Scott Key saw the fighting from a British ship where he was held prisoner and was inspired to write the Star-Spangled Banner based on what he had witnessed. Into the Chesapeake Having defeated Napoleon in early 1814 and removed the French emperor from power, the British were able to turn their full attention to the war with the United States. A secondary conflict while the wars with France were ongoing, they now commenced sending additional troops west in an effort to achieve a swift victory. While Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, the governor-general of Canada and commander of British forces in North America, commenced a series of campaigns from the north, he ordered Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, the commander of the Royal Navys ships on the North American Station, to make attacks against the American coast. Though Cochranes second-in-command, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, had been raiding up and down the Chesapeake Bay for some time, additional forces were en route. Arriving in August, Cochranes reinforcements included a force of around 5,000 men commanded by Major General Robert Ross. Many of these soldiers were veterans of the Napoleonic Wars and had served under the Duke of Wellington. On August 15, the transports carrying Ross command entered the Chesapeake and sailed up the bay to join with Cochrane and Cockburn. Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane. Public Domain Reviewing their options, the three men elected to mount an attack on Washington DC. The combined fleet then moved up the bay and quickly trapped Commodore Joshua Barneys gunboat flotilla in the Patuxent River. Pushing up the river, they destroyed Barneys force and put Rosss 3,400 men and 700 marines ashore on August 19. In Washington, President James Madisons administration worked fruitlessly to deal with the threat. Not thinking that the capital would be a target, little work had been done in regard to constructing defenses. Overseeing the troops around Washington was Brigadier General William Winder, a political appointee from Baltimore who had been captured at the Battle of Stoney Creek in June 1813. Since the majority of the US Armys regulars were occupied on the Canadian frontier, Winder s force was largely made up of militia. Burning Washington Marching from Benedict to Upper Marlborough, the British decided to approach Washington from the northeast and cross the East Branch of the Potomac at Bladensburg. On August 24, Ross engaged an American force under Winder at the Battle of Bladensburg. Achieving a decisive victory, later dubbed the Bladensburg Races due to the nature of the American retreat, his men occupied Washington that evening. Taking possession of the city, they burned the Capitol, Presidents House, and Treasury Building before encamping. Additional destruction ensued the next day before they departed to rejoin the fleet.  Following their successful campaign against Washington DC, Cochrane and Ross advanced up the Chesapeake Bay to attack Baltimore, MD. British forces burning Washington, DC, 1814. Public Domain A vital port city, Baltimore was believed by the British to be the base of many of the American privateers that were preying on their shipping. To take the city, Ross and Cochrane planned a two-prong attack with the former landing at North Point and advancing overland, while the latter attacked Fort McHenry and the harbor defenses by water. Fighting at North Point On September 12, 1814, Ross landed with 4,500 men on the tip of North Point and began advancing northwest towards Baltimore. His men soon encountered American forces under Brigadier General John Stricker. Dispatched by Major General Samuel Smith, Stricker was under orders to delay the British while the fortifications around the city were completed. In the resulting Battle of North Point, Ross was killed and his command took heavy losses. With Ross death, command devolved to Colonel Arthur Brooke who elected to remain on the field through a rainy night while Strickers men withdraw back to the city. Battle of North Point. Photograph Courtesy of the US Army Fast Facts: Battle of Fort McHenry Conflict: War of 1812 (1812-1815)Dates: September 13/14, 1814Armies Commanders:United StatesMajor General Samuel SmithMajor George Armistead1,000 men (at Fort McHenry), 20 gunsBritishVice Admiral Sir Alexander CochraneColonel Arthur Brooke19 ships5,000 menCasualties:United States: 4 killed and 24 woundedGreat Britain: 330 killed, wounded, and captured The American Defenses While Brookes men suffered in the rain, Cochrane began moving his fleet up the Patapsco River toward the citys harbor defenses. These were anchored on the star-shaped Fort McHenry. Situated on Locust Point, the fort guarded the approaches to the Northwest Branch of the Patapsco which led to the city as well as the Middle Branch of the river. Fort McHenry was supported across the Northwest Branch by a battery at Lazaretto and by Forts Covington and Babcock to the west on the Middle Branch. At Fort McHenry, the garrison commander, Major George Armistead possessed a composite force of around 1,000 men. Bombs Bursting in Air Early on September 13, Brooke began advancing towards the city along the Philadelphia Road. In the Patapsco, Cochrane was hampered by shallow waters which precluded sending forward his heaviest ships. As a result, his attack force consisted of five bomb ketches, 10 smaller warships, and the rocket vessel HMS Erebus. By 6:30 AM they were in position and opened fire on Fort McHenry. Remaining out of range of Armisteads guns, the British ships struck the fort with heavy mortar shells (bombs) and Congreve rockets from Erebus. Advancing ashore, Brooke, who believed they had defeated citys defenders the day before, was stunned when his men found 12,000 Americans behind substantial earthworks east of the city. Under orders not to attack unless with a high chance of success, he began probing Smiths lines but was unable to find a weakness. As a result, he was forced to hold his position and await the outcome of Cochranes assault on the harbor. Early in the afternoon, Rear Admiral George Cockburn, thinking the fort had been badly damaged, moved the bombardment force closer increase the effectiveness of their fire. Defense of Fort McHenry, 1814. Public Domain As the ships closed, they came under intense fire from Armisteads guns and were compelled to draw back to their original positions. In effort to break the stalemate, the British attempted to move around the fort after dark. Embarking 1,200 men in small boats, they rowed up the Middle Branch. Mistakenly thinking they were safe, this assault force fired signal rockets which gave away their position. As a result, they quickly came under an intense crossfire from Forts Covington and Babcock. Taking heavy losses, the British withdrew. The Flag Was Still There By dawn, with the rain subsiding, the British had fired between 1,500 and 1,800 rounds at the fort with little impact. The greatest moment of danger had come when a shell struck the forts unprotected magazine but had failed to explode. Realizing the potential for disaster, Armistead had the forts gunpowder supply distributed to safer locations. As the sun began to rise, he ordered the forts small storm flag lowered and replaced with the standard garrison flag measuring 42 feet by 30 feet. Sewn by local seamstress Mary Pickersgill, the flag was clearly visible to all of the ships in the river. The sight of the flag and the ineffectiveness of the 25-hour bombardment convinced Cochrane that the harbor could not be breached. Ashore, Brooke, with no support from the navy, decided against a costly attempt on the American lines and began retreating towards North Point where his troops re-embarked. Aftermath The attack on Fort McHenry cost Armisteads garrison 4 killed and 24 wounded. British losses were around 330 killed, wounded, and captured, most of which occurred during the ill-fated attempt to move up the Middle Branch. The successful defense of Baltimore coupled with victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh aided in restoring American pride after the burning of Washington DC and bolstered the nations bargaining position at the Ghent peace talks. Francis Scott Key, circa 1825. Public Domain - Walters Art Museum The battle is best remembered for inspiring Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner. Detained aboard the ship Minden, Key had gone to meet with the British to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes who had been arrested during the attack on Washington. Having overhead the British attack plans, Key was forced to remain with the fleet for the duration of the battle. Moved to write during the forts heroic defense, he composed the words to an old drinking song entitled To Anacreon in Heaven. Initially published after the battle as the Defense of Fort McHenry, it eventually became known as the Star-Spangled Banner and was made the National Anthem of the United States.